IfG.CC - The Institute for eGovernment

"A swarm of different technologies are beginning to radically change how we inhabit and navigate our cities."

Toyota's futuristic "smart city" featuring the latest green technologies, including hydrogen power and driverless vehicles, is expected to welcome its first residents by the end of this year.

Located on Honshū Island, Japan, the carmaker's sustainable "Woven City" sits just miles from Mount Fuji and will serve as a "living laboratory" for residents and researchers to test advanced technologies — including driverless cars, robotics, smart homes, and artificial intelligence — in a real-world setting, per a company news release.

The city police and traffic police will now be able to independently manage crime and traffic control with the help of 3,600 CCTV cameras installed under Smart City and 2,200 at various establishments, which have been integrated with setting up of the new Command and Control Centre at police control room building in Civil Lines.

The centre, inaugurated by deputy chief minister and home minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, has been established jointly by Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Limited (NSSCDCL) and Nagpur Police.

Smart city pioneer extends contract to maximize value and impact of its data and successfully manage risk

Opendatasoft, the leading Data Portal solution provider, today announced that the Town of Cary in North Carolina has renewed its contract to use its solution to power its data portal.

Women City, this is the name associated with a large project carried out by Toyota. The famous Japanese multinational engaged in the production of automobiles has in fact the objective of building a real innovative city at the foot of Mount Fuji.

The reason? Simple, to make sure that this city is a real laboratory where new technological realities can be tested and at the same time perfected. For example artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, clean energy, robotics and much more.

The Ajman Transport Authority from the UAE has partnered with BPC, a global leader in payment solutions, to become the first authority in the emirate to implement modern payments technology on public transport buses.

This move aims to enhance smart services within the transportation sector, through introduction of O-CITY, a solution for Smart Cities’ and mobility developed by BPC.

In an exclusive interview with MWN, UM6P professor Radoine challenges the dominant industry narrative, which often prioritizes technological bells and whistles over human-centered solutions and sustainable practices.

Africa is on the cusp of a historic urban transformation. By 2050, the continent’s urban population is projected to double, with cities becoming hubs of economic activity and innovation.

After having broken ground for its 4,000 crore integrated electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu through group company VinFast, Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup has now set its sights on Telangana and Hyderabad, in particular.

The Vietnamese giant is looking at the possibility of setting up a 1,000-acre mega smart city project in and around Hyderabad and has already begun scouting for options around the city, sources told TOI.

Chandigarh’s newly elected MP Manish Tewari chaired the Smart City Advisory Forum meeting to review both completed works and those in progress

The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in Chandigarh has reduced traffic violations in the city by 40% and fatal crashes by 31% from January 2021 to December 2023, officials said during the 23rd Chandigarh Smart City Advisory Forum meeting on Monday.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) requires at least 20,000 CCTV cameras installed throughout the capital to monitor crime and traffic congestion.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said at present, there are only 5,000 units around the city.

He said the installation cannot be undertaken solely by DBKL but requires the cooperation of various ministries, departments and agencies, especially the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

The project also aims to make recreational, residential, commercial, and green spaces on the reclaimed land and the adjoining warehouse.

In a significant move towards enhancing urban sustainability, Jammu Smart City Ltd (JSCL) is considering establishing green buildings on the reclaimed land and adjoining areas of the Tawi riverfront development project, an official said on Monday. These green buildings are expected to incorporate energy-efficient designs, renewable energy sources, and sustainable construction materials, contributing to a reduced carbon footprint and enhanced quality of life for residents, the official said.

Miami-Dade County has earned a coveted spot among the tech-savvy governments of the nation, bagging 9th place in the Center for Digital Government's 2024 Digital Counties Survey for populations of 1 million or more. As reported by Miami-Dade County's News site, this annual survey gives a nod to local governments that expertly wield technology to align with their goals, find cost-effective solutions, bolster transparency and cybersecurity, encourage civic participation, and meet the evolving expectations of their constituents. Miami-Dade's IT Department (ITD) has been recognized for working hand-in-hand with County departments to enhance the resident experience by improving the miamidade.gov portal and enriching the Open Data Hub.

The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government has cancelled the first phase of the smart city road project due to feasibility concerns. They are now planning a new proposal using state funds to improve important city roads.

The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has decided to cancel the first phase of the smart city road project due to feasibility issues. This announcement was made by the Deputy Chief Minister in charge of urban and municipal affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar on July 12.

Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Punjab Land and Revenue Authority (PLRA) signed accords for digitization of land record in the federal capital.

Under these agreements, all sites in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) will be digitized within three months, with 25 ICT sites set to go live by August 14, 2024.

The 8 billion-euro Ellinikon project in Greece – which took inspiration from Singapore – is set to become a global template for others to follow

Deep inside a cavernous hangar on the site of Athens’ former airport, a Lamda Development executive is discussing one of the world’s most significant construction projects. In front of him is a large interactive screen stretching across an entire wall of the room. With a few flicks, he pulls up a virtual 3D rendering of the area, zooms past a park, and enters an apartment. We’re now “standing” in the apartment’s balcony, where we can see exactly what the view from this soon-to-be-built tower will be like, down to the gently swaying treeline. As we take in the seaside panorama, the executive taps the screen again, and the room instantly glows orange from a simulated sunset.

Theta Edge Bhd's subsidiary Theta Telecoms Sdn Bhd a secured a request for proposal (RFP) contract from the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) for the supply of cutting-edge Internet of Things (IoT) technology.

Under the terms of the project, Theta will invest RM673.8mil in developing IoT for the smart economy in Ampang Jaya.

Depa has signed a MoU with Silpakorn University and Dassault Systèmes to foster smart city development and enhance the digital skills of the Thai workforce.

The MoU is designed to help position Thailand as the smart city hub of the Asean region

Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa), Silpakorn University in Bangkok and technology company and digital twin platform specialist Dassault Systèmes have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to foster smart city development and enhance the digital skills of the Thai workforce over the next three years.

Dubai Customs has announced the launch of a new blockchain platform designed to reduce supply chain friction within Dubai and across its borders.

Strategic Initiative for a Smart City

The blockchain solution was introduced as part of a broader strategy to cement Dubai’s position as a leading “smart” city, according to a statement by the Dubai Media Office on July 8. Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation, highlighted the innovation as a reflection of Dubai’s vision to become a global hub for trade and logistics.

The Nashik Municipal Smart City Development Corporation Ltd (NMSCDCL) has set up an emergency operation centre at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, the civic body’s headquarters, to provide a centralised system for disaster management in view of the Kumbh Mela to be held in 2027.

The centre, costing Rs 59 crore, was inaugurated by NMSCDCL CEO Sumant More.

It has been equipped with CCTV cameras and a public address system.

Revolutionizing Supply Chains with Blockchain: Dubai Customs Leads the Way

Imagine a world where every piece of data shared across local supply chains is secure, tamper-proof, and transferred with just a click. Well, that's no longer a stuff of imagination. Dubai Customs is turning this dream into a reality by introducing a blockchain solution aimed at transforming the local supply chain landscape. The move is not just about embracing digital innovation; it's about leading a revolution that promises to save time, effort, and mountains of paperwork.

Modern public lighting, with its mix of street lamps and sensors, incorporates technologies to connect its services. For this reason, smart cities are focused on streamlining their operational efficiency while improving the experience of their users, all amid a general background of cost-cutting. This is the third paper in a series of articles on cybersecurity issues in smart and connected cities.

Behind this modernisation of practices in the urban environment lies the same problem as with other elements of the smart city: the more connected a city is, the more it is exposed to cyberattacks. What are the associated cyber risks? What cybersecurity strategy should be adopted to deal with these new challenges? This article provides answers to these questions.

Dubai Customs hopes the blockchain solution will facilitate tamper-proof data sharing, save time and effort and reduce voluminous paperwork for local supply chains.

Dubai Customs has announced the launch of a new blockchain platform aimed at smoothing out supply chain friction within Dubai and across its borders.

The blockchain solution was launched as part of a broader strategy to cement Dubai’s position as a leading “smart” city, Dubai Media Office said in a July 8 statement.

Wrexham Council has won a national award for its plans to develop the use of technology to help manage and improve the city centre.

The council beat off tough competition from across Wales to win the Excellence in Plan Making award from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

The award recognises excellent practice in developing plans that will help shape the future of towns and cities – particularly plans that are unique and innovative.

Social Security Administration leaders say the “data rich” agency is undergoing cultural change with its adoption of SecurityStat and embrace of several AI tools.

For more than two decades, the Social Security Administration has worked to shed its well-earned image as a “paper-based agency,” doing everything from shifting away from hard copy signatures to embarking on a large-scale modernization plan.

