Dr Winnie Tang, chairman of ESRI China and honorary professor in the Department of Computer Science at Hong Kong University, and co-chairwoman of the Smart City Consortium, weighs in on the Hong Kong government’s Smart City Blueprint
Environmental Systems Research Institute, known as ESRI, has been gathering information and creating software to incorporate information into maps for city planners since its founding in 1969 in California. Dr Winnie Tang established ESRI China in Hong Kong over 25 years ago, to bring its sophisticated geographic information system (GIS) tools to Asian governments. GIS tools are a crucial element in making smart cities work, so Dr Tang has taken a huge interest in the recent steps by the Hong Kong government to get its smart city programme underway. Dr Tang has stepped back from her responsibilities with ESRI China to start teaching a course at Hong Kong University on Smart Cities.
One of the key elements in making a smart city plan into reality is political support. In Singapore, Dr Tang says that as early as 2005, a smart city office was set up “within the Prime Minister’s Office”, with the digital government group added to the office just two months ago. “So they have finance people, policy people, implementation people – all in the same office chaired by the deputy prime minister.”
Dr Tang, through her work with ESRI China, is familiar with efforts at smart city development in China and India. She points out that China has already added smart city development to their five year plan, and that there are now more than 500 smart cities in China. Dr Tang gave her thoughts on the Smart City Blueprint from the Hong Kong Government, released this summer.
Denne historien er fra September 2017-utgaven av The PEAK Hong Kong.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 2017-utgaven av The PEAK Hong Kong.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Supercar Condos
This new property project is set to be the perfect spot for elite supercar owners to store and show off their rides.
New Gear
Lamborghini unveils an upgraded supercar that boasts breathtaking performance with open-air driving thrills.
Aquatic Timekeeper
As a nod to the futuristic glass bathysphere from The Abyss, this timepiece raises the bar for horological aesthetics by marrying abstract visual concepts with mechanical wonders.
A New Way To Do Business
Attracting and retaining a creative workforce is a perpetual challenge. The answer may lie in B Corps, a certification process that’s focused on the societal impact a company has.
Circular Opportunities
Why Hong Kong companies should start turning their waste into a supply source.
The Game Changer
After years spent residing in Spain, Paris and the US, Northacre CEO Niccolò Barattieri di San Pietro now has his eyes set on London. The forward-thinking property giant is aiming to restore the former glory back into historical developments in the British capital.
The Quiet Giant
Dr Jonathan Choi wears a lot of hats and sobriquets as he heads up low profile conglomerate Sunwah Group. But with a rising tide of interest in ASEAN and a pending free trade deal, the quiet days may get a little noiser.
The Boutique Experience in Mexico City
When it comes to Latin America, Mexico is Hong Kong’s second-largest trading partner and the biggest buyer of Hong Kong exports.
Discovering the Dark Side
Following a growth in the number of protected 'dark sky places' and stargazing travel destinations, all of which offer visitors increasingly luxurious ways to gaze in awe at the night sky, there has never been a more exciting time for astrotourism.
The Sparkle Makeover
From cars to yachts, here's what one pioneering outfitter is doing to add bling to big ticket items.
