What's next for the Smart City

City residents will have to be engaged in the Smart City process. The city’s open government platform brings citizens and public servants into closer contact and provides transparency into government operations. by training and engaging city residents, the city can indulge questions or concerns about the program during the initial phases of implementation.

Govt has to be very open and explain things communicating the projects and initiatives to the public. It is a change that shall affect the city and citizens in the midterm and long term, but in the short term, citizens can have other worries, so it is something which needs to be explained that it is for the long term good of the citizens in the future.

The city shall have to look at the ways to use the Smart City initiative to create a single Internet and telecommunications architecture for the city. The existing fiber-optic network can provide the backbone for the various smart technology projects. This infrastructure backbone is presently operated by the local telecommunications firm, a public-private contract can be worked out, to give it a shape. The fiber-optic network is one of the main projects, and it is called transversal because it is the layer on top of which all other Smart City projects shall be developed in the city.

Structuring for the various projects need to be done, may be in subsequent technological layers. The first layer to consist of sensors that can be deployed throughout the city in conjunction with the various projects. This can be the platform used for smart water, smart lighting, and smart energy management projects, as well as others. the sensor network can gradually be expanded in future years for other things. The city’s sensor platform can be developed specifically to aid the city in bringing all of its sensor data together.

The next layer of the “urban platform” is the sharing of data and analytics provided by the City Operating Systems with both clients within the city government and external data users. This will enable both public and private sector development of applications to improve city services and operations, along with helping to produce a better-educated administration and citizenry. If we can pull this off, I am sure it will be a revolution.

The city shall have to develop other plans to include projects to remotely control street-level lighting and to transition streets and lampposts to LED technology. In addition, smart city shall have to work with utilities to create a program to achieve greater energy efficiency. The plan should also include implementing remote irrigation control for the city’s green spaces, remote- controlled fountains etc...

The city shall have to initiate smart transportation which can include deploying orthogonal bus lines and zero-emissions mobility options, which include more hybrid taxies, public electric vehicles, recharging points, electric motorbikes, and private electric vehicles.

The city should initiate the Open Government program, which aims to bring transparency of the municipal government to citizens. This can start with the deployment of “Citizens Attention” kiosks and the launch of an Open Data portal that allows private citizens and companies to develop applications that address needs of city residents.

The implementation of the Delhi Smart City initiative is to set clear objectives and map out the steps necessary to attain the goals. The involvement of top-down political leadership to ensure that project have full support is a key factor, as well as having a leadership structure to coordinate.

The different aspects of the project. “Each one has to think ‘Do you want to be smart? What do you want the city to be as it grows, and how can you use technology to accomplish this?’”. By strategizing early on, potential roadblocks can be seen and needed resources identified before challenges arise. We have to start setting up the projects and, once we have the vision and a good army to help develop the projects, it shall be easier. All with the focus of making Delhi’s development as a technology-efficient, data-driven, environmentally sustainable 21st century city.

As the smart city concepts for Delhi are implemented, hoping to see dividends in the form of a more efficiently run city with a citizenry engaged with an open government, as well as a technological infrastructure that will attract companies and investment. City hopes to gain a better idea of what needs to be done to become a city of the future. New jobs shall be created through these Smart City efforts. If we can pull this off, it shall definitely be a revolution.

Building a Smart City

Work out what problems need fixing Too many smart city visions concentrate on big data and the Internet of things when there are more fundamental problems. Take Jakarta and Beijing: They are both currently exploring data dashboards and citywide sensing projects to address issues around traffic congestion, when what these cities really need are vastly improved public transport systems. 

Find a leader, Leaders should come from the public sector. Some of the standout smart cities – Barcelona, Amsterdam, Malmo – exhibited dynamic leadership from their mayors as well as chief executives. Crucially, they did not leave the evolution of the city to the market … In parts of Africa and Asia smart cities are almost purely private sector-driven. As a result, we are seeing elaborate hi-tech satellite cities gathering dust.

Develop a vision everyone can get behind, The Olympics is a good example of a shared goal, which succeeded in bringing together communities, the public and private sectors, academia, volunteers and business. Many smart city projects fail in communicating the vision, capturing the imagination of people, they should be involved and made to participate. There is a cultural dimension which has to brought in to make the project successful. Make a business case Networks of sensors need expensive infrastructure, and there’s currently little precedent around whether it’s the taxpayer or industry that foots the bill.

