IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Program Management Unit on Area Based Development (PMUA) selected Thammasat University to be a prototype for ‘smart’ community in Pathumthani province by accelerating research on “smart city integration” plan to promote sustainable development for the university using the Center of Academic Excellence in Research and Innovation for City Transport as the regulatory authority to drive all projects.

Associate Professor Dr Pawinee Iamtrakul, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, states that the project is funded by the Program Management Unit on Area Based Development (PMUA) and the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) under the platform “research and innovation to promote spatial development and reduce inequality” and program “innovation for the foundational economy and innovation for the community and university”.

Pattaya Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome has set out his plans to transform the old Pattaya into a new or neo smart city. He surmised that whilst international tourism will remain the immediate bedrock post-virus, it is vital to upgrade Pattaya as an economic hub to exploit opportunities from developing various industries in the three-province Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) of which the city is part. Basically, the EEC is a developing hub of hi-tech import and export industries in eastern Thailand.

On the future of foreign tourism, the mayor said that the city needs to attract back vacationers from top markets with low coronavirus infection rates such as China and Russia. One possibility was to open U-Tapao airport to groups under the Special Tourist Visa (STV) which allows a stay of up to 270 days. At the moment, U-Tapao airport is closed to commercial or charter flights, but already has safety and health-screening procedures in place.

Pattaya has unveiled a five-year roadmap for its technological transformation into a 'smart city', creating a hub for economic, investment, and tourism activity.

The 'Neo Pattaya' strategy is designed to create new opportunities for all Pattaya residents, as well as improving its environment and serving its multicultural community.

Pattaya City and National Telecom Plc (NT) have embarked on a groundbreaking collaboration to develop the 5G Pattaya Smart City project. On Tuesday, Pattaya City Mayor Poramase Ngampichet and NT President Colonel Sapphachai Huwanan formalised this partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Pattaya City Hall.

This initiative focuses on integrating advanced technologies such as 5G Internet, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance city management. A pivotal component of the project is the installation of Smart Poles across Pattaya City, aimed at boosting 5G Internet accessibility and improving the quality of life for both residents and visitors.

It’s been a long time coming, and on Monday (Mar 11) we heard it again: The government is gearing up to achieve its target of 30 smart cities in 24 provinces, including Phuket, by next year and hopes to transform 100 cities nationwide to smart cities by 2022.

That’s no joke, after more than 10 years of banter and talk of big budgets to bring our island to the forefront of technology, or say the pundits claim.

Island-wide closed-circuit television (CCTV) could well become a realisation as part of the Phuket Smart City project, officials announced yesterday (Nov 10).

A meeting overseen by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat yesterday was held to set urban development goals which would see widespread implementation of innovative technology, including CCTV cameras across the island.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is urging Asean nations to work together to further develop the region’s fast-growing digital economy, which is expected to be worth more than US$360 billion (13.32 trillion baht) by the end of this year.

The prime minister made the call at the Asean Business and Investment Summit (Abis) 2022, which he attended via videoconference on Thursday.

Construction of a 5-billion-baht Silicon Tech Park, expected to be a model for Thai digital cities, is set to start next year in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) through a public-private partnership.

The project, dubbed the "Silicon Valley of the East" and co-developed by Planet Communications Asia Plc, Cisco and the EEC Office, is located on an area spanning 500-700 rai in Rayong's Ban Chang district.

A committee tasked with propelling needed reforms under the Thailand 4.0 policy on Monday heard progress updates from state bodies in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.

A series of measures must be implemented to aid in the nation’s digital transformation, including this August cancelling state agency requirements for photocopies of the Thai national ID card and household registrations to access services.

Improving employees’ hard and soft skills is necessary to digitally transform organisations, experts said at the “Synergising Digital Leadership with People Leadership to Achieve Breakthroughs in 2022" webinar on Thursday.

Studies conducted by several institutions worldwide show that 70 per cent of organisations failed to achieve digital transformation because their staff was not ready for the change.

The data centre will make use of modern Geo-Informatics technology in order for concerned government authorities to make well-informed decisions during times of natural calamities.

