Too often, we are willing to criticise government when it does nothing and yet, when they act, we are all too quick to look for the negative. Here are some reflections from recent commentary surrounding one of Australia's most exciting smart cities projects - 'Switching on Darwin'.
Across Australia and New Zealand, we are seeing our populations grow, along with the community’s expectations for a high level of service, and experience with the way they interact with government and their local community. While these expectations grow, budgets are in some towns shrinking, and for many cities rates are being capped. This is driving more and more cities to make their services available by web or smartphone, essentially creating ‘digital city services’.
This past weekend has seen a Scott Morrison-led Liberal-National Coalition returned to Government. Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand (SCCANZ) congratulates Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Coalition, and in our role as the peak organisation for smart cities in the nation, we are primed to work with the new government to ensure the nation invests in technology strategies and builds a data culture to enhance our national prosperity and competitiveness.
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.
Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand has welcomed with much excitement the appointment of Romilly Madew as Infrastructure Australia’s new Chief Executive Officer.
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.
It was a year of significant achievement for the smart cities movement in the region - Australia, New Zealand and across ASEAN. We are excited about what 2019 may hold, but first, a reflection on the past 12 months.
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.
As another year draws to a close, it is important to reflect on our progress. What did we see, and what didn't we see this year? What should we have seen? There is no time for rest with the smart cities movement.
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...
Each year SCCANZ supports important smart and sustainable cities events and training that we believe help accelerate investment in smarter, more sustainable cities. Here are the top five events and two training opportunities being delivered by our partners and supporting organisations that are helping build change, and are not to be missed.
Many possible futures lay ahead of us. Thinking about the future is one of the most important things humans can do. As we shape the future, both in our minds and in reality, we should always do so with compassion. Hear the voice of Emerging Innovator Nick Kamols in this post as he reflects on our city visioning processes.
In honour of Smart Cities Week Australia 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 ‘aware’ from Emerging Innovator Claire Daniel reflects that, for the first time in history, smart cities are letting city officials know whether what they are doing is working and why.
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.
Connection, collaboration and the enabling power of technology create better places for people. These were the key out-takes from Australia’s first Smart Cities Week.
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.
Released as part of Smart Cities Week Australia in Sydney, the Code for Smart Communities is a new benchmark for urban development practices across greenfield communities, urban regeneration precincts and diverse institutional campuses.
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 ‘accelerate’ from Emerging Innovator Angela Chan looks at the three factors of workability, liveability and sustainability that will accelerate how we are shaping cities of the future.
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.
Fast download speeds are just the start, as the fifth-generation wireless network fast-tracks the “smart city”. As drone deliveries and driverless cars, remote surgeries and automated factories take off, what does 5G mean for property?
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.
In the years since one of our regions most deadliest earthquakes rocked New Zealand, Christchurch has been future-proofing its systems and services against future earthquakes and other resilience challenges like climate change by becoming a testbed for technological innovation.
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.
Brisbane, Adelaide, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast and Canterbury-Bankstown have been shortlisted for the top prize at the inaugural Australian Smart Cities Awards. The awards, to be held as part of Australia’s first Smart Cities Week from 29-31 October, will recognise and reward leadership, celebrate best practice and stimulate action to advance the smart cities movement.
The first set of standards for smart cities was published to give cities a consistent way to measure their performance, share data and learn from each other as they planned and developed smart city projects. Now, an updated standard provides even more ways for cities to measure how well they're meeting their commitments to sustainable, resilient urban environments.
The Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand has experienced two years of steady growth and accomplishment. And there's much more to come. Read on to learn how the Council is continuing its mission: guiding cities to successful smart city project completion — and the new approaches we're adding to help ensure that success.
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.
Water is frequently taken for granted. It shouldn't be. Water is an essential resource and can be squandered by poor management practices. Its use and management need to be both innovative and extremely well thought out — and major components of smart city roadmaps.
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.
Current procurement practices aren't as well suited to the complexities of smart cities as they could be. Our story explains in more detail and offers recommendations on how to make procurement processes more smart cities-friendly.
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.
This collaboration between the City of Greater Bendigo, La Trobe University and Coliban Water is building a community Internet of Things (IoT) network. The network will be completed and working later in 2018, with the capability to cover virtually the entire city and handle close to 400,000 sensors.
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.
