Asia is home to some of the most densely populated cities worldwide, presenting significant challenges for urban planning. Governments across the region must confront a myriad of issues, including congestion, pollution, inadequate infrastructure, and depleting resources.
One noteworthy solution to addressing challenges brought about by rapid urbanization is the development of smart cities. Smart cities incorporate Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics to improve efficiency, sustainability, safety, and quality of daily life.
Emergence of Smart Cities
Cities across Asia have increasingly relied on technology to digitize and automate processes and tasks that can improve all aspects of urban life. Smart city technologies have various applications depending on their locations, such as smart traffic management which can improve traffic flow and decrease congestion, while energy-efficient streetlights and smart grids promote environmental sustainability by conserving energy and reducing waste.
The benefits of smart cities extend beyond offering convenience, they also serve as effective ways to address challenges, such as crime and overall security in the city. By utilizing real-time monitoring and predictive analytics, they are able to recognize and manage potential threats, such as locations that have a high rate of criminal activity or areas that are currently experiencing natural disasters. The integration of sensors with the Internet of Things enables the development of early warning systems, offering vital time for implementing mitigation measures. This technology has the potential to decrease the severity of disasters by providing timely alerts and facilitating proactive responses.
Smart cities can also reduce energy consumption, thereby minimizing their impact on the environment and enhancing sustainability. According to the United Nations, industrial and commercial activities in cities account for around 75% of energy consumption and around 60% of carbon emissions globally. By using technologies like renewable energy sources and digital infrastructure, cities have the potential to significantly reduce their impact on the environment.
Edge Computing in the Development of Smart Cities
Edge computing has been an essential technology in developing smart cities across Asia. This entails the processing of data in close proximity to its source, as opposed to relying on distant data centers. This methodology reduces the delay and data transmission requirements, enabling real-time decision-making and quicker response time.
In smart cities, edge computing enables the smooth integration of IoT devices, sensors, and other data-generating endpoints, which allows cities to efficiently collect, analyze, and process data in a more personalized and adaptable manner. This indicates that systems like self-driving cars navigating busy streets or emergency response teams reacting swiftly can make instantaneous decisions with confidence, thereby ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals involved.
Recent IDC reports show that Japan is expected to increase its investment in edge computing, reaching USD 12 billion by 2024, a 12.3% compared to the previous year. It will have a strong and steady growth pattern until 2027, with investments expected to reach USD 17 billion.
Meanwhile, Singapore has established itself as the smartest city in Asia, according to IMD’s 2023 Smart City Index. This highlights Singapore's exceptional use of technology to address urban challenges and improve the quality of life for its citizens.
Singapore's success in developing smart cities can be attributed to its commitment to continuous investment and improvement, which includes the integration of advanced solutions in areas such as health and safety, mobility, and education.
Edge computing not only addresses the challenges related to the speed of data transfer, but also provides a solution to the bandwidth limitation commonly experienced in typical cloud-centric designs. Due to the rapid increase in data volume in smart cities, sending all this information to a centralized cloud might result in network congestion and much higher bandwidth expenses. Edge computing directly addresses this problem by conducting data processing and analysis directly on edge devices. The cloud receives only necessary and consolidated data, which optimizes the utilization of bandwidth and enhances network efficiency, while also decreasing operational expenses.
Furthermore, edge computing improves the dependability and robustness of smart city systems. Through the allocation of computing resources to edge devices, essential services can maintain local operation, even during network failures or outages, which is essential in applications used within the public safety, healthcare, and traffic management sectors.
The advancement and accessibility of technology has allowed for the widespread adoption of edge computing in urban settings. The benefits of edge computing have the potential to significantly transform city life across Asia.
