In South Carolina’s Richland County, where about 67,000 of the 440,000 residents — nearly half of them children — receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, local food bank representatives have told Columbia Mayor Dan Rickenmann they won’t be able to absorb heightened demand following cuts to SNAP made in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. If the city has to step in and help, “we’d have to reevaluate where we’re spending money,” potentially taking funds away from initiatives like transitional and supportive housing for the local homeless population, Rickenmann told Smart Cities Dive. Rickenmann saw firsthand last fall how the pause in SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown affected residents. “This past November opened up a lot of people’s eyes,” he said. “Where they worshipped, where they worked, they saw people talking about” the personal impact of SNAP funding cuts. Rickenmann is among a bipartisan group of 210 U.S. mayors who sent a letter urging senators to “protect and strengthen” SNAP as the U.S. Senate considers an update to the Farm Bill, which authorizes appropriations for the program. He’s one of more than 100 mayors from states that voted Republican in the 2024 presidential election to sign the letter. “This is not a partisan issue,” he said. The July 20 letter from the U.S. Conference of Mayors cites U.S. Department of Agriculture data that more than 4 million people across the U.S. have lost SNAP benefits since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was enacted in July 2025. It calls for senators to reverse the SNAP cuts in the bill and delay its requirement that states pay 25% more in SNAP program administrative costs starting in October, noting that this will “impose unsustainable fiscal burdens on states and localities.” In response to the bill’s requirement that each state
Jul 31, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
London tops BCG ranking as Dubai stands out for AI adoption and smart city innovation Dubai: Dubai has been ranked the world's second most intelligent city in a new global study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), placing ahead of New York City, Washington and Amsterdam in the consultancy's inaugural Intelligent Cities Index. Only London ranked higher than Dubai in the assessment, which evaluated how 61 of the world's biggest cities use AI, digital technology and governance to improve life for residents and businesses. The study assessed cities across five areas — outcomes, strategy, adoption, ways of working and enablers — before grouping them into four maturity levels: leading, accelerating, emerging and developing. According to the report, Dubai was among only five cities to achieve the highest "leading" maturity level overall, while Abu Dhabi ranked 20th globally, placing it in the "accelerating" maturity cohort. Abu Dhabi also ranked among the world's top 10 for intelligent city enablers, reflecting the strength of its technology, infrastructure, funding, ecosystem and talent foundations. Having two UAE cities ranked among the world's top 20 in BCG's first Intelligent Cities Index shows the progress the country has made in putting AI into everyday urban life," said Dr Akram Awad, Managing Director and Partner and Global Lead for Smart Cities at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). He said the report highlights strong adoption of smart city applications, AI platforms and digital government services, supported by high levels of resident optimism. "That combination gives cities a strong foundation to continue improving how people live, work and interact with public services." The top five cities in the index are: London Dubai New York City Washington Amsterdam According to the consulting major, each of these cities demonstrates leading maturity across at least two of the five assessment domains, although none dominates every
Jul 31, 2026 · via gulfnews.com
Almaty has ranked 38th among 61 cities in the inaugural Intelligent Cities Index, a respectable result that also reveals the distance between Kazakhstan’s digital ambitions and the world’s leading urban centers. The index, compiled by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), assesses how cities use artificial intelligence and digital technology to improve services and outcomes for residents. Almaty scored 62 out of 100, placing it in BCG’s “emerging” category. What Almaty’s Ranking Reveals This score placed Almaty 38th among 61 major cities worldwide, ranking above cities including Milan, Melbourne, and Istanbul. However, it remained five points below the lowest-ranked city in BCG’s higher “accelerating” category and 23 points behind London, which headed the index with 85 points. Almaty performed reasonably well on strategy, adoption, and digital infrastructure, but its weakest score was for “ways of working,” which covers institutional readiness, governance, and project implementation. BCG found that leading cities combined technology with clear accountability, reliable funding, and measurable improvements for residents. The publication of these rankings has coincided with Kazakhstan’s