The MOST, Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute, Royal Irrigation Department, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, are among the many agencies that are actively making use of satellite image maps from GISTDA as a significant tool for monitoring the effects of the recent disaster.

Thais will soon no longer need to show photocopies of their ID cards or household registration certificates when dealing with government offices.

The Digital Government Agency (DGA) expects the administrative changes will take effect by the end of the year as people’s records are accessed online.

The DGA said it will submit to the Cabinet as early as next month a report on the resolutions of the Digital Government Development Steering Committee meeting that dealt with this issue.

Players in the development of smart cities talk about what has been done so far and how artificial intelligence will play an even greater role in the future

Smart city development should be eco-friendly, transparent and improve people’s quality of life, experts told the “Thailand Smart City Expo 2025” seminar organised on Tuesday by the Nation Group’s PostToday and Springnews.

Smart cities present a more connected, efficient vision for the future – they are more innovative and use technology and data in ways that enable them to be cleaner, more sustainable and offer citizens a variety of automated services. From environmental monitoring to automated traffic management and digital payment capabilities, rapid technological advancements are enabling cities to create limitless potential that will shape the future of urban centres.

The shift toward creating smarter cities is completely transforming urban planning as governments around the world look to accelerate smart city development. Research shows the global smart cities market is growing so rapidly that it is expected to exceed US$2.5 trillion as early as 2025 – more than double the estimated US$1 trillion in 2020. And although the economic pressures of the pandemic have stalled some smart city developments – at least temporarily – some of the world’s biggest tech companies continue to invest heavily in smart city projects.

Thailand has embraced the agenda of smart cities, with promises of hope for better urban futures. It is not always clear what is meant by a "smart city" but the agenda in Thailand is presented as being founded on seven core pillars -- Environment, Economy, Mobility, Governance, Living, People and Energy, with promises to improve people's quality of life, reduce inequality, and create prosperity, security, and sustainability.

Importantly, the Smart Governance pillar offers "to make governance fair and transparent, and also encouraging people's participation". These are commitments that are much needed in Thailand, but the planning process of smart cities appears to exclude the majority of urban citizens and is a long way from being transparent or accountable, and with no meaningful participation in how cities are shaped or for whose benefit.

The concept of smart cities is revolutionizing urban living, blending technology and sustainability to create efficient and livable environments. Today, OPEN-TEC (a tech knowledge-sharing platform), powered by TCC TECHNOLOGY GROUP, explores the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and other advanced technologies in promoting sustainability, energy management, and integrated technical solutions to address modern urban challenges.

Many envision a smart city similar to what we saw in Sci-fi movies with flying vehicles transporting people from door to door or a doctor that is literally a machine inside every residence.

We have long heard about cities becoming ‘smart’. How smartness for a city is defined today and how close we are to realize such vision? Where are we with ‘Smart City’ in 2022? Although the modern vision of a smart city is still far from what portrayed in movies, advances in artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, cloud technology, big data and the internet of things (IoT), are gradually aligning reality with user expectations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a timely demonstration of the extent to which digital technology could become fully entrenched in a city, as a means to support public health precautions and maintain effective infection control.

Sensor connectivity and the Internet of Things (IoT) have been used to facilitate the screening for and tracking of infections while also enabling the delivery of contactless services in the new normal of people’s daily lives.

Thailand's spending on the transition to a new version of Internet Protocol (IP) is expected to drive IT equipment purchases by as much as 100 billion baht over the next 3-5 years.

The Thai government has ordered all e-government services to support Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) by 2015.

Launched officially worldwide yesterday, IPv6 involves a global IT network mandate to replenish available IP addresses. An IPv6 migration will involve upgrading all applications, hosts, routers and DNS infrastructure.

Initiative aims to ensure continuity in smart-city development while promoting efficient application of digital technologies

Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong disclosed after presiding over a meeting of the Committee for the Promotion and Development of Digital Economy and Society on January 9 that the committee has approved the establishment of a Subcommittee for Driving Smart City Development.