Plenty of potential: Shanghai makes solid start towards smart city vision

Shanghai is the most populous city in all of China, with an estimated 24 million residents and an average population density of 2,059 people per square kilometre. In the more centralised areas, this increases to 3,854 people per square kilometre. Growth has been rapid, with resident numbers increasing by double-digit percentages almost every year since 1992. The pressure on transport infrastructure is clear in the level of traffic congestion. In the TomTom Traffic Index, Shanghai is ranked number 66 out of 403 cities. It has an average congestion level of 33%, meaning that congestion lengthens travel time by 33% compared to uncongested conditions.