Smart Cities – Management of Smart Urban Infrastructures Coursera Quiz Answers 2023

 Week 1 Answers

1.

Question 1

As seen in this MOOC, cities can be studied from different perspectives, and as different types of systems, which can be...

1 point

Economic systems

Technical systems

Demographic systems

Political systems

Social systems

2.

Question 2

What are the main layers that are used to conceptualize urban systems in this block?

1 point

Infrastructure layer

Economic layer

Service layer

Green layer

Institutional layer

3.

Question 3

What are the three key metrics used in this course to characterize the performance of urban infrastructure systems?

1 point

Growth

Investments

Efficiency

Resilience

Sustainability

Quality of life

4.

Question 4

As seen in this block, how does the conceptualization of smart cities differ from the traditional conceptualization of urban systems?

1 point

By the use of electric vehicles

By the addition of a citizen layer

By the addition of a data layer

Through the merging of the infrastructure and service layers

5.

Question 5

Which of the following components enables the development of the data layer for Smart Cities?

1 point

The Internet

The World Wide Web

Social networks

Telecommunications infrastructure

6.

Question 6

Which of the following definitions best describes digitalization?

1 point

The integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) into most aspects of everyday life through the use of new and legacy telecommunication infrastructures and networks

The interconnection of computers and other digital devices through the Internet

The process of using the outputs of a component of a system to influence the inputs of the same component

7.

Question 7

Which option best described how digitalization is being used to improve value chains?

1 point

Value chains can be eliminated though the substitution of human labour with digital technologies.

Value chains can become more efficient by reducing the number of services offered in the physical layer.

Value chains can be closely monitored by customers and managers by being mirrored in the digital layer.

8.

Question 8

Which of the following options are not examples of digitalization?

1 point

Smart energy meters

Smart lightning

Traffic surveillance systems

Electric vehicles

Wind turbines

9.

Question 9

According to this MOOC, what are the two main visions for implementing a smart city?

1 point

Users as citizens: In this view, the pubic sector leads the transition, and the city is built to serve the citizens.

Users as leaders: In this view, the citizens lead and govern the transition using digital tools.

Users as consumers: In this view, vendors lead the transition, and the smart city is built to increase profits.

10.

Question 10

A Socio-Technical system can be defined as...

1 point

A system in which people and technology, including infrastructures, interact in a reciprocal relationship within an environment.

A system in which individuals only interact with each other and have no impact on technological components.

A system in which individuals and technology interact with one another, but does not have boundaries nor relation to its environment.

11.

Question 11

Which of the following smart city visions relies on a technology-push approach?

1 point

The Citizen Vision

The Vendor Vision

The Non-Governmental Organisation Vision

The City Government Vision

12.

Question 12

One of the key disruptions caused by digitalization relates to the fact that the value chain information mirrored in the data layer can be used to improve the layer or create new services and business models which allow companies to find new ways to profit. True or false?

1 point

True

False

13.

Question 13

Smart cities can be seen from a...

1 point

political perspective

technological perspective

social perspective

economic perspective

14.

Question 14

According to this MOOC, how does digitalization affect non-scalable industries, such as the taxi industry?

1 point

It turns consumers into prosumers

It allows them to start scaling up

It allows them to develop new business model on which to capitalize

15.

Question 15

According to the lectures, which of the following statements is more accurate about the impact of digitalizaiton on management of cities as socio-technical systems?

1 point

It enables cities to cope with the high complexity and interdependency that characterize urban systems.

It enables urban dwellers and citizens to connect with one another and develop social activities.

It allows public authorities to closely monitor and control the activity of all citizens.

 Week 2 Answers

1.

Question 1

According to this MOOC, what are the three main drivers of the transition towards smart urban energy systems?

1 point

Decentralized generation

Low electricity costs

Climate change

Digitalization

2.

Question 2

What percentage of global primary energy is consumed in cities?

1 point

95%

25%

75%

55%

3.

Question 3

According to this MOOC, which key elements drive the smart urban energy transition?

1 point

Alternative urban energy sources

Energy efficiency

Off and semi-off grid operations

New storage technologies

Automated self-driving vehicles

4.

