Introduction

Our planet is seeing widespread urbanization, with numerous individuals moving to urban areas every day. Infrastructure is under a lot of pressure to develop new dwelling spaces to meet the growing population. In order to meet this enormous demand, numerous real estate businesses have recognized the need of the hour and are developing townships, different residential societies, or massive condominiums that combine flats and apartments. Township refers to more than just a collection of structures; it also refers to how a community interacts with nature and the presence of contemporary amenities. 

We are all aware that innovation is necessary for society to stay up with both local and global developments. The pace and scope of change are on a new scale today as the world becomes more connected on a daily basis. The biggest housing opportunity in history is being driven by the “Internet of Things” which many refer to as “the next housing revolution.” Recognizing the benefits of this transformation and wanting to simplify life for the busy members of society, township owners have chosen to convert their structures into smart townships using cutting-edge concepts and cutting-edge technologies like IoT. In this blog, we’ll go into detail about the advantages of transforming conventional townships into smart townships and how to do it.

Smart Townships – Explained!

There are various definitions of what constitutes a “smart township,” claiming that a township is “one that makes optimal utilization of all the interconnected information available presently to better understand and govern its operations and optimize the use of limited resources. To put it briefly, a smart township employs an infrastructure of information and communication technology to develop, implement, and promote development methods to address urban challenges and build a coordinated, technologically enabled, and sustainable infrastructure.

To provide linked solutions for the general public, smart towns integrate a variety of software systems, user interfaces, and communication networks in addition to the Internet of Things.

The usage of edge computing by many IoT devices guarantees that only the most pertinent and significant data is provided through the communication network. A security system is also put in place to safeguard, keep track of, and regulate the data transmission from the smart city network and stop unauthorized access to the IoT network of the township’s data platform. Smart townships utilize a variety of technologies in addition to IoT solutions, such as Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing Services, Real-time dashboards that depict the operation insights, Machine Learning, Machine-to-Machine Communications Mesh Networks, and others. 

Key Features of Smart Townships

• Technology-enabled infrastructure: Smart townships rely on advanced technology to connect and optimize their infrastructure. This includes smart grids, intelligent transportation systems, and high-speed broadband networks.
• Sustainable and green design: Smart townships are designed to minimize their impact on the environment by incorporating sustainable features such as green roofs, rainwater harvesting, and renewable energy sources.
• Integrated transportation systems: Smart townships prioritize sustainable modes of transportation such as public transit and cycling. They also integrate transportation systems to make it easier for residents to get around.
• Connected communities: Smart townships prioritize connectivity, both within the community and to the outside world. This includes high-speed internet access, mobile apps, and social media platforms that enable residents to connect and engage with each other.
• Intelligent buildings: Smart townships incorporate building automation systems that optimize energy efficiency, lighting, and HVAC systems. This ensures that buildings are energy-efficient and comfortable for residents.
• Efficient resource management: Smart townships prioritize resource efficiency by managing water and waste in an intelligent way. This includes recycling programs, efficient water management systems, and smart waste collection.
• Smart governance: Smart townships incorporate digital tools and platforms to facilitate governance and public participation. This includes e-voting systems, online public consultations, and social media platforms that enable residents to engage with their local government.

Why is it Beneficial to Convert Townships into Smart Townships?

The phrases “integrated township,” “smart living,” and “smart township” frequently have an appealing vibe to them. Simply said, it helps you live a wise and sustainable life. There is a growing desire to live in integrated townships as more people move into urban regions. For a modern home buyer, this has changed from being a luxury to being a requirement. This is why: A modern answer to issues with traffic congestion, guest parking, and security and monitoring is the integrated township. All the conveniences for a high-quality lifestyle are in one location! 

Living in an integrated township can lessen your urban problems and daily suffering (traffic, parking, power, water). In general, a smart and integrated township offers features that are not present in conventional townships, such as a smart electric grid, weather station, water management system, air quality monitoring, gas pipeline, solid waste management, automated street lights, a city portal app, traffic and transportation management, power backup, and round-the-clock security. This is the primary motivator behind the society’s decision to transform their township into smart township.

In addition, smart towns have many advantages over traditional towns in terms of enhancing citizen safety, including networked surveillance systems, intelligent roads, and public safety monitoring. Implementing strategies like physical data vaults, robust authentication management, and ID solutions are used for managing the security of smart townships. The following is a breakdown of these fundamental security goals:

• Availability: Data must be readily accessible and in real-time in order to serve its purpose of monitoring the various components of the smart township infrastructure.

