Smart City 5.0

We need to develop the economy and protect the environment on one hand alongside the rapid development of technology and the menacing threat of AI on the other hand. How can we achieve that?  

Dr Winnie Tang will tell you key survival wisdom for the next 30 years. This book is the fifth one in the author's Smart Cities series, and outlines six cases from different countries using detailed information and personal insights to highlight how to use geospatial intelligence and the latest technologies to build a truly people-centred and sustainable smart city at the mobility, environmental, governmental, living, economic, and personal levels. 

Six case studies combining a variety of technologies and novel ideas to promote in areas such as convenient mobility, environmental protection, economic development, and green transformation. Experiences in various places have proved that the successful development of a smart city depends on the collaboration of the government, the public and private sectors, and the general public.

From Bangalore, Helsinki, Texas, and Tokyo to Singapore and China, efforts are being made to create smarter cities that are more liveable and workable. Although there have been ups and downs in the process, there is much experience which Hong Kong can learn from, and we must catch up quickly, otherwise we will only be left behind.

In addition to facilitating citizens reaching their destinations more quickly, smart mobility also emphasises low-carbon and environmental protection. The construction of a 15-minute living circle with a balance between work and dwelling, the construction of environmentally friendly roads that integrate bicycles and cars, and the use of GIS to assist urban planning and realise autonomous driving are all directions worth considering in Hong Kong. 

Construction, maintenance, and the daily running of buildings generates roughly 60% of Hong Kong's carbon emissions. In connection, the construction industry is also facing the problems of an ageing workforce and rising costs. The combination of GIS, BIM, and IoT can plan, construct and manage buildings more efficiently. Therefore, digital transformation and its further development will be the best choice for the industry. 

With the dilapidated buildings and intricate underground pipes in Hong Kong, as well as the development of the Northern Metropolis and Kau Yi Chau, there will be increasing requirements for construction efficiency. The success of the industry's digital transformation and efficiency enhancement depends on its mastery of technology, and it is advisable for the Hong Kong government and the industry to collaborate more to bring urban planning, construction, and maintenance to a new level.

The purpose of transitioning to a smart government is to enhance the effectiveness of governance, solving the problems of the public and injecting momentum into social development. Unfortunately, since the launch of the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong in 2017, the general public has not felt the benefit from it. One of the missing parts is a performance indicator dashboard so that the public can see the effectiveness of the policy at a glance and to facilitate monitoring.   

The Hong Kong government is actively promoting a number of developments, including land reclamation, industrial planning, and disaster prevention and control. In order to effectively implement these projects and minimise public concerns, the authorities should take the lead in formulating a more comprehensive data policy and strategy by appointing a full-time senior official to coordinate the areas. 

The pandemic has changed the way many people live, from shopping, working, and medical treatment, to coping with disasters and epidemics, they have become more dependent on the internet. While the public enjoys the convenience, there is a fear of the invasion of privacy, the use of technology under control to improve our lives is a test of how we can live wisely. 

The wider range of technology applications in our lives means that companies providing their services will collect more and more personal information. This will require the government to step in and enact stricter laws and regulations to protect the privacy of individuals, and to strive and strike a balance between the interests of all parties.

Hong Kong is a leader in many aspects of smart city development, and we have the strength to overcome the economic development dilemma by exporting technology services, promoting the application of new technologies from enterprises, facilitating virtual asset trading, and developing artificial intelligence supercomputing centres. To achieve these goals, the government will need to raise our R&D spending to 1.5% of GDP and enhance the geospatial intelligence of civil servants while also setting targets to ensure that public money is well spent. 

Hong Kong has a strong foundation in R&D, but there are many challenges to overcome in the fierce technology competition. I hope that the government and the business sector will effectively promote innovation and technology and develop a more diversified economy, so as to usher in a new chapter for Hong Kong. 

With the development of science and technology in the future, 6G will replace 5G, and artificial intelligence will replace manpower so that the talents needed by society will be completely different. In order to cultivate appropriate talent, it is necessary to introduce courses such as GIS in the curriculum to enable students to acquire multiple intelligences as early as possible. In addition, empathy, and the ability to work in a group are equally important. 

The world environment is changing rapidly, and a person can only succeed if they have scientific and technological knowledge, multiple intelligences, and strong mental health. Are you ready for the future?

  Chinese Version (中文版)