Now armed with a robust artificial intelligence use case inventory and a splashy new data-tracking tool, SSA’s technology leaders feel especially bullish about where they stand in their digital journey.

As the world grapples with the impact of climate change, the need for sustainable urban development has never been more pressing, especially in the rapidly developing regions of Asia. This rapid urbanisation, if not managed properly, can exacerbate issues like pollution, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions – all of which contribute to climate change.

The rise of "smart cities" offers a promising solution. By leveraging advanced technologies like the Internet of Things, big data analytics, and renewable energy, smart cities have the potential to significantly reduce a city’s environmental footprint while improving the quality of life for residents.

What makes a good mayor? What makes a good municipality? For me, it is our ability to meet our constitutional obligations to serve the people of Thembisile Hani local municipality by providing services that are enduring and of a high quality — and able to impact our landscape positively.

I would also define success on our part as when the poorest and most vulnerable among us are not only able to survive but live happily within this municipal region. But to attain this, I realised that we needed to do things differently than before.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia reviewed 17 ambitious Smart City projects in Gwalior. Emphasizing the leadership of PM Modi and CM Mohan Yadav, Scindia outlined development plans and addressed airport quality concerns. The minister stressed addressing public grievances and ongoing improvements at Jabalpur and Gwalior airports.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia convened a meeting on Saturday to evaluate the progress of Gwalior's Smart City project, asserting that the city's future is being meticulously shaped under the stewardship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. 'We reviewed and discussed 17 ambitious projects for Gwalior, incorporating numerous suggestions to refine our plans. Gwalior's evolution is steering ahead with an eye on honoring its historic and cultural legacy,' Scindia remarked post-meeting.

In recent years, Africa has witnessed the launch of numerous smart city projects aimed at bridging the technology gap affecting the continent.

Brigadier General Bonjean Rodrigue Mbanza, Gabon's Minister of Digital Economy and New Information Technologies, made an official visit to Cameroon on Tuesday, July 2 to explore technologies for a Smart City project in Gabon. The visit aimed to examine existing technologies and draw inspiration to support the development of the project.

The capital city of Hanoi is taking a significant step toward a more sustainable future for its public transportation system, with a July 4 approval of a plan to achieve a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035 via phasing out diesel vehicles in favour of electric ones.

Between 2026 and 2030, Hanoi aims for a mix of electric buses (50%) and buses powered by cleaner burning fuels like liquefied natural gas (LNG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) (50%). The estimated financial investment for this transition is 43 trillion VND (1.79 billion USD).

Smart Nicosia, a project of innovative technologies and applications enriching the lives of residents and visitors alike, is now just a click away.

The municipality invites everyone to discover the city’s vision and conveniences firsthand through its new user-friendly and accessible-to-all website.

The Government has said that one hundred cities have completed 90 per cent of its total development projects amounting to over one lakh 44 thousand crore rupees under Smart City Mission. The mission was launched in 2015 to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and decent quality of life to their citizens, clean and sustainable environment through application of smart solutions.

The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said, the Mission has been getting multiple requests from some States and City government representatives, to grant some more time to complete the balance ten per cent projects.

Whenever I walk down the Fire Brigade steps in Shillong, most days, I mentally brace myself for the ordeal ahead as I head to Laitumkhrah. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy the walks, despite the traffic, despite the crowding on sidewalks (which means that at times you have to get off the pavement and walk on the main road to avoid bumping into fellow pedestrians).

What is truly stressful, not just for me, but for I think everyone else, is getting across the roads. It means dodging the traffic at several points including the place where four roads meet near the Seventh Day Adventist Church, with one rushing up from Nongrim and the Bethany Hospital side, another one-way past the Fire Bridge field, yet another coming after a merger ‘s side and the main road from Laitumkhrah. of the road from Jowai and one from St Edmunds.

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in cooperation with Samsung Gulf Electronics, announces the integration of driving licenses and vehicle registrations to Samsung Wallet.

This partnership aligns with RTA's dedication to utilising technology to ensure an efficient transportation system, enhance driver experience, and achieve Dubai's vision of becoming the world's premier smart city.

A Q&A with two Georgia Tech experts in civil and environmental engineering and city infrastructure analytics.

Two of those cities, Columbus and Warner Robins, Georgia, received the awards for projects that involve digital twins. But what, exactly, is a digital twin? And how can the technology be used to solve community problems?