adoption of a national methodology for Smart Cities and Smart Regions, approved by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. The framework, which took effect on July 12, sets common requirements and deadlines for the country’s cities. The question is whether it will improve urban life or encourage local authorities to accumulate equipment and platforms in pursuit of higher scores. Tackling Everyday Urban Problems The clearest examples in Almaty concern public transport, which residents will be able to judge through their daily journeys. Buses already carry GPS trackers and video cameras, while fares can be paid through the ONAY electronic payment system. The city plans to add payment by bank card, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay. Electronic information displays are due to be installed at 1,188 bus stops during 2026–27. Officials
Jul 31, 2026 · via timesca.com
With the constant developments taking place in the lighting industry, the use of LED light engines has emerged as an integral part of today's lighting systems. They offer high energy efficiency, increased lifespan and more flexible design compared to other lighting methods. The use of LED light engines for various purposes such as residential, commercial, industrial, automotive and outdoor has been leading to revolutionary changes in the global lighting industry due to the emphasis placed on building sustainable infrastructure and conserving energy. In contrast to conventional lighting methods, LED lighting systems have small size, improved luminous performance, reduced energy usage, and can be used for such sophisticated applications as dimming, sensor capability, color rendering, and intelligent energy management. Energy-efficient lighting and green construction government programs along with the emergence of smart cities contribute to increased adoption of LED lights on an international scale. The Energy Star program by the U.S. Department of Energy, LED green building guidelines, Chinese Green Lighting Program and the creation of smart cities in Japan and South Korea all create strong demand for advanced LED lighting systems. As per SNS Insider, the value of the U.S. LED Light Engine Market in 2025 stood at approximately USD 17.08 Billion and is forecasted to reach approximately USD 60.95 Billion by 2035 at a CAGR of approximately 13.55%. The value of the Global LED Light Engine Market stood at USD 59.44 Billion in 2025 and is forecasted to increase to USD 214.5 Billion by 2035 at a CAGR of 13.69% between 2026 and 2035. The rising investment in smart lighting infrastructure, rising adoption of efficient lighting systems, increased application of automotive LEDs, and rising need for connected lighting systems remain some of the major drivers of the market. Gain Actionable Intelligence on the LED Light Engine Market - Request
Jul 31, 2026 · via snsinsider.com
bp Veteran Fuzzy Bitar Becomes CEO of the Energy Institute Fawaz ‘Fuzzy’ Bitar is trading bp’s boardroom for the Energy Institute’s top job. He first joined bp in the 1980s, working as an engineer in the North Sea. In the intervening years, his career has taken him from the jungles of Colombia to the deserts of the Middle East, and across Azerbaijan and Indonesia too. “It has been an adventure, a responsibility and, above all, a privilege,” he wrote on LinkedIn, announcing his departure. A career of milestones Fuzzy served as Offshore Installation Manager on bp’s first production facility in the Caspian Sea. He later acted as Project Director for the Tangguh LNG development. Following the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, he led bp’s Global Operations Organization, steering the company through what he calls one of the defining moments for the industry. “These experiences tested us both professionally and personally,” he reflects. “They demanded resilience, humility, courage, and teamwork. They also taught me lessons that I will carry for the rest of my life.” Most recently he served as Senior Vice President for Health, Safety, Environment & Carbon, a position he describes as deeply meaningful. “Above all, I am proud of the culture of safety and care we have built for one another,” he explains. A new chapter Fuzzy is retiring from bp at the end of this year after nearly four decades with the company. “For so long, bp has not simply been where I worked, it has been part of who I am,” he says. He will take up the role of CEO at the Energy Institute on 1 January 2027. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a former Chair of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers. “Whatever
Jul 31, 2026 · via energydigital.com
