Science and Technology

Smart solutions and emerging technologies transform city operations (tumisu / Pixabay)

Integrating science and technology into planning and management processes can enhance Singapore’s urban liveability by facilitating safety, efficiency and sustainability in the built environment. Innovations such as smart city infrastructure, including Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and artificial intelligence (AI), can be used to enable real-time monitoring and analysis of various data, such as traffic flow, air quality and energy consumption, to effectively respond to and manage urban challenges.  

Singapore is engineering its transformation into a Smart Nation. The vision for a digital-first Singapore involves leveraging technology to transform various sectors such as health, transport, urban living, government services and businesses, to enhance the overall efficiency of managing and maintaining its built environment and municipal services. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore utilised AI to develop the Safe Distance @ Parks application, which was used to manage crowds in green spaces by analysing data from closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs), electronic parking systems and central video analytics systems.  

Singapore also uses smart technologies to plan, develop and manage newer Housing & Development Board (HDB) towns to create better living environments for residents. For example, sensors promptly inform town councils of faults in estate services such as water pumps and lifts, enabling quick responses. Additionally, the Smart Hub developed by the HDB acts as a “brain” for municipal operations and is used by planners to better understand the usage patterns of common amenities to schedule maintenance works promptly and even pre-emptively.