FUTURE SMART CITIES — ARE WE READY? In most Australian cities, we rarely think about our water supply, power supply or waste disposal — unless something goes wrong. Most of the time we take it for granted that we can switch on a light, turn on the tap and put the rubbish out for collection or flush it away. Our cities are smart, but with growing populations and limited resources they will need to get smarter in order to maintain the lifestyle we have become accustomed to. There is a proliferation of technologies and smart devices currently available to make cities smarter. But when data is not standardised across technologies, one of the challenges for smart cities of the future will be ensuring ease of use and smooth implementation of the latest technology. This may require new business models with integrated infrastructure that can mix and match a variety of technologies into the whole process. Whereas with other technology, such as recycled water, the power of education should not be underestimated.
Features: > Perfect storm for the smart grid p5 > Mental mind shift for sustainable water p6 > Intelligence for our buildings p7
4 INSIGHTS 2017