Interoperability and Decentralization as Key Technologies for Future Smart Urban Environments

In the current Internet of Things (IoT), centralized IoT structures greatly limit the direct, efficient and privacy preserving interaction with the locally available resources. A sustainable path for the future development of Smart Urban Environments, from Smart Homes and Offices, to Smart Neighborhoods and Cities, requires next-generation IoT solutions which are interoperable and decentralized. Building on direct device-to-device interactions and the existing infrastructure operated by open and interoperable platforms, a novel decentralized IoT architecture is required to offer both privacy-preserving and smart real-time interactions in Smart Spaces, leading thus to truly trustful ambient intelligence serving ordinary citizens in everyday situations. We present the key interoperability and security-related aspects which are designed and implemented within the H2020 project symbIoTe to pave the way for such decentralized IoT solutions. Furthermore, we analyze the requirements and technologies, namely Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), intelligent agents and edge technologies, as the building blocks for the next-generation IoT solutions.