Digital Territory Strategy

Initiative

Install smart street lighting to improve community safety and reduce energy consumption in Darwin as part of Switching on Darwin project.

Overview

The City of Darwin, through the Switching On Darwin project, will establish smart street lights in the Darwin CBD. This includes replacing existing road lighting and equipment, and providing additional lighting and ancillary equipment, such as smart control nodes, base stations and gateways.

The street lights will turn on, adjust brightness levels and turn off when required, based on rules that can be set up and changed to suit needs identified by city planners and NT Police.

Benefits

This initiative will make the city precinct safer, reduce council's power consumption and introduce dynamic lighting within the boundaries of the city.

This will confirm and recognise Darwin as a modern and digitally capable capital city.

2019 progress update

The City of Darwin has installed 910 smart street lights to enhance community safety, reduce energy consumption and provide dynamic lighting to the boundaries of CBD.

Testing and commissioning of the integration of street and park lighting has commenced and is due for completion in December 2019.

Initiative

Plan to increase the number of high definition CCTV devices to increase public safety.

Overview

CCTV is used extensively in many cities as an effective deterrent to criminal or anti-social behaviour and enables prompt policing action.

The NT Government will roll out a further 26 CCTV cameras costing $1.4 million in Nightcliff, Palmerston and Tennant Creek. The cameras are fitted with speakers to deliver audio messages and warnings where needed.

Local government bodies, including the City of Darwin as part of the Switching on Darwin project, are looking to proactively strengthen and supplement the existing security network capacity by establishing CCTV devices in their local areas.

Benefits

CCTV is well known to provide a deterrent to crime and can assist to capture reliable evidence for some crimes.

The opportunity to expand the number of CCTV cameras and therefore the areas covered by this technology will benefit businesses, the community and government.

This positive and collaborative approach between governments will deliver better community outcomes.

2019 progress update

There has been 26 high definition CCTV installed at the Nightcliff Shopping Village, Paterson Street Tennant Creek and the Bakewell shopping centre in Palmerston. A further 138 high definition CCTV cameras have also been installed in the Darwin CBD by the City of Darwin in consultation with NT Police.

Initiative

Use facial recognition services to improve licensing for drivers including avoiding issue of duplicate drivers licences.

Overview

Investigate the use of the national facial recognition database to strengthen existing name-based checking processes for the issue of an NT drivers licence; ensuring applicants don't have an existing licence under a different name.

Benefits

Facial recognition technology will help to reduce the risks of people obtaining multiple drivers licences under different names.

Initiative

Enhance the Bushfire Emergency Management System to streamline operations and improve the effectiveness of volunteer fire fighters.

Overview

A roadmap is in development for further improvements to the Bushfire Emergency Management System (BEMS) following recent enhancements that digitised and streamlined key Bushfires NT operational processes.

Mobile connectivity is providing volunteer firefighters with real-time information in the field about weather conditions, crew locations, fire status, permit burns and messages from Bushfires NT using tablet devices.

Benefits

The system enhancements will lead to improved safety, response times and efficiency when fighting fires, conducting planned burns and providing permits to burn.

Initiative

Host a digital healthcare 'Think Tank' to address systemic challenges in the sector through the effective application of digital technology.

Overview

This initiative will look to establishing a digital healthcare 'Think Tank' that combines the resources of the Non-Government Organisation's (NGO) partners and stakeholders to address systematic healthcare service delivery challenges through the effective use of digital technology.

Benefits

More effective use of digital technologies can improve the efficiency of healthcare services and ensure rising demands for services can be met with available resources.

Initiative

Prepare to install a modern ambient sound system in the Darwin CBD through the Smart Cities initiative.

Overview

The City of Darwin is looking to install a central sound system in the Smith Street Mall to introduce new wi-fi based audio capabilities that will support performances and events.

The City of Darwin will be actively applying digital technology to deliver a number of community improvement initiatives.

Benefits

The sound system will be available to provide support for community events without requiring separate and costly audio installations for each event.

The use of music and sounds will improve city ambience and reduce loiterers.

2019 progress update

A modern ambient sound system has been installed in the Mall and it is planned to extend the system to other areas such as Bicentennial Park in 2020.

Initiative

Real time petrol price information available to Territorians through the MyFuelNT solution.

Overview

The MyFuelNT solution, launched in November 2017 provides real-time fuel price information to help improve competition in the retail fuel market across the NT.

All NT fuel retailers provide their current fuel prices to MyFuelNT via a simple online portal which uses an application programming interface for retailers.

