Smart city with technology!

Smart city with technology!

Our lifestyle is becoming more convenient year by year. Imagine life 50 years ago! You can imagine how convenient it is. It is said that the next 10 to 20 years will change incomparably compared to the previous 50 years. A paradigm shift will occur in every industry and it will be redefined. First of all, I would like to introduce a reference article on smart cities.

In recent years, "smart cities" have been attracting attention, and many cities around the world are moving toward realization. This trend is no exception in Japan. Japan is in a situation where it is the first in the world to experience many issues such as the declining birthrate and aging population, but on the other hand, it has the ability to solve problems against the background of high technological capabilities represented by ICT. In various regions, there are movements in which the public and private sectors are working together to realize the future of the city. In this article, I will introduce 10 cases in Japan, why it is necessary to tackle smart cities now, and what kind of efforts are actually being made.

What is a smart city?
Definition of smart city
A smart city is a sustainable city where management (planning, maintenance, management, operation, etc.) is carried out while utilizing new technologies such as ICT to address various issues facing the city, and overall optimization is achieved. Or district, as defined by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism plays a leading role in the realization of smart cities in Japan, and the above is defined in the ministry's "Toward the Realization of Smart Cities (Interim Report)" (August 2018).

In addition, Nomura Research Institute defines smart cities as "collecting and integrating various data such as environmental data, equipment operation data, consumer attributes, and behavior data through sensors spread throughout the city, and analyzing them with AI. However, if necessary, we aim to optimize urban infrastructure, facilities, and operational operations, and improve convenience and comfort for companies and consumers by remotely controlling equipment and devices through actuators. " expressing. This is defined in the report "Smart City Report-Overseas Smart Cities as Business Opportunities-" (May 2019) released by the company. Although the definition of smart city, which is a new concept, has not been decided yet, it can be said that it has a common meaning of "sustainable future city" using "various data and ICT technology".

Why smart cities are attracting attention
One of the reasons why smart cities, which are new cities, are attracting attention is the rapid concentration of population in cities. Approximately 50% of the world's population lives in cities, and it is said that the population will increase 1.7 times in 2050 compared to 2010. It is said that energy consumption by cities emits 60% to 70% of greenhouse gases, and it can be said that efficient energy use in urban areas is an urgent task. In addition, the concentration of population in urban areas is a cause of problems such as increased traffic congestion, air pollution, increased crime, and environmental deterioration. On the other hand, Japan is expected to have a labor shortage in the future, and the economic growth so far is expected to decline. Therefore, habitability in the city is more important to secure the labor force. The high environmental load and slowing economic growth associated with these rapid urbanizations are thought to determine the future of society, the environment and the economy, and IoT, sensors, and big data will be used to solve this problem. There are high expectations for smart cities that utilize technologies such as. In other words, it can be said that smart cities are attracting attention as an initiative to solve various problems in urban areas from the present to the future.

Related Links
■ 10 smart city overseas cases [latest version in 2020]

Domestic smart city initiatives
Efforts of governments, ministries and local governments
In the "Integrated Innovation Strategy 2019" (decided by the Cabinet on June 21, 2019), which the Cabinet Office extracts issues to be strengthened and issues to be newly tackled in the future and formulates them to achieve the goals, smart cities are referred to as "Society 5. It is positioned as a form of prior realization of "0". Society5.0 is a new society following 1.0 (hunting society), 2.0 (agricultural society), 3.0 (industrial society), and 4.0 (information society), and is a more comfortable society with AI and IoT added to the information society. It is defined.

Decision of smart city promotion system
The basic policy for promoting smart cities and the cooperation system of each ministry have been decided, and the business is being promoted mainly by the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Support for data utilization type smart city promotion business
For local public organizations and private companies, we are conducting initial investment in smart city type urban development and subsidy projects for continuous system development. We envision a model that utilizes all data related to cities to solve urban problems via a "data linkage platform."

Launch of smart city public-private partnership platform
"Smart City Public-Private Partnership Platform" with members such as companies, universities, research institutes (356 organizations), local public organizations (113 organizations), and related ministries (11 organizations) to accelerate smart city initiatives through public-private partnerships. Was launched. From the private sector, companies from all industries such as construction, electricity, gas, water, telecommunications, finance and service industries are participating.

Corporate Initiatives
Smart cities are not realized only by the national and local governments. There are many technologies and know-how that can be provided in each business field of private companies, and it can be said that they are truly created through public-private partnerships. Private companies play an important role in promoting smart cities in almost every region, including construction, infrastructure and manufacturers. In addition, it can be seen that some companies are actively considering initiatives related to smart cities as new business opportunities. For example, in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Softbank and Tokyu Real Estate are participating in the smart city project, and Softbank will provide cutting-edge technologies and knowledge such as robotics and mobility. In Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Toyota is planning a project to develop an experimental city called "Woven City", and Toyota is trying to play a leading role in the new city itself. ..

