Smart cities - Q1 2021 by Mediaplanet UK&IE

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Q1 / 2021

In the face of lockdowns, internetenabled devices became a lifeline for billions around the world.

Jeff Merritt, Head of IoT, Robotics and Smart Cities, World Economic Forum

Digital technologies can play a vital role in smoothing the path to decarbonisation.

Julian David, CEO, techUK

The future ahead for digital societies, cities and industries is revolutionary. Aaron Boasman-Patel, Vice President of AI & Customer Experience, TM Forum

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IN THIS ISSUE

No turning back: smart technologies have transformed our lives and cities

COVID-19 showed us the many benefits of smart technologies. Were we ready to let the genie out of the bottle?

At its heart, a smart community is a complex interation between people, places, processes, infrastructure and mobility. Duncan Botting, Smart Communities and Group CEO, Institution of Engineering and Technology

08 5G can revolutionise not only our existing cities, but the way we build new ones. Matt Warman, Minister for Digital Infrastructure, DCMS, (Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport)

10 COVID-19 has shown how we can change how we live and work for the greater good. Graeme Neill, Editor, Smart Cities World

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T WRITTEN BY

Jeff Merritt Head of Internet of Things and Urban Transformation, Member of Executive Committee, World Economic Forum

hirteen years ago, IBM coined the term smart cities. That same year Apple unveiled its App Store. Both ideas promised to change our lives. Yet for much of the world, it took a global pandemic to realise the true value of these innovations. Trends toward remote working, telehealth, distance learning and automation have been progressing at a steady pace over the last decade; COVID-19 hit the gas pedal. In the face of lockdowns and restricted activities, internet-enabled devices became a lifeline for billions around the world. Cities respond Cities have been on the frontline of the fight—not only to save lives—but to maintain a sense of normality during uncertain times. As city services were upended by COVID-19 and local governments pivoted to crisis management mode, many public workers finally realised what Silicon Valley had known for years: data is power. Command and control centres, a hallmark of the smart city movement, where cameras and live data feeds are used to fight crime or gridlock, quickly popped up in cities around the world to track new COVID-19 outbreaks and available hospital beds. Plans to automate and digitise government services were also fast-tracked. The rapid encroachment of smart technologies into our lives and cities is valid reason for concern. The potential risks to privacy, security and civil liberties are real. Ongoing challenges and misuse of facial recognition software are a perfect case in point. It can be tempting to demonise the technology, but these tools are not inherently good or bad.

It can be tempting to demonise the technology, but these tools are not inherently good or bad. What matters is how we govern and manage their use. What matters is how we govern and manage their use. Taking control In December, a new coalition of business leaders and consumer advocates came together with a commitment to advance more trustworthy smart technology. Enabled by the technology and digital platforms that they sought to shape, the group outlined a vision of shared responsibility to help empower individuals and organisations to make more informed decisions regarding design, adoption and use of these devices. In parallel, cities across the globe are uniting under the heading of the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance to chart a course towards the ethical and responsible use of smart technologies in cities. These efforts build on the work of many before them. In this tug of war between creating new opportunities and safeguarding against risk, success is a moving target—and that’s a good thing.

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How smart city tech can create smart places By taking a holistic approach to smart technology, cities can do more with less, in a sustainable way.

INTERVIEW WITH Professor John Davies Head of Smart Cities and IoT research, BT

Page written by: Tony Greenway

How can the Internet of Things (IoT) benefit cities? Emerging network solutions are making it feasible to have vast numbers of sensors in the urban environment — on bus stops, street lamps and so forth — collecting all kinds of valuable data, such as transport numbers, air quality, health, etc. So, for instance, by combining air quality data with traffic data, authorities can know the level of congestion that triggers an air quality problem and put controls in place to stop it. Basically, by using smart technology, cities can do more with less, and in a sustainable way. How do you see smart cities developing? We’re seeing a trend towards a more holistic approach. So rather than installing a series of siloed tech solutions — such as smart lighting or smart parking — a single infrastructure will work for the city as a whole. This means that data collected from all kinds of sensors goes onto a central, secure data exchange to be used in new and interesting ways. We’re also seeing the notion of ‘smart places’ beginning to evolve. What are ‘smart places’? Environments — not just cities — where IoT technologies can be deployed, such as factories, farms and rural areas. Some IoT technologies that were originally developed for cities are easily transferred into smart places.