Question 4

According to this MOOC, which of the following actors is not involved in the operation of smart urban energy systems?

1 point

Transmission systems operators

Utilities

Electricity generators

Distribution system operators

Electric vehicle manufacturers

5.

Question 5

Which option best defines price signals?

1 point

The information given to consumers through pricing that signals shifts in supply and demand

The information given to consumers through pricing that signals change in electricity sources

The information given to consumers through pricing that signals shifts in electricity providers

6.

Question 6

Which of the following actors is the least involved in the management of smart urban energy systems?

1 point

Engineering companies active in construction of power plants

Prosumers

Distributors

Storage operators

Decentralized electricity producers

7.

Question 7

According to this MOOC, who are the main smart energy service customers?

1 point

Commerce & industry

Distribution and transmission operators

Households

Buildings

8.

Question 8

Which of the following options best describes smart energy balancing?

1 point

The use of ICTs to optimize the balancing of supply and demand, almost in real time

The use of ICTs to improve the monthly balance of energy consumed by households and buildings

The use of ICTs to improve the energy efficiency of households and buildings

9.

Question 9

According to this MOOC, who are the customers of demand side management services?

1 point

Buildings

Households

Commerce & industry

Distribution operators

10.

Question 10

What are the main challenges for urban managers in the infrastructure layer?

1 point

Managing intermittency and grid stability

Data pricing

Allocating the costs of a smart urban energy system

Allocating legacy costs

11.

Question 11

Which of the following is not one of the main smart urban energy system challenges for policymakers in the data layer?

1 point

Developing new applications

Regulating data access

Regulating data ownership

Deciding whether to define data as a good or platform

12.

Question 12

From a social perspective, what are the main challenges for policymakers?

1 point

Deciding whether to define data as a good or a platform

Defining universal service obligations

Regulating data access

Regulating privacy issues

13.

Question 13

Which of the following is a target customer for smart balancing services?

1 point

Distribution operators

Households

Buildings

Industries

14.

Question 14

According to this MOOC, what are the three main kinds of smart urban energy services?

1 point

Demand side management

Smart and integrated energy services

Contract enforcement

Smart balancing

15.

Question 15

Which of the following is not an example of smart and integrated energy services?

1 point

Using the data layer to help manage energy use in water distribution systems

Using the data layer to optimize the energy consumption of waste recycling facilities

Using the data layer to provide services that enhance electric mobility

Using the data layer to facilitate the installation of solar panels and other generation technologies in households

 Week 3 Answers

1.

Question 1

By the year 2050, what is the rate of urbanization expected to be worldwide?

1 point

66%

85%

55%

95%

2.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is more accurate?

1 point

Urban transportation quickly became more efficient with the introduction of cars, but has stabilized over the past decades.

At first, cars made transportation in cities more efficient. But eventually they became counter productive and lowered efficiencies.

Transportation in cities has become more and more efficient since the introduction of cars, thanks to the benefits this mode of transportation brings.

3.

Question 3

What percentage of global CO2 emissions originate from the urban transportation sector?

1 point

0 to 5%

25 to 30%

15 to 20%

4.

Question 4

Digitalization is leading transportation systems to a change in paradigm characterized by a shift...

1 point

from transportation to mobility & from bicycles to seaways.

from car ownership to mobility usership & from transportation to mobility.

from car ownership to mobility usership & from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles.

5.

Question 5

According to this MOOC, what are the two pathways of transition towards smart urban transportation systems?

1 point

Shift pathway

Disrupt pathway

Improve pathway

Rebuild pathway

6.

Question 6

According to this MOOC, what are the two main trends under the improve pathway?

1 point

The introduction of self-driving vehicles

Monitoring of urban transport infrastructures thanks to ITS

The use of electric buses

The development of Mobility as a Service (MaaS)

7.

Question 7

Which option describes Level 2 of vehicle automation, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation?

1 point

Conditional automation (driving task is completed by an automated system, but it is expected that the driver will respond appropriately when needed).

One driver assistant system is present (e.g. braking assistance).

At least two driving assistant systems are present (e.g. cruise control and brake assistance).

8.

Question 8

What are two new communication processes that need to be developed in order to ensure the successful introduction of automated vehicles?