According to the plan, the orientation is to build Ho Chi Minh City into a smart, sustainably developed city based on a green growth model, data-driven urban governance, and digital technology , contributing to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management; improving the quality of urban services; enhancing the quality of life for citizens and the city's competitiveness. By 2030, Ho Chi Minh City aims to be among the top 50 smart cities in the world. The city places citizens at the center, ensuring that all urban services are provided transparently, conveniently, safely, and promoting community participation. By 2035, the city aims to become one of the three national-level smart city operations centers, playing a key role in coordinating data, technology, and innovation nationwide. By 2045, the city will achieve the highest level of smart city maturity according to the National Sustainable Smart City Criteria, becoming one of the leading smart cities and a center for science and technology development and innovation in the Asia-Pacific region. The project is being implemented throughout Ho Chi Minh City, including: State agencies, political and social organizations, public service units in the city; organizations, businesses and citizens participating in, exploiting and benefiting from smart city services. The Smart City Development Project is implemented according to nine principles: Adherence to the law and unified management; putting citizens and businesses at the center; using data as the foundation; interconnectedness, integration, and shared use; ensuring information security and protecting privacy; ensuring the role and responsibility of the heads of agencies and units; ensuring safety and controlled implementation; implementing according to a roadmap and in line with available resources; and being open, flexible, and avoiding technological lockdowns. To realize the objectives of the Project, Ho Chi Minh City will review and improve the city's system of guiding
Jul 31, 2026 · via vietnam.vn
CityUHK College of Computing Secures HK$55.69 Million RGC Funding for Flagship AI Project on Urban Emergency Response and Rescue 31 Jul 2026 Led by Prof. Wang Jianping, Dean of the College of Computing, the project titled “SynapseCity: AI-driven Urban Emergency Response and Rescue” has secured HK$55.69 million under the latest Research Grants Council Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS). The flagship AI project aims to build SynapseCity, the world’s first privacy-preserving, cross-departmental emergency coordination platform designed to enhance urban public safety and emergency management. The project demonstrates the College’s growing research leadership in artificial intelligence, smart cities, multi-agent systems, data-driven decision-making, and urban resilience. By leveraging advanced multi-agent systems, SynapseCity seeks to break down data silos across departments and organizations, enabling real-time analysis, knowledge sharing, and decision support during extreme weather events and other urban emergencies. The platform is expected to provide timely and intelligent coordination support for complex emergency scenarios, where rapid information exchange and cross-sector collaboration are critical. The project has received strong support from more than 20 government, industry, and academic institutions locally and internationally, including the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Observatory, Towngas, China Taiping Insurance, and the University of Cambridge. This broad-based collaboration underscores the real-world significance of the project and its potential impact on public safety, emergency response, and smart city development in Hong Kong and beyond. "Looking ahead to smart city development, urban public safety faces increasingly complex and dynamic challenges,” said Prof. Wang. “Traditional, fragmented emergency networks can no longer meet the demands for real-time cross-departmental collaboration. CityUHK has a strong research foundation and interdisciplinary advantages in AI, smart cities, structural and infrastructure safety and lifecycle maintenance, as well as disaster- and climate-resilient cities. Through this project, our team will drive interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration, providing
Jul 31, 2026 · via cityu.edu.hk
AI boomtowns worsen divide in China’s split-screen economy In Hefei, the heart of China’s memory-chip industry, factories can barely keep up with the world’s appetite for AI hardware. In Changchun, the rust-belt home of gasoline-powered carmaking, officials admitted to “unprecedented” difficulties — a phrase later removed after drawing social media attention. The two cities capture the split-screen economy emerging from the global AI boom. A handful of tech hubs delivered their biggest share of China’s growth in at least two decades in the first half, according to Nomura Holdings Inc., while the rest of the country slowed to the bottom edge of Beijing’s full-year target. At the epicenter of the AI transformation in China are cities like Hefei, the capital of the eastern Anhui province and home to memory chip giant CXMT Corp. But even inside the boomtowns, little of the windfall is reaching households. Retail sales are shrinking in several of them, undercut by automation and temporary labor in the very factories driving the surge. “The fruits of AI-driven growth are mainly reaped by a few ‘smart’ cities,” Nomura economists Jing Wang and Ting Lu said in a note on Wednesday. As that’s “unlikely to offset mounting growth headwinds across the rest of the country, we believe Beijing will likely step up policy efforts in the second half.” The blistering performance shows both the promise and peril of AI for growth, especially as regions reliant on older industries quickly cede ground and a prolonged property downturn goes unresolved. For China, the outsize burden borne by a select few in powering the economy of the entire country is also a risk as major trading partners like the US curb their imports of advanced technology and equipment. Propelled by a global spending bonanza on artificial intelligence during the first half of