Basically, by using smart technology, cities can do more with less, and in a sustainable way. What are the next steps for IoT? I think we’ll see more ‘actuation’ — or the ability to act on data automatically. Take increased automation. We’re working on a project to develop the world’s first carbon neutral, fully automated soft fruit farm, with a fleet of robots that will be able to spray and pick strawberries, and put them in pallets ready for the haulier, with zero manual intervention. The robots will be able to self-detect when their batteries are low and take themselves off to be recharged. What would your ideal smart city and smart place look like in the future? They’ll be more attractive places to work and live and they’ll also be more efficient and environmentally sustainable.

Combining 5G and other technologies to create a powerful force Smart tech such as 5G-led converged solutions are able to help local authorities address key challenges. But while the technology is there, using it requires a new way of thinking.

his is an exciting, game-changing time to be in tech. One of the things enabling the game to change is the 5G network. For most people, 5G simply means faster mobile access. “But that’s a very simplified view,” says Phil Baulch, Corporate and Public Sector Technology Director, BT. “Because when you combine 5G with other technologies — such as data analytics and the Internet of Things — you have an entire set of capabilities to deploy, dependent on the outcome you want to achieve.” For local authorities, that means tackling any number of challenges, including improving the quality of the environment and providing more efficient health services, social care and transport. Creating a richer tapestry of 5G-led technology But rather than identifying one problem and solving it with a single solution, a richer tapestry of interconnected 5G-led technology — a ‘digital fabric’, as Baulch calls it — brings data together from an array of different sources and can help solve everything ‘in the round’. “Everything is inter-related,” he says. “For example, with 5G-led converged technology, councils can better orchestrate the movement of people and things and help improve air quality at the same time. But there’s no point in doing this in one location. We have to do it at scale across the UK, in a joined-up way.” This, however, requires better collaboration between various stakeholders, such as councils working with the private sector on insights sharing. It’s a big cultural shift, admits Baulch — although he points to BT’s Stirling and Hertfordshire Living Labs projects, where different partners have joined forces to develop innovations that better serve their local communities. The possibilities of the new 5G-enabled technologies are endless. For example, they can create a truly immersive experience that could transform the high street or revolutionise how children interact in classrooms. This is already happening with pupils in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, who were recently the first in the UK to literally dive into a 5G-enabled sensory lesson. This was created through a 360-degree digital classroom projection where pupils experienced what it’s like to be under the ocean. “We’re at the stage where the availability of IoT technology and computing capability can create innovations that have the power to transform the way we live and work,” says Baulch.

INTERVIEW WITH Phil Baulch Corporate and Public Sector Technology Director, BT

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Turbocharging an infrastructure renaissance through digital In the wake of the hardship caused by the pandemic, HM Treasury recently published a landmark National Infrastructure Strategy (NIS), setting out a plan to deliver an infrastructure revolution and build back faster, fairer, and greener.

Smart communities - beyond technology WRITTEN BY

WRITTEN BY

Julian David CEO, techUK

nfrastructure provides the environment, looking to international backbone of our national economy, exemplars such as the European and the Government’s plans for Commission’s Destination Earth an infrastructure renaissance (DestinE) initiative for inspiration. can support decarbonisation, trigger economic recovery and reduce social Reducing social inequalities inequalities for generations to come. Through empowering locally With an eye on the future, the role contextualised decision-making, that digital technologies can play in digital technologies can also drive driving the implementation of this reductions in social inequalities, Strategy should not be underestimated. helping citizens and public decisionForging strong connections between makers to deliver better outcomes for the UK’s technology sector and those people up and down the UK. in charge of During the delivering pandemic, for transformational instance, one of our infrastructure members, Iotics, upgrades will help developed a proof Looking to the future, digital to ensure that major technologies should be viewed of concept digital investments translate twin to provide as an essential enabler into human-centred, first responders of citizen engagement. inclusive and and staff across the resilient growth. UK’s hospitals and healthcare infrastructure, with a line Decarbonisation through of sight into the real-time availability digital technologies of critical care beds, allowing for the As the UK looks to downscale and close optimisation of scarce resources. carbon-intensive industries and repair Looking to the future, digital the damage they have caused to our technologies should be viewed environment, digital technologies can as an essential enabler of citizen play a vital role in smoothing the path engagement, public consultation, and, to decarbonisation. ultimately, as a means of improving This is a mission-critical area of access to local public services and of focus for techUK and our members reducing social inequalities. who recognise the need to highlight With this critical role in mind, the practical steps, expose trade-offs and NIS undoubtedly represents a crucial drive public awareness of climateenabler of progress for our people, related factors and we are keen to hear economy, society and planet. But more from organisations that wish to if it is to yield truly transformative join us on this mission. benefits, then digital technologies For instance, we recently collaborated should be at the heart of the with Costain to build the case for Government’s approach. a digital twin of the UK’s natural

