QUNIE Co., Ltd.
Demonstration to Realize Smart City Begins in Colombia
~ Entrusted with research and demonstration under Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications “ICT International Strategy” ~
Consulting firm Kunie Co., Ltd. (NTT Data Group, Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Ken Dobashi, hereinafter referred to as “Qunie”) has announced that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has issued a survey and demonstration for the realization of a smart city using ICT in the Republic of Colombia. ”, and started a demonstration experiment in Cartagena, Colombia from February 6, 2023 (local).
This survey and demonstration is part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ initiative to support the overseas deployment of high-quality ICT, a strength of Japan, and to contribute to comprehensive problem-solving in target countries. It will be implemented with the cooperation of the City of Cartagena under the auspices of the Ministry of Communications (MinTIC). We will verify the effects of using ICT technology in two areas:
“citizen-participation-based urban problem solving” using smartphone apps, etc., and “cultural heritage protection” using sensors, in order to make the country a smart city.
【background】
The progress of urbanization is remarkable in Central and South American countries, and various problems have emerged due to the rapid increase in urban population. For reasons such as the difficulty of strengthening the personnel system of local governments due to tight financial conditions, there are cases where basic public services cannot be fully provided to residents. Many local governments in Central and South America are interested in using ICT in city management to improve operational efficiency, improve service levels and citizen satisfaction, and solve urban issues. However, especially in small and medium-sized cities, in addition to financial
constraints, it is necessary to deal with the uniqueness of each city. There is still much room for expansion in the use of ICT in
Our company was entrusted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to conduct a research and demonstration project for the realization of a smart city using ICT in the Republic of Colombia. It is one of the efforts aimed at contributing to the solution. This demonstration was realized in collaboration with the Cartagena city government and MinTIC, which are highly interested in the introduction of smart cities.
[Outline of this demonstration experiment]
In this demonstration, we will verify two effects: (1)
“citizen-participatory urban problem solving” using smartphone apps, etc., and (2) “cultural heritage protection” using sensors. In collaboration with the Cartagena City Government and MinTIC, which are enthusiastic about using ICT in city management, we will conduct demonstrations aimed at resolving high-priority urban issues in the city, aiming to realize a smart city in the future. Aim to draw a roadmap.
As a contractor, QUNIE will manage the entire project, including planning for this survey and demonstration, selection of solutions, and coordination with Colombian organizations.
(1) Citizen Participation in Solving Urban Issues
Rather than waiting for municipalities to solve urban issues, we will demonstrate the effectiveness of solutions that utilize smartphone apps, etc. that enable quick solutions by having citizens report the location of issues to local governments.
There is a limit to how much a municipality can monitor an entire city with a limited number of personnel, and it takes a lot of time to understand the damage to roads and buildings and respond accordingly. Therefore, by establishing a mechanism for citizens to discover and report problems, we aim to improve the efficiency and speed of resolution, as well as cooperation between citizens and the
government. In Japan, similar systems have already been introduced in many local governments, and in this demonstration, we will build an application for Colombia based on these Japanese experiences. During the demonstration period, citizens of Cartagena will participate and establish a system that allows them to report photos and location information from their smartphones and other devices on the
application.
Place of implementation: Republic of Colombia, the entire city of Cartagena Participants: Cartagena City Hall staff and their stakeholders Implementation period: February 6 to March 8, 2023 (planned) (2) Cultural heritage protection solutions
In order to protect cultural heritage, prevent deterioration and damage to buildings, and support their effective use as tourism resources, introduce and demonstrate a solution that measures all monitoring items, such as temperature, humidity, and the number of visitors, using sensors. do.
This solution can automatically send alerts to registered emails and SMS in the event of an emergency such as an intrusion or damage, enabling 24-hour real-time management. In addition, by displaying the analysis results as a graph on the dashboard, you will be able to visually check the status information of the heritage. This
contributes to reducing maintenance costs and avoiding risks necessary for cultural heritage protection.
Venue: Republic of Colombia, Adolfo Mejia Theater (Note)
Implementation period: February 6 to March 8, 2023 (planned) [About the City of Cartagena]
Cartagena is a scenic port city facing the Caribbean Sea in northern Colombia. It is one of the leading tourist cities in South America with abundant tourism resources, such as the “Port, Fortress and Historic Monuments of Cartagena” which was registered as a World Heritage Site (Cultural Heritage) in 1984. It is a city that not only has
On the other hand, there are many urban issues such as abandoned buildings with a high risk of collapse, construction work without permission, street lights without lights, and problems with water supply, sewerage, and waste disposal left unattended.
In addition, the protection of cultural heritage, which supports tourism, which is a major industry, is a top priority issue for the city. Although the city government of Cartagena manages and protects cultural heritage, there is still room for efficiency and
sophistication. is largely left behind.
【About the future】
This demonstration is positioned as the first step toward the realization of a smart city, and the city of Cartagena aims to use this demonstration as a foothold to become a model case for smart cities in small and medium-sized cities.
Through the realization of smart cities, QUNIE will contribute to resolving urban issues in Latin America and other countries overseas. In addition, we will actively develop business that utilizes the NTT DATA Group’s technology and knowledge, with the aim of realizing better cities in other countries.
(Note) The Adolfo Mejia Theater was built in 1904 on the ruins of La Merced Monastery. It is located in the area declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 under the name of “Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena”. Closed for 28 years from 1970 to 1998. After 11 years of restoration, it reopened on July 31, 1998.
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QUNIE Co., Ltd. is a business consulting company of the NTT DATA Group. As a partner of our customers who are facing various
transformation challenges, our highly specialized and experienced professionals provide a wide range of solutions and promote the transformation of our customers on a global basis. For more
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