Jul 31, 2026 · via bworldonline.com
Dive Brief: - President Donald Trump is continuing his quest to reshape Washington, D.C. On Wednesday, he announced a complete overhaul of Washington Dulles International Airport in nearby Dulles, Virginia. - The project is bonded at $22.5 billion, said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy during a news conference at the White House. Plans will see construction teams replace concourses, add gates and remove the people movers, replacing them with a U-shaped train system, Duffy said. - The announcement lands after the DOT’s December call for proposals to modernize the airport. The agency submitted a request for information for aid in the design, financing and construction of new concourses and terminals, spurred by Trump’s August executive order to beautify federal architecture. Dive Insight: No contractor was named in the announcement, and the USDOT did not respond to Construction Dive’s inquiries by time of publication. The USDOT, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and United Airlines will collectively oversee the project, according to the announcement. The $22.5 billion figure is an increase from the previous sum of $7 billion for the Dulles modernization program. MWAA, working with airlines that operate at Dulles, will finance the new concourses and terminal facilities through municipal bonds. Other portions of the development will also open doors for public-private partnership investment opportunities. “This new construction effort builds upon the multiyear Dulles Master Plan, developed in consultation with our airline partners, to modernize Washington’s main international airport,” said Jack Potter, MWAA president and CEO, in the announcement. “We are grateful for the Trump administration’s interest in accelerating the pace and scope of our plans, and we look forward to building new facilities that will be a source of pride for our nation.”
Jul 31, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
On July 30, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Office announced that Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong had signed Decision No. 4714/QD-UBND approving the city's Smart City Development Plan for the 2026-2030 period, with a vision to 2045. The plan identifies smart city development as one of the city's key priorities to modernize urban governance, improve residents' quality of life, promote green growth and the digital economy, and advance sustainable development. The smart city initiative is built on the foundation of the National Digital Transformation Strategy, placing people and businesses at the center of development. All urban governance, administrative and public service delivery activities are designed to serve residents more quickly, conveniently, transparently and securely, while ensuring digital inclusion and narrowing disparities in access to digital services. The plan underscores that smart city development is not merely about adopting new technologies but about transforming state and urban governance driven by data and digital technology. The city will treat data as a strategic resource for development while accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLMs), predictive analytics, Digital Twin technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data to support decision-making, provide early risk warnings and optimize urban operations. The implementation of the plan will comply with relevant legal regulations and align with the National ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Architecture Framework for Smart City Development. It adopts a data-centric approach, ensuring connectivity, interoperability and data sharing across systems while safeguarding information security, cybersecurity and citizens' privacy. The city will also implement the plan in phases in line with available resources, prioritizing shared digital platforms to avoid fragmented or overlapping investments and minimize reliance on any single technology provider. The plan will be implemented citywide and applies to state
Jul 31, 2026 · via en.sggp.org.vn