A smart community has many meanings. The adoption of technology to enhance some aspects of a community’s operation represents most views.

t its heart, a smart community is a complex interaction between people, place, processes, infrastructure and mobility. By understanding these whole system interactions, it is possible to unlock huge potential in cost savings, environmental improvements, societal benefits and commercial opportunities for jobs, growth and productivity. We are locked into “reductionist” mind-sets. In reducing the problem to make it easier to understand, we lose the benefit of the complex interactions that created the original issue. Just looking at traffic queues at traffic lights, but not the road excavations that caused the real traffic queue is a simple example of this challenge. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) have engineers that understand these complex interactions. However, these skill sets are not easily taught or gained through experience. We train specialists on deep understanding in specific areas without whole system understanding. Construction engineers know little about the communications interference building materials have on wireless communications in a building, for example. Planned or unexpected consequences? Research is being conducted into whole systems interactions, but relationships that exist today are already shaping our smart communities as we speak. Policies, commercial contracts, planning approaches and technology implementations that existed

Duncan Botting Smart Communities CEO, The Institution of Engineering and Technology

for decades shape the solutions being deployed. Whole systems thinking includes all these characteristics and more. The complexity means that digital approaches are needed to understand these. Artificial intelligence (AI) systems can spot interactions in minutes that would take many weeks for a human to diagnose. Special skills that understand complex systems of systems are needed. Digital inclusion and skills Smart communities informed by complex interactions could deliver savings and efficiencies not yet considered. Several important decisions about who will set these criteria; local or national, man or machine, will be required. The digital age created concerns regarding privacy and security, the future smart community without the right governance, will create similar challenges. Recent disruptions have shown digital inclusion is paramount. Digital strategies provide whole system enablement, while digital skills deliver engagement and inclusivity. Key to the use of technology for a smart community will be people who can think of whole systems with a deep understanding of complex systems. These skills are scarce today, but need to be deployed across civic, public and private domains. We need to train new generations with these essential skills now. Find out more at theiet.org/impact-society/ sectors/built-environment

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Telecoms solutions have a substantial role to play in achieving net zero Utilities have already begun their progress towards the UK’s 2050 goal of net zero, with the transition to smart energy systems taking place across millions of homes and businesses throughout the UK. ©MR JAB

INTERVIEW WITH

y 2050, urban areas will account for just 2% of the earth’s surface. Yet these same areas will be responsible for a staggering 80% of global energy consumption and an alarming 90% of global CO2 emissions. There is an answer to this worrying problem, says Sandra Fives, Co-founder and CEO of urban and energy planning consultancy, Urbanomy, a spinoff of EDF, incubated by EDF Pulse Croissance. “Cities need to become carbon neutral,” she insists. “But to do that we’re going to have to rethink the way they are built, refurbished and managed.”

Sandra Fives Co-founder and CEO, Urbanomy

Written by: Tony Greenway

also need to change the energy sources we use. Thankfully we are seeing a shift from gas to electricity, and that will help cities emit less carbon through decarbonised energy systems.”

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Employing an integrated vision Fives stresses that if sustainability and carbon neutrality are to work effectively in future schemes, urban planners must employ “an integrated vision” from the drawing board stage. For example, Urbanomy is involved in developing one of the UK’s new garden villages, Salt Cross Garden Village in Oxfordshire. In these villages energy systems, quality of life, environment We need to see a big change in What net zero really and mobility means shouldn’t be seen the way we consume energy, Achieving carbon as separate entities. but we also need to change the neutrality for the “They are all linked UK’s urban areas may energy sources we use. and all have an require investment impact on each in new systems and infrastructure. It other,” says Fives. “There’s no point in will definitely demand full-throated saying a year down the line: ‘Now we backing from government and need electric vehicles charging points politicians — and, crucially, and charging infrastructure.’ It’s way it needs public buy-in, too. smarter to think about everything at the “That’s why there must be good beginning. It will also cost less.” communication around this topic, so Fives hopes that by hosting the UN that people really understand what net Climate Change Conference (COP26) zero entails and how they can contribute in Glasgow in November, attention to making it happen. We had led a survey will shift to what the UK is doing in “Reach Net Zero at individual scale” this area. Urbanomy will keep on across 10 cities in the UK, that really contributing to this objective, through highlighted the link between education projects with developers and local on this topic and willingness to act for authorities, to co-create positive change” says Fives. futures to live in. “Plus, we need to see a big change Find out more at www.urbanomy.io in the way we consume energy, but we

