Jack Ma’s ventures have caught the attention of people across the world. For me Jack Ma’s new supermarket was the ‘leapfrog moment’ that transformed retail in China — which had been playing catch-up with the West — to a world-leading, thought-leading model. Unmanned supermarkets, stock automatically machine-detected and replenished, constantly fresh produce. The items you want […]
UK smart city software company Chipside comes Down Underside
UK based smart cities technology provider, Chipside, has entered the Australian market, making its debut at the Technology in Government Expo in Canberra and announcing the opening of its Australian office, in Sydney. Chipside claims to provide more than 130 local government authorities in the UK with smart city technologies that improve transportation, traffic flows […]
Why open data is a top government criterion
Many local governments – most in fact — already have a phase one smart city initiative. These are producing exciting, highly visible benefits for the council, ratepayers and visitors. So why on earth should they want to start on something as foreign as an open data policy now? Most local governments have started using technology to […]
Smart City Expo in Melbourne
The2018 Smart City Expo organised by the Smart Cities World Expo Forum (not to be confused with the Smart City Expo World Congress) will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 3 and 4 September. According to the organisers, it “combines the power of co-located conference with state-of-the-art expo floor in order […]
Ipswich scores IDC smart city gong
Ipswich in Queensland has become the only Australian city to score a gong in IDC Asia Pacific’s list of the 19 most outstanding smart city projects in Asia Pacific, excluding Japan. It was recognised in the administration category along with Wuhan East Late Free Trade Zone in China. Auckland Council’s Safeswim initiative scored a gong in […]
Being Small-Minded About Smart Cities
I’ve just returned from Bangkok. At eight million inhabitants it’s one of the brasher, more chaotic places to live or visit. It’s polluted, over-trafficked, edgy and exciting. “Bangkok’s rapid growth amidst little urban planning and regulation has resulted in a haphazard cityscape and inadequate infrastructure systems” – Wikipedia. The reaction of a former colleague when […]
The Incredible Power of Smart Sensors
An Australian company is perfecting a sensor that can ‘see’. It will have the functionality of a camera, but in places where there is no light source. It will have the functionality of a camera, but in places where there is no light source. It’s being developed as part of a terrifically interesting project to […]
The remarkable missing smart piece (and why is Taiwan missing in action)
Although the smart communities movement is in its very early days — my view, not shared by some of the pundits out there — there have already been several Australian expeditions to high-profile ‘smart cites’ like Amsterdam and Barcelona. Australia, however, is geographically located in Asia-Pacific, which has seen the fastest sustainable economic growth over […]
Smart or City?
English-speaking folk learning French or Italian have a challenge: where to put the accent? First or second syllable? Acute or grave? I think the smart city or smart community movement has a similar issue: is the accent on smart or is it on city? City – long-term infrastructure builds Affordable housing Evolution of the workplace […]
2018 – Suddenly, the Year of the Smart City!
New Year often brings with it a fresh perspective and new inspirations. I resolved to get my own perspective on the year ahead for smart cities. I spent time (Christmas and New Year give you that unusual luxury – time!) reading, speaking to players, and looking into in the subject. Starting with “where, exactly, are […]