• The plaza outside the (now CPD-only) Millennium Park Bike Station has been gated, and all the bike racks have been removed, causing a parking shortage (Bluesky,Twitter) • “Chicagoans Can Vote On How Park District Should Spend $500,000 [including bike parking racks]. Here’s How To Cast Your Ballot” (Block Club) • “Chicago’s walking, biking, and transit spaces take center stage for visiting state legislators” (Active Trans) • Official CTA press release: “Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Unveils New Public Awareness Campaign to Deter Violent Crime on the CTA” • Press release: Chicago mayoral candidate John Kelly says he will prioritize “Making the CTA safe and reliable,” by “redeploying approximately 100 officers to CTA patrols” • “Accessible pedestrian signal rollout in Chicago ahead of targets, but technical gaps persist: report” (Smart Cities Dive) • “Letters: Businesses should improve access for people with disabilities” (Tribune) • “South Loop Neighbors Pitch New Bus Connector As Development Booms” (Block Club) • “U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley: How Chicago can build or preserve 50,000 units of housing in five years” (Tribune) • “Expected increase’ of passengers on Metra, CTA for Lollapalooza; big crowds likely.” Consider riding a bicycle or scooter on the Charli XCX-inspired “Brat Lane” instead. (NBC) • “CTA workers describe “doors closing’ chime,” imitate the Milwaukee resident who does the announcement (CTA) • Reminder: CDOT Chicago Mobility Collaborative quarterly public meeting, “dinner will be provided,” tonight, Thu. 7/30, 6-8 PM, DRW College Prep, 931 S. Homan Ave. If you appreciate Streetsblog Chicago’s livable streets reporting and advocacy, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our work. Thank you! In addition to editing Streetsblog Chicago, John has written about transportation and more for many other local and national publications. A Chicagoan since 1989, he enjoys exploring the city and region on foot, bike, bus,
Jul 31, 2026 · via chi.streetsblog.org
From housing above highways to digital twins, industry experts gathered at “Future Cities: Infrastructure Ready Cities 2026” to explore strategies for smarter, resilient cities. The two-day event, organised by Star Media Group, discussed topics such as transit-oriented development, smart and resilient infrastructure, infrastructure financing and public-private partnerships (PPPs), urban planning and local governance, urban proptech, as well as net-zero ecosystems and ESG compliance. O2 Design Atelier founder and principal architect Edric Choo captured the audience’s attention with his proposal to address housing issues in the Klang Valley with residential blocks above highways or train stations. “Because of land price and construction costs, people move to the suburbs and travel two to three hours in the traffic to get to work, and then back home. That is crazy.” Equipped with features such as courtyards, jogging tracks and greenery, Choo envisioned this to be attractive living spaces while keeping people close to the city. He also shared a futuristic concept of flying capsule homes that can plug in and out of towers built above the ground, eliminating the need to clear forests for development. Later, in a panel discussion on “Internal Infrastructure: Integrating Smart Interior Systems into the Urban Fabric”, Jalex Group of Companies executive director Janet Lee, who is also the past president of Malaysian Interior Industry Partners Association, shared that Malaysian builders are often asked to bring down their budget, compress buildings and replacing materials with local alternatives. Commercial viability must be addressed right from the beginning of projects, she said, instead of telling the builders and suppliers to make changes towards the end. The project objectives risk being compromised, leading to delays, cost overruns and systems that cannot integrate effectively, she added. Lee said builders and suppliers should see themselves as long-term solution partners, rather than at the bottom
Jul 31, 2026 · via thestar.com.my
Industrial Cybersecurity Innovation: Key Trends, Growth Drivers and Opportunities Introduction to Industrial Cybersecurity Industrial cybersecurity is transforming the protection of critical infrastructure and industrial operations by enabling resilient defense mechanisms, real-time threat detection, and comprehensive security frameworks for operational technology (OT) environments. As industries increasingly adopt Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), smart manufacturing, connected supply chains, and digital twin technologies, the demand for robust cybersecurity solutions continues to grow exponentially. Industrial cybersecurity technology enables secure system architectures, reduced operational disruptions, and superior threat intelligence capabilities, making it a critical enabler of next-generation industrial automation and sustainable digital infrastructure. History of Industrial Cybersecurity Industrial cybersecurity initially emerged from traditional information technology (IT) security practices before evolving into specialized OT security solutions designed to protect industrial control systems (ICS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, and distributed control systems (DCS). Early industrial security focused primarily on air-gapped networks and physical isolation. However, the convergence of IT and OT environments, combined with the rise of Industry 4.0, has transformed industrial cybersecurity into a dynamic field requiring advanced threat detection, continuous monitoring, and automated incident response