Smart cities are likely to be better equipped to deal with COVID-19 health crises.
Dijon, with the OnDijon system,
Singapore, Zurich and Oslo, as well as cities with a high level of "smartness", stand out from cities that have not yet opted for digital transformation in their pandemic management.
It is essential for these cities to set up a connected, centralized control station to provide a powerful tool for managing urban facilities and services.
Successful example of COVID management in smart cities
OnDijon: facilitating the management of COVID-19
The COVID crisis occurred after the "OnDijon" remote control center for urban functions in the capital of Burgundy reached 100% functionality.
This provided a powerful tool for collecting urban data, to combat the spread of COVID on the one hand, and to better manage the effects of containment on the other.
Thanks to the 24-hour toll-free number set up for COVID-19, the 23 communes of the Dijon metropolitan area were able to take advantage of the availability of real-time data, and make decisions as quickly as possible.
OnDijon greatly facilitated crisis management, by facilitating cooperation between various entities and, above all, by sharing information.
In this way, elected representatives, whether or not they are present at the call center, can quickly decide what action needs to be taken, such as setting up an intervention team in the field to help people in difficulty.
The example of Singapore, the most advanced Smart City in COVID crisis management
Singapore, the smart city with the highest level of "smartness" in the world, is a model in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus.
This city-state is reaping the benefits of the Smart Nation plan launched by the government in 2014.
Indeed, technology and digital innovations have improved Singaporeans' quality of life.
As soon as the pandemic appeared, "Smart City" technology was used to manage the health crisis.
Applications have been developed to enable residents to stock up on masks, and real-time information gathering systems have made it possible to monitor citizens' state of health and track sick people, etc. The digital technology of smart cities, placed at the service of public health, has facilitated the fight against COVID-19.
Why should not-yet-connected cities opt for digital transformation?
As the virus responsible for COVID-19 continues to spread, elected officials in local authorities must quickly find an effective and more humane way of managing the fight against this pandemic. Hence the need for towns and cities that have not yet opted for digital management to change their urban equipment and services.
In "normal" times, the Centralized Connected Control Station (CCS) is a powerful device, enabling efficient management of the city's organization, in particular for the control and monitoring of public facilities and urban infrastructures such as transport and urban mobility, waste collection and management, and the safety of public roads and buildings. In times of crisis, it provides rapid access to relevant information, enabling decisions to be taken as quickly as possible.
It is a powerful tool for modernizing and improving the efficiency of public action, thanks to better coordination of actions to be taken, and anticipation of scenarios for improved responsiveness.
These capabilities are essential if we are to react more effectively in times of crisis.
How do smart cities go about implementing "Smart City" technology?
In France, there are 25 smart cities, 14 of which have fewer than 250,000 inhabitants.
The political decision to implement a smart city therefore depends not on the size of the city, but on the willingness of elected representatives to provide their fellow citizens with a functional, pleasant and safe urban environment.
There are almost as many ways to implement a smart city as there are smart cities themselves. That's why it's important to enlist the help of specialists in the design and implementation of city control rooms, such as SOA.
Having contributed to the implementation of OnDijon for the city of Dijon, SOA (Solutions Organisation et Agencement) is a reference in the creation of control and supervision rooms.
SOA's engineering and design department will support you in the realization of your projects, from design to commissioning.
Every detail is taken into account to provide you with an ergonomic working environment, for greater productivity and operator well-being.
SOA offers its customers (local authorities, manufacturers, companies) its expertise in the technological renovation of city command rooms, control rooms for industrial sites and supervision rooms.