A vision that adds economic, social and environmental value could be key to attracting investment from tech companies, universities and elsewhere. The tech is probably the easiest bit to fix, who pays, who drives the changes, who should be involved – these are all even bigger challenges. Design from the bottom up We have learned from past technology failures that large projects are doomed but breaking down projects into bite-size pieces often works better, Fujisawa, Japan, is an example of a city designed from the ground up. It’s a disaster proof, self-sufficient town with self-cleaning homes that generates its own electricity, even the streets are designed to reduce energy consumption – they follow the shape of a leaf to help natural airflow and reduce the need for AC.

Educate citizens, A smart city will be irrelevant to most of its inhabitants unless they can learn how to use new technology, Very few people can pull live data from an API or set up a new sensor network to monitor air pollution – but until more can. This brief compilation of emerging standards reveals the breadth of smart city subject, the value of collaboration, the opportunities for innovation and the potential for 21st century transformation.

Starting with the ICT enablers that drive smart cities, this multi-part sampling shall touch also upon energy, water, transportation, the built environment, carbon and climate, resilience, community, materials and food, finance and economic development, city business and measurement indicators. Building on the concepts of the technology-driven Internet of Everything and the humanity-driven Internet of the Right Things is like the Industrial Internet Consortium, a new open membership group which can "focus on breaking down the barriers of technology silos," allowing cities to "significantly reduce waste through sensor-embedded water pipes, buildings, parking meters and more. Microgrids can be a climate-smart city's close friend. Combatting climate change necessarily involves a critical shift away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy, efficiency and renewable energy. Such energy resources are inherently distributed and resilient, which makes them naturally compatible with — and their benefits maximized by — microgrids.

Features Of L- Zone

In this post more features of L- Zone are being discussed, as of now present scenario and as of then, proposed by DDA in its Land Pooling Policy.

INFRASTRUCTURE- PHYSICAL:

WATER: Presently the major source of water in L- Zone is through ground water i.e. hand pumps, tube wells and village wells for domestic consumptions. The domestic demand is also supplemented through tankers and village ponds. According to MPD- 2001, the minimum domestic water supply in any residential area should be @ 135 litre per capita per day. The present population of these zones is about 1.5 lacs for which a minimum water requirement as per Master Plan norms works out to about 4.8 MGD and for projected population the requirement is estimated as 7.2 MGD. In order to improve the water situation, following specific proposals are made in the master plan:
i) Improvement of existing natural water bodies.
ii) Rain water harvesting, wherever feasible.
iii) Phased Planning and design of water augmentation and distribution system.

iv) Possibility of ground water recharge through Najafgarh Jheel.

SEWERAGE: Presently this zone does not have a regular sewerage system, being predominantly rural in character. Most villages in the zone have conservancy system with septic tanks. Najafgarh town is partly served by sewerage system, which needs augmentation. The zonal Plan proposes development of sewerage and sanitation systems for the entire zone in a phased manner. The following priorities have been identified for the purpose.
i) Najafgarh
ii) 6 growth centres.
iii) 10 growth points.
iv) Other basic villages.

POWER: All the villages in the zone have regular power supply to meet the domestic as well as agriculture power requirements. Diesel power generation sets are also in use to supplement the power supply through DVB. The eastern boundary of the planning zone L has 220 KV HT Corridor, connecting Bamnoli, Najafgarh and Bawana. The power network, shall be further upgraded by the Delhi Vidyut Board by erecting a 400 KV TC transmission line as indicated in the Plan. In order to improve the availability of power in the zone, a detailed distribution network needs to be planned by the D.V.B. essentially to meet the additional requirement of Najafgarh Town, proposed growth centres and Growth Points. The requirement of additional land for new sub-stations as well as transmission corridors etc. have to be duly integrated with planning and development of the Growth Centres / Growth Points, setting of wind mills and Solar Energy Centres at appropriate location with financial support of Department of non- conventional source of energy may also be explored.

DRAINAGE: Najafgarh drain is the major natural drainage system in the zone. The other important drains area Mundela, Mungeshpur drain with “outfall” in the Najafgarh drain . During heavy rains, part of the area in the zone covering settlements in the South and South West , occasionally face problem of flooding . The plan recommends desilting of major drains and planning and development of flood protection measures, through construction of bunds at appropriate locations, as per the recommendation of the Flood Control Deptt.

