Source: People's Daily
Figure (1): In a library in Paris, France, people learn about books through electronic screens.
Photo by Liu Lingling, reporter of this newspaper
Figure (2): Visitors experience a smart community at the China National Pavilion at Expo 2022 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Photo by Wang Dongzhen (Xinhua News Agency)
Figure (3): Centralized parking for shared bicycles and shared electric scooters on the streets of Tel Aviv, Israel.
Photo by Huang Peizhao, reporter of this newspaper
Figure (4): A smart community on the north shore of Punggol, Singapore.
Photo courtesy of HDB website
Smart community is the full application of big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other information technology means, integrate various community service resources, and create a new form of community governance based on informatization and intelligent management and service. Some countries have gained a lot of experience in the construction of smart communities by building public affairs participation platforms, improving interconnected life services, and improving smart hardware facilities to meet the needs of residents.
Singapore –
Smart technology creates a livable environment
Reporter Liu Hui
Each room has smart sockets, and smart power distribution boards that can monitor the electricity consumption of electrical appliances, which is convenient for home use; The parking lot can monitor the use of parking spaces, adjust non-resident parking spaces according to the needs of visitors, and ensure parking demand; The pneumatic waste collection system transports household waste directly from the residents' homes to the central treatment center through underground pipelines, and is regularly disposed of by garbage trucks, reducing labor costs and the spread of garbage odor, creating a cleaner and more hygienic environment...
This is Singapore's first batch of HDB flats, located on the scenic north shore of Punggol, and is a representative of the local promotion of smart community construction. The construction of Punggol North Shore reflects Singapore's efforts to integrate smart technology into life and create more livable, efficient, sustainable and safe homes for its people.
In September 2014, the Housing and Development Board launched the Smart Town Framework, which uses smart technology to collect information on population, residents' living preferences, social trends and other information from five levels: smart planning, smart environment, smart residential area, smart life and smart community, so as to create a livable environment that meets the needs of residents. As a result, more and more smart technologies are being introduced into community building.
Tenga New Town is Singapore's first "forest town", which has adopted an integrated urban environment simulation platform from the planning and construction stage, using computer simulation and data analysis technology to provide scientific reference for improving the comfort of living environment. The platform can calculate how environmental factors such as light, noise, and wind direction affect each other, analyze how to use wind direction to enhance ventilation, and how to design green plant layout to achieve the best shading effect, etc., to ensure that the residential and natural ecology are integrated with each other, so that the green theme runs through the entire community.
The Smart Care System for the Elderly is one of the "Smart Home Solutions" introduced by the Singapore Government to create a smart life, and was first installed in Yue Hwa HDB flat area for trial. This system uses sensors to detect and analyze the living patterns of the elderly, and issue alerts in the event of an emergency to ensure that the elderly receive timely assistance.
Mr. Tsui, a resident of Yue Wah HDB Estate, is over 70 years old and is usually the only one at home, with sensors in the door, living room, dining room, kitchen and bedroom. Gate sensors record whether they are going out, and the rest of the sensors detect their activity in the home. In the event of an abnormal situation such as deviation from the schedule, the system will sound a quiet alarm, and if no activity is detected afterwards, it will immediately send a text message to alert the family. "As we become less mobile, the smart care system will help us even more." Mr. Xu said.
In addition, HDB has partnered with technology companies to launch the "Neighborhood Pulse" platform, which develops different apps to make it easier for residents to find nearby shops and services. Residents can also subscribe to an information bulletin to stay informed about their surroundings. The Singapore government is also building a smart application centre to collect data from HDB flats using sensors to adjust lighting, water supply, garbage disposal, etc., to improve the quality of community services.
According to the current plan, Singapore will continue to build a series of new smart communities around the principle of "work-life integration" in the future to meet the diverse needs of society. The Singapore government believes that with the completion of more and more smart communities, the way residents live, work, learn and relax will change, and the future of smart life in Singapore will be further revealed.
France –
The online platform facilitates public services
Reporter Liu Lingling
"Do you want parking in the city to be free?" This is a survey recently released on the "My Opinion" website in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France, where citizens can not only vote directly and leave messages, but also see real-time voting results and message keywords. According to Yves Kegal, co-founder of the website, the platform's data will be shared with the government and community service system to analyze and manage public policies more effectively.
As early as more than 20 years ago, Issy-les-Mulino began to use digital technology to promote the construction of smart communities, and gradually realized the digitalization of community public services by building network platforms and improving infrastructure. In 1996, the city established a digital website for municipal services, and since then launched a variety of online administrative service platforms. From voter registration to school meal payment, from e-book lending and reader consultation services to the handheld library, to mobile parking fees, online voting... Diversified network platforms not only improve the quality of community and urban public services, but also make residents' lives more convenient and intelligent.
