Singapore Smart City Visit for Champion of Innovation for Smart City Competition 2023

The Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatic (LSGI) expresses the sincere congratulation to the amazing winning team from Ying Wa's Girl School for their incredible achievement in the Innovation for Smart City Competition 2023. The objective of competition is to recognize outstanding innovation in the smart city development. We received application by over 80 students from local secondary schools to the competition. As one of the five finalist teams, the team of Ying Wa’s Girls received the overall champion award with the project “綠色煮易” during the final presentation ceremony on 7 July 2023 at PolyU. As a reward for their achievement, the victorious team celebrated their remarkable success by going on an overseas smart city visit in Singapore during 6 -9 August 2023, immersing themselves in the forefront of global smart city innovations.

During the 5-day Smart City Visit in Singapore, the group firstly visited the Singapore Land Authority (SLA). SLA presented various kinds of technologies and excellent quality products and services which driven the smart nation transformation in Singapore. At the Centre for Nature-Based Climate Solution, students had a unique opportunity to learn directly from a highly respected team specializing in mangrove conservation and climate resilience research.

Another visit day was arranged to the Future Cities Lab Global at Singapore ETH Centre, we were presented with the innovative ideas behind Future Resilient Systems and showcased the innovative Cooling Singapore initiative. The Smart Nation CityScape hosted the Urban Renewal Authority, showcased how Singapore has been transformed into a smart nation. Students understood how technologies have been incorporated to enhance not limited to citizen services but also the urban management and even the overall quality of life.

It is our pleasure to offer the team from Ying Wa's Girl School an unforgettable oversea visit in Singapore which they gained a greater understanding of smart cities and innovative technologies.

Sharings from Awardee Group:

Ying Wa Girls’ School

Mak Cheuk Hei Emily, Shih Maan Chi Gigi, Ko Man Yee Sonia, Liu Heather Ue Tung

Residing in an innovative city brimming with technology, we observe a strong desire among people and the government to establish a Smart City in order to enhance people’s quality of life and city management. To contribute to this vision, we have joined the Innovation For Smart City Competition organized by LSGI, and conceptualized our app, 綠色煮易, with the aim of promoting Smart Living. Through the utilization of technologies like GIS, our app intends to serve as a platform for citizens to effortlessly order local food ingredients. By doing so, we aspire to assist local farmers in expanding their customer base, thus fostering sustainable agriculture development and encouraging the adoption of green diets.

We are honored to have the precious opportunity to visit Singapore and know more about the innovation done in Singapore for a smart nation. During the trip, we got the chance to visit the Singapore-ETH center and Center for Nature-Based Climate Solutions in NUS, Singapore Land Authority, CapitaSpring and Singapore City Gallery. We have learnt a large range of information such as impacts of climate change and the implementation and challenges of potential solutions, 3D mapping technology and even architecture and history of some landmarks in the nation. We were also impressed by the government's creation of innovative apps, such as MOGUL.sg, which facilitates property search and sales.

Apart from gaining a deeper understanding of various technologies and issues, this trip provided us with a clearer vision of a smart city. Beyond mere reliance on technological hardware, we realized soft factors like community engagement are equally vital. Singapore's diverse population and inclusive attitude towards different cultures left a lasting impression on us. As we explored the streets, we encountered numerous churches, mosques, and other places of worship, reflecting Singapore's remarkable acceptance of cultural differences. This inclusiveness even extends to the relationship between people and nature, reflected by Singapore's commitment to greening and environmental conservation to combat climate change.

A smart city, in our view, is where humans, trees, and other living beings can thrive in an environment that promotes innovation and creativity. We are grateful for the opportunity to visit Singapore and would like to express our gratitude to the department and professors that guided us and provided invaluable insights. We hope to apply the knowledge gained to contribute to the development of a better and smarter city in Hong Kong.