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Ian Adkins Principal, Analysys Mason

nderpinning these ‘smart’ satisfy. This could mean that MNOs developments is the need for will prioritise their solutions for the telecoms network solutions ‘easiest’ verticals, creating tension (fixed and wireless) with between the commercial drivers of ubiquitous, reliable coverage. MNOs and utility requirements. Herein lies a potential problem. Policy makers and utility Private 5G network opportunities regulators tend to assume that Utilities could set up private 5G telecoms solutions exist or are networks to meet their requirements, easily provisioned. This overlooks but face complexities regarding access the commercial challenge that and control of the spectrum. Many transitioning to smart solutions utilities argue that having access requires a step change in the to their own dedicated spectrum capability and coverage of telecoms is essential to give them full control networks, to communicate with over the network. devices on a utility However, MNOs network. argue that they can Utility networks use the spectrum need to transition more efficiently. from communicating Now is a good time for Ofcom, as the with a few thousand communications the utility and telecoms devices to hundreds regulator, has sectors to work together, of thousands; to balance these and the range competing and for government to of applications arguments. There encourage dialogue to increases the is also uncertainty complexity about who would help them understand of telecoms take responsibility each other’s perspectives. for investing in the requirements. deployment and Commercial tensions operation of new private networks The wireless networks of mobile dedicated to utilities. network operators (MNOs) offer one possible solution, but their commercial Industry alignment return mostly comes from serving It will not be easy to unravel these populated areas. complexities. The UK is not alone In contrast, utility networks require in facing these dilemmas – they smart communications to increasing exist globally. Although the market numbers of unpopulated locations. landscape for 5G private networks is These contradictory positions create nascent, it is attracting the attention a tension between the commercial of innovative service providers. drivers of MNOs and the need to Now is a good time for the utility and provide reliable, resilient telecoms telecoms sectors to work together, and solutions to utilities. for government to encourage dialogue The Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G to help them understand each other’s have the technical capability to meet perspectives. Given the enormity of the communications requirements of the net zero goal, it is vital to achieve utilities. However, utilities are just one better alignment. of many industry ‘verticals’ that MNOs Find out more at www.analysysmason.com serve and are probably the hardest to

Why the UK’s urban areas need a new integrated vision Urban planners and property developers should embed carbon neutrality at the heart of their property portfolios and projects to fulfil UK net zero ambitions.

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Bringing cities back smarter and more sustainably

T WRITTEN BY Kelly Becker Zone President UK & Ireland, Schneider Electric

he climate timebomb is ticking. To meet the challenge, our cities must become carbon neutral by the end of the decade. The UK Government has put in place ambitious sustainability targets which require immediate action in order to meet the deadline. Cities across the UK are playing their part. London and Glasgow, as part of their membership of the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance, are aiming to achieve carbon neutrality within the next 1020 years and Nottingham has pledged to complete by 2028. Why the focus on cities? Cities only cover around 3% of the Earth’s land, but they produce around 72% of its total greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, cities are rapidly growing and will continue to be major centres of emissions despite the impact of COVID-19. Consequently, decarbonising large population centres delivers impact at scale. In the fight against climate change, our biggest battles must be fought in cities. The impact of the pandemic and the unfolding climate emergency present us with a unique opportunity for change. Policymakers and urban dwellers can play a leading role in rethinking urban planning, to build back our cities more sustainably. We need a circular approach to our energy and utilities, alongside solutions for clean electrification, smart digital technology, efficient buildings and infrastructure.

Beginning with buildings

WRITTEN BY Kas Mohammed Vice President of Digital Energy UK and Ireland, Schneider Electric

uildings are a core component of our cities. They have a range of purposes, from dining, shopping and sleeping to learning, working and recovering. The buildings we enjoy and rely on have one thing in common – they all use energy. In fact, buildings consume around 30% of the world’s energy via their construction and operations and account for almost 40% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. The construction of new buildings is extremely carbon intensive, yet 80% of the buildings standing in 2050 will have already been built today, the future retrofitting and adaption of our existing buildings has the greatest scope for decarbonising the UK building stock.