10 smart city cases in Japan
[1] Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture "Toyota Woven City"

Toyota will open an experimental city called "Woven City" in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture at the world's largest electronics trade fair "CES 2020" held in Las Vegas, USA on January 7, 2020. Announced the project "Connected City" to be developed. Named after the city where roads are woven together like a mesh, it is initially expected that about 2,000 residents, including Toyota employees and people involved in the project, will live in this city. ..

Demonstration city in a real environment where people live
This project will create a demonstration city where new technologies can be introduced and verified in a realistic environment where people live. The technology covers everything that supports people's lives, including autonomous driving, MaaS (Mobility as a Service), personal mobility, robots, smart home technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. In the future, in a society where services are connected by information, we aim to create new value and business models by rapidly developing and demonstrating technologies and services.

[2] Minato-ku, Tokyo "Smart City Demonstration Experiment by Softbank"

In Minato-ku, Tokyo, a demonstration experiment by Softbank and Tokyu Land is planned. The two companies have announced that they will jointly work on urban development in the Takeshiba area (Minato-ku, Tokyo), where Tokyu Land conducts area management activities, with the aim of contributing to urban revitalization and promoting industry.
Softbank press release: Co-creation of smart city in Takeshiba area (July 9, 2019)

Realization of a smart city that utilizes cutting-edge technology throughout the city
The project aims to realize a smart city that utilizes cutting-edge technology throughout the city. In addition to working on data utilization and smart building construction in the Takeshiba area, we will verify technology in a wide range of fields such as robotics, mobility, AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), 5G (5th generation mobile communication system), and drones. I plan to do it. In addition to the two companies, various businesses are also planning to verify cutting-edge technology, aiming to be a model case for smart cities that can solve urban problems.

[3] Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture "Kashiwanoha Smart City"

In Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, "Kashiwanoha Smart City" is being promoted by the "Kashiwanoha Smart City Consortium" led by Kashiwa City, Mitsui Fudosan, and Kashiwanoha Urban Design Center. "Kashiwanoha Smart City" has three themes of "City of Environmental Symbiosis", "City of New Industry Creation", and "City of Healthy and Longevity", and creates an open data platform that can be utilized across the board through collaboration between the public, private sector, and academia. The aims.

Smart compact city centered on the station
"Kashiwanoha Smart City" concentrates people, goods, and information by gathering universities, hospitals, commercial facilities, etc. within a radius of 2 km centered on Kashiwanoha Campus Station, and strengthens the collection and cooperation of data gathered around the station. are doing. The collected data will be utilized for data-driven regional management in collaboration with the public, private sector, and academia.

[4] Sapporo, Hokkaido "DATA-SMART CITY SAPPORO"

Sapporo City, Hokkaido is promoting an innovation project as one of the goals of the ICT utilization strategy. It is a cross-sectoral initiative aimed at creating innovation through the use of data, and is a project that is expected to not only solve current urban issues but also create new value.

Utilize the data generated in the area in the area
The core of this project is the "Sapporo City ICT Utilization Platform" ("DATA-SMART CITY SAPPORO"), a data linkage platform for the cooperative use of public and private data. "DATA-SMART CITY SAPPORO" is equipped with data-related functions such as data registration, storage / management, and provision, a dashboard function to promote the spread of data utilization, and an account management function. Realize so-called "local production for local consumption of data" that cooperates with the data held by.

[5] Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture "Kakogawa Smart City Project"

In Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture, we utilized the information and communication technology utilization platform centered on the safety and security of the city toward the realization of a "town chosen by the child-rearing generation" based on the Kakogawa City Town, People, and Work Creation Comprehensive Strategy. We are promoting the project "Kakogawa Smart City Project". The aim of the project is to solve regional issues with the aim of improving citizen satisfaction and quality of life (QOL).

Safe and secure town development by utilizing data
In Kakogawa City, we utilized data related to safe and secure town development for the purpose of developing a platform for collecting and analyzing data from multiple fields and building an initiative system in which various actors can participate. We are promoting a project to study the ideal way of smart cities. The collected open data is used in the administrative information dashboard and the administrative information application "Kakogawa App" for smartphones (Android, iOS).

[6] Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture "Smart City Takamatsu"
"10 examples of smart cities in Japan [6] Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture" Smart City Takamatsu ""

Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, is promoting "Smart City Takamatsu" with the aim of solving regional issues and revitalizing the regional economy using ICT through collaboration with various actors from industry, academia, and the private sector.

Revitalization of local economy by utilizing data
By aggregating real-time data scattered in the public and private sectors on an "IoT common platform (base)" and using it across fields (cross-domain), the aim is to improve administrative efficiency and revitalize the local economy. On the IoT common platform in Takamatsu City, data from 13 water level sensors and tide level sensors have already been collected in the disaster prevention field, and movement history data of 50 rental bicycles has already been collected in the tourism field. Furthermore, in the welfare field, we are planning to build a comprehensive community care system that utilizes ICT, such as collecting vital information such as breathing and heartbeat of the elderly.

