International & Australian coalition develop Sustainable Community focused Smart Cities standards in Sydney
By 2050, nearly 70% of the global population is projected to live in urban areas, according to the United Nations (UN). With this rapid change in how we live brings challenges in housing, traffic, and mass urban transport, heat stress, food security and energy and cyber security.
Welcome to Country and Traditional Smoking Ceremony on Day 1
In this context, ASCA was a major sponsor of the Standards Australia event that welcomed over 40 delegates from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Smart Cities committee in Sydney this week for a week-long plenary. Key discussions focused on developing integrated city systems to manage denser housing, growing populations, and transitioning to net-zero emissions. Experts from Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States joined their Australian counterparts to explore smart technologies and infrastructure solutions for urban challenges.
International experts at work at Standards Australia
The event featured expert speakers discussing resilient, sustainable cities focusing on smart technology, infrastructure integration, and sustainability practices. Topics included smart city lighting, AI governance, and ethical frameworks for sustainability, urban planning and energy optimisation.
Discussions highlighted the importance of systems thinking in managing complex energy, water, telecoms, and transport systems in growing cities. Global perspectives and insights from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders on community and country management over the past 65,000 years.
Case studies showcased smart street lighting, electric vehicle charging, and smart energy-at-home solutions to support city transitions to decarbonise and optimise energy use, with AI and cyber security safeguards.
In reflecting on the week, Michael John Mulquin, Chair of IEC Systems Committee Smart Cities, said, “Our meeting in Sydney has been an invaluable opportunity for the committee to engage with and learn from Australian industry experts. This allowed us to anchor our discussion of key issues in the realities of those developing practical solutions. Thus, we are helping ensure that standards we develop will effectively help cities become smarter and more liveable for everyone.”
James Sankar, ASCA President, noted, “Nothing beats meeting fellow smart city and sustainable practitioners in person and where better than Sydney? ASCA is proud to support and help lead this event that brought key academic, industry and government leaders and experts together to showcase grass root issues and solutions to utilise AI for urban planning, “smartify” our street poles and enable finer-grained management of electrical appliances to optimise electrical generation and storage, lowering emissions and cost of living power bills, Australia continues to lead the way on innovation in these areas”.
Karen Batt, Head of International at Standards Australia, reflected, “Hosting the IEC Smart Cities committee has allowed us to exchange knowledge and explore innovative solutions for urban challenges. The insights gained will help us build more resilient and sustainable cities, positioning Australia as a global player."
A special thank you to our sponsors for making the event successful: Australian Computer Society (ACS), Australian Smart Communities Association (ASCA), Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Mirkom, Frame Secure, and URBIS. Their support was instrumental in bringing together experts and facilitating meaningful discussions.