1 point

V2G Communication - Vehicles must be able to communicate with the government authorities.

V2CM Communication - Vehicles must be able to communicate with car manufacturers.

V2I Communication - Vehicles must be able to communicate with surrounding infrastructures.

V2V Communication - Vehicles must be able to communicate with surrounding vehicles.

9.

Question 9

According to this MOOC, which of the following are key challenges in the service layer for the successful introduction of automated vehicles?

1 point

Integration of the data infrastructures with the legacy transport infrastructures

Social acceptance of the new technologies

Institutional changes (driving codes, licenses...)

Accountability: in case of accidents, who will be held responsible?

10.

Question 10

Which of the following options are examples of mobility services that rely on sharing economy processes?

1 point

Car sharing

Car pooling

Motorcycle taxis

E-Hailing

11.

Question 11

Which of the following statements regarding Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and Integrated Mobility Platforms (IMP) is correct?

1 point

MaaS relies on the idea of periodical subscription mobility packages and different service-level agreements between platform operators and mobility services providers, whereas an IMP relies on the Pay-as-you-go mechanism

MaaS and IMP are the same thing, but are named differently based on the context (small city vs big city)

MaaS relies on the idea of a Pay-as-you-go mechanism, whereas IMP relies on periodical subscription mobility packages and different service-level agreements between platform operators and mobility service providers

12.

Question 12

As seen in this block, which of the following is not an example of an emerging business model in the mobility sector?

1 point

Selling vehicles to final custormer

Intermediation platforms

Pay-as-you-use

Data-centric

13.

Question 13

According to this MOOC, which of the following are smart urban mobility challenges in the infrastructure layer for policymakers?

1 point

Business model development

Financing the physical transportation infrastructure

Interconnecting transport modes

Land use planning

14.

Question 14

According to this MOOC, in the Smart Mobility domain, which of the following are challenges for policymakers from a political perspective?

1 point

Business model development

Land use planning

Data regulation

Regulating competition

15.

Question 15

According to this MOOC, in the Smart Mobility domain, which of the following are challenges for urban managers from a technological perspective?

1 point

Interconnection of modes

Addressing the digital divide

Maintenance of road pavements

Data standards and protocols

 Week 4 Answers

1.

Question 1

What are three key factors that exists in most of complex systems?

1 point

Interdependency

Resilience

Perpetuality

Path dependency

Irreversibility

2.

Question 2

Feed-back loops are defined as...

1 point

processes using the outputs of a component of a system to serve as input for the same component.

processes that have been improved thanks to the feedback received from an external expert

3.

Question 3

What should managers and planners avoid to insure successful transition towards smart cities?

1 point

Flexibility

Rigidity

Silo-thinking

4.

Question 4

Which of these approaches are necessary to successfully transition towards smart cities, given the complex nature of cities as socio-technical systems?

1 point

High-speed transition

Long-term perspective

Holistic approach

Flexibility

5.

Question 5

Which of the following factors can be seen as a key driver of the dynamicity of a system?

1 point

Decisions of the actors and the relationship between them

Limited number of elements that interact with each other in the system

Independence of elements from each other

6.

Question 6

Which of the following options best describes the S curve?

1 point

A curve that shows the evolution of innovations over time.

A curve that shows the global rate of urbanization.

A curve that shows the historical use of vehicles.

A curve that shows the demographic transition of a city or country.

7.

Question 7

What are the main issues faced when adopting a crowd-sensing approach to data collection?

1 point

The development of innovative business models to reward data-gatherers

Having enough sensors for all potential data-gatherers

Paying attention to the redundancy and reliability of the data collected

8.

Question 8

According to this MOOC, which of the following questions pertaining the data layer transition must be addressed by industry stakeholders?

1 point

How will the data be priced?

Who will own the data?

Where will the data be stored?

Which data standards will be used?

9.

Question 9

According to this MOOC, which of the following questions pertaining the data layer transition must be addressed by city authorities?

1 point

How will the data be priced?

Will there be restrictions on data accessibility?

Where will the data be located?

Who will own the data?

10.

Question 10

What is the right sequencing of questions regarding the definition and development of the data layer, based on the lectures in this block?