capabilities. Continuous advancements in AI-powered threat intelligence, zero-trust architectures, and security orchestration have enabled industrial organizations to achieve comprehensive cyber resilience across their digital and physical operations. Benefits of Industrial Cybersecurity Industrial cybersecurity solutions provide significant advantages over conventional security approaches by delivering greater threat visibility, faster incident response, and improved operational continuity. Their ability to minimize cybersecurity risks while supporting seamless industrial operations makes them an essential investment for modern industrial enterprises across multiple sectors. Key Benefits Include: - Enhanced threat detection with AI-powered monitoring and predictive analytics. - Real-time visibility into OT/IT network activities and anomalous behaviors. - Improved operational resilience with reduced downtime and production interruptions. - Protection of critical infrastructure including energy grids,
Jul 30, 2026 · via marketsandmarkets.com
The federal government could shoulder 65% of the cost of Boston’s plan for nearly $10 billion of coastal resilience infrastructure protecting Boston from coastal flooding and sea level rise following a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers risk management feasibility study released last week. The first draft of the study outlines more than 20 infrastructure projects along 16 miles of Boston’s coastline that would protect inland areas from flooding during extreme weather events. The Army Corps estimates the infrastructure will prevent an estimated $41 billion in damages. “The Army Corps partnership is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unlock significant federal funding to protect Boston’s major job centers and our state’s economic competitiveness,” Lindsey Butler, executive Director of the Green Ribbon Commission. Boston started the process of sponsoring the study, which is required for the city to be eligible for federal funding, in 2022, Chief Climate Officer Brian Swett told Smart Cities Dive. The study, he said, "is the big kahuna.” The final report is expected in 2028. The city began to take coastal resilience seriously after it just missed being hit by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Swett said. One-sixth of Boston sits on filled tidelands built under the assumption that sea levels would remain static, Swett said. Sandy’s near-miss — on top of a history of 24 federal or state disaster declarations, 14 of them involving major flooding, since 1991 — spurred the city to pursue resilience. Its Climate Ready Boston initiative, published in 2016, resulted in the creation of Coastal Resilience Solutions plans, which identify flood risk locations and opportunities for prevention infrastructure. Boston is the only major U.S. city to zone new construction to a future flood standard that projects 40 inches of sea level rise by 2070, he said. “We recognized the significance of what we were facing —
Jul 30, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Dive Brief: - The Federal Transit Administration opened $610 million in transit agency bus grants Monday under two competitive programs focused on zero- or low-emission buses and bus facilities, according to a press release. The FTA said it intends to prioritize low-emission projects over zero-emission projects, to the maximum extent permitted by law. - Approximately $589 million for the Low or No Emission bus program will help state and local authorities acquire zero-emission and low-emission transit buses and related infrastructure, according to the notice of funding opportunity. About $21 million is available through the Buses and Bus Facilities program, which can be used to purchase, rehabilitate or lease buses and bus-related facilities. - The FTA announced a separate $22 million funding round Wednesday under two public transit infrastructure programs to improve operator and passenger safety, build new maintenance facilities, improve scheduling systems for people with accessibility issues, implement contactless payment systems and “acquire transit vehicles with family-friendly features,” according to a press release. Dive Insight: Funding for the FTA’s bus programs comes from the mass transit account of the Highway Trust Fund and is authorized by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for fiscal year 2026, the law's final year. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy proposed eliminating the mass transit account in a July 22 letter to six senators serving on committees with influence over the next surface transportation legislation. “By eliminating both the Mass Transit Account and advance appropriations, USDOT would strip all guaranteed funding from transit formula grants, which would have an outsized impact on rural and smaller communities that depend most on federal support to provide critical public transit services,” the American Public Transportation Association said in a July 24 statement. The FTA hasn’t signed any new Capital Investment Grants since the beginning of the Trump administration,
