News

The Smart Cities Council with it’s partner company evolve24, are working with a consortium of leading organisations focused on data science and social wellbeing – Telstra, Neighbourlytics and the University of Melbourne – to advance social wellbeing as a framework for smart cities investment in the region.

We looked back to see which of our articles published in 2018 were the most popular. From heritage, big data and BIM, to standardisation, connected infrastructure and urban density. Check them out here.

A new Smart Cities Guidance Note for Civic Innovation has been released by the Smart Cities Council to help drive greater citizen-led innovation in our communities.

The Smart Cities Council asked some of its partners and friends to express their views and recommendations on how government organisations can build more trust with their constituents around smart cities investments, and create an environment where the opportunities and benefits of technology and data solutions can thrive. Here's what they had to say...

Following confirmation from local government representatives from across Australia and New Zealand at the recent Smart Cities Week Australia event in Sydney (29-31 October), Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand has launched a coordinated effort to build a local government-led networking platform across the region.

A serial disruptor, a government visionary, an emerging leader and a world-leading council are among the winners of the inaugural 2018 Australian Smart Cities Awards.

Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand (SCCANZ) today announced that CSG (NASDAQ: CSGS), the trusted partner to simplify the complexity of business transformation in the digital age, has joined the Council as Associate Partner.

In the lead up the Smart Cities Week the Smart Cities Council Emerging Innovators are reflecting on the four themes: connected, aware, accelerate and compassion. This week’s post on the theme of ‘connected’ from Emerging Innovators Chris Rowlands and Claire Daniel outlines the latest instalment in the ongoing development of the Bendigo Internet of Things network and how this technology is using the humble garbage truck to connect silos in city management.

Lendlease is investing in living laboratories where employees can test, tweak, learn and refine how technology and data can best accelerate sustainable outcomes while creating the best places for people. In this article we track the evolution of this global company from green building czar, to setting a benchmark as a smart communities innovator.

If you have a startup focused on improving communities, apply to pitch your solution at Smart Cities Week Australia, 29-31 October in Sydney. Over two sessions on October 30 and 31, selected startups will pitch to an audience of city shapers, councils and providers of urban services.

Local governments don't generally have a lot of experience with big data, and that can lead to failure for city data initiatives. But it doesn't have to be that way. There are ways around the challenges and impediments. Read on to learn some of them.

The value of data is unmistakable for smart cities, and as we continue to learn more about using and optimising it the more valuable it will become. In our story, we share insights and recommendations on the ways we use data today and its potential for the future.

A proposed refresh of the Opposition’s National Urban Policy to acknowledge the role of technology and data could make the difference between Australia building good cities or great cities, says the peak body representing the smart cities movement in Australia.

The ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) has been established as a collaborative platform where up to three cities from each ASEAN member state, including capitals, work towards the common goal of smart and sustainable urban development. The Action Plans for each of the 25 participating cities have been released, highlighted the priorities and support each city is seeking.

How can a smart city make our lives better? That's one of the key questions a roundtable of experts addressed as they explored the challenges and opportunities ahead for smart cities initiatives.

Smart Cities Week Australia will be more than a conference: it will be an experience. Click to learn about the program, and to take advantage of Super Early Bird registration.

Digital may be an afterthought in some cities, but a handful of forward-thinking cities are reinventing the way they provide services to their citizens. They are going digital. And in doing so, they are saving money and reducing costs, boosting citizen engagement and satisfaction, enhancing employee productivity and carving out a new competitive space in the global knowledge economy.

This year, Tesla’s Elon Musk declared bankruptcy, actor Seth Rogen signed his life over to Netflix and Where's Wally found his way into Google Maps. Tech companies understand the power of April Fools' Day to engage their audiences. But can an April Fools’ Day joke on Facebook get the community excited about a local council’s business plan?

Does your Grandma know what a Smart City is? If not, then we are doing it wrong! We are building Smart Cities for the people after all, so shouldn’t they be familiar with the concept? Shouldn’t Smart Citizens know they are a part of a Smart eco-system?

Data is essential for smart city operations, but how it's stored is often neglected. In our story we take a look at what a resilient, energy-efficient data centre should look like and the benefits it can provide for smart cities.

Accenture is the latest organisation to join the world’s largest network of ‘smart cities’ companies supporting the liveability, workability and sustainability of cities in a rapidly digitised world.

Australia's first dedicated smart cities awards program continues to build momentum with the announcement of the Awards Jury and the award categories today. Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand (SCCANZ) announced in 2017 its intention to facilitate the awards program, with the reception now confirmed to be hosted during Smart Cities Week in Sydney on Tuesday 30th October 2018.

The Council is taking a different approach with our inaugural Smart Cities Week Australia conference. Read on for a quick rundown on what you can expect.

In the fast-paced and rapidly-evolving smart cities space, everyone must have an eye on the horizon. In a sector where ‘What’s next?’ is the question, Smart Cities Week Australia is the answer. Do you want to associate your brand with the region's premium smart cities event? — Then you can’t afford to miss the opportunity to sponsor Smart Cities Week Australia.

In this article, written for the March Edition of New Planner, Adam Beck provides an overview of the fundamental smart cities elements in the context of opportunities for the urban planning profession.

March is just beginning and it's already looking like a very busy year for the Smart Cities Council. Read on to catch up with what the Council, our partners and collaborators have accomplished over the past month.