1 point

1. Data transparency

2. Data storage

3. Data standards

4. Data pricing

1. Data standards

2. Data pricing

3. Data transparency

4. Data storage

1. Data storage

2. Data standards

3. Data pricing

4. Data transparency

11.

Question 11

According to this MOOC, what is a main requirement to ensure proper identification and access in the data layer?

1 point

Regulations

Modern devices

Technical interoperability

12.

Question 12

According to this MOOC, what are some examples of stakeholders who could already own the data generated in smart cities?

1 point

Owners of data generating devices

Telecommunications operators

United Nations

Individual users

Urban think tanks

13.

Question 13

When referring to the necessity of a holistic approach in managing the transition in socio-technical systems, which of the below dimensions are of most importance?

1 point

International

Environmental

Technological

Social

Economic

Political

14.

Question 14

Why is there a clash between traditional infrastructure regulation and in-development data regulation ?

1 point

There are no clashes between traditional infrastructure regulation and data regulation.

Because traditional infrastructure regulation is closely linked to the territory while data regulation does not yet have a territorial dimension.

Because traditional infrastructure regulation is linked to the national territory while data regulation is linked to the urban territory.

15.

Question 15

What is the primary advantage of AI (Artificial Intelligence) for the management of urban systems?

1 point

It allows the collection of more precise and reliable data.

It requires more human intervention and thus has intellectual benefits.

It enables permanent control loops, that is to say AI-enabled systems can automatically adapt to different situations and minimize human intervention.

 Week 5 Answers

1.

Question 1

According to this MOOC, what are the three main challenges in the service layer to transition towards smart cities?

1 point

Service integration

Universal services obligation

Data generation

Quality

2.

Question 2

What are the indicators by which the Universal Services Obligations are measured?

1 point

Accessibility

Flexibility

Quality

Affordability

Durability

Sustainability

3.

Question 3

What are the three questions raised in relation to the affordability of Universal Services Obligations?

1 point

The use of social tariffs

The use of digital payment methods

The use of subsidies

Equity

4.

Question 4

Among the providers for these basic services, competition exists; however, there is a trend towards the concentration of the market shares. This leads the way to monopolies, which could significantly improve service quality. True or false?

1 point

False

True

5.

Question 5

Which of the following statements are incorrect?

1 point

The digital divide does not further exacerbate liability issues.

Liability issues are further exacerbated by the digital (and therefore intangible) nature of some services.

6.

Question 6

According to this MOOC, what are the two main alternatives for political priorities when planning a transition towards a smart city?

1 point

The development of infrastructure

Reducing the bandwidth of internet connection

Increasing the penetration rate of smart phones in society

Smart city promotion

7.

Question 7

Which of the following statements best describes the digital divide?

1 point

A divide between the parts of the city that have already adopted smart city solutions and the parts that are not yet reached by them

A divide between the younger and richer parts of the population, who have more access to digital technology, and the rest

A divide between the parts of the public and private sectors where political priorities have been set for a smart city transition and the others

8.

Question 8

According to this MOOC, what is a key risk of setting smart city infrastructure development as a political priority?

1 point

When the infrastructure is in place, the smart city may not necessarily follow.

Politicians might become obsessed with technology and spend less time and energy to campaign for their parties.

Making the infrastructures first will certainly results in a situation that people will not vote for the ruling political party in the next election cycle.

9.

Question 9

How can we ensure that the smart city services providers are not cream-skimming the infrastructure?

1 point

By preventing them to invest part of their profits into environmental projects.

By making them re-invest a portion of their profits in the infrastructure layer.

By making them re-invest all their profits into new smart city services.

10.

Question 10

According to this MOOC, from an environmental perspective, what are the transition challenges for urban managers ?

1 point

Life cycle considerations

Incentivizing the use of fossil fueles

Deciding how central the environment will be to the

11.

Question 11

What are the three steps to roll-out the use of big data analytics in cities?

1 point

1. Define a smart city strategy from a business point of view

2. Develop the appropriate ecosystem

3. Develop an IT road-map

1. Define smart city strategy from a business point of view

2. Develop an IT road-map

3. Develop the appropriate eco-system

1. Develop an ecosystem

2. Develop an IT road-map

3. Define the smart city strategy

12.