We talked with John Taylor, the Frederick Law Olmsted Professor and associate chair for graduate programs and research innovation in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Neda Mohammadi, city infrastructure analytics director in Georgia Tech's Network Dynamics Lab to get some answers. These are edited highlights from an interview.

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.

The city’s vision for a tech-powered future is ambitious, but overcoming the challenges and building trust with its residents can unlock its potential to become a model for other Philippine cities looking to embrace technology for a brighter tomorrow.

Muntinlupa City is poised for a significant transformation — a metamorphosis into a Smart City and under the leadership of Mayor Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon, the city is actively implementing projects designed to streamline government services, leverage data for informed decision-making and ultimately, create a more efficient and transparent governance system.

The local government of San Fernando City in Pampanga province is setting its sights on becoming a “smart sustainable city” by harnessing the power of information and communication technology (ICT).

This ambitious goal is outlined in a detailed plan on the city’s website, which highlights three key focus areas: ICT system development (e-services), ICT industry and community development, and ICT infrastructure development.

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.

The capital of Paraná state in southern Brazil was voted "Most Intelligent City in the World" last year at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona. Its mayor Rafael Greca explains why his town keeps racking up the accolades.

Q: What makes Curitiba stand out from other cities?

Our history of innovation dates back to the 1870s, when the Rebouças brothers, Brazil’s first black engineers, did some great projects in our region.

Construction has begun on a "smart city" three times the size of Monaco, which its developers hope will become a prototype for sustainable development across the world.

Costing a total of €8.5 billion and covering an area of around 6.2 million square meters, Ellinikon is one of the largest urban development projects on the globe today. When finished, the project will combine thousands of permanent residences, shopping centers, and a commercial hub, all built surrounding a 600-acre public park. While framed by its developers as an paradigm of smart and sustainable urban planning, some experts have cast doubt on whether Ellinikon can meet these lofty aspirations.

The Hanoi People’s Council has decided to exempt people from fees when conducting 82 administrative procedures online, believing that the move will encourage people to use online public services.

Before the ‘zero-dong’ resolution was approved by the Hanoi People’s Council in July 2023, Nguyen Xuan Luu, director of the Hanoi Finance Department said in 2022, the total budget collection from fees and charges in Hanoi was VND9.72 trillion, but only VND36.5 billion was collected online. The majority of people (70 percent) still preferred offline administrative procedures.

Combining the real and the digital worlds, technology from Siemens Xcelerator portfolio will form the backbone of the new neighbourhood in Berlin Spandau.

Siemens has announced it is investing €750m in the modernisation of Siemensstadt Square in Berlin to make it the "digital, sustainable, competitive city of the future".

Urban digital twins are transforming how smart cities plan, operate and adapt to future challenges. Urban digital twins use real-time data, advanced analytics, and AI to help city planners visualize impacts, test solutions, and implement data-driven strategies for better services, infrastructure, and resource management.

Imagine a city where technology and urban planning work in harmony to create an efficient, sustainable and citizen-centric environment—this is the vision of a smart city. Residents enjoy seamless public transportation, ample green spaces, enhanced public safety, inclusivity and interconnected services that anticipate their needs. With every aspect of daily life enhanced by intelligent solutions, smart cities offer a glimpse into a future where communities thrive in an environment carefully designed to promote convenience, well-being and a higher quality of life for everyone.

Smart cities use Wi-Fi HaLow Mesh for robust connectivity in current sensing, air quality, water, and gas metering, enabling real-time data analysis.

In the era of smart cities, the integration of cutting-edge technologies is crucial for efficient urban management. From optimizing traffic flow to enhancing public safety, the deployment of innovative solutions is reshaping urban landscapes worldwide. One such advancement lies in the utilization of Wi-Fi HaLow Mesh technology, offering robust connectivity and scalability across diverse urban environments. Leveraging this technology, cities can revolutionize data collection and analysis, particularly in areas like current sensing, air quality monitoring, water metering, and gas metering.

Officials from the Domestic Policy Strategy Agency (BSKDN) of the Home Affairs Ministry embarked on a visit to South Korea to learn how to improve the implementation of smart governance at the national level.

BSKDN head Yusharto Huntoyungo informed that the official visit is a strategic step aimed at exploring innovation and best practices pertaining to smart government implemented by the South Korean government.

At congress organized by Q8 a 'roadmap for the government'

Over one in five municipalities in Italy over the past year has promoted projects on smart cities showing "the will to actively participate in the digital revolution of cities", according to the congress "Smart City - Roadmap for the government", organized in Rome on Tuesday by Q8 Italia, an affiliate of Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI).

