Chongqing- A new Deloitte Global report on urban transformation identifies 12 trends cities need to act on to achieve sustainability, resilience, and prosperity in a post-COVID landscape, which serves as a guide for cities to build better through leveraging technology and innovation.
The urban view of Chongqing from Changjiahui, Nanan District. (iChongqing/ Zheng Ran)
Despite the pandemic disrupting the core of urban life, cities remain well-positioned to respond to crises and restore vibrant, humanized communities. Using their human capital, infrastructure, and scalability potential, urban centers can drive the change needed to create a future green, digital, and inclusive society.
By 2030, 60% of the world's population will live in cities as global urbanization continues to accelerate.
"Currently, urban development is at an important turning point," said Shi Nengzi, Vice Chairman of Deloitte China. "The unprecedented impact of the pandemic on cities demonstrates cities' ability to deal with economic, social, and environmental challenges."
Shi continued that although China's urban development faces many challenges, it also ushers substantial growth opportunities.
The report finds that China's penetration rate in intelligent transport, urban artificial intelligence (AI), surveillance, and police forecasting has reached a top level, but further improvements are needed in circular economy and production locally, the 15-minute city, network security, and privacy.
Greening, digitization, facilitation, refinement, and humanization are core issues of China's urban future development.
"These 12 trends outline what a resilient and sustainable city will look like," says Miguel Eiras Antunes, Deloitte's Global Smart City, Smart Nation, and Local Government Leader. "They can help governments develop and evolve their urban transformation strategies, but they can also help them balance short-term pressures with longer-term needs."
12 Trends Shaping the Future of Cities. (Deloitte Website)
To achieve sustainable urban living, cities are rethinking their structure and functions with green planning of public spaces. To improve urban living, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Chengdu, and other places constantly promote urban renewal, including pocket parks, vertical forests, and roof gardens.
Chongqing 18 Steps is like a dream world at dusk. (iChongqing file photo)
Through smart health communities, cities are developing health care ecosystems that not only diagnose and treat sickness but also encourage well-being through early intervention and prevention. Public and private entities will further cooperate in providing medical care through the concept.
Currently, Chongqing has built 57 smart hospitals, accelerating the in-depth integration of medical treatment, nursing, management, and the new generation of information technology (NGIT). This involves the Sino-Singapore Cancer Center (SSCC), a strategic collaboration between the TalkMed Group in Singapore and the People's Hospital of Yongchuan District in Chongqing.
A range of housing options, more green space, and designated walking and bicycle routes are being designed into neighborhoods so that amenities are within 15 minutes of walking or bicycling.
In China, the future development of the community economy will extend from community group buying to different scenarios of education, health, and low carbon activities.
To create a TOD living circle that is 15 minutes long and a commuting circle that is 30 minutes long, Chongqing issued a specific plan for TOD development. Chongqing is also fully advancing its rail transit network construction; 329 kilometers are open to the public, and 227 kilometers are under construction.
City operations, surveillance, and predictive policing through artificial intelligence (AI) are keys to urban transformation. Cities can use technology-enabled infrastructure to automate operations, increase efficiency, solve problems, and improve their services.
Cities in China must make overall plans based on infrastructure, function, and data, avoiding fragmented and inefficient construction. Meanwhile, cities will use AI for surveillance and policing predictions.
A full-dimensional and real-time perception of potential security risks in the community will be realized in the future in China. The Smart City Operations Management Center of Jiangbei District has provided a good demonstration in China.
Other trends include inclusive services and planning, mobility, the digital innovation ecosystem, the circular economy and production locally, cyber-security and privacy awareness, smart and sustainable buildings, and infrastructure.
Cities in China are meeting citizens' needs with a better supply, providing citizens with better resources, and solving urban development problems with more scientific, refined, and humane governance, allowing the masses to feel more gain, happiness, and security. In August, Chongqing will host Smart China Expo 2022, providing additional explorations and possibilities.
The big screen shows the main road of Jiangbei District at the Smart City Operations Management Center of Jiangbei District. (iChongqing/ Zheng Ran)
(Zhu Qinzhuo, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)
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