Singapore is beginning trials on several new technologies that could re-shape the way cities function, from traffic to health care. A screenshot of Virtual Singapore, a virtual simulation of the city designed to assist with everything from controlling traffic to possible pandemics (video via Dassault Systemes)
Singapore has the future. At least, digitized ways of monitoring traffic, health, and resource management, which will probably be a part of the future. Because it’s a wealthy nation on an island, the city can experiment with extremely avant garde technology, thus serving as both lab rat for the rest of the world and pioneer for its citizens.
Sensors are a big part of the technologies making their debut in the city.
Several major programs which combine resources and oversight from the public and private sectors will soon be fully functional in the city.
One such program is the Elderly Monitoring System. It essentially consists of sensors which detect movement embedded in the walls of someone’s home. An alarm goes off if movement ceases for a predetermined amount of time, and a wireless signal transmits the alarm to the monitor belonging to a member of the elderly person’s family. Similar to some baby monitors currently on the market, with the capability of keeping tabs on someone miles away.
Yet another program is tracking water usage. Because Singapore must import much of its water, it makes sense that it would develop programs to monitor its use-which it has. Sensors now come in some public housing units, which track volumes of water used and discarded.
Singapore is also ahead of the curve with self-driving cars. As of this past August, it had a fleet of 6 automated taxis. The cars only drive within a small zone in a business district, with designated stops and pickups much like a bus service. It’s beaten Uber and Google with getting self-driving cars on the road, apparently motivated by how to expand self-driving cars into a growth-based industry.
Ultimately, though, the biggest achievement is Virtual Singapore. It cost the government and private developers a total of $73 million to create a virtual simulation of the entire city of Singapore. The beauty is in the incredible level of detail. Not only does it contain every building in the city, it includes material the building is made of and where its windows and doors are. It shows every garage and even minor roads. This allows-it is hoped-for greater precision in planning. Because of its high density, controlling traffic and catastrophes like major fires or diseases is high priority. The database provides a platform to do that. All of the sensors previously mentioned send their data to Virtual Singapore. Sensors in the walls of homes, cars and traffic on the road provide enormous quantities of data daily.
If this sounds like a big leap, keep in mind that the city has had similar technologies for some time. Traffic is already monitored by satellite. Health devices similar to EMS have been used for some time. What’s new is that they’re now connected and send this information onto a major platform monitored by both government and private interests. That’s a lot of surveillance. This may be part of the future, but whether it’s a future everyone wants is another question.
Have a story tip? Message me at: cabe(at)element14(dot)com
http://twitter.com/Cabe_Atwell