What the Future holds for Smart and Sustainable Malaysian Cities
By Associate Professor Ir . Ts . Dr Wong Shen Yuong Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Xiamen University Malaysia
The thundering stampede of modernisation and technological advancement for the amelioration of mankind ’ s living standards has never halted on its track . This statement could not be truer with the new frontier of smart cities as humans teeter on the edge of the Fourth Industrial Revolution . The smart city is a modern urban ecosystem that relies on various drivers such as different types of sensing methods , information and communication technologies , artificial intelligence , and big data to enhance the functions of the city through the efficient integration of smart technologies .
Technological progress is a key driver of improvements in standards of living . However , new knowledge and technologies do not necessarily develop everywhere at the same time . The way technology is disseminated is central to how national growth will be generated and implemented in the country . The world is evolving quickly towards smart cities , but the challenges that people encounter are still crude . In this article , I will discuss the three critical issues we face daily and how we can harness current technologies to improve operations across the city . These are in the areas of : 1 . Waste management 2 . Drainage system 3 . Shopping during contagious disease outbreaks
Waste Management
In the current age where disposables have become a way of life , this ‘ use and throw ’ lifestyle leads us to the problem of waste management . Managing waste can be a complex and resourceintensive process . Waste management is a crucial area related to the lifestyle of the population and the economic status of a country . It can be defined as a discipline associated with the control of the generation , storage , collection , transfer and transport , processing and disposal of wastes .
The aspiration to effectively manage waste would require public awareness of the 3Rs ( reduce , reuse , recycle ) policies . One of the most critical challenges we face today is the public lack of concern towards making source separation and recycling a habit . Figure 1 shows that the lack of environmental awareness and the lack of a sense of responsibility are the predominant mindsets among Malaysians . We can easily see waste floating freely in rivers , and flash floods are common now in many Malaysian cities .
Managing household waste — including waste collection , transportation , and treatment — is a global problem , whereby a circular economy and recycling have to be promoted [ 1 ]. One key question is : What can be done to improve future household waste management in cities ?
Decision Support System ( DSS ) can offer benefits in the areas of estimation of waste volumes and types , intelligent tracking and collection , and identification of disposal facilities to help industrial and municipal decision-makers in proper waste management . Local and federal Government authorities can consider the strategic value of DSS in the control and management of solid waste generated in urban centres . To enhance solid waste management in Malaysia ,
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