Smart City | IOT NETWORK NEWS

Singapore and Shenzhen strengthen smart city initiative

February 14, 2024 Editorial staff

Projects relating to AI, digital solutions and talent are among those agreed as part of the city-state and Chinese city’s joint smart city initiative. Singapore’s Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) have inked eight memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with key partners from the Chinese city of Shenzhen and launched 14 new joint smart city-related projects. They were announced at the 4th Singapore-China (Shenzhen) Smart City Initiative (SCI) Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) meeting. Smart city collaboration Eight MoUs were signed at the sidelines of the…

Smart city in Georgia pilots robot underground delivery

February 2, 2024 Editorial staff

podzemní autonomní robotický doručovací systém Pipedream

Peachtree Corners – one of the nation’s first smart cities powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G – today launched the world’s first below-ground autonomous robot delivery system with Pipedream, the underground logistics network that is revolutionizing the way goods are delivered. The new delivery system is bringing consumers unprecedented convenience through faster, autonomous, efficient and cost-effective transportation channels. Peachtree Corners is the first city to launch and install the underground logistics solution, helping in the shared mission to eliminate emissions and congestion issues that plague current delivery infrastructure. The…

Milton Keynes trials Aurrigo autonomous shuttle

December 11, 2023December 5, 2023 Editorial staff

Aurrigo International is trialling its autonomous auto-shuttle vehicle on a city centre loop in the UK city of Milton Keynes. It will connect Santander’s new UK HQ at Unity Place with centre:mk, the Theatre District and Station Square. Aurrigo first deployed its four-seater driverless pods in the city nine years ago. The testing forms part of the LivingLAPT project that is funded by EIT Urban Mobility and led by University College London (UCL). Europe-wide autonomous trials The Europe-wide research trials have already been operating in Prague and Brno in the…

Seoul deploys multilingual interactive translation kiosks

December 8, 2023December 5, 2023 Editorial staff

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) is rolling out the country’s first interactive multilingual translation service kiosks. The kiosks will be located at tourist information centres and aim to promote city tourism by eradicating any language barriers. AI-powered translation service The service has been developed in collaboration with the tourism startup and language data specialist Flitto to enable international tourists to converse with Korean guides in their native languages. SMG hopes it will enhance the convenience of tourists to explore Seoul. Using the translation kiosk, people can talk in real-time in…

Neom announces investments in future land and sea travel

December 1, 2023November 24, 2023 Editorial staff

Neom, the smart, regional greenfield development being built in Saudi Arabia, which includes The Line smart city, has announced investments in both autonomous vehicles and electric sea gliders. It will invest $100m through the Neom Investment Fund (NIF), into Pony.ai, a global autonomous driving company. Additionally, a joint venture will be established for autonomous technology solutions for the region. NIF has also closed an investment into Regent, the US-based electric seaglider manufacturer. It makes Neom the largest single contributor in Regent’s series A round, enabling the company to take its…

Hundreds of cities to deploy metaverse technology by 2030

November 24, 2023 Editorial staff

Almost 700 cities will have deployed some form of metaverse infrastructure by 2030, according to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research. In many cases, the technology will be used as an extension of existing urban digital twin platforms and solutions. City governments and the metaverse The research company said benefits for city governments include gaining political capital through enhanced citizen engagement and participation and significant cost-savings related to smarter and more effective urban infrastructure design, operations, and maintenance. “Though metaverse is undeniably overhyped and steeped in vagueness, the urban context…

EHang gains world-first eVTOL certification in China

October 27, 2023October 25, 2023 Editorial staff

Urban air mobility (UAM) technology platform company EHang Holdings has announced it has received the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s type certificate (TC) for its EH216-S passenger-carrying unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system. The TC demonstrates that the model design fully complies with CAAC’s safety standards and airworthiness requirements, and that the EH216-S is qualified for conducting passenger-carrying UAV commercial operations. Unmanned electric vertical take-off The CAAC formally accepted EHang’s EH216-S TC application in January 2021 and EHang claims it has obtained the world’s first TC for unmanned electric vertical take-off…