WASTE MANAGEMENT: Most of the villages have no formal arrangements for disposal of domestic waste. In the absence of the formal collection, transportation and disposal facility the waste is casually dumped outside the village abadi or along the road side. There is a scope for definite improvement in the collection, treatment and disposal of waste by way of identifying sites fir dustbins / dhallaos, land filling sites etc. Gobar Gas Plants and waste recycling centres may also be set up at selected location.

INFRASTRUCTURE- SOCIAL:
HEALTH: Delhi, being the capital city, enjoys specialized medical facilities not only for it’s population, but the population of surrounding towns. Master Plan proposes a six tier system of health facilities in the urban areas, with norms of 5 beds per 1000 population. No separate standard of health facilities for rural areas has been provided in the Master Plan. As per Directorate of Health Services, GNCT, Delhi, there are two hospitals and 36 dispensaries existing in the zone. For further upgrading and health facilities, following is proposed. The plan also recommends promotion of other forms of preventive and curative health facilities such as Homeopathy, Ayurvedic and Naturopathy as per the requirement and health policy of GNCT, Delhi.

The purpose of the plan is to promote quality of life by organizing the appropriate development of land in accordance with the policies and land use proposals contained in the plan. The basic priority of development is to:
i) Restrict urban related growth

ii) To conserve the natural features, to sustain the eco- system.

iii) To develop scheme for supply of water, power and other utilities
iv) Special Programme for job oriented education centre.
v) Implementation of Mini Master Plan Proposals.

vi) To promote agricultural prospects / provision.

The New Town Concept

India’s economy is expanding rapidly. By 2030 it is expected to have grown by five times, buoyed largely by the country’s urban centers. During the same period, the country’s labour force is expected to grow by 270 million workers, with urban jobs accounting for 70% of that growth. Today, India is less than 30 per cent urban and the quality of life in its cities is chronically low. However, with 2/3rds of GDP already generated in India’s cities and rural to urban migration patterns accelerating, the country faces a critical challenge: managing this rapid urbanization in a way that enhances the livability of India’s urban spaces.

There is no doubt that we need to nurture, preserve and renew the urban fabric of Delhi with changing times. However, there would be limits beyond which things would become very difficult to sustain. What was once a village grows into a town, a city, a metropolis, a megapolis and then slowly begins to decay into a ‘necropolis’. This is the right time for Delhi to turn into a Smart City. Planned cities have been built in the past also; we have few examples of planned cities in India, like Chandigarh, designed by French architect Le Corbusier. But the scale of its current push is unprecedented. Among the challenges to getting new cities built or existing cities transformed is the lack of experts who can make such huge projects work and of course attracting private finance.

The ‘new town’ concept, which came up a long time ago took cognisance of the inherent nature of things and tried to overcome urban decay by creating new planned settlements far away from the big metropolitan cities so that population aggregation at one place could be arrested and a more balanced distribution could be achieved. It was believed that this would over time help in building new communities and helps the parent metropolis to remain healthy and survive longer. Regional development became a new area of interest and practice. At times, new towns have also come to be called ‘satellite towns’ as they are attached and function along with a parent metropolis. Delhi has had huge extensions, which are almost like new towns. Some examples are Rohini, Dwarka and Narela as extensions to Delhi. Noida, Greater Noida, Manesar, Bhiwadi, Riwari, Neemrana, Faridabad, etc… are other examples of such new Satellite towns.

What needs to be noted here is the active and prime moving role of the government. Unless and until the government takes a keen interest in this, the procurement of large tracts of land and the development of a town, bearing in mind all the social requirements and making it inclusive will not just happen. Most states in India today have township policies. State governments, instead of themselves developing land, have now started encouraging the private real estate sector to come in and develop towns. More often than not, areas of conflict of interest would come about. The basic motive of profit makes the realisation of the social objective secondary.Unfortunately, most of these private sector real estate initiatives have ended up in developments, which are too small, fragmented, in odd shapes and sizes and mostly catering to the very high income population and far from inclusive.

With the mess that most Indian megacities are in, it is inevitable not only to drastically take steps to rehabilitate infrastructure in existing cities but build new cities to accommodate this burst in urban population. In many cases, if not all, retrofitting old cities with improved infrastructure and playing the 'catching-up' game is a more expensive and difficult-to-implement agenda. It is logical and quicker to build entire new smart cities from scratch instead.

