How Extreme Climate is Reshaping Gulf Development Logic
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Smart Cities
Spatial Analytics Platform Market Research Highlights <b>Future</b> Trends and Growth Forecasts
Spatial Analytics Platform Market Research Highlights Future Trends and Growth Forecasts Press Release Date 07-22-2026 The Business Research Company's Spatial Analytics Platform Market Research Highlights Future Trends and Growth Forecasts LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, July 22, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- "The spatial analytics platform market is emerging as a key player in leveraging location-based data to drive smarter decision-making across various sectors. As cities and industries increasingly rely on geographic insights, the market is on track for significant growth in the coming years. Let’s explore the current market size, key growth factors, major players, and future trends shaping this dynamic field. Market Size and Projections for the Spatial Analytics Platform Market The spatial analytics platform market has shown impressive expansion recently, with its size expected to increase from $5.87 billion in 2025 to $6.78 billion in 2026. This represents a strong compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.6%. The market’s earlier growth stemmed from challenges such as limited availability of sophisticated GIS systems, the ongoing need for manual surveying and mapping, rapid urbanization, infrastructure development, early adoption of satellite imaging, and rising demand for optimized logistics routes. Looking ahead, the market is forecasted to reach $12.19 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.8%. This projected surge is fueled by factors including the expansion of smart city projects, increasing reliance on real-time location intelligence, deeper integration of spatial data into enterprise decision-making, the growth of cloud-based geospatial analytics, and wider adoption of location intelligence across emerging industries. Key trends anticipated through the forecast period include the use of real-time geospatial insights for infrastructure planning, the application of location-based analytics in retail site selection, the growth of GIS-driven disaster management and emergency response, incorporation of spatial analytics in urban development and real estate valuation, and heightened demand for geospatial data
CM Punjab Unveils Province-Wide Expansion of Safe <b>Smart Cities</b> Project
Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz has announced plans to expand the Safe Smart Cities project to every tehsil and union council across the province. The expansion will also include the installation of another 1,500 panic buttons at police stations and prominent public places to improve emergency response and public safety. Speaking at the inauguration of the Punjab Integrated Safe City Network on Independence Day, the chief minister said Safe City networks had now been launched across all districts of Punjab. She said the province was increasingly using technology, artificial intelligence, smart surveillance and predictive policing to monitor security situations and respond to emergencies. According to CM Maryam Nawaz, the entire province can now be monitored through an integrated system, while citizens can also seek assistance through the emergency helpline 15. The chief minister said the government would now take the Safe City model beyond the district level by extending it first to tehsils and then to union councils. The planned expansion is aimed at creating a wider security network at the grassroots level and improving access to emergency assistance across Punjab. CM Maryam Nawaz also announced that 1,500 additional panic buttons would be installed at police stations and key public locations. She said the measure would particularly help strengthen the sense of security among women and children. She added that the Virtual Police Station had provided relief to 1.1 million women, while the Child Safety App had helped resolve 100,000 cases and reunite 80,000 children with their families. The chief minister also highlighted the use of technology in emergency response. She cited the example of a woman in Bhakkar who used a panic button after her husband suffered a cardiac emergency, allowing authorities to respond immediately. Public transport passengers can also seek emergency assistance by scanning QR codes installed
Hanoi seeks cooperation with Russian localities in developing urban railways
Moscow (VNA) - An inter-agency delegation led by Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Tran Duc Thang has held meetings with officials in Moscow and St. Petersburg to discuss railway and urban railway development and expand cooperation between Hanoi and Russian localities. Thang met with Russian State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Transport Dmitry Zverev and leaders of Russian Railways (RZD) in Moscow on August 13, affirming that Vietnam always values the support and valuable experience of Russian partners in national construction and development. He noted that Russia has advanced technologies and expertise in transport, while Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam's two special cities and economic locomotives - are prioritising the development of urban transport, urban railways and smart infrastructure, offering significant potential for expanded cooperation. Thang said that Hanoi has approved a 100-year master plan envisioning a smart city, underground space, and low- and high-altitude economy, while investing in urban railway lines and inter-regional transport links. Against this backdrop, Hanoi hopes that Russia's Ministry of Transport and partners will share experience in policymaking and technical standards for urban railways and underground infrastructure, and support design, technology integration, training and technology transfer. The city also invited Russian businesses to explore investment in metro projects under Hanoi's transport development plan to 2030, with a vision to 2050. Hanoi also proposed studying flexible investment models suited to local needs and conditions, while enhancing expert exchanges and sharing experience in metro construction, management and operation. The two sides were encouraged to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data in traffic management and regulation to help ease congestion. Hanoi is also interested in designing underground structures and stations as architectural landmarks reflecting the city's cultural and historical identity, integrating technologies across metro lines, developing a