Buildings encompass a variety of systems that work behind the scenes, from the general electricity we use to the heating, ventilation and cooling of our rooms. Yet, in many buildings, energy is still wasted on actions like lighting, cooling or heating unoccupied areas. Fortunately, we can target this wasted energy without impacting the function of the building or the satisfaction of its occupants. Reducing inefficiencies in buildings We can connect, collect and monitor data from our buildings and their system components remotely. In doing so, we can use smart analytics to identify inefficiencies or issues with their operations. Not only can this insight help to reduce our carbon emissions, but also to

80% of the buildings standing in 2050 will have already been built today, the future retrofitting and adaption of our existing buildings has the greatest scope for decarbonising the UK building stock. increase the building resiliency by protecting their critical assets and avoid operational losses through unplanned downtime. Furthermore, occupancy and environmental sensors can inform the way we use spaces. We can analyse usage patterns, which can lead to the improved use of a building with safer and more efficient layouts. Meanwhile, they can ensure comfortable and healthy conditions, and that buildings are well ventilated. With the right approach, digital technologies can meet the needs of the planet and people. Intelligent digital systems in buildings do both.

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Unleashing a smarter digital grid

enewable fuel sources currently account for 30% of the UK’s electricity generation. By 2050, it will be 85%. However, there will also be a significant increase in demand. Power consumption in the UK is expected to grow 40% by 2050, with e-mobility and residential heating accelerating the trend. How can electric utilities satisfy spiralling demand, while still reducing emissions? We can cut building emissions, but it won’t be enough unless the underlying electrical supply is also clean and efficient. Renewables are making a big impact, but adoption has been slowed by intermittency and a general passiveness from the large scale utilises to change their energy mix. Maintaining grid stability Centralised power generation will remain critical to grid stability, but distributed energy resources (DER) – such as solar panels, microgrids and storage – will also be crucial. In 2008 there were 80 points of generation in the UK versus over one million today. More people are generating and storing their own energy and then selling excess power back into the grid. These ‘prosumers’ can help to balance supply issues on the wider grid. However, DERs introduce a lot of additional complexity for operators to consider. It’s necessary to analyse power flow, capacity, and resilience across a myriad of new sources, and in real-time, to ensure stability. Add e-mobility into the mix and you can see a future that’s not just about moving from point A to point B, but as a mobile battery source. The UK has a new form of energy storage and for the first time in history, it’s mobile. Digital solutions can help to optimise existing grid assets while pushing the technical limits of DERs. Smart meters provide the raw data to anticipate demand, while greater grid automation enables operators to respond quickly to supply interruptions and reduce costs. Only by making our grid ‘smarter’ can we complete the decentralisation and decarbonisation of energy.

WRITTEN BY David Hall Vice Presidnet of Power Systems UK and Ireland, Schneider Electric

A new industrial strategy for sustainability

I WRITTEN BY Mark Yeeles Vice President of Industrial Automation UK & Ireland, Schneider Electric

n pushing for greater efficiency and sustainability in cities, we forget the operations that act as its foundation, from water to food production. Industrial processes usually exist on the edge of our large urban centres, but they are no less crucial to the running of a city or the health of the economy. With supply chains becoming more localised due to the global pandemic, British manufacturing has a bright future ahead of it – but it must also be smarter and more sustainable. Our future industrial strategy should be founded on three core pillars: universal automation, sustainable efficiency and softwarecentric automation. These create a firm base for protecting the environment and improving health and safety, whilst also enabling realtime data sharing and remote operation. The result is greater sustainability and step-change improvements in productivity and cost savings, ensuring that we can scale at pace.

Intelligent application of technologies Tomorrow’s challenges will not be addressed with new hardware alone. It will require the intelligent application of software-based technologies and the power of AI. Yet many industrial ecosystems, sadly, aren’t open and interoperable by design. New technology often isn’t compatible and can’t be implemented easily into existing systems, which only slows our ability to evolve and improve our industrial processes. Instead, manufacturers should embrace open standards and interoperable, ‘plug and produce’ automation software components, much as the IT and technology industries have in recent years. When we share our insight and develop based on open standards, it becomes much easier to adopt the game-changing AI technologies that can transform our industries for the better. When we collaborate and communicate, our challenges suddenly don’t seem so big.

