IfG.CC - The Institute for eGovernment

One of the big ideas of the 21st century, “smart cities” promised a new world of connected, data-driven and sustainable urbanism. Pervasive digital infrastructures would monitor flows from sewage to traffic to criminal activities, providing information in real time and anticipating and preventing risks.

However, in practice, smart cities have been disappointing. Schemes like Alphabet’s failed “city built from the Internet, up” was criticized for being opportunistic data grabs. And many other smart city projects have been fragmented and unimpressive

Safer cities. Less pollution. Better quality of life.

Since upcoming elections are front of mind, you might think I’m offering snippets of campaign promises. Actually, I’m talking about a nonpolitical type of movement designed to make everyone a winner.

We at the Arizona Technology Council are getting ready to host our 8th annual Smart City + IoT Conference, which will be held in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority from 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at ASU SkySong Innovation Center in Scottsdale.

A series of government opinion polls aimed at improving services provided by ministries and agencies has resulted in a set of recommendations designed to enhance the quality of client-facing services. The proposals focus on advancing the mechanization of services such as electronic payments, streamlining procedures, improving the handling of complaints, developing electronic services, and reducing the documentation cycle for processing client transactions.

Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, made a working visit to Arkadag City, where he held a meeting with relevant officials and reviewed infrastructure projects.

During the meeting, the Chairman of the State Committee for the Construction of Arkadag City extended congratulations to the National Leader of the Turkmen people on behalf of the city's population for receiving three awards at the World Smart City Expo in the Republic of Korea.

Mauritius continues to demonstrate its commitment to modernizing its digital infrastructure, with the launch of the Mobile ID system supported by Thales and aimed at enhancing access to government services. The initiative, unveiled by the minister of information technology, communication and innovation, Darsanand Balgobin, is part of the broader effort to transform the country’s digital ecosystem.

Speaking at the official announcement, Minister Balgobin highlights that with the implementation of the Mobile ID in the MWA digital wallet app, Mauritius will become the first African country to bring in a digital ID wallet based on ISO standards. Mauritians will have the ability to use the digital identity card for certain administrative procedures. The app is available for both Android and Apple devices.

Digital wireless connectivity is coming to a small town in Texas under a new smart city and 5G project from NTT Data.

The city of Brownsville, Texas, is currently experiencing a growth spurt after Space X Starbase complex, the Texas LNG facility and deep-water Port of Brownsville are causing a lot of attention for the region. However, digital capabilities and secure wireless connectivity is not something the city installed.

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State is on the delegation of President Bola Tinubu to the on-going 2024 Forum on China and Africa Cooperation ending today. In this interview with Deji Elumoye in the Chinese capital, Beijing, Sani speaks about the agreement signed on Monday between the State government and a Chinese firm, Huawei, for the development of a smart city in Kaduna and its impact on good governance. Excerpts:

Could the city known for golf, three-for-$10 T-shirts and sunburned tourists crowding Ocean Boulevard be the next Silicon Valley for government-focused tech firms?

Some city officials don't see that possibility as far-fetched. Myrtle Beach City Council discussed the path to becoming a tech hub this week. A Sept. 3 workshop focused on four companies joining the yet-to-be-built Living Lab in the city’s Arts and Innovation District, a section of downtown designated for redevelopment as a cultural and tech center. The city's latest goal is to attract companies that build technology for government services.

Indonesia’s new capital city Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN), which is about 15 per cent completed, has released a smartphone application that will ultimately allow residents to access public services with a tap and a swipe.

Features are still being added to the IKNOW app, which was released in February. But users can already use it for basic needs such as contacting emergency services and navigating within the planned 250,000ha city in the forest.

Over the past few years, the citizens of the UK have seen a significant stride toward developing a data-driven Smart state. The government & various private firms have been preparing to harness the power of data. Every nation is well aware that data is the new oil. Therefore, private firms and public sector organizations want to leverage data to make smarter cities from a theoretical discourse to a reality.

Over the past decades, the UK government has started multiple initiatives like open data initiation, digital government services, smart industrialization with urban innovation, data governance, citizen data privacy, etc. For developing data-driven smart cities an achievable reality sooner or later, the nation should integrate data analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and smart technologies.