The ‘Smart Cities Guide for Built Environment Consultants’ is the result of a collaboration between Consult Australia, the Smart Cities Council (ANZ) and their respective members. It defines and sets out the functions of a smart city and includes a checklist for collaboration across the sector.

Smart Cities Week, the global event of the Smart Cities Council, will make its way to Australia in late October 2018. The Council, which is the largest global coalition of smart cities companies, practitioners and policy makers, has announced today that its signature event will take place in Sydney from 29-31 October.

How we experience the city, how we access information, how we manage our city’s assets and how we deliver services to the community is about to change thanks to mobile augmented reality. We spoke with the CEO of Council Partner CivicConnect, which has been pioneering a mobile AR platform to understand what's next for the urban experience.

Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand (SCCANZ) has announced its latest industry partnership, with Cyient, a global provider of engineering, manufacturing, geospatial, network and operations management solutions.

Place Design Group builds street of the future, Buddy wants to #FreeTheData and Deloitte is shaping innovation districts to power the economy

As the year comes to a close, it's a time for looking back and assessing what we've accomplished. For the Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand 2017 was a hectic but very productive year. It was a year of new partnerships and collaboration, working with cities on their smart city plans and technology investments — and much more.

KPMG will take you through a smart cities maturity assessment, Arcadis shines spotlight on how Australia moves and PCSG on a Digital Built Australia.

The Smart Cities Council Emerging Innovators is a network of cross-discipline young leaders building the smart cities movement.

As part of our continued showcasing of smart cities leaders across the region, we caught up with Buddy Platform’s Marketing Manager, Beth Worrall. During the interview, we touched on everything from the smart building movement, IoT equity and climate change. A summary of our conversation is presented in this article.

Some Council’s in Australia have more certainty today about their future smart cities journey, as the first funded projects under the government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs program was announced yesterday.

What a difference a year can make. Since last year Australia has taken numerous strides toward becoming a competitive, mature smart cities market. Read our story for the details.

Large-scale smart city projects require substantial planning and coordination. Smaller district and precinct-scale projects do, too. And as a discussion at Smart Cities Week made clear, sustainable precinct projects represent an important evolution in planning strategies and urban design.

Young smart cities leaders are eager to participate in Australia's smart cities agenda and share their skills and abilities. Read our story to learn how SCCANZ is working to help them take part and contribute.

Australia’s first national Smart Cities Awards program was announced today at a gathering of industry leaders in Sydney, hosted by the Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand (SCCANZ), the peak body representing the smart cities movement in Australia. Speaking at a smart cities workshop in Sydney, SCCANZ Executive Director Adam Beck, announced the awards program, and the appointment of David Singleton as the program’s inaugural Chair.

It's been a busy week for the Council as we met with Council Partners and other stakeholders to work toward a better understanding of the best ways to integrate digital systems with the built environment. Read on to learn more about what we're doing to optimise the potential of smart cities.

To raise awareness of what smart cities standards and frameworks are available, SCCANZ released a guidance note that provides foundational information on global smart cities standards and frameworks.

Over the coming months we will bring industry and government together to work on a Code for Smart Communities — goals, principles and metrics for smart urban development. See what we’re doing and why — and, most importantly, how to get involved.

Using technology and data as a force for social good, SCCANZ has launched the Social Impact Task Force, which will help lift up our most vulnerable and build thriving communities. Learn how to join our effort.

A new city centre regeneration project on Queensland's Sunshine Coast hasn't been getting a lot of attention. But it's proving to be a model for how to use technology as an accelerator for sustainability. Click to learn more. It could be the right fit for your smart city plans.

Building smart cities is a principles-based endeavour. So is the sharing cities movement, which is now very much part of the process. Read on for an expert's take on how those principles can ensure successful smart cities.

The Internet of Things could become a $116 billion annual boost to the Australian economy. Learn about the new innovation network that will help get us there sooner.

To better understand the core issues of infrastructure resilience, EY and 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) are conducting a multi-market study around planning and financing resilient infrastructure for cities.

Fuelled by some strategic national policy in Australia), the local smart cities market place is in overdrive. From government to industry associations, from policy makers to practitioners, your voice is wanted.

Smart city projects are often conceived on a broad city-wide scale. But many local Australian authorities are working at the community and neighborhood levels. And that smaller scale requires a different set of strategies.

IDEA City is set to be an urban precinct where technology, research, creativity, and design meets to create a desirable place to live and work. We speak with Chris Isles from Place Design Group on smart city planning.

A smart city is a resilient one, and the path of destruction from Tropical Cyclone Debbie, which has left many battered and bruised, provides a good reason why.

Could an EU ‘Humble Lamppost’ type program in Australia and New Zealand be the key ingredient to unleashing a smart street lighting and controls revolution in the region and accelerate IoT deployment? Well, yes!

Australia is beginning to move from an uncoordinated approach to advancing smart cities to one that is based on collaboration and standards. Learn about new efforts in that direction.

The Week in Smart Cities provides a snapshot of what happened in the world of the Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand. From conference presentations to advocacy meetings, events to resource development.

Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand announced today that global design firm Aurecon had joined the organisation to help accelerate sustainability in cities using technology, data, and intelligent design.

So, if ‘smart cities’ is the answer, what was the question again? Well, the question has always been the same: “how can we embrace technology and intelligent design to create a better world, for people?”.