Some considerations about Macau’s Smart City Development

picture from http://europe-ul.com/makes-smart-city-smart/

It is reported that Alibaba group will collaborate with the Macau government to turn Macau into a “Smart City” with the use of cloud computer technologies. This is welcome news to us Macau residents as it brings hope about creating more sustainable environments in our city.

Personally, I am particularly interested in the suggested use of artificial intelligence to optimize transportation management, as traffic congestion has been one of Macau’s ingrained problems. Based on information from different resources, I would like to point out the importance of new urban mobility with reductions in car use and ownership as well as increases in cycling, public and shared transport.

One suggestion is the adoption of the digital car sharing system, which enables people to share the use of a car without having to own one themselves. The individual members of the car-sharing community will have their complementary driving needs identified by an advanced algorithm that uses social profiling and geo-location. An app will help one locate the nearest of the vehicles parked on the city’s streets. After use, the car can simply be parked within a designated area in the city for the next user. The members can thus enjoy the freedom and benefits the car affords without shouldering huge costs. They also play a shared role in reducing carbon emissions and traffic congestion.

Besides, I am in favour of a bicycle sharing system. It can be an even better solution to problems of traffic congestion, noise and air pollution by providing access to bicycles as another choice besides motorized vehicles. The bicycles can also connect users to public transit networks, thus solving what is often known as the “last mile” problem. What’s more, e-bikes could be a new tourist attraction, enabling the tourists to move around the city with better ease. As in the case of the car sharing system, great convenience is ensured with the use of smartphone mapping apps to show the locations with available bikes.

However, whether Macau will become a “Smart City” depends very much on government policies and the residents’ support. It is hoped that the above mentioned measures will be given favourable consideration as they are likely to contribute to Macau’s better environments by making a great difference to the current condition of transportation.