More than 8,000 multi-sectoral projects are being developed under the ambitious 100 Smart City projects, amounting to approximately Rs 1.6 lakh crore, the government said in an official update.

The ambitious Smart City Mission was launched on June 25, 2015, aiming at providing core infrastructure, a clean and sustainable environment, and a decent quality of life to their citizens.

In the age of technology and urban development, smart cities are at the forefront of innovation. One key component of these initiatives is the use of outdoor LCD displays to enhance communication, engagement, and information dissemination. These digital screens have become integral in transforming public spaces into interactive and dynamic environments. In this blog, we will explore the pivotal role that outdoor LCD displays play in shaping the future of smart cities and the numerous benefits they bring to urban communities.

Smart cities represent the future of urban living, integrating advanced technologies to improve the quality of life for residents. With urban populations growing rapidly, cities face significant challenges in maintaining sustainability, safety, and efficiency. Technology solutions offer the potential to address these challenges, making urban environments more livable and resilient.

A new "smart city" project is set to be developed in Nkenyane, Ward 14, approximately 20km north of Bulawayo in Bubi, Matabeleland North Province. This initiative aims to modernize the rural district through improved infrastructure and increased investment appeal.

The proposal, which is awaiting Cabinet approval, has received support from three major corporations interested in building modern housing and a shopping mall. The project is expected to alleviate housing shortages in Bulawayo by attracting home-seekers to Bubi due to its proximity to the city.

As Gauteng cities undergo a significant transformation, the Gauteng Provincial Government is looking to the future with a forward-thinking approach that incorporates smart technology and sustainable development into the revitalisation project.

Building 24-Hour Vibrant Cities

One of the standout features of the revitalisation is the creation of 24-hour vibrant cities. With increased access to Wi-Fi and other smart technologies, Gauteng is set to become a uniform hub of activity around the clock. The introduction of smart solutions, including an integrated transport system and community-based safety programmes, will make the city more accessible and safer for everyone.

In an era where technology is rapidly evolving, cities and communities are embracing smart solutions to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is at the forefront of this transformation, fostering the development and deployment of smart city technologies. Through initiatives like the Global Community Technology Challenge (GCTC), NIST is helping cities worldwide to adopt advanced technologies, improve infrastructure, and create more connected, resilient communities.

A city-wide infrastructure to enable E-ID and fully digitized civil registration and vital statistics services is set to be unveiled by the Addis Ababa Civil Registration & Resident Services Agency (CRRSA) in the coming weeks. As part of an impetus to transform the capital into a smart city, the Agency will look for software partners to onboard onto its comprehensive digitization efforts.

A mobile application dubbed ‘Digital Kebele’ will grant residents access to CRRSA’s services while also enabling a digital ID that has a unique identifier verifiable by authorities.

Islamabad is prepping for a major technological overhaul as it sets out to become a ‘Model Digital City.’ The basic purpose of this initiative is to integrate advanced technology into daily life, promising a more convenient and efficient urban experience for residents.

As per the latest reports, the upcoming transformation will introduce 150 app-based services designed to facilitate different aspects of daily living. These services will offer improved accessibility and ease, catering to different needs from transportation to administrative tasks.

Monica Duhem, Director of the Global Advisory Center at the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict), explains how she has been working to make accessibility by design a priority for cities, and how model policies have helped make an impact.

Q: Can you provide some background information on how you came to be involved in the accessible technology space?

My journey into the accessible technology space began during my time working with the Mexican government, specifically within the Ministry of Telecommunication. I was responsible for handling international relations and issues, and it was in this capacity that I became the first rapporteur at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under a question dedicated to the development of inclusive technology for persons with disabilities. This was around 2010 when the ITU, a UN organisation, first began examining how ICT could become more inclusive of and benefit persons with disabilities.

The pandemic has rendered most pre-existing smart city concepts obsolete, leaving cities and regions scrambling to adapt to the profound changes of the last few years. Initially, the goal was to lure people back to work and live downtown—a vision that the pandemic has dramatically altered.

