By Kari Williamson

"Bringing together the expertise of Schneider Electric and Telvent gives us the unique capability to deliver custom solutions that meet the specific needs of each city," says Philippe Delorme, Executive Vice-President of Schneider Electric.

"Our innovative SmartCity offering, integrated for performance and delivered in a collaborative model is a game changer for existing and new cities facing challenging infrastructure needs."

It is estimated that the urban population will rise from 50% of the world population today to more than 70% by 2050, meaning that local governments need solutions to improve the efficiency and sustainability of city systems that are affordable, easy to deploy and manage, and can cover all of their needs, Schneider says.

The SmartCity offering includes:

• Smart grid solutions;
• Smart mobility – including electric vehicle and public transport management;
• Smart water management improving efficiency and resilience;
• Public safety, street lighting, healthcare and government administration management; and
• Smart buildings and homes – including energy and environmental monitoring and visualisation.