If urban planning is to remain effective in guiding the development and growth of the technology-laden smart cities of the future, planners will likely have to become more tech-savvy to make the most of new forms of data and its sources in their decision making. Read our story for key insights from Wellington planner David Batchelor.
The Smart Cities Council is preparing to launch the Smart Cities Project Activator -- an innovative, web based solution, that brings cities, solutions providers and investors together to more quickly scope — and finance — smart cities projects. Learn how.
The launch of the property and construction industry’s landmark carbon positive roadmap will slam the accelerator on Australia’s smart cities market, says the Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand. The Roadmap outlines an ambitious set of targets and actions which will support the built environment’s transition to net zero emissions by 2050.
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.
As cities work to provide digital services for their citizens, overcoming legacy issues and legacy thinking can be challenging. However, many cities have done it. Our story shares insights on how one city moved to digital engagement and the benefits it provides for both citizens and city government.
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.
Reflecting a commitment to prepare for the future of transportation, the 2018-2019 New South Wales state budget includes $10 million to expand driverless vehicle trials over the next four years. Read our story to learn more.
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.
Smart Cities Week heads to Australia in October. The program in now online and super early bird registrations open.
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?
There are so many events in the smart cities space that it's a challenge to choose which ones will meet your specific needs. Our recommendations for upcoming 2018 events should make that chore easier.
Cities need to offer more than tangible things like job opportunities and enhanced mobility to make them attractive to current and new residents. Guest author Janine Betz shares her insights on why cities should focus on ensuring that residents feel like they belong there, that they have a sense of 'place.'
The goal for smart urban development is sustainability. But how do we get there? As part of our efforts to help the development industry achieve the best possible outcomes we’re offering guidance to help the industry achieve sustainability in a way that benefits people, the planet and the economy.
New Zealand won several awards and substantial recognition in an Asia-Pacific competition last year for the quality and relevance of its smart cities initiatives. Early indications are the country's smart cities efforts could claim more awards in the 2018 competition.
With city populations growing quickly, higher-density development is inevitable. But how do we ensure those high-density environments are healthy places to live and work? Read on to learn about a group of researchers determined to get the answers to that question.
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?
A multi-community information technology collaboration on street lighting, traffic management and public safety is expected to yield numerous benefits for citizens and reduce operating costs for their local governments. Watch the video to learn how.
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.
City leaders who want to move their smart city agendas forward now have the opportunity to make meaningful progress: SCCANZ's Smart Cities Readiness Challenge. It will be launching very soon, so click to learn more about this exciting opportunity.
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 sky high energy prices and an abundance of sunlight are among the factors that nudged the country into an era of significant renewable energy spending. Now homeowners have a tool to help them decide for themselves if rooftop solar is an investment they should make.
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.
Maintaining a connection to a changing community's past, its cultural and historical identity, can be challenging. But many of today's current and emerging technologies can help ensure that connection remains intact. Guest author David Batchelor explains.
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.
Australian telecom Telstra has turned on what is said to be the world's first 5G-enabled Wi-Fi hot spots available to the public as part of an evaluation of its next generation technology. Click for details and why it's such an important development for smart cities.
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.
Technology and data solutions are essential for optimising the smart cities built environment of the future. And it takes sound policies to ensure that those tools are used wisely and consistently, as the three articles by ANZSCC Partners included here explain.
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.
The Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand (SCCANZ) announced today a number of initiatives that will see the future of mobility become a key focus of the organisation’s activities for 2018 and beyond in the Australia New Zealand region.
Building and Information Modelling holds tremendous promise for how we approach the smart cities built environment. But it hasn't yet fully 'arrived.' Guest author Matthew Mackay of Council Associate Partner Arcadis shares five elements to consider on how to make it deliver as it should.
Our guest authors from Council Associate Partner Aurecon offer a compelling argument for the benefits of creating digital twin models of our cities. It's a strategy you will want to learn about.
The need for a forward-thinking approach to the design and delivery of Australia's built environment is clear: It is key to helping the country meet some of the many challenges it faces, including demographic pressure, energy demand, transport inefficiency, housing needs and climate change.
The Smart Cities Council Emerging Innovators, a group of young professionals dedicated to delivering world class leadership for smart cities, has launched. Interested? Click to learn about what we're doing to make cities more liveable.
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.
Rooftop solar and energy storage are becoming increasingly popular with Australians as a way to trim rising electricity costs. But what are renters and apartment dwellers supposed to do? They're rarely able or willing to install solar panels on a home they don't own. That's where community solar gardens can help.
