These three cities found a tech partner that helped them navigate their challenges, on time and at scale.
As urbanisation continues apace, cities need connectivity with near-zero downtime to deliver the best possible experience to citizens.
According to Deloitte’s 2023 research, city leaders are eager to digitise government services and enhance overall digital access for citizens. Yet they face numerous challenges. Many need either to upgrade legacy systems, or to establish entirely new ones. Some need to integrate the two.
Overcoming these challenges requires cities to find reliable long-term technology partners, and given its 30 years in the ICT industry, some have chosen Huawei.
Here are three real-world case studies that show how such partnerships worked.
- Sarawak, Malaysia
In Sarawak, a state in Malaysia, the integration of technology is revolutionising farming, education, and daily life. The government has partnered with Huawei to provide digital connectivity to all Sarawak residents, with the goal of doubling the state’s GDP by 2030.
The Sarawak government has developed the Digital Economy Blueprint 2030 that focuses on creating a robust digital economy even though 62 per cent of Sarawak’s land mass is covered by forest. Among other things, the Blueprint aims to improve 4G coverage in Sarawak from 66 per cent to 93.6 per cent by the end of 2024.
The plan also involves constructing 600 new antenna towers, nearly 500 of which have already been completed. Transitioning from 2G and 3G networks to more widespread 4G allowed the Sarawak government to adopt digital solutions such as e-wallet systems and contact tracing during the pandemic.
Improved 4G coverage has also proved a boon to agriculture. The Taman Kekal Pengeluaran Rampagi greenhouse project uses the IoT to monitor environmental factors affecting plant growth. The result is a 20 per cent increase in crop yields and higher revenues for farmers.
Education has also benefited, with Huawei and the Sarawak Multimedia Authority enhancing educational opportunities for school children in remote areas and providing digital skills training for adults through partnerships with The Centre for Technology Excellence. CENTEXS, as it’s known, was established in 2014 to foster technical talent for Sarawak’s various industries.
- Shenzhen, China
Futian District, a central business district in Shenzhen, China, has become a leader in digital governance through the integration of AI and civic engagement.
Futian has the highest population density in Shenzhen. It received the Economy Award at the 2022 Smart City Expo World Congress.
In April 2022, Futian launched the Smart City Governance for Quick Public Opinion Handling platform, enabling the district government to respond efficiently to public demands.
The platform allows citizens to submit questions, complaints, opinions, and suggestions through multiple channels, facilitating quick governmental responses and timely feedback.
It employs AI to “de-duplicate” events across channels and distribute end-to-end services, acting as the brain for intelligent urban governance. This AI hub also enhances the city’s digital twin, which integrates spatial data and high-precision 3D city modelling to provide real-time visibility into urban operations and drive collaborative management and decision-making.
To date, the platform has helped improve incident response efficiency from four minutes to 50 seconds per inquiry. This “one-stop service” platform provides residents and businesses with secure access to government services, instant mobile approvals, and a mechanism for sharing government credit information.
- Hebi, China
Hebi, a historic city in China’s Henan Province, has undergone a significant transformation into a modern smart city. In recent years, it has faced challenges related to growing car ownership and traffic congestion. Outdated sensing facilities and limited software coverage hindered effective management of those problems.
In response, Hebi implemented a Huawei “Intelligent Road” solution using high-frequency radar and intelligent devices to analyse traffic conditions in real-time. The solution calculates traffic flow, congestion, and incidents, optimising traffic light duration and facilitating energy-efficient ways to improve traffic efficiency.
The city also introduced real-time sensing technology to manage high-frequency traffic violations, thereby improving city spaces. Safety measures were strengthened, with advanced AI algorithms detecting and reporting blocked fire exits, ensuring public wellbeing.
The transformation of places like Sarawak, Futian District, and Hebi demonstrates the profound impact of integrating technologies such as AI, IoT, and digital twins on urban governance and daily life. Moreover, it shows that digital transformation can be achieved at the right scale for each individual location, taking each city’s specific needs into account.
These case studies illustrate how strategic partnerships can drive digitalisation and innovation, addressing complex urban challenges and improving the quality of life for residents. As cities worldwide strive to become more intelligent, sustainable, and efficient, the successes of these smart places offer valuable insights for future urban development for others, and can act as a roadmap to becoming a model smart city.
---
Autor(en)/Author(s): Luke Antoniou
Quelle/Source: Smart Cities World, 01.07.2024
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
