September 29, 2025 By Anand Rangarajan, Director End Markets, GlobalFoundries As urban populations grow and infrastructure demands intensify, cities around the world are turning to the Internet of Things (IoT) to become smarter, more sustainable and more responsive to our residential needs. IoT technologies enable real-time data collection and analysis, allowing city systems to operate more efficiently and adaptively. What defines a smart city in the age of IoT? Smart cities integrate digital technologies into urban systems to improve the quality of life for residents, optimize resource use and enhance public services. This transformation is part of a broader shift in line with Industry 4.0 that combines cyber-physical systems, automation, and real-time data exchange. At the heart of this transformation is IoT—networks of connected devices that share data with each other for informed decision-making and automation. Top IoT applications powering smart cities today Smart cities are not just about technology; they’re about using data and connectivity to make cities more livable, resilient and sustainable. IoT enables this by embedding intelligence into everyday systems: traffic lights, water meters, waste bins and even streetlights become data sources that inform real-time decisions and long-term planning. Below are five key areas that are made possible through advancements in IoT technology to promote resource circularity and optimization: Smart transportation & traffic management IoT sensors embedded in traffic lights and roadways collect data that can be used to manage congestion, thereby reducing emissions and improving commute times. Real-time data enables dynamic traffic routing and predictive maintenance of infrastructure. Waste management IoT-enabled bins and collection systems can enable optimized pickup routes and schedules to reduce fuel consumption and improve sanitation services. Energy efficiency Smart grids and connected meters allow for better energy distribution and usage tracking, helping cities reduce consumption and integrate renewable sources. Water & air quality monitoring Sensors can monitor pollution levels and water quality, enabling timely interventions and policy adjustments to protect public health. Using real-time data to identify anomalies, monitoring water flow and pressure enables predictive maintenance and automated responses. Public safety & emergency response IoT devices such as surveillance cameras, gunshot detectors and connected emergency systems can enhance situational awareness and reduce response times. These technologies can be used to enable faster data sharing and automated alerts, helping first responders act more quickly and effectively in critical situations. The sustainability impact of IoT in smart cities Through the role of IoT in smart cities, these technologies contribute significantly to sustainability goals by reducing resource consumption (e.g., water and energy), lowering greenhouse gas emissions and improving public health outcomes. The convergence of IoT, AI, and Big Data enables real-time decision-making and policy development through data-driven insights that enhance a city’s infrastructural integrity. As highlighted in a comprehensive review published in Energy Informatics, smart cities are increasingly leveraging these technologies to optimize energy systems, transportation networks, waste management, and building operations, all of which are critical to achieving environmental sustainability. In addition to supporting sustainability goals, IoT also plays a vital role in advancing climate adaptation strategies within smart cities. By enabling real-time environmental monitoring—such as tracking temperature fluctuations, air quality and flood risks—IoT systems help cities anticipate and respond to climate-related challenges more effectively. These technologies support early warning systems, guide infrastructure upgrades and inform urban planning decisions that enhance resilience against extreme weather events and slong-term climate shifts. As a result, cities can better protect vulnerable populations, reduce recovery costs and maintain continuity in essential services. Key challenges in scaling smart city IoT infrastructure While the vision of smart cities is compelling, the path to realization is complex. Cities face several technological and infrastructural challenges that must be addressed to scale smart solutions effectively. 1. Always-on devices need ultra-low power Smart city infrastructure relies on IoT devices that operate continuously, such as traffic sensors, air quality monitors, and smart lighting systems. Many of these devices are battery-powered and in hard-to-reach locations, making energy efficiency critical to minimize maintenance and extend operational life. These devices also require low-power communication capabilities to transmit data reliably without draining energy reserves. GF’s Solution: 22FDX+ is designed for ultra-low power operation, enabling devices to run longer on less energy. Ideal for battery-powered, always-on applications, it supports low-power communication protocols, so devices stay connected while conserving energy. The platform’s Active Body Biasing feature further reduces the overall power envelope, enhancing real-time responsiveness and minimizing the need for frequent servicing, making it ideal for scalable smart city deployments. 2. Complex power management across diverse systems From EV charging stations to automated traffic controls, smart cities integrate a wide range of systems, each with unique voltage and reliability requirements. Managing power across these systems efficiently is a major challenge. GF’s Solution: BCDLite enables robust mixed-signal designs by integrating low- and high-voltage components on a single chip. With proven automotive-grade reliability, it supports compact, scalable power management for critical infrastructure like smart streetlights and EV chargers. 3. Data security & always-on connectivity With millions of connected devices transmitting data, smart cities must ensure secure, low-power memory solutions that support continuous operation and protect sensitive information. GF’s Solution: GF’s embedded RRAM and eMRAM technologies offer secure, ultra-low power memory for always-on devices. These platforms enable on-chip integration of memory, improving energy efficiency and supporting secure storage for credentials and cryptographic keys. 4. Real-time urban intelligence from sensor fusion Smart cities require real-time situational awareness from diverse sensor inputs—audio, imaging, radar—to support public safety, traffic management, and environmental monitoring. GF’s Solution: GF’s 22FDX+ platform supports multimodal sensor fusion and edge AI, enabling real-time interpretation of complex urban environments. Its full SoC integration and RF capabilities make it ideal for smart infrastructure applications like gunshot detection and autonomous traffic systems. Together, these platforms empower cities to deploy intelligent infrastructure that reduces energy consumption, enhances mobility, and supports long-term sustainability goals. The future of smart cities: IoT, AI, and edge computing The convergence of IoT, AI and edge computing is accelerating the smart city agenda. For industry stakeholders, this means new opportunities in infrastructure, analytics and services. For sustainability advocates, it means actionable insights and measurable progress toward climate goals. To learn more about how GF is shaping the future of smart cities through sustainable technology, explore the latest insights in our Sustainability Report and discover how our platforms are driving tech-for-humanity solutions. Anand Rangarajan is Director, End Markets, at GlobalFoundries with a focus on edge AI and compute, which includes a range of segments such as smart home, wearables, augmented reality headsets and eyeglasses, asset tracking, sensor fusion, and health monitoring. He collaborates with customers and other stakeholders to enhance GF’s value proposition for these innovative applications in the edge and AI compute space. Prior to GF, he served as a product manager at Microchip.