MyFuelNT aligns with the ACCC's recommendations regarding fuel pricing in the NT.

Benefits

Consumers have the ability to easily make more informed fuel purchase decisions and reduce costs.

New digital business opportunities can be created as the fuel price data is open for innovators to develop new or linked apps.

Initiative

West Arnhem Land virtual reality experience.

Overview

Use virtual reality technologies to showcase the history, culture and the landscapes of West Arnhem Land, which tell the stories of local Indigenous people and provide viewers with 360 degree immersive experiences.

Benefits

The virtual reality experiences, soundtrack albums and related materials have the potential to reach global audiences and boost tourism in the region. Revenue will be generated for participants through pay-per-view sales, advertising and fee-based performances.

Secondary students from the region are participating in the design, filming and production of the resources through education programs. These count as integrated learning subjects within the NT Certificate of Education and Training or as part of the 'Big Business' learning unit within 'Employment Pathways'.

Initiative

Increase the number of electric vehicles in the NT Government fleet and install dedicated charging stations in some buildings.

Overview

As more models become available, and the capital costs decline, it is planned to increase the number of electric and hybrid vehicles in the NT Government fleet.

Dedicated charging stations will be provided at government offices to support electric and hybrid vehicles, commencing with installations at the Charles Darwin Centre and Manunda Place.

Benefits

Increasing the use of electric and hybrid vehicles will enable an assessment of their effectiveness in a range of vehicle use scenarios and a comparison of their whole of life costs compared to conventionally fuelled vehicles.

Initiative

Leading renewable energy research and development projects are advancing local knowledge.

Overview

A range of Territory renewable energy research and development projects have been progressed to build local knowledge and explore opportunities, including:

• cost-effective maintenance of remote hybrid mini-grid systems (Charles Darwin University)
• modelling future solar energy production from households and businesses in the greater Darwin area (Charles Darwin University)
• creating an investment grade renewable resource database to facilitate scaling of renewables in the NT (CfAT)
• researching bioenergy for PV hybrid electricity generation (Charles Darwin University).

Benefits

The projects represent significant research into effective ways to share data and use eco-friendly digital technologies to support innovation that can lead to commercial opportunities for local business.

The research effectively uses digital technology in capturing and analysing data which will assist in finding ways to develop sustainable energy solutions for the NT. There is potential to gain long term environmental and economic benefits from the research outcomes.

Initiative

Improved public safety through network of high definition CCTV devices.

Overview

The NT Government has established an extensive CCTV network of 295 fixed and 20 mobile cameras across urban locations including Darwin, Parap and Casuarina over recent years.

The cameras are fitted with speakers to deliver audio messages and warnings where needed.

Benefits

CCTV is well known to provide a deterrent to crime and can assist to capture reliable evidence for some crimes.

The network of CCTV cameras provides safety benefits for the community and local businesses.

Initiative

Desert Knowledge Australian Solar testing facility.

Overview

In a world-first, a solar demonstration facility in Alice Springs is providing valuable open data to users across the world in real time.

The Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre tests the performance of solar technologies using 39 solar arrays supplemented with an interactive online map. This provides test data in digital format for over 5,000 users.

Benefits

This testing facility delivers valuable research data to inform the development of renewable energy supply and highlights the interactions between digital and solar technologies.

Initiative

Investigate the opportunities for use of drones and 3D scanning technologies to perform condition inspections of public housing.

Overview

Investigate the opportunities to use drones and 3D scanning technologies to perform external and internal condition inspections of public housing.

Drones can provide a fast, accurate and safe way to capture external images of public housing, particularly roofs.

3D scanners can be used to capture detailed images of internal spaces in public housing.

Benefits

These contemporary technologies offer the potential to reduce the time and cost for house condition inspections and provide more accurate data to manage maintenance and repair programs.

Initiative

Respond to the Australian Government's requirements for developing nationally consistent regulatory measures that enable safe experimentation and take-up of autonomous vehicles.

Overview

The NT Government successfully trialled an autonomous vehicle in 2017 with a driverless bus taking passengers to and from the Darwin Waterfront. Information gathered from autonomous vehicle trials is being used to inform planning and regulation change.

Governments across Australia are working together to ensure safe and legal operation of autonomous vehicles can occur when the technology becomes more readily available

Benefits

When autonomous vehicles move from trials to the streets, governments need to be assured that the vehicles are safe, that roads and regulations are ready, and that the vehicles will meet community needs.

The NT Government's work in this national program will help ensure automated vehicles can be legally and safely used when they are available for purchase in the Territory.

