Siemens has launched a new web-based application which reveals the readiness and potential of six major cities – Dubai, Los Angeles, London, Buenos Aires, Taipei and Johannesburg – to embrace digitalisation and develop new ways of living, working and interacting
Data from 21 indicators were analysed to produce a digital readiness score, considering areas such as smart electricity and transport systems, internet connections and digital governance services. The score reveals the current level of maturity of each city’s digital infrastructure and its preparedness for a connected future.
The Atlas of Digitalisation focuses on three interconnected themes - mobility, sustainability and opportunity – and assesses how the fourth industrial revolution has already augmented urban life around the world, and the potential impact it could have in the future.
With the integration of data gathered and analysed by the Internet of Things, a city’s underlying infrastructure can be monitored, managed and improved; a transformation referred to as City 4.0.
Johannesburg’s low digitalisation readiness score of two by 10 indicates that there is room for improvement, even though programmes like smart metering are already in place. The digitalisation potential score of six by 10 reveals that digitalisation within mobility and sustainability could have a significant impact on Johannesburg.
The city is investing heavily to increase overall public transport capacity and has begun the process of including renewables in the energy mix, this could impact the environment and jobs positively.
Sabine Dall’Omo, Siemens CEO for southern and eastern Africa, said, “Each city must address its own unique mix of challenges and opportunities by combining the physical and digital worlds; we believe embracing digitalisation is the key to sustainable, liveable future cities.”
“The Atlas of Digitalisation gives us an all-important understanding of the current status of digitalisation in key cities, and we hope it will inspire new ways of thinking to realise the full global potential of City 4.0. With intelligently applied technology and data analytics, we aim to shape the smart cities of tomorrow,” she added.
“Although our progress is lagging compared to our European counterparts, for example, we’re still making great strides towards becoming a digitally inclined city,” she stated.
