Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand this week hosted a roundtable on smart cities standards, in collaboration with the British Standards Institution. Attendees included Standards Australia, peak industry bodies such as the Internet of Things Alliance Australia, Consult Australia, academia, local government, technologists and other private sector stakeholders.
The roundtable provided the platform for SCCANZ’s release of a guidance note on smart cities standards. This guidance note was released to help raise awareness of the important role of standards, and provide insight into the depth of standards available globally to help government, the private sector and the community participate in building a thriving smart cities movement.
The Guidance Note can be found here.
We have an opportunity in Australia to embrace the rich ecosystem of smart cities standards and frameworks available throughout the world, and ensure we create a common understanding and shared purpose when applying technology and data solutions in our cities and towns. It is fundamental therefore that we at least acknowledge these resources, and be open to applying them, at least in a voluntary way.
Presenting an overview of the Guidance Note, Gavin Cotterill, PCSG’s Consulting Director for Asia Pacific and SCCANZ Associate Partner, said “Experience from mature smart cities markets such as the UK, and more broadly Europe, show that when government and industry work closely together on creating, applying and promoting standardisation, market opportunities are created and outcomes are aligned with a shared vision.”
The Guidance Note is the precursor to a more detailed Smart Cities Standards Guideline under development by SCCANZ and PCSG.
SCCANZ encourages all smart cities practitioners and policy makers to review the Guidance Note and identify opportunities for applying standards relevant to their work, and help build greater alignment, structure and interoperability between our systems, processes and investments in smart cities.
Only when a common language is embraced for smart cities, can we truly realise its full benefits.
We are building a smart cities movement. Join us.