Jul 30, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Representational image Doha, Qatar: Doha has been recognised as one of the world’s intelligent cities in Boston Consulting Group’s inaugural Intelligent Cities Index 2026, placing it in the Emerging Maturity category among 61 major urban centres across 39 countries. The index, released recently, evaluates how cities deploy artificial intelligence and digital technologies to improve resident outcomes, economic opportunities and urban services. It assesses performance across five domains: outcomes, strategy, adoption, ways of working and enablers. Cities are grouped into leading, accelerating, emerging or developing levels of maturity. London leads the overall ranking, followed by Dubai, New York City, Washington and Amsterdam. All five demonstrate leading maturity in at least two domains. Dubai also ranks first globally in the adoption domain for its extensive rollout of smart city solutions and AI applications. Abu Dhabi and Riyadh feature among the accelerating cities, underscoring the Gulf region’s growing presence in the global ranking. Doha appears in the Emerging cohort alongside cities such as Tokyo, Hong Kong and Medina. The Qatari capital is listed after Riyadh in the index’s ordered results, reflecting solid progress while highlighting opportunities for further advancement. The report notes that no single city leads every domain, and even top performers have areas requiring strengthening. A central finding is that AI adoption drives better resident outcomes. Cities in the top third for AI use cases deliver higher quality of life. The index shows that expanding AI deployment can lift maturity even for cities starting with fewer applications. Residents across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, including those in cities such as Doha, display particularly strong enthusiasm for generative AI tools and optimism about their future impact. This positive sentiment forms a virtuous circle: higher usage increases satisfaction, which encourages more use cases and greater overall maturity. Smart city app usage follows
Jul 30, 2026 · via m.thepeninsulaqatar.com
Illustration: Xia Qing/GT Recently, my Brazilian friend Leo returned from a visit to China's Xiong'an New Area and texted me a single note: "I was amazed." As he wandered through what is widely known as China's "city of the future," the entire scene reminded him strongly of his home country's capital. "It feels like Brasilia in many ways," he told me. The wide, orderly avenues, the top-down master planning, and the sense of building an entirely new urban landscape from scratch all echoed the bold vision behind Brazil's capital. Brasilia, Brazil's planned capital developed in the late 1950s by Lúcio Costa, Oscar Niemeyer, and Joaquim Cardozo, was built from a national ambition to shift the political center inland from Rio de Janeiro. Brasilia's bold modernist architecture and innovative urban design earned it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987 and later recognition as a UNESCO Creative City of Design. More than six decades on, Brasilia remains a living, evolving capital. Its continuous population growth demands thoughtful modernization, particularly in the constant upgrading of infrastructure, public services, and urban livability. Originally planned for roughly one million residents, the Brasilia metropolitan area now houses around three million people. This growth makes continuous investment in infrastructure essential, particularly in public transportation and, above all, the expansion of the metro system. It is against this backdrop that Leo sees some reference value in Xiong'an, especially in terms of smart urban planning, green development, intelligent infrastructure, and high-quality community services. In his eyes, the two cities share deep similarities. Both emerged from national moments of optimism and ambition, embodying their countries' confidence in shaping a better future. Both feature expansive artificial lakes that enhance beauty and integrate urban life with nature. I visited Xiong'an shortly after Leo's trip. Like him, I arrived prepared for monumental construction
Jul 30, 2026 · via globaltimes.cn
KUALA LUMPUR: From designing smarter homes to creating more liveable cities, artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to reshape Malaysia's built environment as architects, developers and policymakers embrace a new era of technology-driven innovation. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said AI was already being adopted by architects and civil servants in various aspects of design work, in line with the government's ambition of transforming Malaysia into an AI nation by 2030. "AI is no longer a vision. It is now part of our mission," he said when met after opening the Asean Real Estate Conference (AREC) 2026 and ARCHIDEX 2026 here on Thursday (July 30). Nga said architects and civil servants had already begun incorporating AI into their work, adding that the technology was gradually becoming part of the industry's day-to-day operations. "We are actually starting to implement it," he said, adding that Malaysia was well-positioned to embrace AI as it develops its sovereign AI capabilities and works with global technology company Nvidia. "Malaysia has great potential," he added. AREC x ARCHIDEX 2026 brought together architects, designers, developers, manufacturers, policymakers and other built environment professionals from Malaysia and abroad, while attracting thousands of trade visitors. In his speech, Nga said housing had evolved beyond providing shelter, with today's homes serving as places where people live, work, learn and build communities. "A house is built by bricks and mortar, but a home is built by hopes and dreams," he said, adding that the conference theme, "Rethinking Real Estate: Housing with Heart," reflected the need to place people at the centre of future urban development. "Our vision is clear. We want urban environments that are not only liveable, but also truly lovable," he said, stressing that quality housing should be complemented by access to jobs, education, healthcare, public transport and
Jul 30, 2026 · via thestar.com.my
To cool or not to cool? As extreme heatwaves grip the European continent, the debate over air conditioning has reached a boiling point, transforming a technical necessity into a fierce cultural and political battlefield. In France, where only about one in four households is air-conditioned, localised blackouts — like the massive transformer failure in Finistère that left over 100,000 homes in the dark during a June canicule — have exposed the fragility of an ageing energy grid under thermal stress. The climate control divide is continent-wide: while Spain has normalised cooling in over 40% of its homes, and Italy absorbs nearly a third of the EU’s cooling power, Germany and the Low Countries remain structurally unprepared, still well below 20% of dwellings equipped. Yet, while active cooling is a medical necessity for vulnerable people, from the elderly in care homes to pregnant women, its environmental feedback loop is devastating — fuelling the very urban heat island effect it tries to escape, and accounting for a massive spike in power demand and associated emissions. How to break this thermal deadlock? The answer might not lie in the high-tech, energy-guzzling promises of tomorrow, but in the forgotten, passive wisdom of the past. "Architects have been talking about this for years; it's just that this is the first time anyone is bothering to listen," says Christine Thornley, a chartered architect based in the northeast of England and founder of Grove Studio Architecture. To resolve the modern cooling crisis, Thornley argues that we must first deconstruct the errors of 20th-century construction, which relied on cheap fossil fuels to bypass the natural environment. "We spent a long time focusing on how to make buildings more energy efficient to heat them in winter, and then we forgot that there's a converse side to that," Thornley explains.
Jul 30, 2026 · via youris.com
ASTANA – Kazakhstan has taken a new step in its digital transformation agenda by signing an agreement with the Global Digital Economy Cities Alliance (DEC40), an international organization promoting cooperation in smart city development and the digital economy, on July 28, to advance collaboration in smart cities, artificial intelligence and regional innovation. The partnership between the Kazakh Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development and DEC40 provides opportunities to exchange international expertise, attract technology companies and investors and introduce advanced solutions in artificial intelligence, digital governance and Smart region/Smart city development. Its success, however, will depend on how effectively international cooperation is converted into practical projects that improve public services, urban efficiency and quality of life. Astana as a model for AI-driven urban management Astana is becoming the main testing ground for Kazakhstan’s smart city ambitions. The capital is developing an integrated digital ecosystem combining AI, video analytics, intelligent transport systems and data-driven public administration. A major initiative is the city’s partnership with UAE-based Presight AI. The $190 million six-year project aims to modernize existing infrastructure, expand AI-powered monitoring systems and create a digital twin of Astana by 2030. The initiative will connect urban data systems, improve traffic management, strengthen emergency response and support more efficient city operations. At the same time, the expansion of AI-based technologies will require strong safeguards for data protection, transparency and public trust. Creating a national smart region ecosystem The DEC40 agreement expands Kazakhstan’s focus beyond the capital by supporting regional smart city projects. As one of the first practical steps, Kazakhstan plans to compile a list of priority Smart region/Smart city projects and present them to the DEC40 international community to attract technological solutions, strategic partners and potential investors. This fits into Kazakhstan’s wider digital transformation agenda, which includes AI development, GovTech modernization, cybersecurity,
Jul 30, 2026 · via astanatimes.com