• Integrity: The information must be accurate in addition to being easily accessible. Additionally, this entails taking precautions against external tampering.

• Confidentiality: Sensitive information must be kept private and protected against unauthorized access. This could entail using firewalls or data anonymization.

• Accountability: System users must take responsibility for their behavior and interactions with systems that handle sensitive data. Users’ logs should keep track of who accesses the data to provide accountability in case there are any issues.

Transform your Township into a Smart Township

The traditional methods of building and designing township structures are changing as a result of the ongoing advancement of technology. The traditional township is currently giving way to the smart township, also known as the intelligent township. The number of connected devices and the amount of data they generate are two indicators of the growth of smart townships. Industry statistics predict that smart townships will expand by more than 30% over the next few years, particularly in the industrial sector. Installations and systems that enable integrated management of the township’s functionality, particularly energy conservation, define these townships. Let’s examine the technologies that make up the smart township in more detail before we begin the transformation process.

What new technologies turn townships into Smart townships? 

IoT hardware and sensors: The ability to connect the movable and immovable components of the township to one another through an enabling platform and collect data in real-time is made possible by the internet of things. 

Big Data: Every day, a smart township produces enormous volumes of data sets or combinations of data sets that are challenging to acquire, manage, process, or analyze using traditional technologies and tools due to their complexity or fluctuation in some areas. In order to “ingest” and process this data in a way that makes it usable and exploitable, cutting-edge techniques are employed.

Management framework: It is crucial to have a comprehensive building management platform where the status of all systems is displayed in order to enable automatic processing and management of all the data collected from the many elements and sensors in the township. These platforms enable the combining and processing of data from various sources, such as sensors, databases, or external information systems, both in the present and in the past.

Artificial intelligence: A township can evolve by increasing its efficiency based on the identification of trends in the data collected and the use of optimum algorithms thanks to artificial intelligence, which enables machines to learn from experience and adapt to changing settings.

How to Convert your Township into a Smart Township?

The six-step method shown below can assist facilities managers in modernizing the townships into smart townships:

Launch a research process: To guarantee well-thought-out digitization and integration activities, start by gathering a comprehensive understanding of the infrastructure management aspects that require digitization. These include installing CCTVs to collect video feeds, employing sensors to collect data from HVAC, lighting, and cooling systems, tracking asset utilization and maintenance concerns with ERP, and adopting ticketing systems.

Clearly state goals: Next, make sure that the COO, the facilities manager, and the IT lead are in agreement with the goals. Three key components must be highlighted in the goals: a clear implementation path, infrastructure management, and future upgrades for sustainable growth. Capital costs must be controlled by incorporating smart technology into existing building infrastructure.

Align IT and OT: The foundation of smart townships is the convergence of information technology and operational technology (IT/OT) systems, such as the seamless integration of BMS, lighting, access, security, and other systems. An ideal smart township solution integrates systems in charge of facility management using a centralized, automated, intelligent platform, allowing facility managers to make decisions based on data.

Incorporate Cognitive Abilities: Adding certain cognitive capabilities to the typical township will give it an advantage over it and increase its efficiency. Cognitive abilities such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and natural language processing can be used to analyze the data collected from sensors and IoT devices. This analysis can provide insights to optimize various aspects of the township such as traffic management, energy consumption, and waste management.

Collaborate with the right vendor: Successful implementation of intelligent township technology requires real-time data production, analytics, end-to-end project management, and operational excellence. So, while choosing a vendor, it’s crucial to ask the correct questions. Does the vendor offer the ideal combination of technology integration and analytics skills? Can the vendor effectively combine a number of current technologies and offer a single, all-inclusive platform interface to handle the smart building’s various aspects? More significantly, can the vendor integrate the various system licenses and access restrictions with current suppliers and vendors? Last but not least, can the vendor expand the new technology without interfering with regular facility management operations? It is crucial to choose a provider who can integrate not only current systems but also guarantee ongoing infrastructure optimization.

Stakeholder involvement: Stakeholder buy-in and involvement are essential for the successful conversion of conventional structures into smart ones. For effective infrastructure management, building tenants, owners, users, and vendors must all agree on the desired results and best practices. By enabling connectivity and integration across user interfaces, including mobile applications, an effective smart building system provides an enhanced end-user experience.

Integrating smart technology in retrofitted townships can greatly improve efficiency and sustainability while generating a speedy return on investment. An IoT-based platform can be a potent instrument in the hands of facility managers, enabling them to improve the usage of their facilities in a sustainable way as organizations and infrastructure management companies alike increasingly prioritize smart buildings.