These new cities need to take advantage of new transport infrastructure that is being planned, such as the high-speed rail (HSR). Railway Budget 2012 announced formation of High Speed Rail Authority to run these trains, detailed surveys to be undertaken shortly. Studies have also been commissioned on six corridors after which implementation of these projects would begin. Once completed, HSR will reshape the urbanization process in the country. The urban sprawl presently limited to 30-50 km from the city centre will change into a 300-500 km long conurbations linking central business districts of multiple cities, forming urban economies of global scale and size. Once complete, Delhi will be linked right up to Amritsar via Chandigarh and Ludhiana. People will live in Chandigarh or Ludhiana and work in Delhi with HSR making this daily commute possible within cities. This presents a huge opportunity for setting up new cities along the HSR route.

These cities can be developed as smart and intelligent, focused on becoming engines for innovation and research. Linked with HSR, they will get the momentum to survive and develop independently. The new cities in India would also be frontiers of modern technology and forward looking urban planning techniques developed around HSR stations. These cities would typically house 0.5- 1.0 million residents over the next 10-15 years, spread over around 100 sq km, developed along the Delhi- Mumbai Industrial Corridor. The real estate potential of HSR would be fully exploited by developing these new cities and, instead, be used as a tool to cross-subsidize the development costs for constructing and operating the HSR lines.

India struggles with a number of significant barriers that continue to hamper the development of urban infrastructure: complex leadership structures, land valuation challenges, capability gaps, and funding shortfalls are all part of the urban challenge that is effectively holding India back from a new round of dramatic economic growth. India also needs to address the current problems of developing good infrastructure, solid waste disposal, flood management, storm water and sewerage system etc. resulting in urban decay, traffic gridlock and thereby a deteriorating quality of life for many of its citizens.

The wave of urbanization that is sweeping across India represents one of the country's greatest opportunities as well as one of its most serious challenges. According to the report on 'India's Urban Awakening' by McKinsey Global Institute, in the next 20 years, India will have 68 cities with a population over one million – up from 42 today. That is nearly twice as many cities as all of Europe. Most cities in Europe and America were established in the 19th century when there was easy availability of land, gas and water. India is a late starter and is far more crowded and complex.

Therefore India requires a far more efficient and sustainable solution for servicing urban areas and can reap the benefits by using technology to learn from practices from other parts of the world. Thus India, too, is on the road to building smart cities—world-class, self-sustainable habitats with minimal pollution levels, maximum recycling, optimized energy supplies and efficient public transportation. The cities would come very much in and surrounding Delhi. In this endeavor to transform the rapidly growing urban areas into smarter cities, a collaborative partnership between government, industry, academia, and civil society will pave way for attainment of this dream. The eco-friendly cities would provide world-class facilities with 24-hour power supply and drinking water, mass rapid urban transportation, with bicycle and walking tracks, complete waste and water recycling, systems for smart grids - digitally managed systems to control energy consumption - and smart metering. The industrial hubs and eco-friendly cities along the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) are expected to double employment opportunities, triple industrial production and increase exports by four folds over the next decade.

India is going to experience rapid urbanization involving around 300 million people within the next two to three decades. This means that they will either drift to existing cities, thus congesting them further, or move into new cities. If it is new cities, then they will have to be either cities that are planned, or cities that evolve, more or less in an unplanned manner.

Their key features are compact, vertical developments, an efficient public transportation system, the use of digital technology to create smart grids for better management of civic infrastructure, recycling of sewage water for industrial use, green spaces, cycle tracks and easy accessibility to goods, services and activities designed to foster a sense of community.

The processes of acquiring land, getting government clearances and generating investment have already started. The master plans for these cities are unique in that an effort has been made to look at the future by putting in infrastructure ahead of the demand. Planned for 2040, some of the innovative ideas are - For instance, each city will have underground utility corridors for parking, sewage disposal and communication lines to give it a neat look and leave enough space for facilities that are missing in most existing cities, like pavements, parks and cycle tracks. The transportation axis is designed to discourage the use of private vehicles. The emphasis will be on dedicated bus and light rail corridors. The rule that the planners have tried to follow is that some form of public transport should be available within a 10-minute walk from home or office.

Eventually, the success of these cities will depend on the way they are managed and promoted. This will require a strong administrator who works like a city-CEO, the way most mayors are in many big and successful cities in the world. Such cities can also become benchmarks for other conventional cities to adapt, or risk losing people, as they would move away to these new smart cities.