The ‘smart city’ will feature autonomous vehicles, robots, hydrogen power and, of course, a sprinkling of AI solutions for residents to play with.

Less than four years after announcing plans to build a “smart city” near Mount Fuji in Japan, Toyota announced the city will welcome its first residents very soon.

Called the “Woven City,” it has been dubbed a “living laboratory” to experiment with new technologies like hydrogen power, autonomous vehicles, robots, and artificial intelligence (AI)

The integration of BIM, IoT, and blockchain technologies in smart buildings and cities enhances urban living by optimizing data management, improving user experiences, and ensuring data security. Effective synergy between these technologies is crucial to meeting user expectations for comfort, cleanliness, security, and efficient space usage in urban environments.

In the bustling landscape of urban development, the integration of digital construction technologies in smart buildings and smart cities is reshaping how urban environments cater to user expectations. A study by researchers at Birmingham City University and the University of Manchester explores the synergy between technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain, emphasizing their potential to meet the growing demands of building users.

From optimising street lighting and traffic flow to managing public parking and camera surveillance, Internet of Things (IoT) powered sensors enable smarter, real-time responses and improved city services. However, this integration into a single infrastructure poses significant cybersecurity challenges.

The vast volume of diverse data generated by the IoT sensors creates a space for the malicious activities of cybercriminals, necessitating a balance between advancing smart city initiatives and ensuring robust cybersecurity measures.

What you need to know:

• Smart cities are urban settings planned technologically to improve quality of life and services, enhance security, and collect up-to-date data.
• For urban centres to function efficiently in the coming years, experts urge that they be designed to withstand climate shocks.

Climate change and the increasing urban populations are creating new demand for smart cities with capacity to provide efficient services while using resources sustainably.

Data centers leveraging AI technology are becoming the most valuable physical assets for municipalities, promising to manage soon driverless vehicles providing transportation, sanitation and healthcare services in smart cities

Cities and organizations around the globe are reimagining how to manage their most valuable physical assets and spaces using AI. This technology offers powerful new methods to create more sustainable cities, maintain infrastructure and improve public spaces such as roads for residents.

For giving a push to digitalisation, an e-governance assessment workshop was held under the World Bank and AIIB co-funded by Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project (PMSIP) at Zone D office of Municipal Corporation (MC) on Wednesday.

The workshop was held under the chairmanship of MC Commissioner Sandeep Rishi.

Urban development and technology experts from World Bank, including Shashank Jayakumar, Navika Chaudhary, Graham Colclough from Scotland (through VC), Johnston Yoon from South Korea (through VC), conducted the workshop.

Curbing Copper Theft and Telecommunications Infrastructure Sabotage – Telecom Namibia engages City of Windhoek and City Police to Collaborate on Smart Policing

Telecom Namibia CEO Dr. Stanley Shanapinda and management paid a courtesy visit to the City of Windhoek and City Police to discuss areas of collaboration aimed at enhancing safety and security, and the protection of telecommunications infrastructure in the City.

No shortage of tech inventors and innovators in the city, but it is hard to commercialise their products

Ronald Pong watched with dismay as some Hong Kong cabbies carried out undercover sting operations recently to expose Uber drivers who did not have permits to pick up passengers.

The taxi drivers’ frustration with competition from the popular ride-hailing platform has festered for years, but the angry confrontation was also a sign of what was holding Hong Kong back in the global race to embrace technology.

Phuket ranks as Thailand’s most technologically advanced province among 23 smart provinces while Wangchan Valley in Rayong tops the list of 30 smart cities, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa) announced on Wednesday (June 19).

Depa’s Smart Cities Office released the ranking of 30 smart cities in 23 provinces for 2023 as part of its report, “Thailand Smart City Competitiveness Index (TSCCI) 2023”.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday that Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) is preparing a detailed report on Smart City Mission works in the city, and will soon submit it to govt.

Sawant said he is “sympathetic to the hardships faced by the people”. “If you need better infrastructure, the people have to face hardships (now), so that over the next 25 years, they don’t have to face these hardships again.”

Recently, the Lagos State Government berthed a Transport Policy to better coordinate its inter-modal transportation initiatives which are aimed at promoting organised public transportation, Adeyinka Aderibigbe writes

The Sanwo-Olu administration deepened the first pillar of its THEMES+ Agenda, with the unveiling of the Lagos State Transport Policy (LTP).

