Science & ResearchISCO 2164

Smart city consultant

A smart city consultant is a person who advises a city on how to use technology and data to run its services better, and who turns that advice into projects that can actually be funded and built.

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Rate 5 of the 36 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

propose ICT solutions to business problems

ensure compliance with environmental legislation

create project specifications

provide ICT consulting advice

use consulting techniques

About smart city consultant

The advisory side comes first. The consultant assesses what a city needs, recommends sustainable solutions for the initiatives it wants to pursue, and advises on the policies that will govern them, environmental policy among them. Project specifications are then written: what a system has to do, what it will connect to, and how its results will be measured. Geographic information systems are used throughout, for questions such as where to put sensors, which district floods or how traffic moves.

Smart cities consultants deliver as well as advise. The consultant runs environmental projects built on connected services and digital infrastructure, liaises with architects and planners whose drawings have to accommodate them, and manages the environmental impact of what is installed. Business plans are prepared to attract investment, setting out the challenges, the market opportunities and the common ground between public bodies and private companies.

The role asks for enough technical grasp to judge what a supplier is promising, enough policy knowledge to see what a city may lawfully do, and the patience to work at the speed of public decision-making. Formal requirements are set by the employer or the commissioning authority.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (36)

urban planning lawurban planning lawInvestments and urban development agreements. Legislative developments regarding construction in terms of environmental, sustainability, social and financial matters.geographic information systemsgeographic information systemsThe tools involved in geographical mapping and positioning, such as GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing).consultation methodsconsultation methodsTechniques used to facilitate clear and open communication and the provision of advice between individuals, communities or the government, such as discussion groups or one-on-one interviews.smart grids systemssmart grids systemsSmart grids are a digital electricity network. The system involves the electronic digital control of production, distribution and use of electricity, information management of the components and energ...urban planningurban planningPolitical and technical process that seeks to design the urban environment and optimize land use by considering various aspects such as infrastructure, water, and green and social spaces.civil engineeringcivil engineeringThe engineering discipline that studies the design, construction and maintenance of naturally built works such as roads, buildings, and canals.architecture regulationsarchitecture regulationsThe regulations, statutes, and legal agreements existing in the European Union in the field of architecture.ICT project managementICT project managementThe methodologies for the planning, implementation, review and follow-up of ICT projects, such as the development, integration, modification and sales of ICT products and services, as well as projects...environmental engineeringenvironmental engineeringThe application of scientific and engineering theories and principles aimed at improving the environment and sustainability, such as the provision of clean habitation necessities (such as air, water, ...ICT project management methodologiesICT project management methodologiesThe methodologies or models for planning, managing and overseeing of ICT resources in order to meet specific goals, such methodologies are Waterfall, Incremental, V-Model, Scrum or Agile and using pro...smart city featuressmart city featuresThe use of big data technologies in the context of smart cities in order to develop novel software ecosystems upon which advanced mobility functionalities can be created.ICT environmental policiesICT environmental policiesThe international and organisational policies which deal with the assessment of the environmental impact of innovations and developments in the field of ICT, as well as with methods for reducing negat...propose ICT solutions to business problemspropose ICT solutions to business problemsSuggest how to solve business issues, using ICT means, so that business processes are improved.ensure compliance with environmental legislationensure compliance with environmental legislationMonitor activities and perform tasks ensuring compliance with standards involving environmental protection and sustainability, and amend activities in the case of changes in environmental legislation....create project specificationscreate project specificationsDefine the workplan, duration, deliverables, resources and procedures a project has to follow to achieve its goals. Describe project goals, outcomes, results and implementation scenarios.provide ICT consulting adviceprovide ICT consulting adviceAdvise on appropriate solutions in the field of ICT by selecting alternatives and optimising decisions while taking into account potential risks, benefits and overall impact to professional customers.use consulting techniquesuse consulting techniquesAdvise clients in different personal or professional matters.use geographic information systemsuse geographic information systemsWork with computer data systems such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS).promote sustainabilitypromote sustainabilityPromote the concept of sustainability to the public, colleagues and fellow professionals through speeches, guided tours, displays and workshops.design smart gridsdesign smart gridsDesign and calculate the smart grid system, based on heat load, duration curves, energy simulations etc.handle geospatial technologieshandle geospatial technologiesCan use Geospatial Technologies which involve GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing) in the daily work.develop environmental policydevelop environmental policyDevelop an organisational policy on sustainable development and compliance with environmental legislation in line with policy mechanisms used in the field of environmental protection.implement environmental action plansimplement environmental action plansApply plans that address the management of environmental matters in projects, natural site interventions, companies, and others.liaise with architectsliaise with architectsFacilitate communication and understanding between architects and other parties such as constructors, clients, and contractors with respect to the design of construction projects.analyse business plansanalyse business plansAnalyse the formal statements from businesses which outline their business goals and the strategies they set in place to meet them, in order to assess the feasibility of the plan and verify the busine...advise on sustainable management policiesadvise on sustainable management policiesContribute to planning and policy development for sustainable management, including input in environmental impact assessments.consult with industry professionalsconsult with industry professionalsCommunicate with engineers, designers, survey technicians and representatives involved in survey projects.consult with business clientsconsult with business clientsCommunicate with clients of a business or business project in order to introduce new ideas, obtain feedback, and find solutions to problems.advise on environmental risk management systemsadvise on environmental risk management systemsEvaluate requirements and advise on systems for environmental risk management. Ensure the customer does his part in preventing or limiting adverse environmental impact through the use of technology. E...promote innovative infrastructure designpromote innovative infrastructure designThroughout the coordination of an engineering project, promote the development of infrastructure that is innovative and sustainable, in line with the latest developments in the field.provide technical expertiseprovide technical expertiseProvide expert knowledge in a particular field, especially concerning mechanical or scientific subjects, to decision makers, engineers, technical staff or journalists.manage environmental impactmanage environmental impactImplement measures to minimise the biological, chemical and physical impacts of mining activity on the environment.manage environmental impact of operationsmanage environmental impact of operationsManage the interaction with and impact on the environment by companies. Identify and assess environmental impacts of the production process and related services, and regulate a reduction of the effect...advise on sustainability solutionsadvise on sustainability solutionsAdvise companies on solutions to develop sustainable production processes, improve material efficiency and reuse and reduce carbon footprint.build business relationshipsbuild business relationshipsEstablish a positive, long-term relationship between organisations and interested third parties such as suppliers, distributors, shareholders and other stakeholders in order to inform them of the orga...perform smart grid feasibility studyperform smart grid feasibility studyPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a smart grid within the project. Realise a standardised study to determine the energy saving contribution, costs and restrictions, and conduct...