Kenya Courts Chinese Investment to Expand Its Digital Infrastructure
- Kenya has opened talks with China’s Guodong Network Communication Group on potential digital infrastructure investments. - Discussions covered broadband expansion, connectivity, smart cities and digital services. - Kenya wants foreign capital and expertise to support fiber networks and extend high-speed internet access. Kenya has opened talks with China’s Guodong Network Communication Group on potential investments in digital infrastructure, part of efforts to mobilize capital and expertise for the expansion of connectivity and the country’s digital economy. John Tanui, Principal Secretary in the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy, met a delegation from the Chinese telecommunications infrastructure group on August 13. The discussions explored potential cooperation in connectivity, digital infrastructure, smart cities and the digital economy. The talks focused in particular on expanding broadband access to underserved areas. Tanui said better connectivity remains a priority to enable more Kenyans to participate in the digital economy. As of June 2025, 4G coverage had reached 97.3% of the population, compared with about 30% for 5G. Smart-city development was another area discussed. Nairobi wants to build on progress at Konza Technopolis, the country’s flagship smart-city project, to expand digital services and improve access to public services. The government also plans to continue the digitalization of public administration so that citizens can complete more procedures online. The discussions come as Kenya works to strengthen the infrastructure needed to support the growth of its digital economy. The country has prioritized the expansion of fiber-optic networks, broader high-speed internet coverage and infrastructure capable of supporting new digital services. At the same time, authorities want to attract foreign capital and expertise to accelerate these projects. Guodong has experience in telecommunications infrastructure development. The Chinese group says it operates more than 55,000 telecommunications towers and has activities spanning networks, digital infrastructure and data centers. The company
Telangana govt is developing 'Bharat <b>Future City</b>' as country's first net-zero <b>smart city</b>: CM Revanth
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Saturday (August 15, 2026) said the State’s economy had made significant progress over the past 32 months, with its per capita income reaching ₹4,18,931 in 2025-26. He also said the State’s per capita income was about 91% higher than the national average, citing the latest Reserve Bank of India statistics. Speaking after hoisting the national flag at the historic Golconda Fort in Hyderabad on the occasion of 80th Independence Day, the Chief Minister said the government was working to transform Telangana into a $1 trillion economy by 2034 and a $3 trillion economy by 2047. The State was also aiming to increase its share of the national GDP to 10%, he said. Mr. Reddy said the government was developing ‘Bharat Future City’ as the country’s first net-zero smart city and a global hub for artificial intelligence, data centres, advanced manufacturing, research, innovation and emerging technologies. “We are striving to rebuild Telangana and put it on the path of development. In the 32 months since our government assumed office in December 2023, we have restored systems that had been damaged in a planned manner,” he said. Nearly ₹1.70 lakh crore for agriculture and farmer welfare Mr. Reddy said the government believed that the State could prosper only when farmers prospered. The government had spent nearly ₹1.70 lakh crore on agriculture and farmer welfare during the past 32 months, he said. On the sharing of river waters with Andhra Pradesh, he said Telangana would not compromise on its rightful share of Krishna and Godavari rivers. He said pending irrigation projects, including Thummadihatti and the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, were being taken up on priority. The government would ensure irrigation water reached the last acre of the ayacut, he said. Recalling that the Young India Skills
How Coral Gables put AI to work
How Coral Gables put AI to work 14 August 2026 by Jonathan Andrews Coral Gables has spent more than a decade integrating artificial intelligence into its infrastructure, public services and internal operations, but its approach began with a practical concern rather than a desire to become a smart city. Located in a hurricane-prone part of Florida, the city initially used intelligent systems to improve the resilience of its communications networks. It has since expanded AI into cybersecurity, public safety, traffic management, customer service and a citywide digital twin. Raimundo Rodulfo, Director of Innovation and Technology and Chief Innovation Officer for Coral Gables, tells Cities Today that his previous engineering career helped inform the city’s early adoption. “AI is not new in engineering,” he says. “I’ve been using it for over 30 years in my career.” After joining the city in 2004, Rodulfo helped develop a communications network with four layers of redundancy, encompassing fibre-optic, wireless, cellular and satellite systems. Automated failovers were introduced to protect emergency communications and services during hurricanes, power failures and other incidents. “That was our priority before we talked about smart cities and AI,” Rodulfo says. “We were talking about resiliency. We were talking about sustainability and business continuity of critical services.” From resilience to public safety The city subsequently introduced AI-powered behavioural analytics to strengthen its cyber defences before beginning to install thousands of connected sensors in 2014. Computer vision technology was used to classify vehicles, objects and pedestrians, with the resulting information feeding into Coral Gables’ Community Intelligence Centre. One early demonstration came during a downtown event attended by around 50,000 people in 2015. After a couple reported their six-year-old child missing, police contacted the centre and an engineer located the child within two minutes using AI-supported image analysis. “We used AI morphological analytics
