Hello, community! MISTO is back with a new digest. Today, we explore what transforms an ordinary city into a smart city — and that is big data. Urban data markets are growing at an unprecedented pace, with data becoming increasingly embedded in municipal governance and decision-making. How cities can use data effectively is the focus of this edition of our Resilient City Digest.

Smart City Innovations

The Big Data & Smart City Market: Scale, Key Players, and Emerging Trends

The global Big Data market within smart cities is projected to demonstrate steady growth, expanding from USD 30 billion in 2023 to USD 90 billion by 2032, which corresponds to an estimated CAGR of approximately 14%.

Key growth drivers include rapid urbanisation, the need for efficient resource management (energy, transport, waste), and the large-scale deployment of IoT sensors and connected devices across urban infrastructure.

Major investor groups:

• National governments and municipalities — through smart city digital transformation programmes and green financing instruments.
• Large technology players (Cisco, IBM, Microsoft, Siemens, Huawei, SAP, AWS, among others) as providers of platforms, analytics, and integrated urban solutions.
• ESG-focused investors, as big data is directly linked to energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and overall urban resilience.

Research by Data Insights Market confirms this trend: big data is becoming the backbone of urban governance across transport systems, healthcare infrastructure, environmental management, and energy networks. In particular, interest in predictive models is growing, enabling cities to forecast demand, optimise budgets, and anticipate risks more effectively.

How Data Is Transforming Smart Buildings

Powered by data, buildings are becoming “living systems” capable of autonomously reporting faults, forecasting loads, and reducing energy consumption. This shift is preparing cities for a new era of digital resilience.

• The use of data-driven models in construction reduces risks already at the planning stage and can cut building maintenance time by up to 30% through the optimisation of heating, cooling, and lighting systems.
• Building automation systems integrate lighting, HVAC, occupancy, security, and access sensors into a unified digital layer, enabling centralised management of energy use, safety, and occupant comfort.
• Big data analytics makes it possible to move from scheduled to predictive maintenance: instead of routine inspections at fixed intervals, cities and developers receive early signals of performance deviations and can intervene before failures occur.

As a result, big data is fundamentally reshaping the construction sector. Buildings are no longer static structures but managed digital assets that continuously learn from their own data. These smart buildings form the foundation of resilient cities — consuming less energy, experiencing fewer failures, and ensuring stable comfort for people even as pressures on urban infrastructure continue to grow.

Research spotlight

Saudi Arabia’s Unified Data Platform as a New Governance Model

Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of the global leaders in adopting data-driven approaches. The country is developing a Unified Data Platform that consolidates urban registries, transport data, environmental indicators, urban development data, resources, security, and social services into a single integrated system.

Such a platform enables scenario-based modelling. For example, assessing how changes in zoning, the introduction of a new transport line, or the development of a residential cluster will affect congestion levels, air quality, pressure on engineering networks, and access to public services.

Key principles of the Saudi approach:

• Clearly defined data ownership roles, along with standards for data quality, security, and access for municipal authorities and private stakeholders.
• AI and analytics integration, including the use of algorithms to identify patterns in urban development and to forecast demand for transport, energy, and social services.

This case demonstrates that the future of smart cities lies not in isolated “smart” projects, but in a unified urban data platform that serves as the foundation for integrated governance and informed decision-making.

Big Data in Waste and Emission Management

Data plays an active role across all areas of urban life. Contemporary research in urban waste management demonstrates the potential of big data to optimise collection routes, forecast loads, plan container infrastructure, and stimulate recycling.

Data from sensors (container fill levels, weight, collection time), combined with geospatial data and residents’ behavioural patterns, makes it possible to significantly reduce empty trips, lower fuel consumption, and cut associated emissions. In addition, the combination of air quality data, transport activity, industrial operations, and the residential building stock enables the development of targeted policies — from low-emission zones to address-based thermal modernisation programmes.

Cities transitioning to a data-driven waste and emissions management model show consistent progress in CO₂ reduction, higher efficiency of municipal services, and greater transparency in service delivery.

МISTO join the 2025 QBE

We are pleased to share the news that MISTO has been selected for the QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge 2025.

This global programme brings together 30 teams from 14 countries to collaborate with partners and communities living with the risks of wildfires, floods, cyclones, and extreme heat. The goal is to help communities strengthen preparedness, stay informed, and remain connected during emergencies.Over the next six months, we will focus on developing and implementing best-in-class alerting and communication tools for communities.The MISTO team is sincerely grateful for the opportunity to bring our experience to the global community and to learn from teams applying leading practices in addressing climate-related challenges.

The era of intuitive urban governance is over. Data is the new foundation. Cities that leverage analytics become more resilient, more efficient, and more comfortable for people — and MISTO helps cities turn data into real-world solutions. Stay connected to keep up with the latest developments from cities around the world!