HCM City (VNS/VNA) – Ho Chi Minh Cityneeds to further back research if it wants to apply new technologies in publicadministration, especially in the context of its plans to become a smart city,a senior researcher has said.

Speaking at a scientific workshop,“Opportunity and integrated development management options for a smart city,”on June 7, Nguyen Van Trinh, deputy head of the HCM City Development ResearchInstitute said: “The city is seeking to create more databases and undertakeresearch to set up a simulation centre, which will provide various developmentmodels for it.”

The smart city concept would have a greatimpact on the way people live in future – on their working environment,housing, transport, health, recreation – he said.

Urbanisation, population growth anddigitisation are global trends that bring both challenges and opportunities tocities around the globe, he said.

It is key factor for city governments toshape the process of developing into a smart city in a way that benefits allits citizens, he said.

Dr Nguyen Ngoc Hieu from the Vietnamese –German University pointed out that to be a smart city, HCM City needs toupgrade its administration to cope with new challenges, including populationgrowth and depletion of natural resources.

“Many problems can be solved by being‘smarter’ without the need for more new technology.”

Difficulties and challenges are actuallyopportunities for development, he said.

“We can recognise some factors that arecreating favourable conditions… especially for the smart city project.”

The most valuable asset of a city is itspeople since they are the ones who know their city best, he said.

Flooding is considered one of the biggestchallenges faced by the city.

Nguyen Viet Hung, a senior official at theHCM City Urban Flood Control Steering Centre, tabled a flood warning system atthe seminar.

The system needs sophisticated, fullyautomated equipment and skilled experts to operate them, a city-widemeasurement system, a flood management centre and greater community awareness,he said.

According to scientists, a smart cityshould be livable, will put the needs of its denizens at the forefront andsupport local initiatives and creativity; be diverse and open, using digitaltransformation to foster participation and overcome social and economicimbalances and exclusion; and climate-neutral and resource-efficient bypromoting eco-friendliness, carbon-neutrality and healthy transport, energy,water, sewage, and waste concepts.

It will also be competitive and thrivingand open-minded and innovative, stimulate innovation and provide appropriateinfrastructure and administrative options; be responsive and sensitive, safeand freedom-enhancing through the use of sensor technologies, data acquisitionand processing and interaction with citizens in a responsible way to constantlyimprove its services and processes while ensuring safe and free private, publicand digital spaces for all.-VNS/VNA