2019 progress update

The NT is continuing to contribute to the development of automated vehicle policy and regulatory reform via Austroads and the National Transport Commission, at the direction of the Transport and Infrastructure Council.

Initiative

Applying artificial intelligence for flora and fauna research using image recognition technology.

Overview

A proof of concept is underway using a Microsoft Cognitive Services computer vision system to analyse pictures from camera traps to identify target species for review by scientists.

Previously scientists had to manually review all images from camera traps, including many triggered by the wind or unwanted species.

The next stage in the project is refining and training the system to recognise the taxonomy of the animals captured in the images.

Opportunities are also being examined to use Cognitive Services to analyse drone footage recorded by CSIRO scientists in Kakadu National Park to detect Salvinia, an introduced weed that infests water bodies.

Benefits

The use of these advanced digital technologies will allow scientists to collect and analyse higher volumes of environmental data for research and development of more effective environmental management policies.

Initiative

Investigate education programs that use digital technology to monitor and reduce consumption of natural resources to minimise impact on the environment and provide for sustainable services into the future.

Overview

Long term sustainability for the Territory requires better use of available natural resources.

Water consumption in the NT is higher than the national average and needs to be managed at sustainable levels.

There are opportunities to reduce usage through smart meters in remote communities and other digital technology applications.

Benefits

Advances in digital technology offer opportunities to find ways to improve public education and lead to sustainable power and water resource use.

An informed public that has the right knowledge and digital tools will be well positioned to take personal action.

2019 progress update

Living Water Smart program continues to deliver water savings initiatives through digital platforms such as the Living Water Smart Portal and education sessions held across schools in Darwin.

Further to this, a digital leak detection survey is performed when customers register to enter the program, the same survey has been used when interacting with schools for them to better manage water consumption , but also ensures that students are aware of their impact they have on Darwin's water supply.

Initiative

Progress planning and design of a digital communications network in the Darwin CBD.

Overview

A high capacity city-wide digital communications network will facilitate new digital developments and enhance smart city technology initiatives that form the Switching on Darwin project. This network will also support CCTV, red light cameras, facial recognition technology and extended wi-fi coverage.

Benefits

The digital communications network will ensure the Switching on Darwin project is scalable and can evolve as city needs change.

Establishing a high capacity network will also allow new digital opportunities to be identified, such as enabling connectivity to CBD businesses.

It will position the Territory as an attractive, secure and scalable location for corporations to locate their offices with direct connectivity into south-east Asia.

2019 progress update

The City of Darwin has deployed a multi-tiered communications network allowing the council to plug in multiple smart technologies to meet the emerging needs of the council and the community.

The network provides:

• high bandwidth connections for High Definition CCTV devices and Wi-Fi access points
• medium bandwidth connections for public lighting controls, sensors and audio speaker systems for broadcasting ambient music and
• low bandwidth connections for smart parking monitors and the capture, transmission and analysis of an array of data points.

Initiative

Expand the use of drones for surveillance of bushfires, rangeland and biodiversity monitoring.

Overview

Examine the potential to expand the use of commercial drones to provide effective and safe surveillance of bushfires as well as exploring their enhanced use in our Rangelands and Biodiversity divisions.

Benefits

The expanded use of drones for bushfire surveillance, rangeland and biodiversity monitoring would provide a safer, cheaper and more responsive alternative to helicopters currently used for this purpose.

Initiative

Develop a Remote Areas Issues and Engagement System (RAISE) to capture and respond to remote community issues and questions.

Overview

The RAISE system will enable more effective and timely responses to issues and requests relating to remote communities by providing a common point to capture, assess, assign and resolve these matters.

Benefits

A more co-ordinated approach across government to resolving requests and issues raised by communities.

Initiative

Examine the best way to publish information and reports for the community on onshore gas exploration activities.

Overview

Examine the best way to publish information and reports for the community on onshore gas exploration activities and the business systems required to support the process.

Benefits

Providing information on onshore gas exploration activities will reassure the community that the industry is operating in a well regulated and transparent manner.

Initiative

Designing a smart city platform for Darwin City.

Overview

The platform will provide the foundation for integration of the City of Darwin's digital program.

The City of Darwin is planning to create a smart city platform incorporating smart controllers, data analytics and sensors for video, sound, climate and environmental conditions.

Benefits

This initiative will provide the foundation infrastructure to enable essential council services to be automated within a few years. The initiative links to a range of digital actions identified by the City of Darwin in the Switching on Darwin project and is jointly funded by the Federal and Territory governments and the City of Darwin.

