“The Intelligent Cities Simulator” - Accenture joins forces with the Global Compact Cities Programme
19 January 2011
In the coming decades, cities face increasing challenges as they endeavour to tackle the complex challenges of sustainability. Meeting these
challenges involves intelligent optimisation of precious human and natural resources, coupled with some degree of prescience around where those resources are best deployed. Recently the term “intelligent city” has been coined to describe an urban system capable of planning, adapting to and growing within its
environmental conditions.
To help cities develop this kind of capability, Accenture has teamed with the Global Compact Cities Programme to develop what we have termed an “Intelligent Cities Simulator”. The purpose of this software system is to simulate the effect of particular programs, interventions and actions on key urban indicators.
Modelled indicators include both general indicators such as CO2 emissions, HDI and Liveability indexes, and program-specific metrics, such as water consumption, recycling rates and proportionate energy mixes.
The simulator provides a useful, high-level pre-planning heuristic, directing attention towards possible side effects and unintended consequences of interventions, prior to (and possibly pre-empting) the undertaking of more detailed cost-benefit analyses. It also takes into account actual urban conditions, through city profiles which capture demographic, environmental and other statistics, and which then show, through the selection and configuration of programs, the differential effects of those programs.
The development of the simulator is an iterative and evolving project. The intention is to learn from the ongoing discussions and critical feedback as the simulator is used around the world. The partnership with the Global Compact Cities Programme enables the engagement with cities across the world as a base to feedback real experiences. In this way we intend to continually develop and expand the simulator to act as a knowledge base and interactive learning tool.
For more information contact Mr Liam Magee, Research Fellow, RMIT University.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