Question 12

How are big data analytics differentiated from traditional data analytics?

1 point

Traditional data analytics rely on records, databases and ERP, while big data analytics rely only on unstructured user-centered data.

Traditional data analytics rely on records, databases and ERP, while big data analytics rely on the combination of traditional data with unstructured user-centered data.

Traditional data analytics rely on unstructured user-centered data, while big data analytics rely only on records, databases and ERP.

13.

Question 13

What percentage of the data gathered is not directly exploitable (considered "dark-data")?

1 point

20%

40%

50%

80%

14.

Question 14

Which of the following technologies can be used to analyze "dark-data"?

1 point

Internet of Things

Quantum computing

Natural language processing

Machine learning

Artificial intelligence

Mechanical Automation

Advanced analytics

Cognitive computing

15.

Question 15

Which technological development can be considered as an efficient way to gather data from different channels?

1 point

Hard-drive transmission

Email

Cloud solutions

Final EXAM Answers

1.

Question 1

What are the key trends that have encouraged a shift towards decentralized electricity generation?

1 point

Aesthetic dimensions of decentralized energy production units in houses

Renewable energy alternatives, such as solar and wind, which can be deployed on small scales

The improvement of storage technologies

2.

Question 2

From an economic perspective, what are the main challenges in smart urban energy systems for urban managers ?

1 point

Deciding on the data standards

Determining the pricing of the data

Allocating the costs of a smart urban energy system

Creating new business models

3.

Question 3

According to this MOOC, which of the following are smart urban mobility challenges in the service layer for urban managers?

1 point

Addressing the digital divide

Design of congestion pricing schemes

Business model development

Preventive maintenance of the bus fleet

4.

Question 4

In the context of automated vehicles, which of the following scenarios is the most likely to occur in urban transportation systems?

1 point

Automated vehicles will compete against public transportation systems, and offer users door to door services.

Public transportation will undoubtedly remain the backbone of urban transportation systems, and the last and first miles might be operated by automated vehicles.

A combination of the other two scenarios is most likely.

5.

Question 5

According to this MOOC, why is it important to have flexibility when transitioning into a smart city?

1 point

Flexibility allows cities to adopt a maximum number of innovations.

Flexibility ensures that all innovations are pre-tested before being implemented in the real system.

Keeping the options open avoids the chance of lock-in into premature technologies that could fail in the future.

6.

Question 6

According to this MOOC, what are the requirements for properly interconnecting the telecommunications infrastructures through the communications network?

1 point

Providing free WiFi in the urban public spaces

Standards

Diffusion of modern devices

Technical interoperability

7.

Question 7

According to this MOOC, what are the five dimensions that must be considered when transitioning to smart cities?

1 point

Technological

Social

International

Legal/Political

Environmental

Economic

8.

Question 8

According to this MOOC, what are the main infrastructure challenges in the smart city transition?

1 point

Loyalty to one technology vendor

Standards

Political priorities

Financing

9.

Question 9

According to this MOOC, which of the following options best describes the main consequence of digitalization?

1 point

Rapid development in the capacity to analyze and visualize data

An increase in household bandwidth

The rapid decrease of the number of connected devices

10.

Question 10

According to this MOOC, which of the following are examples of demand side management?

1 point

Introducing brand appliances in households and buildings

Giving financial incentives to reduce consumption during peak hours

Using storage to smooth over intermittencies in energy generation

Using your smart phone to control the lights in your house

11.

Question 11

According to this MOOC, what are some characteristics of the shift in the habits of city dwellers?

1 point

Desire to concentrate all services and remove the burden of choice

Interest in spending more times with friends and family

Desire for customized solutions to their daily needs

Ability to choose from a wide range of options and receive recommendations throughout all steps of the process

12.

Question 12

Fill in the blanks:

Cities are composed of interdependent sub-systems, in which the changes in one subsystem may affect the performance of others. As such, the combination of the (1) of all subsystems results in the performance of the city. Additionally, these systems present high (2): every change or decision made in a socio-technical system is dependent on changes and decisions that were made in the past. Lastly, there is an element of (3) to these systems; the impacts of decisions made and changes introduced in the past are (4) and cannot be undone.

