This information flow generally has three components. First, instrumentation: an omnipresent array of sensors measuring environmental conditions and movements (both human and material). Second, analytics: the algorithms that consume massive amounts of urban data to find patterns and even predict future scenarios. Third, actuators: digitally controlled devices that can respond to data in real time and impact physical space.310 ↱
The City of Tomorrow
Sensors, Networks, Hackers, and the Future of Urban Life
Carlo Ratti, Matthew Claudel