Big challenges lie ahead for urban planners

What is the biggest hurdle for a technological revolution on the scale of the smart city movement in China?

It's certainly not a lack of interest. Just as the country's construction boom has been a magnetic draw for world-class architects, the nascent smart city market has also attracted people who are not afraid to think big.

George Thomas, general manager of the smart city program for IBM Greater China, has been leading a team implementing smart city solutions in China in recent years.