1 point

(1) performance

(2) path-dependency

(3) irreversibility

(4) long-lasting

(1) efficiency

(2) interdependency

(3) complexity

(4) quick

(1) effectiveness

(2) complexity

(3) time-dependence

(4) long-lasting

13.

Question 13

According to this MOOC, which of the following are examples of additional urban subsystems in which a smart city transition could also be implemented?

1 point

Water and waste

Green infrastructures

Eco-Tourism

Housing

Topography

14.

Question 14

What are examples of technologies used to analyze "Big Data"?

1 point

Artificial intelligence

Internet of Things

Smart phones

Machine learning

15.

Question 15

Which of the following are examples of data generating devices?

1 point

Smart phones

Sensors

GPS

Cameras

Servers

16.

Question 16

According to this MOOC, what is the main trend enabling the transition towards a smart city?

1 point

Digitalization

Social networks

Globalization

Terrorism

17.

Question 17

According to this MOOC, which industries are most affected by digitalization?

1 point

Information asymmetric industries

Information intensive industries

Fragmented industries

Energy intensive industries

Non-scalable industries

18.

Question 18

Which of the following is not a prerequisite for the development and transition towards smart cities?

1 point

Independent views of each of the urban infrastructures (silo-thinking)

Management and governance of the data layer

Management and governance of the old legacy infrastructures with the new smart ones

Management of the new services layer

Governing the urban institutions and establishing the rules of the new smart city system

19.

Question 19

Which of the following best defines a prosumer?

1 point

An individual that both consumes and generates electricity

An individual who is also a professional in the energy sector

A consumer whose demand is uncertain and calculated using probabilities

20.

Question 20

What are the three kinds of data that can be generated by smart energy systems?

1 point

Generator data

User behavior

Bandwidth consumption

Grid behavior

21.

Question 21

According to this MOOC, which two options best describe the different views of the smart energy data layer?

1 point

Public Data View: Under this view, data is only provided and managed by the public sector.

Decentralized view: Under this view, data is provided by the most powerful actors across all layers of energy systems.

Integrated View: This view is held by electricity utilities that have generation data and want to provide services based on it. Under this view, data is considered a good.

Data Platform View: Under this view, data is fed by generators and then used by service providers to develop different services for different customers.

22.

Question 22

What are the three drivers of the transition towards smart mobility systems?

1 point

Digitalization

Climate change

Urbanization

Globalization

23.

Question 23

Under the improve pathway, what is the main challenge for the infrastructure layer?

1 point

The integration of the new data infrastructure into the legacy infrastructures

Developing new

System optimization

Ensuring data security

24.

Question 24

According to this MOOC, what are examples of transportation schemes that enable the shift pathway?

1 point

Integrated ticketing systems (smart cards)

The use of segways

Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)

Integrated mobility platforms

25.

Question 25

Which of the following statements is more accurate?

1 point

Technological innovations usually reach maturity quicker than social or institutional innovations.

Social and environmental innovations usually reach maturity quicker than technological innovations.

26.

Question 26

According to this MOOC, which of the following elements of the 'smart city' notion is most likely to be addressed on a national or supranational level?

1 point

Data privacy and security

Data storage technology

Location of access points for free WiFi in the city

27.

Question 27

According to this MOOC, what are the three main aspects of services integration?

1 point

Integrating and coordinating new and old services

Data integration

Coordinating services across systems

Communicating the service level agreements with the representatives of the civic society

28.

Question 28

What is the main accessibility challenge for smart city services?

1 point

Different brands of smart phones used by citizens

The slow development of smart services

The digital divide

29.

Question 29

What are social tariffs?

1 point

Money given by the public sector to operators to lower the prices of services.

Offering a uniform tariff to all groups of citizens, regardless of their race, economic class or gender.

Tariffs that are differentiated based on a customer's income or ability to pay.

30.

Question 30

According to this MOOC, if cities choose to finance new smart city infrastructure through the private sector, what must they do?

1 point

Create the necessary conditions to make this option attractive to the private sector.

Focus on marketing the city by using the "smart city" brand

Develop a financial center to host the companies that invest in the city.

Just focus on Public-Private-Partnership solutions as the best possible option.