Smart City Tech Trends to Watch as We Approach 2025
Fact: China witnessed the world's first ever inter-city electric air-taxi flight earlier in February this year. This astounding feat of innovation was once science fiction, but now science fact and a daily reality that is reshaping our urban environment.
At MTR Lab, we are supporting smart city development and sustainability through focusing our investments on six key verticals: Mobility as a Service (MaaS), new mobility modes, rail tech, new retail, property and construction technology, and financial and data services. Staying informed and getting ahead of this pace of change is crucial for our own development as a smarter greener city. Here are five must-know smart city trends transforming our lives today!
1.?????? Smart mobility navigates the future
Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is the next frontier in urban mobility, offering fast and emission-free transport. In February this year, an eVTOL aircraft completed the world's first inter-city electric air-taxi flight between Shenzhen and Zhuhai, crossing the Pearl River Delta in just 20 minutes – down from a three-hour car journey (Source 1).
Ground transportation is also being revolutionised with micromobility options like shared e-bikes and e-scooters, providing flexible, eco-friendly short-distance travel (Source 2). Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) can further advance our transportation landscape by steering us towards safer, less congested roads, and providing greater accessibility for non-drivers such as the elderly or disabled. A notable step forward in this arena would be BMW's recent announcement with its new autonomous vehicle series, which will feature Level 3 automated driving capabilities, allowing drivers to safely divert their attention and hands from the wheel under specific conditions, marking a significant leap towards full autonomy and a more sustainable, inclusive future in transportation (Source 4).
2.?????? Property technology (PropTech) transforms urban development
PropTech is reshaping urban landscapes by integrating advanced technologies into both construction processes and building management, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) as the backbone of smart buildings.
This industry transformation begins immediately at the construction phase with innovations like digital twin technology and Building Information Modelling (BIM). These technologies create digital replicas of physical buildings, enabling real-time monitoring and decision-making that streamline processes, reduce errors, and enhance collaboration. MTR Lab Company Limited partner isBIM Limited exemplifies this by using its JARVIS Digital Twin software, an all-in-one management tool that optimises construction workflows by bringing the entire building process online (Source 6).
PropTech extends beyond construction into building management and maintenance. IoT-powered predictive maintenance minimises downtime and energy waste. MTR Lab Company Limited ’s partner WeMaintain | Certified B Corp offers end-to-end solutions integrating IoT and predictive maintenance capabilities, enabling continuous monitoring of lifts, escalators, and safety systems through a digital platform paired with onsite engineers (Source 7).
Then there is prescriptive maintenance which is a step further by using machine learning, AI, and advanced analytics to predict equipment faults and recommend specific preventative actions, ensuring optimal asset management and equipment longevity (Source 9).
Property technologies also fine-tune operations such as lighting, heating, and cooling systems based on real-time occupancy and environmental conditions, thereby enhancing tenant experiences and reducing energy consumption (Source 5).
3.?????? Smart energy powers a sustainable tomorrow
Smart energy is driving up sustainability by leveraging renewable resources such as solar, wind, and tidal power to facilitate the supply of more sustainable energy, while optimising energy consumption to enhance efficiency at the demand side. The integration of IoT, AI, and smart metering enables intelligent energy distribution and consumption, optimising efficiency and reducing waste. For every individual, this translates to higher energy efficiency, lower utility bills and a reduced carbon footprint.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (ESS) are crucial in cutting carbon emissions by stabilising the supply of renewable energy to the power grid by storing excess renewable energy. This ensures more consistent power supply despite fluctuations in renewable sources. They can also effectively replace diesel generators in more industrial settings. MTR Lab’s partner Ampd Energy provides ESS solutions for construction sites, reducing the need for polluting diesel generators (Source 10).
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ESS's versatility extends to powering operations without easy electricity access, such as outdoor events, rescue missions, or as backup power. For buildings with their own renewable energy generation systems, ESS may even enable greater energy self-sufficiency (Source 11).
4.?????? Digital ecosystems enhance community engagement?
Digital ecosystems make cities smarter by fostering a direct connection between citizens and their urban surroundings, employing advanced data analytics, AI, and blockchain to collect, process and analyse urban data sets. This integration empowers cities to make informed, data-driven decisions that enhance operational efficiency (Source 12).
By integrating digital technologies with active community engagement, cities can improve sustainability and urban management. For example, smart waste management systems integrate IoT sensors to enable real-time monitoring of waste levels. This facilitates optimised waste collection processes based on actual fill levels, reducing unnecessary collection trips, preventing overflow, and ultimately leading to decreased vehicle emissions and better sanitation (Source 13).
5.?????? Autonomous delivery redefines logistics
Autonomous delivery systems, such as drones, are transforming last-mile logistics by offering more efficient and eco-friendly urban delivery solutions. These technologies can reduce carbon emissions and alleviate traffic congestion, all while improving delivery speed and reliability. For instance, drones can bypass traffic jams and deliver packages directly to customers, especially in hard-to-reach or congested areas (Source 14).
Furthermore, robotic systems and smart lockers are streamlining parcel handling and delivery in urban settings. Automated warehousing, sortation, and locker systems enhance the speed, reliability, and safety of logistics operations. A prime example is the Amazon Scout, an autonomous delivery robot tested in several U.S. cities, which showcases how small, wheeled robots can deliver packages directly to doorsteps (Source 15).
To conclude, these five trends – smart mobility, PropTech, smart energy, digital ecosystems, and autonomous delivery – are the at the forefront in building smarter, greener cities. They collectively contribute to creating more efficient, sustainable, and liveable urban environments. Residents enjoy improved quality of life, with digital equity ensuring access to information and opportunities for all.
Do you have ideas on how to make cities smarter? Let’s hear from you! Share your innovations with us at MTR Lab: www.mtrlab.com.hk/en/submit-pitch
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FDI Advisor for European companies planning their expansion in Asia via Hong Kong | Speaker & Moderator
1 个月Thanks a lot for this summary! I truly believe entrepreneurship and technology innovation can create groundbreaking solutions, services, and platforms for enhanced collaboration of private-sector, public-sector and academic actors. Reknowed science universities in Germany (eg Technical University of Munich) and Switzerland (eg ETH Zürich) with a strong record of commercially successful company spin-offs are great places for startup scouting.