Why we need a self-defending smart city

HUMANS have been living in cities for thousands of years. Yet, while medieval city walls might have fallen, to be replaced by roads and bridges connecting our modern metropolises, the essence of the city has remained unchanged. As technology has progressed, we have refined and built up these cities somewhat, but what's the next step?

We're now living in a time when smart cities are no longer a long-term vision, but an imminent realisation. Across Asia-Pacific, countries are racing against each other to create technologically savvy societies.

In Singapore, the government is planning a digital district in Punggol by 2023 which will incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) to drive facilities such as an automated waste collection centre. In two other districts, Singapore will trial street lamps fitted with sensors that have facial-recognition capabilities, track temperature and rainfall trends, guide autonomous vehicles and even capture criminal activities.