Punjab to expand scope to Safe <b>Smart Cities</b> project to every tehsil and UC
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday announced plans to extend the Safe Smart Cities project to every tehsil and union council of the province and install another 1,500 panic buttons at police stations and prominent public places. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Punjab Integrated Safe City Network on Independence Day, the chief minister congratulated the nation and said the launch of safe city networks across all districts of Punjab on Aug 14 was an honour. “Seeing the bright faces and courageous children gives me confidence that Punjab is moving forward. We will never let any harm come to them,” she said. CM Punjab said it was encouraging to see children from far-flung areas such as Rajanpur’s Rojhan and Haroonabad serving as police communication officers. She said Punjab was leading in technology, smart policing and predictive policing. “Today, when I look at the Safe City Authority, I bow my head in gratitude to Allah,” she said, adding that an effective digital system was operating for the public through the emergency helpline 15. The chief minister acknowledged the contribution of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Safe City project, describing him as her uncle, mentor and founder of the Safe City initiative. “It would be unfair not to give Shehbaz Sharif credit for the Safe City Authority. He created the path of Safe City on which we have reached here today,” she said. Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz said that, by the grace of Allah, every district of Punjab had been transformed into a safe city in the past two and a half years. “Having the entire Punjab visible on a single screen is no ordinary achievement,” she said, adding that Punjab had emerged as a national leader in technology-driven safety and security. She said AI-based systems, smart surveillance
Amazon to Build US's Largest Gas Plant to Power Data Centres | Energy Digital
Amazon to Build US’s Largest Gas Plant to Power Data Centres Amazon has confirmed its plans to build the largest power plant in US history in Pecos County, Texas, as part of a plan to supply its data centres with a reliable supply of energy. The natural gas plant will be co-located with a large-scale data centre at a site called GW Ranch. It is expected to contain 35 turbines, capable of generating up to 7.65GW of electricity. That capacity would make GW Ranch the US's largest power plant by some distance. The Grand Coulee Dam, located on the Columbia River in the state of Washington, is the current record holder. The hydroelectric power plant is capable of generating around 6.8GW, almost a full gigawatt less than Amazon's planned site. To put that scale in context, Texas's own peak electricity demand record across its entire grid sits at under a fifth of the new capacity being requested state-wide by data centres. The rise of 'behind-the-meter' energy projects Reports indicate that the facility would be entirely disconnected from the Texas electricity grid, at least initially. This is a model that has been gaining traction across the data centre sector lately. In fact, nearly 60 behind-the-meter gas power projects since the start of 2025, totalling roughly 90 GW of combined capacity. But what is the rationale behind separating from the grid? Simply, the scale of energy demand coming from data centres right now is leading many hyperscalers to set up dedicated power plants for their infrastructure, especially given the fact that data centres require a reliable stream of uninterrupted, 24/7 energy. Amazon is also exploring a data centre powered by a natural gas plant outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Microsoft has separately announced a 2GW data centre development in Pecos, Texas, powered by
<b>Future City</b> plan to be unveiled at global summit in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: The three-day Telangana Rising Global Summit 2.0 will be organised from December 7. This year’s summit, to be held under the theme “Invest Telangana”, will witness the unveiling of the Future City plan. These and other key decisions were taken during a state Cabinet meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. The Cabinet also constituted a sub-committee to ensure smooth conduct of the summit. The panel comprises Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, IT & Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy. It may be mentioned here that during last year’s summit, the government unveiled its Telangana Rising 2047 document. The Cabinet, meanwhile, finalised the plan to distribute smart ration cards from Saturday, marking the 80th Independence Day. The move is expected to benefit 3.42 crore people. Later briefing the media, Information Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said that the Cabinet also decided to encourage farmers to cultivate seven varieties of fine paddy. “Wide publicity will be created on these seven varieties of paddy at Panchayat Bhavans and Rythu Vedikas and those who cultivate these varieties will receive Rs 500 bonus,” he said.
