Chung Cheng University and Vpon are collaborating to pioneer a new era of sustainable smart cities driven by data
Apr 11, 2023
The global pandemic has not only drastically changed people's lifestyles and work patterns but has also accelerated the digital transformation of governments and businesses worldwide, leading to the rapid development of smart cities. On the 11th, Chung Cheng University and Vpon Big Data Group signed a cooperative agreement establishing the "International Sustainable Smart City Research Alliance". The objective is to create a smarter and more efficient city, fostering a new model of cross-border and cross-domain international industry-academia collaboration.
After successfully launching Taiwan's first "Sustainable Smart City Command and Monitoring Center" at the end of 2022, Chung Cheng University's cross-disciplinary team, led by Chief Information Officer Xiong Boan, immediately initiated collaborations with various domestic and foreign government agencies, including the Chandigarh City Government, Chiayi County Environmental Protection Bureau, Jiaxian County Construction Office, Chiayi Municipal Police Department, and Chiayi City Traffic Department. These collaborations focused on addressing crucial livelihood and safety issues, such as air and water pollution, as well as cross-camera vehicle tracking. The formal establishment of the "International Sustainable Smart City Research Alliance" was officially declared today through the joint signing of the agreement by Chief Information Officer Xiong Boan and Vpon Founder and CEO Wu Yihong.
To execute the National Science and Technology Association's "AI Theme Research Plan in Response to Important National Challenges: Sustainable Smart City Command and Monitoring Center Design," the National Chung Cheng University team aims to leverage the International Sustainable Smart City Research Alliance to synergize production, government, academia, and research efforts, collectively supporting the country's digital resilience development. Xiong Boan emphasized that data plays a pivotal role in driving smart cities, and the collaboration between Chung Cheng University and Vpon, a leading big data company in Asia, holds significant importance. It will help Taiwan take the lead in promoting sustainable smart city development on a global scale.
Xiong Boan further highlighted the recent cooperation between the Research Center for Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development at National Chung Cheng University and Wei Peng Big Data, including the joint creation of the "Sustainable Development Index (KPI) of Smart City," aligning with the United Nations' Sustainable Development SDGs Goal 11. This index assesses sustainability in terms of the environment, economy, and society. In this collaboration, Vpon provided data, which, combined with government open data, enabled Chung Cheng University's teachers and students to develop an AI model to predict sustainable development KPIs. Consequently, data from smart cities can speak for themselves, providing the government with valuable insights for policy evaluation and decision-making.
Xiong Boan also pointed out the significance of long-term tracking data for indicators such as air quality (AQI), river pollution index (RPI), traffic journey time (TTI), economic indicators (taxation), etc. Such data can predict future urban development and alert the government and the public to environmental changes and their consequences.
Wu Yihong expressed that Vpon Big Data Group, with 15 years of experience, has evolved into an iconic big data company in Asia, reaching 900 million mobile devices monthly. With over 1,500 global customers, the company specializes in data-driven solutions such as data analysis services, advertising placement, and cross-border marketing. This collaboration aims to combine Vpon's mobile data with Chung Cheng University's AI technology and smart dashboard, enhancing the value-added application of big data. Wu Yihong believes that this will enable the government to make faster and more accurate decisions, creating a more pleasant living environment and furthering the country's digital development towards greater intelligence and resilience.