Da Nang opens smart control centre

The seaport city of Da Nang in Vietnam today announced an agreement with technology company IBM to upgrade the management of the city’s key systems allowing personnel to track trends, forecast demand and better manage the city’s water and transport assets.

Using IBM’s Intelligent Operations Center, Da Nang, Vietnam’s fourth largest city, will use real-time analysis to monitor the city’s water supply. Through a new traffic control centre, city officials will also be able to monitor traffic and control the city’s traffic lights through dashboard technology.

“Da Nang is taking bold steps in implementing the most advanced technologies to build and operate the infrastructure of the city to ensure we consistently provide quality services to our citizens, and effectively manage our growth,” said Pham Kim Son, Director of Da Nang Department of Information and Communications, and Permanent Deputy Director of the provincial Steering Committee for Information Technology. “Water and transportation are the first two areas where we are applying some of the most advanced technologies available.”

Facing one of the highest population growth rates in the country, the city’s water company DAWACO is implementing a programme of expansion and modernisation at its water treatment facility. It will use IBM Smarter Cities technology which will allow it to measure water turbidity, salinity, conductivity, pH and chlorine levels in real time. DAWACO workers can instantly visualise operations and receive alerts and notifications when readings stray from norms or when analysis indicates that water quality has changed.

In transport, the city’s traffic control centre will have the tools to forecast and prevent congestion and to better coordinate the city’s response to accidents and adverse weather. 
With the new system, Da Nang’s Department of Transport will have real-time information on its 100 city buses such as driving speed, location and predicted journey times and via the department’s web portal, passengers will be immediately informed of changes to bus routes and timetables as well as being updated on estimated arrival times.

“Da Nang is leading the way among Southeast Asian cites, moving quickly to build plans and adopt technology to create a more sustainable, efficient community for their citizens,” said Michael Dixon, General Manager, IBM Smarter Cities. “By starting with focused, practical areas such as water and transportation, city leaders are taking a strategic approach to building a smarter city.”