Coordination and design work across the City of Darwin's digital initiatives is planned over 2018-19.

2019 progress update

A Smart City IT platform has been implemented to host and channel data from numerous rain, sound and environmental sensors into a single point for management and analysis. Testing and commissioning of data sources and integration into the smart city platform has commenced and is due for completion in December 2019.

Initiative

Getting ready for electric cars.

Overview

Electric vehicles are no longer cars of the future and are becoming more common in cities around the world.

Government will have a role to play in supporting the deployment of electric vehicles, recharging solutions and where appropriate using electric vehicles in its vehicle and public transport fleet.

Further research is needed to understand how electric vehicles will respond to the challenges of long distance, a harsh climate and low population densities that characterise much of the Territory.

Benefits

Electric vehicles offer lower operating and maintenance costs, less noise, reduced CO2 emissions and air quality improvements.

2019 progress update

An Electric Vehicles (EV) options paper and a research paper have been completed by the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Logistics in consultation with NT Government agencies. An EV discussion paper is being prepared for community consultation to inform development of an EV Strategy and Implementation Plan.

Initiative

Prepare to trial smart parking in Darwin using digital technology to advise travellers of available parking and provide electronic payment options.

Overview

Following the trial of smart parking infrastructure in high volume parking areas in the Darwin CBD, the City of Darwin will plan to expand this digital service within targeted areas of the CBD.

A smarter parking app, using a combination of sensors and linked video camera technology, is planned. This will update the existing app to let people digitally pay for city parking.

Benefits

The smarter parking app will improve driver experience when finding and paying for parking in the CBD.

Smart parking will deploy digital technology to help drivers navigate to available parking spaces that meet their needs and to pay digitally. This innovation will make parking more convenient and less hassle.

2019 progress update

Parking vacancy sensors and other car parking management technologies have been installed within the boundaries of the City of Darwin CBD. Testing and commissioning of the sensors and integration into the smart city platform is in progress and scheduled for completion in December 2019.

Initiative

Complete the design and implementation plan for increasing the availability of wi-fi in high traffic areas of Darwin city.

Overview

This City of Darwin initiative will make it easier for visitors and locals to access the internet while moving around the city.

It will also provide new digital opportunities such as tourism way-finding and local business advertising.

Benefits

Improving wi-fi availability will align Darwin with the mobile communications services that are available in other modern capital cities.

This will enhance visitor experiences and provide a valuable service for visitors, locals and businesses.

2019 progress update

Over 40 Wi-Fi access points have been installed, extending the coverage of the network along the full length of The Esplanade, as well as from Harry Chan Avenue through to the Knuckey Street end of the Mall.

Initiative

Deploy a self-service portal for exiting electricity customers to complete everyday transactions online.

Overview

A customer self-service portal is being deployed by Jacana Energy allowing existing customers to complete everyday transactions online including setting up payment plans, viewing and paying bills and requesting account finalisation.

Benefits

The portal will provide customers with more convenient options to manage their electricity services.

Initiative

Digitising land use maps across the Northern Territory.

Overview

Dynamic digital land use maps covering the Northern Territory's 1.35 million square kilometres will help the agricultural sector make informed decisions about what crops to grow, where to grow them, and the availability of water.

Benefits

The NT Government and the NT Farmers' Association collaborated to collect the field data to build the digital maps. Information that details the extent of agricultural and horticultural crops across the NT was gathered from 2,847 sites.

The maps also provide critical information for biosecurity risk management and emergency disease preparedness.

Initiative

Work to improve the coordination of government services by enabling secure sharing of key digital data between NT Government agencies.

Overview

Data sharing describes a variety of ways of re-using data collected by government agencies in order to greatly increase its value and generate benefits to business and the community.

But for these benefits to be realised, Territorians must have confidence that their privacy and security remains paramount when public sector data is being accessed or shared.

The legislative and policy framework for sharing data between NT Government agencies is being developed to provide the structures to ensure the data is used appropriately, is stored in a secure environment and its access is restricted to authorised staff and no personal information is disclosed.

The NT data sharing framework will align with the Australian Data and Digital Council project to unify strategies across jurisdictions to build trust with the public when developing new data sharing projects.

Benefits

Data sharing provides opportunities for improving government services through better coordination of services across agencies, providing the evidence for new policy and reducing the demand on citizens and businesses to provide the same information each time they interact with a different government agency.

For example, it would enable the development of service where an individual could change their address in a single transaction and have this communicated to all relevant government agencies.