Today Standards Australia released “Smart Cities: An Essential Enabler for Australia’s Future”. This paper explores the role of smart technologies and data in addressing critical challenges at the city level, including the energy transition to renewables, security of critical systems and emerging technologies, affordable housing supply, and the delivery of inclusive community services.

The paper highlights the need for a harmonised approach built on effective leadership, policy, innovation, and technology. It also emphasises the importance of acknowledging the deep interconnectedness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring that there are no negative trade-offs associated with achieving these goals.

Some possible benefits of adopting standards that support Smart Cities include:

• Smart Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities - Standards help to promote sustainable smart infrastructure, with Standards Australia and ISO urging government regulations to align with ISO London Declaration on sustainability.
• Developing a Circular Economy – Circular economy standards can provide guidance on waste reduction solutions that could boost the economy and improve sustainability measures.  
• Secure, resilient digital cities - Benchmarking and adhering to standards - IoT, information security, privacy protection- to mitigate cybersecurity incidents.
• Supporting regional areas - Smart and resilient tech practices, supported by standards, can provide cost-effective solutions to mitigate against natural disasters and other challenges in regional areas.  
• Caring for older Australians - Policymakers acknowledge the need to support and protect older people using digital services and smart devices. Clear, consent-based data collection controls, used alongside standards, are essential for enhanced protection.

These outcomes demonstrate the complexity of Smart Cities and the breadth of factors that influence them. The standards outlined in this paper seek to address these complexities by enhancing the liveability and security of our cities.  

Adam Stingemore, Chief Development Officer at Standards Australia, said:  

“Standards are the foundation for best practices, enabling policymakers and organisations to prepare for a net-zero future. The interoperability of systems and processes bolsters our capacity to invest in, transform, and leverage decarbonisation, creating spaces for resilient and thriving communities. To support this, we are exploring structural changes within Standards Australia’s Smart Cities committees to expedite standards development and provide a clear vision for our projects. By doing this, we hope to foster collaboration between industry stakeholders, the government, and Standards Australia, that can collectively drive progress in this space”.  

As Australian cities sprint towards a net-zero future, Standards Australia, government, and industry must unite to navigate this transition. Despite challenges, the potential for interoperability and transformative change is vast. Smart Cities could potentially work for everyone, driving positive outcomes for Australian citizens and communities.  

For more information on shaping the future of Smart Cities standards, email SEM@Standards.org.au

Click here to read the Smart Cities Position Paper.