Demand rife for extension of Water Metro ferries to Infopark Phase-2, <b>Smart City</b>
With IT professionals and others seeking steps to extend Water Metro services to Infopark Phase-2 and the proposed Smart City, demand is rife to raise the height of the Brahmapuram bridge and to dismantle a temporary bund en route, so that the ferries that now terminate their trips at the Chittetukara terminal in Kakkanad can transport passengers all the way up to the prominent IT hub. It is estimated that Infopark employs around 70,000 people. Most of them are caught in traffic snarls on Civil Line Road, Seaport Airport Road, and other stretches leading to the IT hub, while those who rely on ferries alight at the Chittetukara terminal and switch to autos and buses to reach the IT hub, collectorate, and other destinations. “The ferries would be able to operate all the way up to Infopark Phase-2, if steps are taken to relocate the Kozhichira bund located nearby towards Manakkakadavu on the Kadambrayar. This apart, a taller bridge ought to be built in place of the Brahmapuram bridge to extend Water Metro services,” said Sajan P. John, chief operating officer, Kochi Water Metro Limited (KWML). Jidheesh Rajan, a representative of Prathidhwani Kochi, a welfare organisation of IT employees, sought speedy measures to extend the air-conditioned hybrid electric ferries to Infopark Phase-2 and also to Smart City. “The organisation has been consistently demanding this since it is not merely a transportation project but an urgent requirement, considering the growing traffic and mobility challenges in the region. The 70,000-odd IT professionals and others deserve an efficient and sustainable water transport option since road connectivity to Infopark is inadequate, causing frequent traffic hold-ups. Residents of the region too are affected by this. Steps must also be taken to raise the height of the Brahmapuram bridge and to clear the temporary bund, both
77 DAYS TO GO: 7 WONDERS OF <b>FUTURE CITIES</b> COUNTS DOWN TO START OF VOTING
77 DAYS TO GO: 7 WONDERS OF FUTURE CITIES COUNTS DOWN TO START OF VOTING DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- 7 Wonders of Future Cities today marks 77 days until global voting begins on www.7wondersfc.com on 31 October 2026. The day, also known as World Cities Day, will be when the public can start choosing amongst the participating cities and developments, to become historically recognised as the leading representatives of the future of urban life. According to Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Chairman of the 7 Wonders of Future Cities campaign, "Public participation, global visibility and the status of our recognised brand can transform urban vision into a shared cause, and we are seeing this already with motivating engagement from participating cities and developments from all over the world." Chie Kobayashi, Global Initiatives Manager for Minato Mirai 21 in Yokohama, Japan, says "We are proud to contribute our experience and vision for creating sustainable, people-focused cities of the future through the 7 Wonders of Future Cities initiative." Sabine Müller, Chairwoman of aspern Seestadt in Vienna, Austria, says: "We joined the 7 Wonders of Future cities initiative to stand alongside world-leading urban developments, to share our vision of an innovative, sustainable and liveable city for many future generations." Jeremy Fasser, Mayor of Stellenbosch, South Africa, considers that the future city vision for Adam Tas Corridor "is about creating walkable, connected, mixed-use and mixed-income neighbourhoods where homes, schools, workplaces, public spaces and opportunities are within easy reach - about building a city that connects rather than divides." Eduardo Pimentel, Mayor of Curitiba, Brazil, says participating "is an opportunity to show the world a city that combines planning, innovation, sustainability and, above all, care for people." Służewiec, in Warsaw, Poland, believes that "participating in the competition will highlight the work put into
EU backs 5G innovation drive in Costa Rica targeting tourism, environment, <b>cities</b>
