Prof. Schmitt on Tech Solutions and Smart Nation
Prof. Gerhard Schmitt discusses innovative solutions developed at the Singapore-ETH Centre, the drive towards "Smart Nation" and insights on AI and other technology with Tech Coffee House.
Machine learning has allowed technology to advance exponentially and potentially solve environmental, energy and food issues facing humanity. In the article external pageUrgent Tech Interventions, Singapore's Smart Nation Initiative and the Commercialisation of Technology Professor Gerhard Schmitt spoke with Tech Coffee House on the solutions being developed at Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC), the Smart Nation initiative and the commercialisation of technology, and areas that need solutions.
In the article, Prof. Schmitt discussed tech-based solutions developed at the Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) to solve problems in rapidly-urbanising regions. The City Energy Analyst (CEA) Toolbox developed by Multi-scale Energy Systems for Low-carbon Cities (MuSES) helps to inform the planning and design of energy systems. The Cyber Civil Infrastructure team uses sensors combined with engineering knowledge to develop more accurate models to determine the performance of structures such as bridges to avoid infrastructure catastrophes and unnecessary demolition and rebuilding.
Technology also presents opportunities to engage citizens in the design of cities. The Citizen Design Science project uses user-friendly online design tools such as the Quick Urban Analysis kit (QUA-kit) to allow citizens to provide ideas and feedback to urban planners. Beyond citizen engagement, Prof. Schmitt discussed the importance of open dialogues with government agencies, industry, and the community to ensure that proposed solutions can result in real-world applications.
On the trajectory towards a Smart Nation, Prof. Schmitt highlighted that privacy and cybersecurity are issues that need to be addressed. He raised the need for more transparency and accountability regarding the embedded IoT decisions, processes and actions.
Prof. Schmitt noted that despite numerous Internet-of-Things (IoT) solutions introduced in recent years, there are still areas that require technological interventions. He discussed the possibilty of using small safety and security inspection robots that could help avoid catastrophes such as the recent collpase of a bridge in Genoa. Smart and affordable IoT devices that actively improve the environment and store clean and renewable energy could also be developed, such as hydrogen-generating devices attached to neighbourhood photovoltaic (PV) systems to run fuel cell engines.