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.
SCCANZ mobilises its policy activities for 2018, starting with the release of its Digital Built Australia policy primer outlining a suite of policy recommendations for building greater productivity within the construction sector and accelerating the reduction of built environment related greenhouse gas emissions through the greater adoption of technology and data solutions.
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.
It's only a month into the new year and the momentum is already building quickly. Read on to learn about events, new endeavours and other activities that promise to make 2018 a very productive year for smart cities.
If smart cities are to succeed, says a Wellington urban planner, the emphasis on technology as a means to improve peoples' lives needs to change -- and focus instead on enhancing the aspects of communities their residents know and appreciate.
Investment in grid-scale energy storage and renewable energy in Australia jumped in 2017 to the point where the country is now one of the top 10 globally for renewables investment. Numerous benefits are expected, including lower electric bills — and that will be much appreciated in a country that currently has the world's highest power prices.
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.
To kick off the Smart Cities Pulse series for 2018, we sat down with emerging smart cities leader Katherine Tobias of Partner KPMG's Internet of Things practice, to hear her views on smart cities now, new and next. Among other topics covered, we spoke about standards, collaboration, governance and the importance of engaging young future leaders.
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.
2018 will be a defining year for smart cities standards in Australia, and globally, with much activity underway. Here are some key resources to help you keep up.
Place Design Group builds street of the future, Buddy wants to #FreeTheData and Deloitte is shaping innovation districts to power the economy
Data alone can't do much to help us achieve our smart city goals. That's why guest author Chris Isles of Council Associate Partner Place Design Group believes we need to create a 'data culture' around the outcomes and solutions data can provide for us rather than the data itself.
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.
Aurecon brings digital to build resilience in award winning project, Delos Delata is preparing cities for smart cities investment and Arrow teams up to monetise the Internet of Things
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 peak body for smart cities in Australia and New Zealand has announced the establishment of a network for young emerging innovators, an initiative seeking to drive emerging leadership within the smart cities movement in Australia and New Zealand.
The Smart Cities Council Emerging Innovators is a network of cross-discipline young leaders building the smart cities movement.
With a successful driverless bus trial under their belts, the RAC of Western Australia, the state government and their vehicle manufacturing partner are taking another step forward: trials of driverless cars that will provide on-demand transportation services like those offered by Uber and Lyft.
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.
This article takes a look at a series of events run in New Zealand the week of 20th November 2017, hosted by the Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand. This article is reproduced with the permission of its author, Craig Young, the CEO of TUANZ.
The winning proposals in the first round of the Australian government's Smart Cities and Suburbs Program have been chosen and the federal cash is flowing. Read on to learn about what some cities will be doing to make their communities more liveable, sustainable and safe.
SCCANZ spoke recently to Catherine Caruana-McManus, someone who has been close to the smart cities movement both globally, but also here locally in Australia for many years. As Director of Sales Strategy for IoT integrator Meshed and the Workstream Chair for Smart Cities and Industries for the Internet of Things Alliance Australia, she remains active in the advancement of the digital economy and the sustainability of our cities.
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.
A national award recognizing a suburban Sydney community's street tree planting program underscores the value of greening up your city. And it's not just about aesthetics. There are other very real benefits you should know about.
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.
SCCANZ facilitated a workshop with global tech company SAP for SMEs and start-ups with Austrade and QUT. The goal was to explore opportunities for helping Australian businesses with niche technology offerings for smart cities to scale up and go global. Read on for more on the session's outcomes.
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.
Wouldn't it be great if you could measure how happy your citizens are — and use that information to help guide investments in making your city more liveable? Click to learn about how it's being done with data analytics and a people-centric approach.
Auckland's smart city master plan, scheduled for release by year end, is more than a roadmap for upgrading and improving city services. It's also about avoiding silos to enable data sharing among multiple departments and other efficiencies.
How can the Internet of Things intersect with climate science and help cities work effectively in climate adaptation? A recent meeting of the minds in Sydney yielded many interesting insights and opportunities you will want to know about.
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.
The Australian government is plugging $100 million into an incentive programme to get citizens to switch to electric vehicles. The reason? EVs will play a major role in supporting sustainable cities. Click for details.
Melbourne's startup scene is heating up with the recent launch of a startup accelerator program for companies working in energy, data analytics and more — and the announcement that candidates have been selected to participate in a separate IoT accelerator program. Click for details.