A regional hackathon backed by the European Union and Costa Rican institutions will run in October to develop prototype solutions using 5G technology for sectors including agriculture, health and tourism. The Central American 5G Innovation Hackathon has been announced by the Costa Rican Agency for Innovation and Research (PCII) alongside the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT), the EU and the Foundation for the Internationalisation of Public Policies (FIAP), with support from the National Centre for High Technology (CENAT), the EU Delegation to Costa Rica announced on Friday, cited by the European External Action Service (EEAS). It is open to participants across Central America, including university students, entrepreneurs, start-ups, developers, researchers, ICT specialists, technology companies, telecoms operators and social innovators. The event is scheduled to take place from 5 to 9 October, with teams working on challenges in five areas: smart and sustainable tourism; biodiversity, the environment and climate action; smart agriculture and the bioeconomy; digital health and wellbeing; and smart cities, mobility and risk management. Testing ideas on Costa Rica’s 5G “testbed” Projects will be developed within Costa Rica’s 5G Testbed — a facility designed for testing and validating new uses of 5G networks and related tools — including stand-alone 5G networks, edge computing (processing data closer to where it is generated) and the Internet of Things, which connects devices via the internet, the EU Delegation to Costa Rica said. Participants will be offered specialist mentoring, technical support and spaces for experimentation, and projects with the “greatest potential” may progress to validation processes within the testbed. A virtual webinar to explain the hackathon and how to take part will be held on 27 August at 8am, with registration available online.
Integrated surveillance reaches all districts
Integrated surveillance reaches all districts Punjab CM vows Safe Smart Cities services in every UC Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday digitally inaugurated the Punjab Integrated Safe City Network, saying the project was aimed at freeing the citizens from the fear of crimes. Punjab has become the first province to establish the integrated network in all its 41 districts and two tehsils. Officials said on the occasion that joint efforts of the police, Crime Control Department (CCD) and Safe Cities Authority had resulted in an estimated 80 per cent reduction in crimes. Safe Cities Authority Managing Director Ahsan Younas briefed the chief minister on the integrated smart safe cities network, saying artificial intelligence (AI) had enabled an effective province-wide surveillance system. The system includes intelligent surveillance, Emergency helpline 15, traffic management, real-time command and control, and predictive policing. It also incorporates a Virtual Women Police Station, Child Safety Centre and Blood Bank along with traffic and environment-related services. The MD said 1,500 more panic buttons would be installed across the province, with every police station to be equipped with the facility. Smart screens will also be installed at public places. AI-enabled cameras would make it possible to identify faces and detect weapons, enhancing the law-enforcement and surveillance capabilities of the network. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced plans to extend the Safe Smart Cities project to every union council of the province. She said Punjab was leading in technology, smart policing and predictive policing. The chief minister said every district of Punjab had been transformed into a safe city in the past two and a half years. "Having the entire Punjab visible on a single screen is no ordinary achievement," she said, adding that the province had emerged as a national leader in technology-driven safety and security. She said AI-based
State preemption laws are changing the land use landscape | <b>Smart Cities</b> Dive
Dive Brief: - More than 500 bills introduced in 40 states last year contained clauses preempting county land-use authority, according to a July analysis by the National Association of Counties. - Of the measures, 77% sought to impose significant changes in county land use authority, NACo said. Housing supply and affordability were the “primary targets,” listed as motivation for 38% of the bills, the research found. - The states with the highest number of preemption bills introduced in 2025 were California with 64, Arizona with 36 and Washington with 35. Dive Insight: As counties work to address an urgent housing affordability crisis, state preemption laws are a top concern among county officials, according to NACo’s research. While states and local governments are working with and often collaborating on solutions to the housing crisis, “state legislators are increasingly using the tool of preemption to reduce local government authority in housing development,” NACo said. Of the 511 land use preemption bills introduced last year, 192 “were aimed at reducing local authority in housing decisions.” Several such state bills sought to limit counties’ ability to regulate affordable units in housing developments, or block counties from prohibiting