Turkmenistan will explore the possibilities of introducing 5G technology in the country.

According to an official source, this proposal by Mammetkhan Chakiyev, Director of the Agency for Transport and Communications under the Cabinet of Ministers, was approved by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the next online meeting of the government.

The Ministry of Municipality has completed 110 services out of 400 services which are being developed under its digital transformation project in a bid to provide smart and automated services to the public and beneficiary companies.

“The digital services cover all sectors including agriculture, food security, urban development, general services and community services,” said Director of the Information Systems Department at the Ministry of Municipality Hamda Abdel Aziz Al Maadeed.

They didn’t go away — it’s just more about the buildings in the cities now

In May 2020, the smart city concept appeared to have been dead and buried when Sidewalk Labs ended its collaboration with the City of Toronto to create Quayside, a data-infused, sustainability-focused experiment in urban living.

Killed by a combination of Sidewalk Labs’ opaque vision for the techno-neighborhood, conflicts about public funding of the built world over enhancing the natural environment, privacy concerns, and the 2-month-old COVID-19 pandemic, Quayside’s death seemed to herald the demise of the smart city. In December 2021, Alphabet folded Sidewalk Labs, its urban innovation arm, into Google.

Being the catalysts of growth, smart cities are founded on a technology-powered infrastructure. Digitisation in global economies has led the way to a transformative shift to smart security, universal convenience, and accelerated advancements.

By 2026, smart cities will be expected to generate an economic benefit of USD 20 trillion globally.

Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said that the government is committed for digitalization and transforming Pakistan into Digital economy.

She was talking to Global System for Mobile Communications Association's Head of Asia Pacific Julian Gorman who called on her in Islamabad.

Minister for Industries, Commerce and Food Processing TG Bharat said that he will transform Kurnool town into a smart city.

He also said that measures will be taken for industrial development in Andhra Pradesh on par with Gujarat.

Addressing a media conference here on Saturday, Bharat said that he has witnessed the problems being faced by the people during the election campaigning. People have submitted their grievances to him during that period.

Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Mr Nape Nnauye has reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to becoming a beacon of digital excellence in Africa and beyond.

Addressing the Virtual Worlds Day in Geneva yesterday during the United Nations’ first Virtual Worlds Day event, the Minister highlighted the country’s impressive progress in digital innovation and transformation.

Integrating AI-powered traffic management systems, extending metro lines, and converting obsolete buildings into Electric Vehicle charging stations can support the transition

What makes a city ‘smart’? The answer lies in innovative planning and designs, robust infrastructure and forward-thinking policies.

The rapid pace of urbanisation and its consequent challenges have catalysed a deep transformation within the sphere of urban transport. An important aspect of shaping smart cities for the transport revolution is the strategic development of infrastructure. For example in a city like Mumbai, the expansion of the metro network is a key initiative aimed at addressing traffic congestion and pollution of the city. By extending metro lines to underserved areas and improving connectivity, the city reduces dependence on personal vehicles, promoting a shift towards public transit. This infrastructure is about adding routes and creating a web of connectivity that makes public transport a more viable and attractive option.

Plans are underway to establish at least three unique smart cities in Hwange District and work has already started, Engineer Andrew Muchechetere, group executive chairman of AMRE Investments has said.

Addressing delegates at the 10th CEO Africa Roundtable conference yesterday, Eng Muchechetere emphasised the importance of developing a smart city in the district due to the availability of prime land.<

LG CNS, an information technology service provider, announced on Thursday that it has established an intelligent platform for advanced automated agricultural production in the southern city of Naju.

The smart farm project, spanning 543,000 square meters of fields, features an AI-driven platform that analyzes soil and meteorological data to optimize fertilizer usage and irrigation schedules, while also predicting pest outbreaks and recommending pesticides.

Airspan Networks, with $95 million in fresh equity funding, has said it has been selected by Boldyn Networks to supply the private radio network (RAN) infrastructure for the city of Sunderland’s smart-city 5G project in the UK. The US vendor’s AirSpeed 1900 outdoor small cells have been incorporated already into existing street furniture around the city, it said.

The open RAN units are providing “high-performance and high-capacity connectivity” across Sunderland, it said. UK-headquartered Boldyn Networks, which bought private networking specialist Edzcom from Spanish tower company Cellnex in March, amid a string of acquisitions, was appointed to manage networking elements in the Sunderland smart-city project in 2022, when it was still BAI Communications.

