DA Nang, Vietnam will receive a 62 million grant from IBM - Smarter Cities Challenge. Similar to the service provided to Rio, and by the use of smart technology, I BM will work with the city in creating a central city command area to improve local services. Improving city services such as transportation, water treatment, traffic, pollution, and food safety will be a priority for the partnership. With IBM’s experience working with city infrastructure systems that lag behind most western countries, they hope to propel Da Nag into the smarter city category by having faster and more accurate information designed to help city managers take emergency action, as well as save valuable resources for the one million residents. IBM’s ultimate goal is to help Da Nag become ecologically sustainable, a technological innovation hub, and create a better overall city environment for tourist. Wouldn’t it be a great idea if all of the managers of the IBM smart cities could openly share information with each other and learn? http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20120509-344751.html

The PE.AMI Solid Waste Integrated Network Gathering System (SWINGS) created by Paradox Engineering in Switzerland is the first sub-GHz ultra-low power IPv6 6LowPan wireless-mesh complete and end-to-end solution for remote control, machine-to-machine (M2M) data monitoring and bidirectional communication for utility and multiutility companies. Using satellite and Wi-Fi, the PE.AMI system builds an open standard Wireless Sensor Grid allowing:

·  easy and effective communications among countless sensors

·  the delivery of new services to communities, towards the shaping of smart cities

 The company website illustrates the use of the sensors in the garbage carting industry. Sensors that are mounted on the trash containers and nearby poles notify the driver as the truck passes if the container is full and ready for pick up. Previously, the driver would stop at the trash container, exit the truck, and physically inspect the container. The driver can save time, and time is money. The smart technology has municipal applications as well, such as street lighting. Sensors are mounted directly onto street lights that connect to a smart gateway which relays the information to a central office where the information can be monitored. The power for each light can be immediately adjusted to reduce energy consumption, and that saves money for the city. There are other applications for the smart system that can benefit a city. Paradox Engineering is committed to the smart city through applications that are low cost and effective. http://www.pdxeng.ch/home.php

Managing CO2 Emissions

Governmental leaders and managers are responsible for choices that affect the output of greenhouse gas emissions. Cities and counties are trying with all efforts to carefully monitor and reduce the CO2 footprint under their jurisdiction. This environmental action has its beginnings in the sustainability and global warming fields. In addition, it is becoming increasingly difficult to comply with confusing federal and state regulatory greenhouse gas emissions standards that change frequently. Manage CO2 enterprise software helps organizations benchmark and monitor and compare greenhouse gas emissions across multiple facilities that have varying factors. There are many different global and local standards for CO2 emissions and just as many methods in data collection. The benefit of the software is that it can assist the user in comparing one city’s CO2 emissions with its own. The encrypted system even offers wireless capability so that inspectors and managers can access real time emissions information. This real time information can be used to make immediate corrective decisions and provides the user with behind the scenes ISO compliant staff that makes reporting to stakeholders clear and concise. Ultimately, the software will help governmental leaders make better decisions in reducing CO2 emissions.

Philips has developed a new and efficient LED solar powered street lighting system. Although the LED/battery system works better within areas of the world that have the greatest hours of sunlight, the system can also be used in areas that lack access to electricity, and where the only other option is to burn coal and wood. Areas such as Southeast Asia, India, and especially areas in Africa would benefit the most by the clean solar technology. It is estimated that one quarter of the world’s population lacks electricity with 90 percent of people in 11countries living in Africa (Gronewold, 2009). The new system uses intelligent sensors that regulate the proper quantity of energy to be stored in the batteries which avoids energy overcapacity issues. The lighting system can also assist cities that are trying to reduce their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The LED housing component is also designed for easy upgrading at a future point with improved technology that will allow the end user to benefit even more.

http://www.newscenter.philips.com/no_no/standard/about/news/press/2012/20120123-solar-powered-led-street-lighting.wpd

Gronewold, N. (2009, November 24). One-quarter of world’s population lacks electricity. Scientific American, Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=electricity-gap-developing-countries-energy-wood-charcoal

If the current trend in people returning to cities continues the need for getting food to people within cities that are further away from the farms that produce the product new supply chain methods using updated technology will be needed. Larderbytes.com uses technology which has been adapted from current supply chain management systems. This new and pioneering adaptation takes the supply chain model and re-engineers it for use by small and medium sized mom and pop operated businesses. The information system creates a series of virtual regional food markets, connecting each point of the food supply chain from farmers, fishermen and food processors to end customers. Local green markets are increasing in popularity such as the marketplace in Union Square, along with an emerging consumer interest in local food is propelled by people returning to cities. The smart knowledge system provides a virtual marketplace, available by even the smallest producers providing supply chain technology to a mass market at an affordable price that the consumer will benefit by. The networks are intended to be totally transparent ensuring complete traceability from farm to dinner table as well as providing the flexibility to meet the customer’s future needs. The supply chain technology delivers small and noticeable benefits to small producers who may otherwise struggle to take product to market. http://www.llga.org/past_edition.php?idPastE=28&any=2010

(Watch the video) http://developer.mintchipchallenge.com/index.php

It is very possible that the intelligent city of tomorrow will use electronic transactions instead of cash.

We live in an ever changing world that is quickly departing from the traditional use of cash. I use my bank card everywhere for almost everything. For example it is remarkable that most people carry wallets that were originally designed to carry cash, but this may be quickly changing. Most people do not realize that money, or more precisely electronic money is stored as ones and zeros on a computer.

Recently, The Royal Canadian Mint is planning to use a digital product called MintChip in an effort to replace coins. For most governmental organizations coin systems are expensive to produce and maintain and are open to theft.  In addition, cities have dense populations that add an exponential cost to the traditional cash system that may not be fully realized. MintChip is a digital chip transaction system that allows the user to add small monetary values onto any existing smart device and then use it to preform small transactions that have been cumbersome to carry out. The best feature of this system is that no personal information is utilized.

Signal

http://www.oilfiredup.com/site/news/item/1453

Shimmer is a U.K. based technology company that specializes in home based smart information systems which provides real time energy consumption information, carbon emissions, and money savings ideas for households.

Overview

With funding from various sources Shimmer’s smart technology system which is powered by solar panels provides homeowners with real time home energy consumption, carbon emission, and cost savings strategies for individuals that were previously overlooked, the disadvantaged and those in debt with no disposable income. What the pilot study suggests is that scientific gains in explosion of technology can be used to benefit all of society not just people who can afford the expensive personalize home energy monitoring systems. The study consisted of 18 homeowners in the surrounding boroughs of London with a savings between £200 and £3500 per household for the term of the study. Even people with disabilities are no longer limited by physical limitations of reading the meter outside of the home can benefit by the Shimmer system. One disabled person in the study not only accessed Shimmer online to retrieve his household energy consumption, but used Skype to contact relatives outside the county providing him with vital social contact.

Interpretation of the study

What the pilot study suggests is that the poor and disadvantaged who were previously overlooked by the creators of the technological smart innovation surge can now benefit both monetarily and socially by the system. Our societies and cities will never be truly great unless there is 100 percent inclusion of the poor and disadvantaged. Shimmer’s goal is to have people access timely and relevant information to reduce their energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and expert advice to help them stay out of debt and foreclosure. There are plans to develop and expand the Shimmer system throughout the county.