Sustainaibility

DBKL's Vision: Pioneering Smart City Initiatives in Kuala Lumpur

Smart cities represent the future of urban development, where technology and sustainable practices converge to create environments that enhance the quality of life while addressing pressing ecological challenges. Greater Kuala Lumpur (GKL) stands at the forefront of this transformation, driven by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur’s (DBKL) strategic initiatives empowering green infrastructure. Let’s explore the key drivers behind these efforts, which, combined, form the bedrock of the organisation’s vision for a sustainable urban future.

Critical drivers for smart cities in Greater Kuala Lumpur

Climate change resilience

According to DBKL’s Kuala Lumpur Climate Action Plan 2050 report, addressing the escalating threats of heatwaves, floods, and droughts is crucial for Kuala Lumpur due to Malaysia’s nature as a tropical rainforest habitat. The annual amount of rainfall is expected to increase by over 30% between 2025 and 2100, while dry spells will increase by 18% to 45 days by 2050. Combined, these drastic weather shifts could impact the city socially, environmentally and economically.

Furthermore, the city’s climate resilience strategies are influenced by international frameworks. Examples are the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 13, which emphasises urgent action to combat climate change, and the Paris Agreement, which oversees the commitment of nations worldwide to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Urbanisation pressures

Another significant challenge is to sustainably manage GKL’s rapid urban growth. GKL’s development aligns with national frameworks such as the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (2016–2020) and Twelfth Malaysia Plan (2021–2025), which prioritise sustainable urbanisation and smart city development. These plans emphasise the importance of efficient land use, sustainable transport systems, and green infrastructure to support the growing urban population.

Tech-forward government policies

Aligning with national and international sustainability goals ensures the development strategies empowering GKL are robust and forward-thinking. The Malaysia Smart City Framework and the Low Carbon Cities Framework are key governmental policies that provide a strategic direction for sustainable urban development. These frameworks encourage cities to adopt smart solutions that reduce carbon footprints and improve residents' quality of life.

Leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data is pivotal in GKL’s innovative city development. The Malaysia Smart City Framework, for one, serves as a guide for integrating these technologies into urban planning. Additionally, it promotes the use of advanced technologies to enhance urban management, improve service delivery, and boost the city's overall efficiency and sustainability.

Tech-forward government policies

Speaking of improving quality of life, GKL’s smart city strategies are definitely community first. These efforts are guided by the New Urban Agenda, which was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III). This agenda emphasises inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities, promoting policies that ensure all urban residents have access to essential services and a high quality of life

So, where does DBKL fit in as the purveyor of GKL’s green infrastructure? Here’s how the organisation is creating lasting changes through specific smart city initiatives.

DBKL’s visions for a greener future

KL Safe City

Source: Federal territories minister Shahidan Kassim said data on incidents in the city collected at the KLCCC will help Kuala Lumpur City Hall carry out its tasks more effectively. (Bernama pic) (Free Malaysia Today)

Reported crime in Kuala Lumpur doubled between 2000 and 2009, prompting the city to set an ambitious goal of becoming one of the world's safest cities. To achieve this, DBKL invested in smart city initiatives, including the installation and upgrade of over 5000 smart CCTV cameras integrated with a central control centre. These cameras use AI and facial recognition to predict and monitor human behavior, enhancing security and traffic management capabilities.

Kuala Lumpur Climate Action Plan

As part of the C40 Cities Climate Action Planning Southeast Asia Programme, DBKL’s Kuala Lumpur Climate Action Plan 2050 framework has set a bold vision for carbon neutrality by the middle of the century. This initiative, supported by international funding from UK BEIS’ International Climate Finance and Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aimed to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 2022. The exact achievement level by 2022 and beyond remains unclear due to ongoing evaluations and updates. But one thing is for sure: The plan focuses on deploying urban sensors for real-time data collection, climate analytics, and early warning systems processed through IoT sensors, AI, big data and heat and flood management technologies. This remarkable suite of solutions effectively positions GKL as a rising hub of smart cities.

Zero Carbon Growth Zone in Wangsa Maju

Source: A view of Wangsa Maju as seen on Dec 9, 2015. (Photo by Shahrin Yahya/The Edge filepix)

Spanning 11 square kilometres, Wangsa Maju’s Zero Carbon Growth Zone township was developed based on the '15-Minute City' concept. There, essentials are within a short walk or bike ride. As one of DBKL’s smart cities initiatives, this project aims to enhance public transport, promote electric vehicles, and install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on city buildings. Collaborative large-scale solar farming projects and the introduction of a free electric bus service further support these milestones.

Think City Partnership for Creative and Cultural District

Source: Business Today

In partnership with Think City, DBKL sealed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to rejuvenate Downtown Kuala Lumpur as a creative and cultural district. This collaboration leverages advanced technologies to pool ideas, resources, and ecosystem partners, aiming to make the city more livable and sustainable. Their mission: To incorporate urban greening, public transportation improvements, and climate change strategies inspired by global examples the likes of Barcelona and Hong Kong’s West Kowloon.

So far, DBKL and Think City’s partnership has led to over 165 projects and 120 cultural events, significantly boosting the creative economy. But it doesn’t end there; they are set to install electric buses and WiFi in public housing in their shared ambition to transform federal territories into smart cities by 2030.

Trees as Infrastructure

Over the years, DBKL has been actively involved in urban greening efforts via the trees as infrastructure approach, planting over 200,000 trees across GKL to enhance the region’s green cover and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Despite road bumps like tree tracking and maintenance challenges, the initiative is steadily improving the city’s air quality while reducing its temperatures and mitigating natural floods. Ultimately, DBKL aims to achieve a 30% green cover through an eventual integration of mature trees and new plantings into the urban landscape.

DBKL’s visions for a greener future

It’s clear that DBKL's efforts in green infrastructure and smart city initiatives underscore GKL’s overall commitment to sustainability and improved urban living. Through various innovative projects and strategic partnerships, this organisation is steadily paving the way for the region’s resilient, sustainable, and vibrant future as Malaysia’s capital city.

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