Enabling Smarter Communities

Many smart cities programs are delivered in densely populated areas. The Territory's challenge is to harness smart solutions that are affordable and suit our unique environment and demography.

'Smart city' initiatives in urban environments in Australia are mostly targeted at addressing challenges like traffic congestion, city management costs and timely service delivery.

But the technology can also be applied to the Territory context.

Harnessing smart city technology like renewable energy, connected sensors for automating lighting and updating transport data on-the-go, driverless vehicles and data analytics will provide new opportunities for Territory industries to drive efficiencies and sustainability, introduce new innovation opportunities and make our communities safer.

Intelligent technologies have, and will continue to, transform the way we live and connect. Our lifestyle is continually influenced by digital advances and the minimum standards that we come to expect, such as being able to access the internet at all times, continue to grow.

The IoT (Internet of Things) is revolutionising our expectations of services and 'finger-tip' ready information that is fast, connected and reliable; people now want connected vehicles, connected home devices and AI-powered intuitive devices.

Data analytics underpins the growth of the IoT through data generated from many sources, including IoT devices, coupled with sophisticated algorithms to tailor services for individuals (such as knowing preferences for food, car travel and TV channels), establish trends and sell products.

Through the clever use of digital technology in a Territory context, many of our city services can be streamlined and remodelled for the benefit of Territorians. Some examples of the smart things that can be introduced include motion sensor street lighting, smart car parking, automated buses and high definition CCTV for improved safety.

Smart cities technology will help the Territory to overcome the challenges of our dispersed population and assist the key agriculture, mining, and tourism sectors. It will also benefit sporting, social or community activities, such as guiding traffic flow for major events, and redirecting lighting or extra buses.

Adapting this technology to our towns and regional communities will require ingenuity and persistence. There will be a need to effectively leverage ideas established elsewhere and to seek low-cost solutions that can be modified to suit smaller communities.

We will achieve this by...

Applying advanced data analytics and smart technologies to help communities, towns and cities become more responsive to residents' needs.

Leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT), including sensors and intuitive devices, to make our communities smarter, safer and more ecologically sustainable.

Developing intelligent, eco-friendly and efficient public and personal transport options.

Adapting digital innovation and automation technology to enhance Territorians' lifestyles in our unique environment.

Key Focus Areas

Encourage use

Encourage greater application of digital technology at the community level.

Make it easier

Make use of modern sensor systems and data analytics to better integrate activity and make it easier for people to live, work and move about in the community.

Leverage digital innovation

Leverage digital innovation to progress contemporary and ecofriendly transport options.

Improve sustainability

Improve community sustainability through digital advancements that encourage less energy and water use.

Action Plan

The strategy action plan outlines key projects and digital directions for the Northern Territory

Enabling Smarter Communities

Achieved Phase

Real time price petrol information through MyFuelNT

Enabling Smarter Communities

Achieved Phase

World first solar facility in the Alice

Enabling Smarter Communities

Achieved Phase

Digitising land use maps across the NT

Enabling Smarter Communities

Achieved Phase

Leading renewable energy projects advancing local knowledge

Enabling Smarter Communities

Achieved Phase

Improved public safety through CCTV

What you said:

The Internet of Things (IoT) connects infrastructures to make emergency systems more efficient, or reduce service response times across devices, cloud, analytics, and backend systems.

Microsoft

Speed and sophistication of digitisation is on the rise (e.g. machine learning and Internet of Things.)

Charles Darwin University

Digital Territory Strategy