Issy Lemoulino is the epitome of the French government's digitalization to promote the construction of smart communities. In 1997, the French government launched the Government Information Society Project Action, which developed an action plan for the digital transformation of government and promoted a series of administrative portals and online forms. In 2004 and 2008, the French government launched projects such as the "E-Government Plan" and "Digital France 2012" to further improve the accessibility of the government website. At present, a total of 27 cities of different sizes in France are promoting the construction of smart communities to provide better services to residents through the development of infrastructure such as smart service platforms.
In recent years, with the needs of the French government's energy transition, many French cities have also begun to consider issues such as reducing energy consumption and promoting sustainable development of communities in the construction of smart communities. Many communities have better control over energy consumption by installing energy management systems such as smart grids. The northern French city of Lille has launched a smart heating network, which is equipped with sensors to monitor and prevent leakage, saving 20%-30% of energy consumption compared to traditional heating systems. Issy-les-Mulino has also launched a smart power network that uses digital feedback to better understand where energy consumption is used and optimize energy management.
In addition, Issy Lemulino also expands the practice of smart community construction according to the latest needs of French social development. Through the Participatory Budget website, local residents can submit specific projects as individuals or communities, and receive financial support after a citizen vote and discussion and approval by the municipality. According to reports, 15 projects will be approved in 2022, including the installation of noise-resistant radars, the installation of composters, and the construction of multi-functional bicycle stations. In order to help more residents integrate into the construction of smart communities, Icy Lemulino also launched the "Digital Passport" program, which provides special training for citizens with different learning needs and further expands the service coverage of the online platform.
Israel –
Data sharing drives smart transformation
Reporter Huang Peizhao
Samantha works for a high-tech company and lives in the Lev Khair neighborhood of Tel Aviv. Every Saturday, when she wants to "recharge" herself, she only needs to open the computer and enter her name and login password to log in to the community online library to check the materials. The community online library is one of the initiatives to promote the construction of smart community in Tel Aviv, Israel, and shares information with Tel Aviv Municipal Library, including various newspapers and magazines, dictionaries, educational databases, legal databases, encyclopedias, etc. in addition to books. After community residents register for free, they can access, read and store the content they need at any time.
Lev Khayl, which means "heart of the city," was one of Tel Aviv's first smart communities. Enter the community digital platform, and various practical information is divided into categories to fully meet the daily life and service needs of residents. Travel, parking, medical treatment, daycare, further education, and paying utility bills can all be easily done on the community's digital platform. Samansa usually chooses to cycle to work, and through the bicycle service system, it is very convenient to find shared bicycles in the surrounding area.
Not only that, thanks to Tel Aviv's powerful data collection capabilities, real-time traffic notifications, road construction plans, radiation and noise pollution, the situation of major historical buildings, street names, social services and educational institutions, medical clinics and pharmacies... This information can be found on community digital platforms, providing a lot of convenience for residents' lives.
"The construction of smart communities is inseparable from the overall layout of Tel Aviv's smart city." Edna Pasial, founder and chairman of the Israel Smart City Research Institute, told this reporter that in 2014, Tel Aviv won the Best Smart City Award at the Barcelona Smart City Exhibition. Over the years, Israel has continuously promoted the construction of urban digital platforms based on big data technology, which has also laid a solid foundation for the construction of smart communities.
Previously, the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry, the Ministry of the Interior and other departments jointly launched a digital action plan, allocating about 2.5 million new shekels (1 new shekel is about 2 yuan), introducing a public-private partnership model jointly developed by government agencies, academia and technology companies, establishing a large-scale database covering all Israeli cities, focusing on cybersecurity, smart transportation, elderly care services, etc., to achieve nationwide data sharing, more effectively serve cities, and respond to the needs and challenges related to future urban development. Relying on the big data system and technology of smart cities, Tel Aviv has also further integrated data in transportation, power supply, logistics, medical care, food, environmental protection, meteorology, municipal administration, security and other fields.
In order to integrate more community residents into smart life, Tel Aviv fully considers the needs of the people and launched the "digital-telecommunications" system platform. After citizens become members of the platform, they can get free wireless network services in all communities in the city, helping Tel Aviv realize the construction of a smart city based on digitalization. "As an entrepreneurial city, Tel Aviv uses the city's high-tech ecosystem as a lever to drive smart city transformation." Pashar said.