It’s been a year since Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand launched. Read on to hear about what we have done, and where we are going.
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.
A hackathon doesn't need to be a fringe, underground cult thing. It can be a tool for city transformation, market acceleration and a tool to build the skills our government and industry desperately need to solve urban problems.
Bad weather has made collecting water quality and related data in Wellington Harbour challenging for scientists in the past. But through an innovative combination of technologies the scientists don’t need to worry about the weather now—because the data they need is just a phone call away.
Knowing what your citizens really think is essential for the development of sustainable, liveable smart cities. And knowing how they really feel is even better. Several experts are suggesting that applying social analytics to social media will get us closer to that goal than the approaches we're using now.
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.
A Singapore news site calls agriculture technology “the new farming tool to boost food security.” Venture arms of tech giants Qualcomm and Cisco recently invested in an Israeli digital ag startup. New Zealand farmers are cutting costs with IoT technology from Schneider Electric. Clearly agtech is booming; read why it matters.
The Australian government has been working on a program to gauge how the country's largest cities are performing in a variety of areas (think housing and liveability, for example). Now that program details are available, we thought you'd like to know where it's headed.
There's a rich global array of smart cities standards available for the asking. But we need an in-depth understanding of those standards before we can gain the most from them. Read our story to learn about a just-released Guidance Note designed to help raise awareness of the importance of standards and their benefits.
A gorgeous park on the western Australia coast is becoming a mini-smart city, complete with environmental and noise sensors, smart parking, and rubbish bins that know when they need to be emptied. See what your city can learn from it.
Think tank CGAP wants to illustrate the impact that financial inclusion and microfinance have in improving the lives of low-income people through its annual photo contest. Click for details.
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.
Homeless camps have grown 30% in Oakland in the last two years. They're growing in Honolulu too, prompting one councilman to propose armed park rangers to keep public spaces safe. Is that the solution? Are there better ones? Learn what cities from Anchorage to Sydney are doing.
As more and more businesses, industries and cities realise the value and potential for IoT, uses for connected technologies continue to proliferate. A new report from a New Zealand tech alliance outlines several examples of how IoT can help the country's cities become safer and more desirable.
The city of Adelaide has very high hopes for its gigabit city network. Not only do city officials anticipate the city will operate faster and with more agility as it provides enhanced products and services — they expect businesses new and old will benefit greatly as well.
It's a bold and possibly risky plan, but electric car maker Tesla will build what is expected to be the world's largest energy storage battery in South Australia to help ensure the state's energy security.
Leaders in Australia's property sector know big data is important to their industry. But they will need to change their thinking by fully incorporating analytics into their planning and operations if they expect to wring the most value out of that data.
As the world’s diabetes epidemic worsens, IBM, Qualcomm and Microsoft technologies have joined the battle. Columbus, Georgia’s mayor has signed on. So have 47,000 Lions Clubs. And then there's Dana Lewis; don't miss what she's doing to help diabetes sufferers like herself.
Affordable housing is one of the key factors that makes a city liveable, and a lack of affordable housing could impair your ability to attract the workforce your employers need. See what’s happening in Sydney.
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.
When it comes to building cities, the fundamental recipe we use has never changed. And when it comes to building sustainable cities, that practice is not sustainable. Learn why and what your new approach should entail.
While sensor-equipped collection bins help cities manage trash collection more efficiently and cost-effectively, one of the features of an ambitious central business district upgrade in Maroochydore eliminates the need to roll trucks to collect it. Read on to learn more.
About five million used tyres are tossed into New Zealand tyre dumps every year, creating a variety of problems for the cities where they're located. How to solve the problem? The New Zealand Government is providing funding and research to turn those discarded tyres into concrete and building materials.
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.
An Australia-based consortium announced a plan last year to build a high-speed rail network to connect Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney – and eight commuter smart cities. Now that the details of the plan have been filled in, the proposal will be sent to the federal government at the end of this month.
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.
How much do you really know about how your city is functioning? While we collect more data than ever, a lot of it is in private hands. Find out how a public-private partnership could help Sydney grow smarter.
Rapid population growth causes a variety of problems for cities: overcrowded roads, overburdened health care systems, inadequate affordable housing and many more. They aren't easy challenges to deal with, but a new research institute is betting its collaborative strategy will find the right solutions.
