Abstract

Internet of Things (IoT) holds significant potential for municipal efficiency and effectiveness. It enables subsystems to seamlessly communicate and permits their integration into a connected whole, affording new opportunities for value creation. In this paper, we present a study of municipal litter-bins that have been retrofitted with sensors to convey data on trash volume in each receptacle. Based on interviews, strategy documents, and notes from project meetings, we analyse their implementation from a data quality perspective and reflect on social- and technical issues. The case illustrates the propensity and consequences of overestimating benefits and oversimplifying technical interventions. This paper contributes to our practical understanding of socio-technical implications of technology use in the public sector in general and the deployment of IoT for smart cities in particular.

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