Smart homes, a smarter future

A WRITTEN BY Nico van der Merwe Vice President of Home & Distribution UK & Ireland, Schneider Electric

focus on the sustainability of businesses and cities cannot distract us from domestic consumption. Residential housing is set to become the biggest consumer of electricity globally. EV charging, the electrification of heat and increased occupancy as more people work from home will see consumers’ electricity consumption dramatically increase over the next 10 years. Efficient energy management is more important than ever to ensure homes are powered sustainably and intelligent enough to optimise their own energy needs, without sacrificing comfort. The basis for this goes beyond smart home technology and requires a fully connected and integrated power management system for the home. When consumers have real insight into the energy use within the home, they can make effective decisions that cut waste and have a real impact. Sustainable homes of the future Tomorrow’s sustainable homes will learn and anticipate when, where and how much energy is required to light, heat, power and charge to meet occupant needs effectively and sustainably. Advances in solar technology will make it a feasible energy source for a wider range of residential homes and geographies.

When consumers have real insight into the energy use within the home, they can make effective decisions that cut waste and have a real impact. Electric vehicles will double up as energy storage systems and intelligent smart meters will ensure buildings can produce, store and manage their own energy consumption too. The result will be green, net zero homes that actively reduce our carbon footprint. We can’t beat climate change in silos. People, governments and industries won’t be able to make a lasting dent in emissions unless they work together and devise a common approach. Ultimately, we must build a completely connected ecosystem that incorporates smart buildings, homes and grids to create hyperefficient, sustainable and scalable cities. A shared approach that integrates and leverages digital technology will help us save the planet, while improving living standards for all.

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How British ingenuity is building our 5G cities

How 5G is improving urban life

The 5G Testbeds and Trials programme is pioneering new ways to harness cutting-edge new technology in urban areas.

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Cities across the UK are using the Government’s 5G Testbeds & Trials Programme to improve their cities.

Paul Wilson Senior Advisor, UK5G Chair, Smart Cities World

aking the most of 5G is central to the Government’s levelling up agenda. The £200 million 5G Testbeds and Trials programme has over a thousand organisations collaborating across more than 30 major projects.

aunched in 2016, the 5G building a private 5G network to Testbeds and Trials Programme benefit community health and social is a nationally coordinated care services in a post-COVID-19 programme of investment world. “This network will reduce in 5G. It is tasked with boosting the digital poverty for vulnerable people, UK’s digital infrastructure and one providing safe, free and accessible key objective is to maximise the connectivity to these services via productivity and efficiency benefits to 5G,” says Joe Spencer, Professor of the UK from 5G. Electrical Engineering and Electronics, West Midlands 5G is a public sector University of Liverpool. organisation leading the £21million Urban Connected Communities project Digitally powered logistics focused on improving transport, Further South, major logistics hubs manufacturing and health and social are exploring 5G. Felixstowe is the care across the region via rigorous R&D UK’s largest container port and the collaboration with industry. first to introduce 5G technology Working with Ericsson, its 5G mastinto its operations. The Bristol Port as-a-sensor project in Kings Heath, Company is delivering a 5G logistics Birmingham, explored if 5G small trial, focussing on security, traceability, cells were just as and tracking of goods good as traditional within and across roadside counters extendable virtual at monitoring boundaries – and traffic volume between public and Cities are complex and flow. Cloudprivate networks. systems-of-systems and native digitised Cities are complex home to half of humanity. systems-of-systems traffic monitoring considerably and home to half of accelerates data gathering and humanity. The urban population is set malleability, opening the prospect of to rise to three quarters of the 9 billion programmable traffic management. people expected to be alive by the middle of the century. The resilience Using 5G for traffic control of urban critical infrastructure is of In the North West, Transport for growing concern amid climate chaos, Greater Manchester (TfGM) and two investment in the digital management UK startups won £1.1million of DCMS of urban life seems propitious and wise. funding for its Smart Junctions 5G project. The aim of the project is to All of these positive 5G case studies and more deliver AI traffic control systems to can be found at www.uk5g.org reduce congestion and pollution, as well as improving productivity, by cutting waiting times at traffic signals. Nearby, Liverpool 5G Create is

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Matt Warman Minister for Digital Infrastructure, DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport)

