Urbis and NBN Co publish report on accelerating smart development in Australia

Led by Urbis and nbn, project participants included Delos Delta, Professor Christopher Pettit from UNSW’s City Futures Research Centre, the Australian Smart Communities Association (ASCA), the Planning Institute of Australia, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA), and the Property Council of Australia (PCA). 

Smart development refers to digital technology, such as Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, advanced data and analytics in community and city planning, design and development. The Accelerating Smarter Development report covers a broad spectrum of applications ranging from safety, transport, irrigation, lighting, signage, water meters and energy grids, to emergency management.

Almost half (45 per cent) of respondents said integrating smart technology into development projects at scale is rare, and that there’s opportunity for more effective collaboration between the private sector, government and other stakeholders.

Kamie Ang, General Manager Partnerships, New Developments at NBN Co, said: “While developers have the clear appetite for smart tech opportunities to help give their new construction an edge, often they don’t know where to start, what the return on their investment will look like or how to navigate the numerous stakeholder groups involved.

“That’s why nbn and Urbis developed Accelerating Smarter Development, to present at a glance, the key touchpoints a developer should consider before taking the leap to make their new development smart. The report clearly shows that strategic planning, stakeholder alignment, and early engagement are key to unlocking value.”

The report outlines recommendations for government stakeholders, industry bodies, technology providers, and private developers and features almost 20 examples of smart development case studies.

With Accelerating Smarter Development, nbn and Urbis seek to encourage industry-wide collaboration and a continued dialogue that will accelerate smarter development in more communities across Australia.