Many conferences still promote outdated ideas like Smart Cities 2.0, rehashing concepts that no longer align with the rapidly shifting realities of today’s market. City leaders must recognize these differences to avoid pursuing outmoded priorities and ineffective solutions that fail to add value.

Muscat residents identified unemployment, affordable housing and public transport as the top priority areas needing attention

Muscat is ranked 88th out of 142 cities in the 2024 Smart City Index (SCI), reflecting a significant improvement from its 96th position last year. The index, developed by International Institute for Management Development, assesses residents’ perceptions of the infrastructure and technology applications in their cities.

In the 2024 Smart City Index (SCI), cities across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have shown notable progress in integrating technology and infrastructure. Abu Dhabi and Dubai lead the region, ranked 10th and 12th globally, respectively. This year's index, developed by the International Institute for Management Development, evaluates how residents perceive their city’s infrastructure and the effectiveness of technology in everyday life.

The city government of Borongan in Eastern Samar will launch by September a digital platform designed to enhance the delivery of healthcare services.

Identified as one of the initiatives under the Smart and Sustainable Cities Program, the local government will come up with a "comprehensive patient database, seamlessly connecting medical needs" with city social services, the "Libreng Medisina" (free medicine) program, and the soon-to-open city infirmary's laboratory and x-ray services.

Imagine a city brimming with the latest gadgets and innovations. Yet, amidst the technological utopia, a lag in emergency response times and surveillance systems are prone to malfunction would leave crime to fester.

In such a city, the allure of smart tech fades into insignificance when basic safety needs are not met. As NEC Malaysia’s General Manager and Head of Business Units, CP Chan, puts it, "Would you invest in or live in a place where you feel constantly at risk?"

Nearly seven years after the introduction of the smart cities mission by the Union govt, four smart cities – Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, and Amaravati – selected from Andhra Pradesh under this mission have executed various innovative projects.

With over 85% completion, projects worth ₹5,657 crore have been completed out of a planned ₹6,620 crore.

The City of Myrtle Beach says it is formally launching its initiative toward becoming a “smart city” with help from companies moving to the city.

The city announced Monday the first participants of its “Living Lab,” which it describes as “an innovative public-private partnership designed to support the development of emerging technology and encourage entrepreneurs to use Myrtle Beach as their hub.”

Chief Innovative Officer for the city, Howard Waldie IV said Myrtle Beach is the perfect spot.

Generative AI is shaping up to be the technology that finally makes smart cities truly viable.

Since we realised we could put small, cheap sensors into pretty much any device, the possibility of the smart city has seemed tantalisingly within reach. If we know everything about a city, we can run it better, surely? The challenge, though, has been turning that vast tide of data into a wave of insight we can surf.

In recent years, Hong Kong has made significant strides in its smart city initiative, with the government and private sector collaborating to implement a range of digital solutions across transportation, healthcare, public services, and more. However, the full potential of these smart city applications has often been limited by the constraints of traditional wireless connectivity solutions.

Hong Kong continues to take significant steps forward in leveraging cutting-edge technologies to drive innovation and efficiency. Most recently is the adoption of private 5G (P5G) networks enabling a new wave of smart city applications and use cases.

Saudi Arabia was represented five times in the 2024 edition of the International Institute for Management Development Smart City Index

The evolution of smart cities in Saudi Arabia could change the residential landscape of the Kingdom, as high-net-worth individuals discover these communities are perfect destinations for setting up homes, according to experts.

Smart cities integrate artificial intelligence alongside information and communications technology to derive actionable insight from infrastructure, systems and processes to enhance the quality of life and safety for citizens.

A smart city is an urban area that integrates digital technologies and data-driven systems to improve the efficiency of services, enhance residents' quality of life, and promote sustainability.

These cities utilise advanced technologies to manage resources more effectively, streamline infrastructure, and address urban challenges such as traffic congestion, waste management, and public safety. While this concept is not a primary focus in Zimbabwe now, it is important to consider future possibilities as the country aims to develop smart cities as part of its Vision 2030.

