Part 1 of 3
I am often asked to demonstrate the essential technical architecture and infrastructure that underpins an Intelligent Community. Yes, we have shown these from time to time in our powerpoint presentations and if needed, we can approach several communities around the globe, their utilities and the private sector service providers to show examples of technology and infrastructure that they use. But I prefer to set our focus on a slightly different trajectory.
ICF's message has been clear: that broadband and high technology can help in building better societies around the world, but our focus is not on the technology and has never been solely on the technology, nor on other aspects of the broadband infrastructure. Rather ICF has tended to look at many other ways to build a better and more intelligent community - through building, attracting and sustaining a knowledge workforce; ensuring that the governance and environment is right to nurture and promote creativity and innovation; ensuring that all members of our society have access to and benefit from the broadband economy and that we should advocate for and market our communities to the world in order to attract and sustain investment and talent in our communities. These are the key criteria around which ICF has focused its attention on a global basis and especially in selecting its Smart 21, Top 7 and Intelligent Communities of the Year.
But we also need to be aware of how sustainability fits into this as well as leadership, collaboration, culture of use, etc. Personally, with my interest as an urban planner and urban designer, I also like to talk about how intelligent infrastructure, buildings and good urban design are important as part of the intelligent community process. So as planners, we need to better understand both the physical as well as environmental and other issues that surround the opportunity to develop our communities better.
More information on the Intelligent Community Forum can be found at www.intelligentcommunity.org.
I am often asked to demonstrate the essential technical architecture and infrastructure that underpins an Intelligent Community. Yes, we have shown these from time to time in our powerpoint presentations and if needed, we can approach several communities around the globe, their utilities and the private sector service providers to show examples of technology and infrastructure that they use. But I prefer to set our focus on a slightly different trajectory.
ICF's message has been clear: that broadband and high technology can help in building better societies around the world, but our focus is not on the technology and has never been solely on the technology, nor on other aspects of the broadband infrastructure. Rather ICF has tended to look at many other ways to build a better and more intelligent community - through building, attracting and sustaining a knowledge workforce; ensuring that the governance and environment is right to nurture and promote creativity and innovation; ensuring that all members of our society have access to and benefit from the broadband economy and that we should advocate for and market our communities to the world in order to attract and sustain investment and talent in our communities. These are the key criteria around which ICF has focused its attention on a global basis and especially in selecting its Smart 21, Top 7 and Intelligent Communities of the Year.
But we also need to be aware of how sustainability fits into this as well as leadership, collaboration, culture of use, etc. Personally, with my interest as an urban planner and urban designer, I also like to talk about how intelligent infrastructure, buildings and good urban design are important as part of the intelligent community process. So as planners, we need to better understand both the physical as well as environmental and other issues that surround the opportunity to develop our communities better.
More information on the Intelligent Community Forum can be found at www.intelligentcommunity.org.
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