In PX106, our interview guest is James Vincent who is the CTO at NCS NEXT Australia, a global digital, data and cloud services consultancy (https://www.ncs.co/en-au/next/). James is a senior people leader with 25 years’ commercial IT experience and an established authority in large-scale strategic transformation in enterprise environments and delivering business outcomes through technology.
In this episode James shares four smart city technology solutions government could adopt to improve citizen services amid a rapidly growing urban population. Smart meters, sensor technology and AI in buildings to reduce environmental footprint are some of the examples that James touches on.
With Australia’s population projected to reach 30 million between 2029 and 2033, adding pressure to the quality and delivery of services for the community, James describes how it’s becoming more important to leverage modern technology to improve experiences and the efficiency of infrastructure, public transport, travel and roads.
He has previously stated: “Urban populations are growing at unprecedented rates, so we need to keep investing in smart city technology to create a brighter and more stable future. When further demand is added to systems such as public transport and traffic networks, some will struggle to cope – leading to overcrowding and poor-quality experiences.
“Modern technology is making safe, scalable, sustainable cities and performant governments a reality. In particular, smart city technology helps accommodate large and rapid urban population growth, facilitate resource conservation such as water and carbon, and improve the quality of services for the community across utilities, transport, healthcare, waste management, air quality, safety and wellbeing, and emergency response.
“We’re already starting to see various levels of Government engage in public-private partnerships and sponsored collaboration to modernise and advance services through technology. It’s a great step in improving access for citizens and the broader community and one we hope will continue in response to the changing population’s needs.”
The concept of ’Smart Cities’ has been touted before. In this episode we talk about how technologies and systems thinking has created previously unrealisable outcomes. James, in a very broad discussion talks about how these technologies are just as relevant in developing nations as they are in first world countries. We also talk about the potential downsides of such technologies in terms of civic life. In the interview we also discuss visions of the future portrayed through popular culture.
A wide ranging and testing interview on a topic that those responsibility ofor cities and towns will have to grapple with. We hope the episode makes a positive contribution to an understanding of the issues.
In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, James recommends the Emperor series by British author Con Iggulden https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conn_Iggulden. The series follows the life of Julius Caesar. On another note he describes his efforts trying to build an acoustic guitar, quite a challenge! He revels in the hands on, craft aspect of the task.
Jess has a TV show recommendation, Fisk (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisk_(TV_series)).
Pete recommends Wuthering Heights (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuthering_Heights) and the PlanningxChange Spotify playlist!
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 3 July 2023.
PlanningxChange 116: Stephen Rowley - author, planning professional, academic and astute commentator.
PlanningxChange 115: Liz Mackevicius, organisational coach
PlanningxChange 114: Anna Lowder talks New Urbanism including Hampstead
PlanningxExchange 113: Air taxis (spinners) & Vertiports with Clem Newton-Brown
PlanningxChange 112: Converting office buildings into residential with Jessica Lee of FK Architects
PlanningxChange 111: Jesse Suskin - Wing Aviation (drone delivery)
PlanningxChange 110: Professor Tim Parkin - The Romans and their cities
PlanningxChange 109: Doug Tallamy - Home Grown National Park - native species over lawn
PlanningxChange 108: Dr Stefan Gruenert - Odyssey House - Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation
PlanningxChange 107 Kate Hardwick: shining bright
PlanningxChange 105: Torie Brown - Student accommodation
PlanningxChange 104: Vanessa Schernickau - CEO of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation
PX103: Tim Jackson - On Leadership, local government and volunteering
PlanningxChange 102: Dr James Lesh (urban historian and author)
PlanningxChange 101: All about Canberra (Australia's national capital)
PlanningxChange 100: Live free
PlanningxChange 99: Alex Fenech (Landscape architect - Florida, USA)
PlanningxChange 98: Tim Ellis (magician and promoter of the Melbourne Magic Festival)
PlanningxChange 97 with David Beaumont - painter
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Voices of Misery Podcast
House of Whimsical Terror
Just Dumb Enough Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL