Planning Xchange

PlanningxChange 106: James Vincent - Smart Cities Technology


Listen Later

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.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Planning XchangeBy Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

1 ratings


More shows like Planning Xchange

View all
Conversations by ABC listen

Conversations

845 Listeners

Hamish & Andy by LiSTNR

Hamish & Andy

1,094 Listeners

History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,170 Listeners

99% Invisible by Roman Mars

99% Invisible

26,145 Listeners

Mamamia Out Loud by Mamamia Podcasts

Mamamia Out Loud

579 Listeners

Casefile True Crime by Casefile Presents

Casefile True Crime

37,699 Listeners

The Money Puzzle by The Australian

The Money Puzzle

47 Listeners

Shameless by Shameless Media

Shameless

824 Listeners

The Quicky by Mamamia Podcasts

The Quicky

113 Listeners

The Imperfects by Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg

The Imperfects

409 Listeners

Local Government News Roundup by Chris Eddy

Local Government News Roundup

0 Listeners

The Money Café with Alan Kohler by Intelligent Investor

The Money Café with Alan Kohler

38 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,028 Listeners

Chanticleer by Australian Financial Review

Chanticleer

13 Listeners

Emsolation by Em Rusciano

Emsolation

6 Listeners