While the U.S. plans to walk away from the Paris climate agreement, the global commitment to reducing carbon emissions remains – from cities, states, nations and businesses. Read on for examples of that continuing commitment from our Council Partners.
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.
Few people would argue that trees aren’t good for cities. They offer shade for people and buildings and they help the environment and liveability. But there are other benefits you may not have thought of.
In the Asia-Pacific region, New Zealand is turning into a smart cities hotbed, placing second only to China in a new IDC ranking. Learn about some of its latest projects and steal ideas for your own city.
At SCCANZ, and we are passionate about sharing experiences, building capacity, and encouraging peer-to-peer networking. Here are four smart cities events to mark in your calendar for the coming months.
Smart city initiatives can be complex and technologically challenging. But there's help on the way for Australia's cities from a partnership focused on helping cities accelerate adoption of IoT and related technologies.
The Smart Cities Readiness Program provides a comprehensive menu of training and events, workshops and readiness planning that enable a city to transform.
Innovative technologies can improve the physical and mental well-being of people who suffer from loneliness and lack of social connections. A new report highlights examples, such as Australia's InTouch Living system.
One way to understand the smart cities agenda is to look at barriers that need to be overcome and the solutions we can use. Read on to learn how a circular economy could help us meet our challenges and achieve our goals.
It may not be common practice yet, but a New Zealand government-backed programme found several good reasons for the central government and local councils to work together on smart city projects and technology adoption.
By some measures, Australia and New Zealand have some of smartest electrical grids in the world. But they’re getting ready to make even bigger investments. Learn why.
The federal government is betting a $20 billion investment in two rail projects will help cities cut traffic congestion, boost regional economic development and create new jobs. Read our story to learn more.
If you really want to know what's going on throughout your city, advanced analytics can tell you – in detail. And even better, it can give you an idea of what could happen next. Smart cities need that kind of intelligence.
With skyrocketing population growth, commutes in Sydney are likely to go from bad to worse. Learn about the new “30 minute city” vision and how it could make the city much more liveable.
A city bike sharing trial may open up the option of bicycle travel for a broader audience. Read the story to learn about an electric bike sharing program that could eventually put more people on two wheels instead of four.
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.
In an effort to focus smart city policy at the local level, the federal government is taking steps to monitor how well Australia's capital cities and others are performing as they plan their smart city initiatives.
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.
With a world-leading green building industry firmly grounded in Australia, I approached green building stalwart Quentin Jackson from Aurecon to share his smart buildings views.
Cities all over the world are using sensors for a variety of applications, from air quality monitoring to traffic management. But the city of Christchurch is going about it in a very big way. Read on to learn more.
Which comes first: the technology or the people? While many cities start with the tech and think about what they could do with it, Melbourne is finding success by trying the opposite.
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.
Connecting students in Mumbai with Australian retirees…Daily call gives peace of mind in Winter Park…Singapore standardization efforts support aging…Detroit DOT expands reduced fare program...Aging in Place in Hong Kong.
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.
India's Academy of Highway Engineers has partnered with the University of New South Wales to assess and support smart transportation innovations and look into future market possibilities. Read on to learn more.
Mercer has just released its 19th annual Quality of Living survey and in it there’s incredible news for Australia and New Zealand. There’s also an incredible opportunity to improve. See why.
Could your smart city initiative use a second look from an independent panel of experts? Learn how the Smart Cities In-Review process can help you be sure you are on the right track.
New Zealand’s smart sensors nearly cover the range of the human senses and a new initiative that brings together work in various cities could make the country a leader in research. Learn how.
It's not hard to get caught up in the technologies that make smart cities work and forget they need to be interoperable and secure. Our story shares insights into why those qualities are critical for smart city success.
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.
Can you imagine cutting the number of systems you are using by 40% and not only getting all your city’s work done, but better serving the public? See how this New Zealand city did just that.
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.
Sydney's population will almost double in 30 years — and urban planners expect the city will be hard-pressed to offer essential services for its citizens. Read on to learn why one expert says data could help the city cope.
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!
Seattle rolls out mobile showers. San Fernando teens invent solar-powered tents. Melbourne university names professor of homelessness. Vancouver PPP creates 900 housing units… Detroit businesses put homeless women to work.
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.
As cities and regions elsewhere in the world are discovering, preparing Western Australia's roads for the transition to driverless cars will be expensive, says the Royal Automobile Club. And the time to invest is now.