5G lessons for the urban landscape The aim is to explore new frontiers of what 5G can do in a range of sectors and use what we learn to deliver on the vision of a truly 21st century smart city. In Worcestershire and Sunderland, 5G is helping to boost manufacturing productivity on factory floors, connecting machines and driverless vehicles for better feedback, control and analysis in real-time. In Manchester, 5G sensors are being used for AI-controlled traffic junctions. These are testing prioritising different modes of transport to reduce journey times, cut pollution and improve protection for cyclists and pedestrians. In the birthplace of the industrial revolution, the West Midlands, we established the UK’s first urban-wide 5G testbed, opening the door to many cutting-edge projects. The most recent is Britain’s first 5G tram, which transmits real-time analytics and CCTV footage direct to a control centre for a safer and smoother journey. 5G is also being used to reinvent the way fans experience live sports events. Trials will take place at Twickenham later this year using the technology to stream live, multi-angle, high-definition replays and interactive content directly to people’s handsets both inside and outside the stadium. Endless possibilities for levelling up Elsewhere, we’ve discovered how 5G can change lives in less obvious ways. A 5G network built in a deprived area of Liverpool provided free connectivity and remote healthcare for the elderly - tackling loneliness and allowing them to live more independently. Also we are learning how 5G can revolutionise not only our existing cities, but the way we build new ones. In sites across Scotland, construction firm BAM Nuttall is trialling 5G drones and mixed reality to help learn how we can build more sustainable environments. From what I’ve witnessed in these trials, it’s clear to me that the dynamic commercial spirit of this country holds the key to building back better. Our investment in the brilliant minds behind the 5G revolution will be critical to us achieving this national mission.

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The future ahead for digital societies, cities and industries is revolutionary. It will change the way we live, work and interact with each other as well as how we experience and perceive the world around us. ~ Aaron Boasman-Patel, Vice President of AI & Customer Experience, TM Forum

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Smart cities can lead the way in the race to net zero Cities have always been at the forefront of innovation, attracting people for centuries with their promise of a better life, but they are also at the forefront of damaging our climate.

NESCO estimates that cities are responsible for three quarters of climate change emissions, with transport and buildings especially culpable. If we are to meet net-zero targets by 2050, cities need to be at the forefront of that.

WRITTEN BY

Graeme Neill Editor, Smart Cities World

Encouraging diversity of cities Thankfully they are doing so in increasing numbers. The diversity of cities is being matched by a diversity in its projects tackling climate change. The Kibera Public Space Project in Nairobi, Kenya is one such scheme. Some 2.5 million slum dwellers across 200 settlements share only 6% of the land despite accounting for 60% of the city’s population. A quarter of a million people live in Kibera, making it the biggest slum in Africa and one of the biggest in the world. The project has created spaces across the slum that gives citizens access to safe, affordable water and sanitation. One site in Andolo Village installed gabions and drainage to protect it from floods. But it also built a playground, shaded seating areas, an area for laundry and a community space; a demonstration of how fighting climate change can bring communities closer together, creating greater job opportunities, economic security and social ties. In Argentina, the city of Rosario transformed empty lots into agricultural plots, producing 2,500 tonnes of fruit and vegetables per year and tended to by more than 2,400 families. Other underused areas were transformed into green spaces that help prevent flooding, a necessity in a city where record-breaking rainfall in 2007 forced the evacuation of more than 3,000 people. Hyperlocal, hyper sustainable COVID-19 has shown how we can change how we live and work for the greater good. The rise in homeworking could lead to a transformation of how commercial buildings are used, bringing diversity back into city centres and opening them up for hyperlocal businesses. Paris mayor Anne Hildago’s plans for Paris to be a 15 Minute City, where everything you need from coffee shops to schooling is on your doorstep, could become the norm as citizens look to strengthen local ties and shy away from a city’s more egregious carbon offenders. This year’s COP26 will put further pressure on cities lagging behind in the race to net zero. They have plenty of places to look to for inspiration.

Enabling smart cities, industries and services with AI and automation Now is the time to take AI and automation seriously, if we are to make digital societies better.

WRITTEN BY

Aaron Boasman-Patel Vice President, AI & Data, TM Forum

“

ig Brother is Watching You” is The need to embrace AI and automation a famous quote from George If we wish to live in a digital Orwell’s novel 1984, which age whereby we embrace smart centres on the consequences of technologies, control our home heating, mass surveillance, totalitarianism and lights and security systems by the press repressive regimes. of a button on our smart phones, or if The very mention of artificial we want road travel to be safer with the intelligence and automation and the use of autonomous vehicles, then we role it will play in running our cities, have to adopt AI and automation. the services we consume and in some ways our lives, conjures up for many Data explosion this Orwellian vision of a future The increase of use of digital services repressive state. means that there are currently over Indeed, in October 2019 California one billion devices connected to the lawmakers passed internet and this is a bill (the third US expected to increase state to do so) placing fivefold by 2025. a three-year wide Many of these new The increase of use of digital state moratorium services (self-driving services means that there on the use of cars, industrial facial recognition automation, remote are currently over one billion technology by surgery), require devices connected to the law enforcement ultra-low latency internet and this is expected agencies. and high reliability. to increase fivefold by 2025. Concerns You simply could around the use of not suffer a network AI didn’t stop there and in January outage or degradation of service we saw widely publicised patent quality in an autonomous vehicle of if documents for AI systems which could you were undergoing remote surgery detect people from certain ethnic for example. minority backgrounds. This patented technology could be used as a tool for Smart societies will make better societies suppression and even more worryingly The future ahead for digital societies, ethnic cleansing. cities and industries is revolutionary. Technologies designed to do It will change the way we live, work good can, of course, be used for and interact with each other as well as maleficent means but that does how we experience and perceive the not mean that we shouldn’t accept world around us. Smart societies will and use them. We need to ensure make better societies, we just need to they used appropriately, and the ensure we build, design and use new necessary robust safeguards, laws technologies and services in a way and governance procedures are which ensures our safety, freedoms put in place. and liberties.