SmartCow launches edge AI camera for smart city applications

October 26, 2023 Editorial staff

Sphinx Ruggedized AI camera with 5G connectivity and real-time analytics

AI engineering company SmartCow has announced the launch of Sphinx, an edge AI camera with 5G connectivity, aimed at smart city and smart traffic deployments. Sphinx is a self-contained, ruggedised AI camera featuring dual image sensors that deliver low-light performance and built-in infrared (IR) illumination. According to SmartCow, the camera offers a reliable solution for AI applications, including automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), public safety, and intelligent traffic management systems (ITMS). Challenging environments Its open modular connector enables operators to enhance their capabilities by integrating external sensors, such as air-quality…

Seoul launches multilingual version of its metaverse

September 20, 2023September 19, 2023 Editorial staff

The Seoul Metropolitan Government also plans to launch a PC as well as a smartphone app version of Metaverse Seoul and use it for IT education for citizens. Seoul’s metaverse platform has been made available in multilingual versions (English, Chinese, and Japanese) to allow those who do not speak Korean to benefit from the service. Metaverse Seoul has constantly updated features and added content since its launch in January this year. Users of Metaverse Seoul can use the international version based on the language information saved in their smartphone without…

Thailand claims world’s largest factory rooftop solar project

September 19, 2023September 18, 2023 Editorial staff

Kansai Electric Power, Japan’s second largest electricity supplier, is creating what it claims to be the world’s biggest standalone rooftop solar panel installation on a factory in Thailand’s high-tech Eastern Economic Corridor. The solar panels on the plant, which manufactures Falken tyres for the European market, are reportedly equivalent in size to more than 18 football pitches. It is located in the Amata City Rayong industrial park, 135km southwest of Bangkok. Thailand is bidding to become the leader in clean energy in Southeast Asia and, once complete, this project will…

Dubai economic zone implements smart pedestrian systems

September 18, 2023 Editorial staff

The Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) economic zone has implemented 14 AI smart pedestrian crossing systems. The Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (Diez) is collaborating with Derq, a developer of artificial intelligence (AI) analytics solutions for road safety and traffic management on the project. Artificial intelligence platform Derq’s Real-Time Perception and Connectivity AI Platform is designed to detect pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users (VRUs). The system, a first-of-its-kind in the region, integrates with road infrastructure to enhance safety measures. Using patented behaviour prediction models, the technology can proactively activate…

Singapore announces winners of GreenTech Challenge 2023

August 18, 2023 Editorial staff

The challenge is designed to accelerate the development of innovative sustainability solutions in Singapore and help achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Tools that help organisations identify and transition to renewable energy, create and sell carbon credits and track sustainability have been named as the winners of the Singapore GreenTech Challenge 2023. The context is a collaboration between Microsoft, Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), and the tech community SGTech. Sustainability solutions Each winner will receive up to $350,000 in benefits and will be onboarded to the Microsoft Independent Software Vendor…

Seoul expands real-time urban data service for citizens

July 13, 2023July 12, 2023 Editorial staff

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) announced that it has expanded its real-time urban data service with the potential to link with digital technologies including virtual reality (VR) and the metaverse. The city has extended services to include information on not just population density and traffic congestion, but also cultural events and other location-based services. Population density According to SMG, as a result, a tourist visiting Seoul was able to check the status of population density and traffic congestion before visiting Deoksugung-gil and Jeongdong-gil, which were scheduled to be crowded by…

Neom and Volocopter complete electric taxi flights in Saudi

July 12, 2023 Editorial staff

Neom, the smart and sustainable regional development in northwest Saudi Arabia, and the urban air mobility (UAM) firm Volocopter, have announced successful completion of a series of air taxi test flights. According to Neom, this marks the first time an eVTol (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft has received a special flight authorisation and performed test flights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Electric UAM ecosystem The flight test campaign lasted over a week and built on 18 months of collaboration between Neom, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA),…

Egypt’s first Smart Cities Experience Centre opens in Cairo

June 30, 2023June 19, 2023 Editorial staff

Siemens has announced the opening of Egypt’s first Smart Cities Experience Centre, offering customers an immersive experience that combines real and digital worlds. The centre will showcase the latest technologies for creating sustainable and efficient smart city infrastructure, buildings, and industries. It is located at Siemens in Egypt’s head office in Cairo. Smart city realisation The Smart Cities Experience Centre aims to provide a rich experience based on real project experience and aims to help ensure a successful smart city realisation. Under this concept, Siemens claims visitors can understand the…