Principal Secretary of Urban Development and Housing Department, Sunil Kumar, has said that the infrastructure has been developed in Ranchi Smart City, now there is a need to invite some big players here, which will give more impetus to development. He has also directed to issue new guidelines regarding the development of core capital being developed in the GRDA area.

A review meeting of the Urban Development and Housing Department of the State Government was held here on Thursday, in which Kumar reviewed many important state and central sponsored schemes and also gave necessary instructions. In this meeting, senior officials of the Urban Development and Housing Department also gave updated information to the Principal Secretary on urban investment, civic amenities, transport aid, water supply, establishment aid, schemes running under the 15th Finance Commission and their updates.

The setting up of critical infrastructure in Kenya's Konza Technopolis, a smart city, has gathered steam to facilitate a digital and green economic transition that promises jobs and renewal, officials said.

The smart city, located about 70 km southeast of Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, will be completed soon, with investments from the public sector, industry, and bilateral donors, Konza Technopolis CEO John Paul Okwiri said Wednesday.

Smart Cities are the future of urban development, incorporating computational advancements and renewable energy sources. Bharat Exhibitions organized the 2ND Safe City and Intelligent Mobility India 2024 on 22nd of August, 2024 at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi. The benchmark summit and exhibition on urban development, is a hub where executives, city representatives and academics from around the world meet to accelerate a better future for our cities. The summit showcased the integration of transformative technologies with the key pillars of urban development, i.e., Green Buildings, Rooftop Solar, Renewable & Clean energy, Clean Environment, Clean Water, Water Conservation, Urban Mobility, and the use of Smart ICT solutions for optimizing resources that make cities smart and sustainable.

According to the United Nations, around 55 per cent of the world’s population presently live in cities. By 2050, that proportion will increase to two-thirds. According to predictions, from 10 “megacities” (with populations of more than 10 million residents) in 1990, there will be around 43 by 2030.

It is perhaps a misnomer that “smart” cities are purely smart because they are more sophisticated in their use of new technology to automate functions and services. Smart cities are well-planned, combining medium and high-density dwellings with reliable resources from water, energy and internet speed through to green spaces, transport and community facilities.

Property development players have signed a deal to help make North Hanoi Smart City the first carbon-neutral urban area in Vietnam.

At the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders Meeting held in Indonesia across August 20-21, four entities handed over an MoU on decarbonisation through energy management, aiming to make North Hanoi Smart City the first carbon-neutral urban area in Vietnam.

With Hong Kong’s First Localized Wireless Broadband System (Private) License, the newly launched docomo 5G DX Square provides innovators a stable and scalable wireless backbone for future smart city POCs.

NTT Com Asia (NTT) is giving smart city development in Hong Kong a significant boost by establishing a technology and innovation ecosystem with the launch of docomo 5G DX Square, an innovation lab designed from the ground up to enable local innovators co-develop new AI, Edge and Private 5G (P5G) applications within Hong Kong’s first-of-its-kind P5G environment. NTT is the first service provider to receive the Localized Wireless Broadband System (Private) License from Hong Kong’s Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA).

"Addis Ababa Launches Bold Plan for Sustainable Urban Growth!"

Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie announced a new city development strategy to enhance urban planning and resource mobilization for future growth.

Addis Ababa City has launched a new City Development Strategy (CDS) on August 20, 2024. This initiative aims to reshape urban development in the city. Mayor Adanech Abiebie announced the strategy, emphasizing its importance for long-term growth.

Around 36 private service providers authorised by the corporation for waste collection

In an effort to curb illegal waste collection and transportation, Thiruvananthapuram corporation has decided to implement a GPS and QR code system for all waste transportation vehicles.

The decision to feature QR codes on the entire fleet of such vehicles is aimed at addressing the challenges faced by enforcement squads and to ensure real-time tracking of vehicles from the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). There are around 36 private service providers authorised by the corporation for waste collection.

The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau is pioneering digital transformation in public administration and social services, aiming to streamline bureaucracy and enhance citizen services while modernising governance and significantly boosting the region's investment appeal.

In line with government's Resolution No.02/NQ-CP on administrative procedure reform issued in January this year, Ba Ria-Vung Tau has identified digital transformation and smart-city development as top priorities. These tasks aim to enhance public governance and digital government capabilities and improve the locality's competitiveness and investment appeal.

