13 significant smart sensing ideas for Western Sydney, report finds
Thirteen significant and transformational ideas for Western Sydney involving smart sensors came from the NSSN’s Sensing the West Forum held in Parramatta in March.
More than 100 leading experts across industry, government and research attended the forum which explored smart sensing opportunities in new Western Sydney developments, with particular focus on the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
It was supported by Western Sydney University’s Urban Transformations Research Centre, CSIRO, and Celestino Developments.
The cover of the Sensing the West Forum workshop summary.
The NSSN has published a summary report on outcomes from the forum.
It reveals specific opportunity areas for smart sensing to improve outcomes in Western Sydney.
These are the areas of planning, building and construction, service delivery, and people and the environment.
The author of the report, NSSN Smart Cities Theme Leader Peter Runcie, says the forum was a great way to tap into the experience and perspectives of attendees from government, industry and academia.
“Key opportunities include the use of smart sensing to support place-based approaches to planning and delivery of services; reducing the cost of planning and approvals processes; and helping to align stakeholders with the sharing of sensing and other data to provide a common understanding of needs, plans, and services,” Mr Runcie says.
Speakers at the Sensing the West Forum included (from left to right): Director of Questacon and Chair of the NSSN Board, Jo White; Chief Technology Officer at Western Sydney International Airport, Tom McCormack; Acting Executive Director, Smart Places at Transport for NSW, Rory Brown; General Manager – Business Development at Celestino, Duncan Challen; Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO, Dr Tim Muster.
One of the proposed solutions is a shared platform for planners which would improve coordination between government, industry and community stakeholders in the planning of new developments such as the Aerotropolis.
Another project could see the development of policy guidance, best practises and improved building codes for how water can be used in greenfield developments to mitigate heat for the first time.
People and the environment stand to benefit from a formalised approach to baselining and monitoring liveability outcomes.
Using smart sensing to provide objective measurements help policy makers and planners to maintain focus on health, cultural and other social outcomes.
The report states developing a large area such as Western Sydney – which is expected to grow significantly by 2040 – is not easy and requires balancing competing needs.
It says the community expects this growth should occur while maintaining amenity, equity, health, and environmental outcomes.
“The complexity and increasingly interconnected nature of cities and the various organisations involved can make this a daunting prospect,” the report states.
“Added to this is a dynamic and evolving external environmental context. We must also mitigate the effects of climate change on biodiversity and a range of natural hazards including heat, drought, and floods.”
Video shows how the Sensing the West Forum explored smart sensing opportunities as part of new Western Sydney developments.
NEXT STEPS
Mr Runcie says while the opportunities for smart sensing in Western Sydney can improve how work is carried out, the implementation of the initiatives identified in the forum will only be successful with the right technical and organisational infrastructure.
The NSSN will now work with participants and other stakeholders to prioritise and assist with development of the solution concepts identified in the workshop.
Read the summary report.
For a detailed copy of the outcomes report from the Sensing the West Forum, please contact NSSN Smart Cities Theme Leader Peter Runcie.