Australia Urged to Advance Smarter Developments

Australia risks falling behind global standards, as many new urban developments fail to incorporate smart infrastructure that could enhance safety, efficiency and emergency response. A recent industry study shows that more than half of sector stakeholders believe the country is missing out on the benefits of smart city technologies, potentially limiting urban growth and sustainability.

Currently, Australia's construction sector suffers from fragmentation. Inconsistent local planning rules and state-specific control over utilities make it more challenging to adopt intelligent infrastructure such as AI-managed lighting, digital kiosks and real-time emergency data systems. The report, prepared by urban planning consultancy Urbis in collaboration with government-backed NBN, outlines these challenges in an industry roadmap titled Accelerating Smarter Development.

According to the findings, only 45.3% of new developments consider incorporating smart technology. However, this is not solely due to reluctance toward innovation. High upfront costs, long approval procedures and the difficulty of demonstrating immediate financial benefits discourage developers. The report argues that delaying smart infrastructure installations results in even greater costs in the future. It urges private developers, local councils and service providers to collaborate and make early investments.

Smarter developments have the potential to reshape cities through energy-saving lighting, automated emergency alerts and AI-driven public safety tools. A notable example is a smart pole installed in Guildford, NSW. It significantly improved nighttime safety perceptions among women in the area, increasing the number who felt safe from only 8% to 59%. Pedestrian traffic in the area also rose by five times during key hours.

The broader vision is to develop cities that use AI and real-time data to guide how neighborhoods are planned and managed. Although this technology is readily available, Australia needs coordinated support from policymakers, local councils and industry leaders to avoid lagging in the smart city transformation.

Source: Smart City SS, Urban Prospects, Ecore Renewable Energy

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