Morning walkers at Race Course had a pleasant surprise on Sunday – a policewoman patrolling the area on an electric bike. The cop was cordial and interacted with them.

A police officer said the e-bike patrolling was launched in the city for the first time on Saturday night, when a policeman went around the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital premises, where a person attempted to molest a house surgeon a few days ago.

Smart city technologies in the country ranks Qatar as a leading market for IoT solutions in the region, stated analysts at Statista.

Qatar is advancing towards harnessing growth in the IoT sector by implementing various diversified enhancements. Industry leaders note that the country has become a hub for the market, with numerous innovations, exceptional infrastructures, and monitoring of digital performance.

In an era marked by rapid urbanization and technological advancement, the concept of smart cities has captured the imagination of urban planners, technologists, and policymakers worldwide for over a decade. As cities grapple with the challenges of accommodating growing populations, managing resources efficiently, and improving quality of life, a new paradigm is emerging that promises to revolutionize urban living: the cognitive city. At the heart of this transformation lies the game-changing potential of generative AI, poised to unlock the true potential of smart cities and usher in a new age of urban intelligence.

The foundation of smart cities has long been the Internet of Things (IoT), a vast network of sensors and connected devices that gather data on everything from traffic patterns to energy consumption. This underlying technology remains crucial, as without proper access to sensors in the city, no AI system can make meaningful decisions or provide valuable advice. However, the true power of smart cities lies not just in data collection, but in how that data is interpreted and utilized to improve urban life.

The Selangor State Development Corp (PKNS) will jointly develop the e.Sentral smart city project with property developer HCK Capital Group Bhd (HCK) as part of a move towards building low-carbon cities.

PKNS deputy chief executive officer (development) Md Kamarzan Md Rais said the “mixed-used development” in Subang Perdana will be developed on ​​4.05 ha with environmental, social and governance or ESG elements.

The Indonesian government claims that the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) will become a world-class smart city with an intelligent transportation system.

"One of the public service domains that will be presented in IKN is smart transportation and mobility which will transform the way people get around," said the Deputy for Green and Digital Transformation of the IKN Authority, Mohammed Ali Berawi, on April 26.

The launch of the Smart Transit Card (STC) and the travel-aid app Tummoc on Wednesday will transport Panaji’s e-bus commuters to the world of paperless ticketing, allowing them to tap in and out to board or alight.

The technology will be available from Thursday. It has been introduced by Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) and Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd (KTCL) as part of the Smart City initiative.

Used sub-optimally, the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) that was built for Rs 35.96 crore under the Smart City mission to help the municipal corporation detect encroachment and other violations using its CCTV network of 1,401 cameras leads to hardly any ground action. At a recent meeting in Delhi about Smart City projects, the Ludhiana officials were told to increase their ICCC utilisation.

This centre’s performance report that the MC’s had filed with the deputy commissioner’s office recently was confined to police operations mostly, while this system can do much more than improving urban safety, security, and surveillance. The control room can catch camera tampering, unattended objects, illegal parking, encroachment, red-light jumpers, dysfunctional streetlights, and theft of rooftop solar panels. The system can also track getaway vehicles, waste trucks, MC cars, local buses, and fire tenders.

The study evaluates the impact of smart city developments in South Korea, revealing that while these initiatives enhance economic growth and environmental sustainability, they also pose challenges related to social equity, transparency, and privacy. The findings underscore the need for a balanced approach that integrates both technological advancements and inclusive, citizen-centered policies.

A study conducted by Yirang Lim from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at TU Delft, Jurian Edelenbos from the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, and Alberto Gianoli from IHS, Erasmus University, Rotterdam provides a comprehensive analysis of the effects of smart city initiatives on urban sustainability by developing the Smart City Impact Index, an empirical tool used to assess the outcomes of smart city projects in South Korea.

The project is funded by the Glasgow City Region City Deal that is investing more than £1bn in transport improvements and infrastructure in the city region. Glasgow City Council is partnering with transport technology scale-up VivaCity to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve traffic flow and road safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The project is being funded by the Glasgow City Region City Deal, which is an initiative to invest over £1bn in transport improvements and infrastructure in the Glasgow City Region.

