Drive through Amsterdam and you may notice traffic lights responding to traffic in real time, taking data from sensors and cars and adjusting their cadence to ease congestion. It is a small, concrete example of a much broader idea — and every city arrives at it differently, because every city has its own needs, challenges and vision.
On 25 February the Chamber brought together three specialists to explain how Australian cities are becoming smart cities.
Paul Budde, CEO of Paul Budde Consultancy, set out the ins and outs: what smart cities are, how they are created, which Australian cities are leading, and what is envisaged next. Lani Refiti, Partner in Smart Cities and Cyber Risk Advisory at Deloitte, covered the critical infrastructure behind a smart city and the roles played by cybersecurity and data management. Matt Schultz, National President of the Australian Smart Communities Association and Smart City Manager at the City of Ipswich, walked through progress in the Ipswich and Springfield area as a well-known local case study.
The evening closed with a panel Q&A and networking.