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Tips to help connect consumers with sustainable technology It’s no secret that sustainability is increasingly important to British consumers. Education on smart technologies will be a key step in making the UK more sustainable.

ccording to a recent report, a third (36%) of UK consumers are committed to buying products that help them to be environmentally friendly, with a further four in five (80%) looking to purchase from a business they know are making an effort towards sustainability. Helping Britain be more sustainable Brits in particular face a unique challenge when it comes to making our homes more energy efficient. The UK housing market is filled with older homes that are harder to make ecoefficient than building from scratch. This presents the opportunity for the smart home industry to help consumers make a difference. The technology is already available, so our task now is to educate consumers on using these devices to achieve their sustainability goals; and build greater trust. Top tips for educating the consumer: • Create compelling and interactive case studies that showcase your brand’s eco capabilities. Utilise existing customers: ask them for their advice for becoming greener. • Establish yourself as a thought leader and provide content that goes beyond your offering. This means advice on sustainability, showcasing how your business is dedicated to helping the planet, and how your devices make a difference. • How-to videos are the top viewed video type, making them a key tool in your arsenal. Videos that show how a consumer can create an energy-efficient home with your devices, for example, will be hugely valuable. • Using gamified or interactive elements on your apps or website allow potential customers to learn in a fun way. They’re more likely to take away key education points as they give a gamified experience more focus than other forms of content. Building trust and reputation as “sustainability advisors” is an important task for the smart tech industry, especially as we move closer to smart cities and greater emphasis is placed on environmentalism. Businesses taking the time to educate will find new customers with a shared belief in doing better by the planet.

How air quality monitoring is improving the health of our cities Air quality sensors and bespoke modelling are playing an increasingly important role in the way traffic flows around our cities. Urban areas will be healthier as a result.

nless we can actually see pollution belching out of chimneys or hanging as smog over cities, most of us don’t give a second thought to the quality of the air we breathe. Yet according to the World Health Organization, over four million deaths are attributed to ambient air pollution every year, so it should concern everyone. “Put it this way,” says Tom Hall, Managing Director of air quality monitoring company, EarthSense. “If you were walking down the street and saw a big red plume of bad air, would you just plough straight through it? Or cross the road to avoid it?” Hall is a passionate advocate for air quality monitoring technology and accurate traffic emissions modelling. Used intelligently, this can have an important impact on the management of traffic — a major air polluter. Creating mitigation strategies to improve air quality These days, sensor technology is all around us. Integrated in roadside infrastructure, it can collect huge volumes of data on, for example, vehicle movements and the environment. Going forward we need even more data and more targeted understanding of air pollution in our cities, through continued sensing programmes, argues Hall. “In the coming years our cities will be equipped with smarter devices,” he says. “For instance, traffic lights and charging points will be able to gather huge amounts of data on everything from air pollutants such as PM2.5 and NOx to traffic density.” More data means greater insight, which can help local authorities create successful mitigation strategies to improve traffic flows that prevent or control the impact of air pollution around high-risk areas such as schools or hospitals. Plus, data modelling — using traffic inputs and weather information — can provide a more regional view on the causes of air pollution. “A fused technology approach is the way forward,” believes Hall. “It will ensure decisions can be made in near realtime to positively impact and reduce future pollution events and so improve the health of everyone living in the city and reduce the number of deaths attributed to ambient air pollution. INTERVIEW WITH

Tom Hall Managing Director, EarthSense

WRITTEN BY

Jess Hadleigh Managing Director, Beacon Agency

WRITTEN BY Tony Greenway

Paid for by Beacon Agency

Paid for by EarthSense

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