Initiative in Brazil’s second largest city leverages $10m commitment by the Climate Pledge to accelerate deployment of zero-tailpipe-emission electric trucks.

The Climate Pledge, in collaboration with C40 Cities, has launched the Laneshift initiative for zero-tailpipe-emission freight vehicles in Rio de Janeiro.

In Rio, the road transport sector is the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), accounting for 36 per cent of the total. To reduce GHGs, Rio’s local authorities, including the Municipal Department of Transport and the Traffic Engineering Company (CET-Rio), are working in collaboration with C40 Cities and inviting transport logistic companies to focus on reducing emissions in the city’s Low Emission District. This central freight hub in downtown Rio accounts for nearly half of transportation GHG emissions in the city.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT), which is officially accompanying President Yoon Suk-yeol on his state visit to three Central Asian countries – Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan – has agreed to expand existing construction and infrastructure cooperation with resource-rich Turkmenistan to include new areas such as new towns and smart cities. Additionally, they aim to strengthen collaboration in transportation sectors, including aviation and railways.

Given Turkmenistan's abundant natural gas resources, which rank fourth in the world in reserves, it is expected to commission large-scale plant construction projects to expand production. Both countries are also signing various agreements to concretize this cooperation.

The Ogun State Government has said that it is set to create smart cities through its regeneration schemes across all the urban centres in the state.

Governor Dapo Abiodun, who disclosed this on Thursday during the 2024 World Environment Day (WED), with the theme: "Achieving the Smart City Agenda Through Climate Change Resilience and Urban Afforestation", noted that climate change was a phenomenon which everyone should actively participate in for a safer society.

Delivering a transformative tech community to Africa with the goal of delivering new skills and jobs that will impact positively and change lives is the premise on which, Africa50, the pan-African infrastructure investor and asset manager announced the signing of an Implementation Agreement (IA) with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Government of Rwanda (GoR) for exclusive rights to develop, operate, and commercialise the 61-hectare Kigali Innovation City (KIC).

The new smart city advances Africa50’s strategy to develop and fund first-of-its-kind infrastructure assets that deliver high impact while generating attractive returns. The smart city is expected to stimulate $150 million in ICT exports annually and attract over $300 million in foreign direct investment.

Siheung City has embarked on an ambitious endeavor to revolutionize its public welfare services through the adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The city government was successfully chosen as the main organization to spearhead the ‘Gyeonggi Province AI Demonstration Support Project’ facilitated by Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Institute of Science & Technology Promotion. This selection has secured the city a grant of 300 million South Korean won from provincial funds.

Commencing this month and spanning across six months until December, Siheung City will engage in a palpable AI demonstration support initiative, aiming to innovate public services and provide solutions for social issues. Central to Siheung City’s strategy is the development of an AI customer service system focused on welfare, addressing constituents’ concerns and inquiries.

In the shadow of India’s historic palaces and ancient bazaars, a new kind of monument is rising: The smart city. India's ambitious journey towards urban development, fueled by cutting-edge technology, is transforming age-old city landscapes into digital hubs equipped to handle the 21st century's demands. The surge of technology in urban planning, from Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to smart grids, is not merely an addition but a necessity as urban populations explode and infrastructure demands soar.

India, home to over 1.4 billion people, is urbanising at an unprecedented pace. By 2050, the urban population is expected to nearly double, bringing a slew of challenges from housing shortages to pollution crises. In response, the Indian government initiated the Smart Cities Mission in 2015, aiming to create 100 smart cities that are both sustainable and technologically advanced.

Jammu City is set to implement the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) from June 10, while Srinagar will follow soon after the completion of ongoing Smart City projects.

The ITMS will enhance traffic management through features like Automatic Number Plate Recognition, Red Light Violation Detection and monitoring for infractions such as riding without a helmet, triple riding, not wearing seat belts, using mobile phones while driving, and wrong parking.

The Hanoi Department of Transport's proposal to pilot a smart traffic system in the capital in the last half of the year has been approved, as part of the city's broader effort to gradually develop a smart transport network within its smart city framework.

Under the pilot plan proposed by the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel), a smart traffic management centre will be established at the municipal public transport management and operation centre at No.1 Kim Ma street, Ba Dinh district. Additionally, equipment will be installed at two pilot intersections on Pham Van Bach street in Cau Giay district.