Smart cities: how IOT is putting Africa on the map

Source: Vsoft, 19/11/2018

Internet of things infrastructure opens the door to technological
innovation from the private sector, says IoT.nxt.
Africa, along with the rest of the world, is currently charging
through the fourth industrial revolution. Society is beginning to
be reshaped by the smart use of information and technology. One of
the most apparent examples of this change is the acceleration of
the implementation of the Internet of things (IOT).
Smart, connected devices are not only being deployed in
industries, but cities globally. This is to gather and glean
contextual insights used to achieve higher levels of efficiency
and productivity, as well as better use of scarce and natural
resources.
In no place is the struggle to manage basic utilities and run-offs
such as water, electricity and wastage more pressing than right
here in Africa. Nico Steyn, co-founder and CEO of IoT.nxt,
recently noted: `The reach of IOT is staggering. The
implementation we`ve seen using our technology in the agricultural
sector alone has showcased the possibilities for truly sustainable
agriculture, Africa-wide. The future of industry in our country is
bright.`
As the demand for food and the effects of climate change on
production force agricultural operations to make more, better and
faster smart agricultural practices are needed more than ever.
Practices IOT can not only highlight, but help deliver.
If these are the possibilities in agriculture, imagine IOT being
applied to the ecosystem of a city.
Much like each part of a farm needs to be connected to the whole
to ensure it can be optimised without creating black holes in the
overall picture, so do cities.
It`s crucial that the necessary infrastructure is built in order
to allow businesses, residents and tourists to seamlessly and
securely connect with what they need, when they need it. And,
although much of the current IOT infrastructure development is
about preparing for the future and adapting to a digital world,
some of it can have a more immediate effect.
So, what is a smart city anyway?
Essentially, smart cities use data and technology to create
efficiencies, improve sustainability, create economic development,
and enhance quality of life factors for people living and working
in the city. It also means the city has a smart energy
infrastructure. Smart cities are very people-centric in that they
are all about improving people`s experiences in that city so it
better meets their needs.
IOT is allowing for everyday processes such as traffic control,
utilities and city infrastructure to be connected to networks. Its
capabilities reach every aspect of the way a city is run. This
renders the opportunities for smart agriculture as endless.
Many countries in Africa are still in the early stages of the
urbanisation process. However, they are very quickly catching up
to the rest of the world. And, even though Africa was the least
urbanised region in the world in 2015, it is now the second
fastest urbanising region behind Asia, which it is expected to
surpass by 2020.
Smart city challenges in Africa
Although Africa is still a developing continent, it has come a
long way during the fourth industrial revolution. However, there
are still many challenges and constraints that lie in the way of
full digitalisation. These challenges include things like
inadequate physical infrastructure, widespread populations,
unemployment, a large density of rural and remote areas, poor
quality social services and vulnerability to disasters and climate
change.
With a population of 1.216 billion people, a landmass of 30.37
million km squared, and a population density of 113 people per
mile squared, Africa is the second largest continent in the world.
As African cities evolve, the challenges of electricity and water
shortages, wastage and other resources will continue to grow.
These issues have become significant drivers of conversations
focusing on smart cities.
However, the development of smart cities in Africa is not without
constraints. As well as the challenges mentioned above, the
availability of certain resources, such as finance, skills,
technology and energy has caused Africa to slightly lag in the
process of smartening its cities.
Despite the obvious constraints, the implementation of smart
technology in African cities would offer huge opportunities,
especially in terms of increasing quality of life for residents,
improving the efficiency of the city services by eliminating
redundancies, finding ways to save money and streamlining workers`
responsibilities.
State of Africa today
African cities continue to be hampered with underdevelopment and
weak standards of living, partially due to rapid and massive
urbanisation. These have brought about further issues of proper
waste management, traffic congestion and flow, various health
concerns due to overcrowding, air pollution, lack of regular and
sufficient electricity generation and its distribution and
billing, poor water resource management, water availability and
its distribution, deteriorating state of infrastructure,
insufficient housing and schooling, and the list goes on.
Steyn added: `Anyone would think that the odds are completely
stacked against Africa when it comes to developing and
digitalising its cities. However, it just so happens that Africa
is the perfect blank canvas for a smart city. The technological
capabilities of IOT can help lead a new generation of thinking
while demonstrating tangible benefits to Africa`s citizens and to
the world.`
Why IOT is the answer
IOT infrastructure opens the door to technological innovation from
the private sector. Whether it`s in the private sector with smart
cabs and smart parking, or in public infrastructure with traffic
and waste management, there`s a big push to embrace smart city
connectivity and the innovation it can enable.
A recent article notes `IOT is essential to the success of a smart
city. It enables the bridging of the physical world with the
digital one. This allows a metropolitan area to gather real-time
data from millions of objects. For example, water meters,
electricity meters, waste bins, traffic lights and street lights.
This then forms the basis on which contextual data can be
collected, analysed and used to manage the city in a smarter,
predictive and proactive way.`
IOT is playing a pivotal role in the development of critical
infrastructure in smart cities in Africa. IOT can be used to
manage multi-trillions of data points, making smart cities a
benefactor of connected solutions. The application of these new
technologies with the urban context allows the implementation of
an interconnected strategy for the whole city, combining and using
data from buildings, as well as from public and private transport.
Steyn added: `It`s no secret that there are limitations to
infrastructure roll-outs in Africa. As the population grows
denser, it becomes vital that more viable solutions be looked at.`
From environmental monitoring to urban planning, energy management
to events and festivals, IOT technology is what`s going to aid in
bringing sustainability and interconnectivity to African cities,
propelling them to new heights.
Future of African agriculture
Africa continues to face dramatic demographic development.
Therefore, it`s vital for its technological advances to meet the
surging demands of new migrants. Africa has several constraints
when it comes to digitalising its cities. However, this surging
demand almost forces policymakers to adopt these technological
breakthroughs with the growth of smart cities. Instead of moving
into more curative processes that are very expensive, it`s
necessary to change those resources into building better
facilities to reduce the number of diseases, to improve
sanitation, traffic, housing and other challenges the continent
faces.
An example of this is the product use of sensor data in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil. The city is filled with thousands of sensors that
capture data ranging from street water levels to developing
traffic jams. That data is then streamed to a central nerve centre
and city officials there use the same data captured to make real-
time decisions on pending emergencies or events that occur.
Building smart cities is a viable way for Africa to cope with its
booming urban populations. With smart cities already being
implemented around Africa, many of the continent`s urban problems
are turning into endless opportunities for technological
development. Like Vision City in Rwanda, which is the largest
residential housing project in the country to date. This smart
city is conceived as a fully self-sustaining neighbourhood with
easy access to amenities like first-rate asphalt roads and
pedestrian walkways, secure open parking, street lamps, a pre-
installed fibre-optic network, and safe public spaces that are
ideal for children and communal activities.
Vision City is just one of many smart city initiatives that are
planned for Africa`s future. And with IOT technology constantly
advancing beyond anything we`ve ever imagined, the possibilities
for Africa`s smart future are endless.
Anyone would think the odds are completely stacked against Africa
when it comes to developing smart cities. However, with the help
of IOT, Africa`s smart future is just a stone`s throw away. IOT
technology is what`s going to aid in bringing sustainability and
interconnectivity to African cities, propelling them to new
heights