Rapid urbanization is pushing cities to their limits. With 68% of the global population expected to live in urban areas by 2050, according to UN projections, the challenges of congestion, pollution and inefficient infrastructure are reaching critical levels.

The solution? Smart cities are powered by a trifecta of cutting-edge technologies: digital twins, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication and generative AI.

As the world is rapidly urbanising, with 70% of the global population projected to live in cities by 2050, the need for intelligent and sustainable urban solutions is more critical than ever. This trend is particularly pronounced in India, which faces a significant surge in urban growth. By 2050, an estimated 800 million people are expected to reside in Indian cities. This rapid expansion demands a new approach to urban development—one where technology takes center stage.

Smarter and sustainable cities aided with the application of AV/IT-led solutions are the way forward. By merging the power of AV technologies—those shaping our visual and auditory experiences—with ITs data processing and analytical capabilities, urban planners can transform the urban landscape. This convergence shows the potential to solve the urban challenges and support policymakers in building sustainable and smart cities. For example, optimising traffic flow by analysing clear visuals, enhancing public safety with intelligible audio, maximising resource efficiency, creating more liveable urban environments, and even more.

Is South Africa truly ready for smart cities full of bullet trains and flying taxis?

According to Sunil Geness, director of global government affairs & CSR for Africa at SAP, smart cities hold enormous potential for improving the quality of life for millions of South Africans.

“Smart cities leverage technology to bring improvements to every aspect of the citizen experience, from affordable housing to education and work opportunities. With a fast-growing population and high levels of development, South Africa is well positioned to take advantage of the benefits of smart cities to improve the living conditions of millions of citizens.”

The Guyana Innovation Group (GIG), in a landmark collaboration with the Government of Guyana and the University of Miami, joins the recent announcement of the unveiling of the masterplan for Silica City by the Government of Guyana, a groundbreaking new city poised to become a beacon of sustainability, innovation, and progress for Guyana and the world.

After two extensions in the past two years, Dehradun Smart City Limited (DSCL) is now almost nearing completion.

Dehradun is the only city in Uttarakhand selected for the Centre’s Smart City initiative in 2017, with a budget exceeding Rs 1,000 crore, funded equally by the Centre and state. Now with the project ending, residents are questioning whether the crores spent in the project have made the city any better?

Recently I sat in the passenger seat of a small goods carrier while Nitin, the driver, gingerly navigated the undulations of the recently repaved CHOGM road. Trying to avoid the many depressions in the road, he drove slowly into oncoming traffic. CHOGM road had been dug to place sewer pipes. The mud that went to refill the trenches had not been compacted thoroughly before the road was retarred. Thus, the onset of rains caused the ground to sink - this is, as per Nitin’s explanation, which included a few heartfelt expletives for those causing problems for the common people of Goa.

In Singapore’s next chapter, embracing collective responsibility and fostering inclusive participation will be key in our journey to becoming a future-ready society, say Suhaila Zainal Shah, Samuel Chng and Harvey Neo from SUTD’s Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities.

Singapore has managed to progress over some six decades despite myriad challenges by anticipating future trends, adapting to changes and addressing problems head-on.

However, with an increasingly accelerated pace of change, how ready are we in preparing for the future and can we replicate our success?

It will be located at Athens' closed Ellinikon airport

Greece is pursuing an ambitious plan to transform the abandoned Ellinikon airport. Ellinikon in Europe's largest smart city. This multi-billion dollar mega project is expected to catalyze economic growth, attract tourists from around the world and create a progressive community living in harmony with the environment.

„Ellinikon“, located just 20 minutes from Athens, will occupy 620 hectares and offer its residents and visitors a wide range of amenities. But the main thing is that citizens will be able to reach schools, parks, offices, shops and the beach in less than 15 minutes. “The smart city” will consist of luxury residential blocks, villas and apartments on the first line. The price per square meter will be up to 15,000 EUR. There will be an integrated casino resort and Mandarin Oriental hotel. The city will have the largest coastal park in Europe. Two large shopping centers will also be built, as well as a sports complex with swimming pools, football fields and tennis courts.

The concept of Smart Cities is revolutionising urban living, ushering in an era where technology and data are the cornerstones of efficient, sustainable and livable environments. As urban populations continue to swell, with projections estimating that 68 percent of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050, the need for innovative solutions to manage resources and improve the quality of life has never been more pressing. Smart Cities represent a response to this challenge, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create urban areas that are not only more efficient but also more responsive to the needs of their inhabitants.

Story Summary

• West Palm Beach is working with a Columbus, Ohio-based firm to have as many as 20 interactive, wayfinding kiosks installed in the downtown area.
• The kiosks would display advertising until they are touched by a pedestrian. That touch would prompt the kiosk's interactive landscape application, which would offer information on everything from directions to a particular restaurant to what time a show starts at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.
• The tentative agreement between West Palm Beach and IKE calls for a five-year contract with two five-year automatic renewals based on performance, usage and market conditions.

By end of next year, Nagpur’s traffic signals and movement are likely to be monitored by Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the city inches closer to getting its own Intelligent Integrated Traffic Management System (IITMS).

Be it a natural disaster, political protests, or accidents, the flow of traffic may remain unhindered as AI will inform authorities which route to divert vehicles to and even provide simulations of the worst-case scenarios.

Wayne Arvidson, global CTO of verticals, computer vision and AI at Dell Technologies, and Charbel Aoun, smart cities and spaces director EMEA at NVIDIA, discuss how AI can be used in cities to improve personal experiences for residents and staff alike, and explain the cascading benefits of adopting the technology early.

Operational efficiency, resource efficiency, cost-effectiveness – these are all critical elements of improving a city’s bottom line. They’re also an essential part of providing personal experiences and services in cities that are positive, reliable, and sustainable.

Senior Researcher Tauhid Ahmad from the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) estimates that developing Indonesia's future capital, Nusantara, into a smart city will require between Rp 300 trillion ($18.7 billion) and Rp 400 trillion. The cost of smart city projects is significantly higher than that of conventional infrastructure.

“Smart cities, for instance, use electric vehicles, which are more expensive than traditional ones. This necessitates a larger budget,” Tauhid Ahmad explained during an interview with Investor Daily TV (IDTV) on Wednesday.

Digital technologies are transforming government and urban governance. Cities are becoming smarter by digitising systems and integrating predictive tools into everyday services. Local Digital Twins (LDTs) and Local Digital Platforms (LDPs) enable this transformation by using data analytics and AI to create virtual replicas of urban environments and combining historical and real-time data. This allows cities to conduct real-time analyses and make data-driven decisions. The adoption of LDPs and LDTs is steadily gaining momentum across Europe, as local administrations increasingly recognise the transformative potential of these technologies to enhance urban environments. Nevertheless, even though LDTs are designed to vary in maturity and capabilities to assist smaller cities with their adoption, the pace of implementation remains uneven, mirroring the broader digital divide across the continent and highlighting a series of common challenges.

Chief Secretary JK Sinha inaugurated Agartala Smart City Limited's own data center yesterday. Apart from Chief Secretary JK Sinha at the inauguration of this data center on the ground floor of IT Bhavan in Indiranagar, Abhishek Singh, Secretary of Urban Development Department, Executive Officer of Agartala Smart City Limited, Dr. Shailesh Kumar Yadav was also present.

The executive officer of Agartala Smart City Limited Dr. Shailesh Kumar Yadav said, Agartala Smart City Limited is the first among all smart cities in the country to build its own data center.

SAS AI Cities Index is based on seven criteria, including AI-related jobs, number of AI companies, search demand for generative AI and education opportunities.

Manchester has been ranked the most artificial intelligence-ready city in the UK outside of London, according to research.

The city topped the SAS AI Cities Index 2024, compiled by AI and analytics specialist SAS, which annually reveals the cities outside the UK capital that are most likely to benefit from the growing appetite for artificial intelligence intelligence (AI).

Lusail will showcase highly expensive and uniquely designed structures.