Cities working to become smarter are often challenged by how to precisely monitor and manage their resources: energy, water or other essentials. Read on to learn about an IoT-based solution that might be an option.
In Helsinki, a new district is being built along an old commercial harbour with one goal in mind: improving the quality of citizens’ lives. The smart district will use technology to benefit citizens.
Adelaide has its sights set on becoming Australia’s first smart city and one of the world’s most livable cities. See how it’s doing it and steal these three ideas as you craft your own initiatives.
If your city has ambitious ideas for smart city projects but not enough cash to see them through, a new federal government seed funding program may be the solution you're looking for.
A vocational education school in southwest Victoria is giving some of its classrooms a high tech upgrade to better prepare students for jobs in the digital era. Read the story to learn why.
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.
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.
When you want people-first smart cities, there is a secret sauce. Get a look at some of the key ingredients through the work at Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City, Japan.
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.
Whilst the industry had made some important gains in digital disruption and technological adoption, it may still have some way to go to become truly transformative. Learn why.
These five lessons from the U.S. Smart City Challenge program could help advance cities across Australia and New Zealand. Learn how — and steal them to improve your efforts.
As our urban leaders begin to advance policy and programs that align with the New Urban Agenda created at the UN Habitat III convening in Quito, Ecuador, we offer the case for data-driven decision making as a means for greater sustainability outcomes/
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?”.
To thrive, cities need well-educated, high-tech workforces and cities across Australia are developing them by starting young. Check out three winning ideas from showcase schools that you can put to work in your own city. (Some of the ideas use tools you already have.)
The move to renewable sources of energy is typically driven by climate goals, but as renewables take over as the world’s largest source of new power there’s a new reason: price. They can be cheaper. Find out if you should be giving renewables a second look.
We're in a water crisis. In about 10 years, the UN says two-thirds of the world's population will face water stress: lower quality water and less of it. As excruciating as it may be for conservative, risk-averse water utilities, it's going to take a complete re-evaluation of how they do business if water quality is to be preserved. Read the story for some tough advice from an industry professional.
Cities are experimenting with several smart approaches to reduce congestion and solve parking problems. But what about all those vacant spaces in parking garages? An Australian businessman has some thoughts about that, and what he has to say just might interest city managers looking for ways to reduce congestion and find more parking for their residents.
The number of cities struggling with drought seems to grow each year. Think you’re safe? The odds aren’t in your favor. Learn about three Veolia projects that are helping cities prepare.
The head of ICT for the city of Ashfield – a suburb of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia -- became the Smart Cities Council's 5,000th registered member last week. Learn why Bruno Daniele joined – and how you can do the same.
Some of the technologies that make smart cities so effective can also pay off during their construction. Learn how Saudi Arabia developers are using mobile technology, why RFID has proven a construction site game-changer in Australia and how China is tapping supercomputers to make construction more cost-efficient.
The city of Adelaide can now boast that it runs the largest free WiFi network in Australia, with help from Cisco. But that claim only touches the surface of what’s happening in the capital city of South Australia, where “livability” has become the mantra of public officials. Learn why.
New Zealand is a third of the way into a government-supported UltraFast Broadband network that will ultimately reach 33 cities and towns – 75% of the population. The network was designed from the outset to make it easier to build smart cities. Get the details.
What do you do when traffic continually gets worse even after building new roads and tunnels and raising the tolls to use them? Learn about an experiment in Sydney, Australia to move fully wired office "hubs" closer to where workers live.
A 2011 earthquake in New Zealand spurred a rebuilding effort in Christchurch that is relying on smart technologies and engaged citizens. Find out why it's another great example of turning lemons into lemonade.
To create some buzz around fast fiber networks, a New Zealand telecomm infrastructure company is hosting a year-long competition. When all is said and done, one town will claim the prize as NZ's fiber showcase. Get details on this time-tested approach.
When Google Australia revealed the eight locales where it believes small businesses are making best use of the Internet, they likely took some by surprise. Click to see which cities were recognized (and which were snubbed) in the tech giant's eTown awards.
Does the Smart Cities Council need to become the Smart Suburbs Council instead? Researchers from the UK and New Zealand claim that suburbs have a greater potential to become energy self-sufficient.
Many of the most exciting smart city possibilities relate to predictive analytics -- crunching data to forecast what will happen next. But there's always been a "blind spot" in how to predict and simulate human decisions, especially during unexpected events. Learn how Australian researchers are making progress on that front.