housing development on commercial, public or religious-owned land. Others required counties to permit accessory dwelling units (or ADUs) or ease regulations concerning parking requirements. Some bills were also designed to streamline local permitting processes. The most common types of housing-related preemptive legislation introduced in state legislatures included affordable housing with 32 bills and a 13% passage rate, accessory dwelling units with 31 bills and a 32% passage rate, and building permits with 28 bills and a 43% passage rate. NACo also tracked preemptive land use legislation related to energy and economic development that encompassed “throughlines of the removal of local control that will affect the ability of
Tech Trends: OSDP over IP Changes the Wireless Lock Equation | Security Info Watch
Tech Trends: OSDP over IP Changes the Wireless Lock Equation Key Highlights - PDQ Locks appears to be first to market with OSDP over IP for wireless locksets – enabling encrypted, supervised communication between a panel and a wireless lock over existing LAN/WAN infrastructure, with no proprietary gateway required. - The approach leverages OSDP Secure Channel's AES-128 encryption and allows wireless locks to connect to the strongest available access point rather than a range-limited proprietary radio – a meaningful step forward for enterprise deployments. - The reader accepts nearly all major credentials on the market, though OSDP Output Control support varies by access control system – verifying compatibility with PDQ directly before committing to a deployment remains the practical first move. This article originally appeared in the August 2026 issue of Security Business magazine. Don’t forget to mention Security Business magazine on LinkedIn or our other social handles if you share it. Confession time. I recently wrote what some called a heretical article about the obsolescence of the panel in access control – and the idea has stayed with me. Consider the camera industry: the function of a camera is capturing a color image at up to 120fps in near-darkness, and that function has been refined to near perfection. The access control industry, by contrast, is still largely built on 1964 panel technology and still leaning on vulnerable protocols like 125kHz Prox and Wiegand wiring. Just a little passionate about this. Then I heard about a product announcement from PDQ Locks. If you're not familiar with PDQ, that's understandable – they have operated largely behind the scenes. They've been around since 1982, with most of their business in Original Design/Equipment Manufacturing (OEM/ODM) for access control companies, building product for other brands rather than selling under their own name. One of
Fire response is infrastructure. Cities should treat it that way. | <b>Smart Cities</b> Dive
Captain (Ret.) Kirk McKinzie is a 37-year fire service veteran and president of McKinzie SMART Technologies. Fire departments are among the most visible services a city provides — and among the least modernized. City leaders are often surprised to learn how much of fire department operations still run on periodic, paper-based equipment checks. When a pump fails or a tool is under-maintained, the gap isn't discovered until the moment it's needed most. This has real consequences for fire departments and the people they protect. A system failure or tool that isn't ready when needed can determine the difference between a family returning to their home and one that doesn't. Across the country, fire departments are also navigating long wait times and rising costs for new apparatus and replacement parts, forcing many to extend the life of aging fleets. The National Fire Protection Association’s most recent estimates found that roughly 49% of all fire department engines and pumpers in the U.S. are at least 15 years old — the age at which the organization recommends engines be moved to reserve status. Aging equipment often translates to higher maintenance costs, more downtime and lower operational reliability. When a vehicle is pulled from the line for unscheduled repairs, staffing must be reshuffled, district coverage adjusted and mutual aid called in — all of which add cost and slow response. While departments struggle with aging equipment disruptions, the demands on their fleets have intensified. Synthetic furniture and room contents, which are much more common today, burn far more quickly than rooms with natural materials. In one study, a room with natural furnishings took an average of 30 minutes to reach flashover conditions — the moment when all combustible material in a room simultaneously ignites — while synthetic furnishings reached that point in under five.