[7] "Smart City Aizuwakamatsu", Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture
"10 examples of smart cities in Japan [7]" Smart City Aizuwakamatsu ", Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture"

The smart city project "Smart City Aizuwakamatsu" in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, began with the participation of Accenture as a reconstruction project following the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. After that, with the goal of making Aizuwakamatsu City a "model city for regional revitalization that is at the forefront of the whole country," we concluded a partnership agreement in the smart city area with Amsterdam City in the Netherlands, and conducted a demonstration project of digital utilization from all over the country. It has progressed through efforts such as attracting.

Three perspectives in town development
"Smart City Aizuwakamatsu" aims to "improve regional vitality" including industrial promotion, promote "town development where people can live comfortably and with peace of mind", and "visualize the town" to help in town development. We are promoting town development from the three perspectives of going. The businesses and achievements of smart city Aizuwakamatsu cover various fields. For citizens, information is provided through the smartphone app "Aizukko Plus" and the website "Aizuwakamatsu + (Plus)".

[8] Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture "Yokohama Smart City Project"
"10 examples of smart cities in Japan [8] Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture" Yokohama Smart City Project ""

In Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, the "Yokohama Smart City Project" is underway. The Yokohama City project began in 2010 when it was selected as a "Next Generation Energy and Social System Demonstration Area" by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and through demonstration experiments up to 2014, CO2 emissions were reduced by 29% and the energy saving rate was 17%. The result was obtained.
(Source: Yokohama Smart City Project (YSCP) Initiatives and Future Developments)

Sustainable smart city by energy optimization
The "Yokohama Smart City Project" aims to realize an energy circulation city with excellent disaster prevention, environmental friendliness, and economic efficiency by utilizing the know-how cultivated in this demonstration experiment. The project is being carried out by a number of businesses in parallel. Renewable energy and hydrogen are being developed at "Tsunashima Sustainable Smart Town," which is being developed by 10 organizations including domestic and overseas private companies in addition to Yokohama City, utilizing the site of Panasonic's business office in the Tsunashima district of Kohoku Ward. In addition to increasing the utilization rate to 30%, services utilizing IT technology will also be provided. We aim to realize an energy-saving city by visualizing the electricity demand of the entire city and optimally accommodating energy.

[9] Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture "Kitakyushu Smart Community Creation Project"
"10 examples of smart cities in Japan [9] Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture" Kitakyushu Smart Community Creation Project ""

The "Kitakyushu Smart Community Creation Project" was adopted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a "Next Generation Energy / Social System Demonstration Project" and was conducted from 2011 to 2016. Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, has positioned this project as a new industry responsible for economic growth, and has been aiming for initiatives that will lead to new town development that will lead to improvement of citizens' lives and resolution of local issues, such as construction of new transportation systems and lifestyle changes. It was.

Creation of a prosperous society through dynamic pricing of electric power
The main part of this project is the smart grid (next generation power grid). Next-generation electricity meters called smart meters have been installed in all consumers in the region to realize dynamic pricing that fluctuates electricity charges according to the supply and demand situation. This aim is energy management in which consumers participate, and actually achieved an energy saving effect of about 10%. Currently, in accordance with the Kitakyushu City Planning Master Plan revised in 2018, the phase from demonstration to implementation is underway in various areas.

[10] Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture "Smart City Saitama Model"
"10 examples of smart cities in Japan [10] Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture" Smart City Saitama Model ""

In Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, the epitome of the ideal city is the "Smart City Saitama Model," and the project is being developed "comprehensively" in all fields that make up the lives of citizens. In the "Misono district", one of the "subcenters" of Saitama City, starting from "Urban Design Center Miso (UDCMi)", which is a base for information dissemination and activity cooperation to promote new town development, "citizens + studies" Various town development projects and projects are underway through collaboration. The project in this Misono area is expected to be a leading model area for the realization of the "Smart City Saitama Model".

One-stop provision of life support services by unifying "town data"
The "Smart City Saitama Model" focuses on an information common platform ("Common Platform Saitama Version") that enables the collection, management, and utilization of various "town data" regardless of device or manufacturer. By providing various life support services as a one-stop service, we aim to realize a living environment and optimize social costs according to lifestyle and life stage. In addition, we are aiming to create new business collaboration and revitalize the local economy by making it an open system that allows service providers to participate in this system regardless of the scale of their business.

Summary
In this article, we have introduced a wide range of smart cities, including the efforts of Japanese governments, ministries, local governments, and companies, and 10 representative cases in Japan, because smart cities are attracting attention. These cases are just a few of the regions and organizations working on smart cities, and many regions are working on smart cities, including those under consideration or preparation. Smart cities will continue to attract more attention as one of the solutions to the problems facing the region. It is hoped that Japan's efforts toward smart cities will bear fruit, and that a convenient, prosperous, and highly sustainable society will be realized.