An incredible new mega-city worth £35 billion is being built from scratch that will transform a popular Middle-eastern country. Qatar is powering through the construction of Lusail, a megacity just north of Doha.

Lusail will showcase highly expensive and uniquely designed structures.

Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Sustainable Energy Society Suad Al- Hussein described the signing of the infrastructure contract for the South Saad Al-Abdullah City project as a “major leap” and a start toward the government’s goal of establishing smart cities. In a press statement, she revealed that this project will provide approximately 24,508 smart housing units for citizens.

Al-Hussein commended the government’s efforts to expand the development of such advanced cities to keep pace with global trends in this field. She highlighted the role of scientific and executive institutions, such as the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS) and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), along with the many specialists trained in these fields from educational institutions, as crucial assets in supporting the construction of these modern housing units.

To promote the development of sustainable cities and enhance urban resilience, the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), a wing of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), has rolled out a plan for converting Indore into a green city.

IGBC has suggested a detailed study on the basis of the 24 green city indicators to achieve the goal of a green city.

Seattle has been crowned the smartest city in the U.S., with Miami and Austin ranking closely behind, according to a recent study.

The research assessed 16 key indicators across three main categories: connectivity and infrastructure, sustainability, and the tech job market. These metrics were used to determine the overall scores for each city.

Indonesia, as the ASEAN Smart City Network (ASCN) shepherd, has strengthened partnerships across stakeholders, including the community, to realize smart, resilient, and sustainable cities.

"Collaboration involving the public and private sectors, as the wider stakeholders, through ASCN and other relevant platforms can bring better solutions for smart city development," the Home Ministry's director general of regional administration development, Amran, said, according to a press statement issued here on Friday.

The Housing and Local Government Ministry is set to propose the establishment of "sister cities" between Shanghai and Putrajaya to the cabinet soon.

This initiative aligns with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and Malaysia.

Glasgow City Council has awarded a contract worth more than £35m as it seeks to become one of the world’s most “pioneering and innovative smart cities.”

Commsworld said the 5 year deal was one of the largest in its history.

“It comes at a significant moment for Commsworld, as it is the 30th anniversary since the company was founded,” said Steve Langmead, Chief Executive of Commsworld.

According to the Information and Communication Technologies Division (ICTD), Smart Bangladesh will be built on four main pillars: Smart Citizens, Smart Government, Smart Economy, and Smart Society

As Bangladesh transitions from the vision of a Digital Bangladesh to the ambitious goal of becoming a Smart Bangladesh by 2041, the nation stands on the cusp of a transformative journey. This evolution aims to leverage advanced technologies, foster innovation, and enhance connectivity to create a more inclusive and sustainable society.

Concerns about data privacy have grown as tech creeps into urban spaces

The Mayor of London has unveiled a new register designed to increase transparency and trust around the use of smart technologies in the capital.

The initiative, known as the Privacy Register, aims to provide citizens with comprehensive information about the data-driven systems they encounter daily in public spaces.

According to the World Bank, around 56% of the world’s population lives in cities. By 2050, this figure is predicted to rise to 70%. This acceleration towards urbanisation is putting city infrastructure under enormous strain. Congested highways, crammed public transport, overworked waste management systems and sporadic urban planning are just a few consequences of our collective influx into cities.

Some cities in the Asia Pacific, such as Singapore, Jakarta and Osaka, have turned to technology to deal with the challenges of growing urban populations. These have become known as “smart cities”, leveraging advancements in sensor technologies, cloud computing and data infrastructure to serve residents, visitors and businesses better.

Much has been said about Shillong’s Smart City Project. But there are several reasons that make Shillong an unsmart, non-viable city at present. For one the city is getting hotter by the day and that’s inevitable considering the dwindling lung spaces in the heart of the city. All other cities like Kolkata, Delhi etc., make it a point to grow trees by the side of the road. Here there is an obsession to fell as many trees as possible on any pretext. With added floors being allowed to be constructed and the population explosion in Shillong City leading to a mad rush for building spaces, whatever trees there were have vanished. Only a few homes still have a semblance of a garden and a few trees dotting their compounds. Others have become stark, cemented structures with not a leaf in sight.