Optional (12) — show

business intelligencebusiness intelligenceThe tools used to transform large amounts of raw data into relevant and helpful business information.emergent technologiesemergent technologiesThe recent trends, developments and innovations in modern technologies such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence and robotics.ecologyecologyThe study of how organisms interact and their relation to the ambient environment.Internet of ThingsInternet of ThingsThe general principles, categories, requirements, limitations and vulnerabilities of smart connected devices (most of them with intended internet connectivity).develop urban transport studiesdevelop urban transport studiesStudy the demographic and spatial characteristics of a city in order to develop new mobility plans and strategies.implement route planning in smart mobility servicesimplement route planning in smart mobility servicesUse specialised search engines such as route planners or journey planners to suggest optimised travel itineraries based of different criteria such as means of transport, departure and arrival time, lo...promote environmental awarenesspromote environmental awarenessPromote sustainability and raise awareness about the environmental impact of human and industrial activity based on the carbon footprints of business processes and other practices.develop concepts for city marketingdevelop concepts for city marketingWork on innovative ideas to promote a positive image of a city or region to attract residents, investors, and tourists, such as regenerating the city centre by creating a pedestrian zone or offering c...coordinate environmental effortscoordinate environmental effortsOrganise and integrate all environmental efforts of the company, including pollution control, recycling, waste management, environmental health, conservation and renewable energy.advise architectsadvise architectsGive advise on design, safety issues, and cost reduction to architects during the pre-application phase.design for organisational complexitydesign for organisational complexityDetermine cross-account authentication and access strategy for complex organizations (for example, an organization with varying compliance requirements, multiple business units, and varying scalabilit...seek innovation in current practicesseek innovation in current practicesSearch for improvements and present innovative solutions, creativity and alternative thinking to develop new technologies, methods or ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a smart city consultant do?

Smart city consultants advise on sustainability solutions for the implementation of smart city initiatives. They execute environmental projects based on smart services, advanced technology, and digital transformation in urban areas. In addition, Smart city consultants develop business plans to attract investment resources, identify challenges and sustainable business opportunities, as well as synergies between public and private stakeholders or clients.

What skills does a smart city consultant need?

A smart city consultant needs 36 essential skills, including urban planning law, geographic information systems, consultation methods, smart grids systems, urban planning.

Will AI replace smart city consultant jobs?

The AI disruption score for smart city consultant is 76/100 (very high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: implement route planning in smart mobility services, business intelligence, architecture regulations. Most resilient: emergent technologies, liaise with architects, consult with industry professionals.

AI Replacement Risk

76/ 100

Very High Risk

Low riskHigh risk

Skills most at risk from AI

implement route planning in smart mobility services business intelligence architecture regulations

Skills resilient to automation

emergent technologies liaise with architects consult with industry professionals

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Quick Facts

SectorScience & Research

ISCO GroupScience and engineering professionals

Essential Skills36

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