Kazakhstan's digital <b>future</b>: AI and data to drive regional governance
Kazakhstan's digital future: AI and data to drive regional governance Kazakhstan has approved a new Smart City and Smart Region methodology that shifts regional governance to a unified digital model powered by AI and data, Qazinform News Agency cites the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. The new methodology defines unified approaches to the digital development of cities and regions, leveraging AI, data, and advanced technologies. The framework shifts from individual digital projects to a single territorial management system. The ministry noted that artificial intelligence and data are to become part of state governance processes. A key principle is the implementation of digital projects under unified architectural and functional requirements, ensuring system compatibility, avoiding duplication, and reducing development and maintenance costs. The list of mandatory digital initiatives has also been expanded. In addition to transport, utilities, and public safety, the new requirements include: - Infrastructure for unmanned aerial systems - Price monitoring for socially important goods - Digital infrastructure on dual-use structures - Internet access monitoring in educational institutions - Digitalization of operations of maslikhats (local representative bodies) - Development of regional IT hubs and district IT centers Furthermore, the methodology also provides for the introduction of smart stops, digital museums and libraries, 3D and VR tours, and road quality monitoring systems. A dedicated section focuses on the use of AI in regional management, including the development of regional analytical centers, data lakes, and intelligent services. This will allow regions not only to respond to existing problems but also to forecast situations and make data-driven decisions. The ministry believes the new methodology will help scale successful digital solutions across regions, develop smart cities and regions, improve governance efficiency, and raise the standard of living for citizens. As written earlier, Kazakhstan is to commission the first facility of Data Center
Nga honoured with MalaysiaGBC award for <b>sustainable cities</b> leadership
PETALING JAYA: Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has received the MalaysiaGBC Leadership in Sustainable Cities Award 2026 for his role in advancing sustainable urban development and Malaysia’s transition towards greener and more resilient cities. In a statement posted on Facebook, Nga said the recognition was not a personal achievement but reflected the collective efforts of the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT), local authorities, industry partners and communities. “Sustainability is no longer a choice. In the face of rapid urbanisation, climate change and resource scarcity, it must become a fundamental pillar of how we build our homes, design our public spaces and manage our cities,” he said on Friday (Aug 14). Nga said his ministry was embedding sustainability across the urban ecosystem, including through the National Housing Policy 2026–2035, which promotes modern construction technologies such as the Industrialised Building System (IBS) and Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC). The ministry will also introduce a big data analytics tool next year to identify mismatches between housing supply and demand, to address property overhang and ensure more efficient use of land and resources. On public spaces, Nga said his ministry aims to build or upgrade 1,000 Madani Recreational Parks over the next decade, with the number expected to reach 317 by the end of this year. Through the “MY Public Space” initiative, developed with UN-Habitat, the ministry is also seeking to create greener, more inclusive and community-focused public spaces. Nga said smart traffic light systems and command centres were among the technology-driven initiatives being used to strengthen urban management and local governance. On waste management, he said Malaysia generated more than 39,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, underscoring the need for the country to accelerate its transition towards a circular economy. Under the Circular Economy Blueprint 2025–2035 and the development
Kenya courts Chinese telecom giant Guodong for digital infrastructure push | ITWeb Africa
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for the State Department for ICT and the digital Economy, John Tanui, on Thursday, received a delegation from Chinese telco Guodong Network Communication Group to explore areas of collaboration in advancing the East African country’s digital transformation agenda. Discussions focused on investment in digital infrastructure, enhancing digital connectivity, the development of smart cities and strengthening the digital economy. Tanui highlighted the government's commitment to accelerating the country's digital economic transformation, with particular focus on expanding digital infrastructure and connectivity nationwide. "Kenya is undertaking an aggressive economic transformation, and digital infrastructure is at the centre of it," he said. Tanui emphasised the need to expand mobile broadband coverage to reach underserved areas, noting that enhanced connectivity is critical to ensuring all Kenyans can participate in the digital economy. He also pointed to government plans to develop more smart cities, building on progress made at Konza Technopolis, while enhancing e-government services to make public services more efficient and convenient for citizens. "We are working on digitisation in government so that we build a digital government and a digital country, where our citizens can engage through digital infrastructure," said Tanui. The Principal Secretary added that the government is keen to leverage partnerships and investment in technology and digital infrastructure to support the country's broader economic transformation agenda. Guodong Network Communication Group Chairperson Lu Jie expressed the company's interest in strengthening partnership and cooperation with Kenya in areas of mutual interest, particularly in advancing digital infrastructure and transformation. The talks add to a busy run of China-linked engagements for Kenya's ICT ministry in recent months, including a separate meeting between Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo and China's Ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan, on the same Digital Superhighway agenda, and Kenya's founding membership of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation. Share