AI Led Digital
Transformation of Cities
Prakash Kumar
India stands at the cusp of a
major transformation, driven by rapid urbanization and the digital revolution.
As cities burgeon, becoming denser and more complex, the challenges of urban
governance grow exponentially. Traditional methods of managing urban
environments are increasingly proving inadequate to address issues such as
waste management, pollution, traffic congestion, and the delivery of essential
services. This scenario calls for innovative solutions that can enhance the
efficiency, responsiveness, and sustainability of urban governance. Enter
Artificial Intelligence (AI), a technology with the potential to radically
transform how cities are managed and governed. By harnessing the power of AI,
Indian cities can leapfrog into a new era of smart governance, where
decision-making is informed, services are citizen-centric, and urban challenges
are addressed more effectively.
The relevance of AI in urban
governance cannot be overstated. With its ability to analyze vast amounts of
data in real time, AI offers unparalleled insights into urban operations,
enabling cities to predict and respond to the needs of their citizens proactively.
This technological transformation promises not only to enhance the quality of
life for millions of urban residents but also to pave the way for sustainable
urban development. As Indian cities continue to grow, the integration of AI
into urban governance will be key to navigating the complexities of
urbanization, ensuring that India's urban future is bright, inclusive, and
resilient.
Municipal bodies shoulder a broad
spectrum of responsibilities, encompassing both essential services and
regulatory oversight, along with a variety of other civic duties. Within the
ambit of public health and sanitation, their tasks are manifold, including the
collection and disposal of solid waste, sewage system management, provision of
potable water, and operation of healthcare facilities. Furthermore, they
undertake vital preventive measures against communicable diseases, such as
malaria and dengue, through strategies like fogging, anti-larval operations,
and vaccination campaigns. In the realm of urban planning and development,
municipalities play a pivotal role in executing master plans that guide the
orderly growth of cities, enforcing zoning laws, building codes, and ensuring
the safety and integrity of construction projects. They are tasked with the
construction and upkeep of infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and
culverts. Beyond these core functions, municipalities regulate a range of services,
from issuing licenses and permits for local businesses and activities to the
collection of property taxes, approval of building plans, and the maintenance
of vital records, including the issuance of birth and death certificates.
Municipalities also extend a
diverse array of services that significantly impact daily life and community
well-being. These services include operating public transportation systems,
such as buses, illuminating streets and public areas, and maintaining parks,
gardens, and recreational facilities. Additionally, they administer primary
education through their own schools. They also play an important role in preparing
for and managing natural disasters and other emergencies. Encouraging active
civic engagement in governance, exemplified by initiatives like Delhi's
Bhagidari scheme, municipalities also establish mechanisms for residents to
voice complaints and grievances. Furthermore, they are instrumental in
fostering economic growth by creating a conducive environment for businesses
and investments, promoting cultural activities and events, and enhancing
tourism to invigorate the local economy.
Information technology (IT) is
fundamental in the delivery and oversight of these municipal services. The
substantial volumes of data getting generated underscore the significance of
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in elevating these services to a higher level,
while also enriching the spheres of planning and policy formulation at the city
level. Let us see how technology can help transform the way services are rendered.
Public Health and Sanitation
Overflowing bins and streets
marred by waste are all too familiar in urban landscapes. The challenge of
ensuring timely garbage collection, traditionally monitored through manual
means, faces inherent limitations. Technology introduces a suite of solutions
to address these issues, ranging from bins equipped with IoT sensors that gauge
fill levels, alerting control centers to act promptly, to the deployment of
AI-enabled cameras in certain cities. These cameras not only detect when bins
overflow or streets become littered but also verify compliance with collection
schedules. In a significant number of municipalities, garbage trucks fitted
with RFID tags facilitate the monitoring of waste collection from public bins.
By analysing data on garbage collection, addressing complaints about delays,
and considering the population density of different areas, a more efficient
planning for garbage collection and the establishment of additional public bins
can be achieved, enhancing urban cleanliness and livability.
Water leakage from underground pipes, uneven distribution,
contamination risks, and restricted supply durations are prevalent issues faced
by urban residents, who demand a consistent, safe, and adequate water supply.
Addressing these challenges, technology offers a comprehensive array of
solutions. Acoustic emission technology is employed to pinpoint leaks within
underground pipelines, while AI-driven supply management systems work to
distribute water more evenly across different city areas. Further AI applications
are also utilized to identify leakage points, alongside the deployment of smart
meters to monitor usage. By creating detailed maps of water pipelines and
analyzing consumption data, urban local bodies can significantly enhance water
supply efficiency. It's estimated that addressing pipeline inefficiencies alone
could save 30 to 40% of potable water that is currently lost, pointing towards
a sustainable future for urban water management.
Aging and neglected sewer systems are increasingly strained by burgeoning urban populations. Compounding this challenge is the pollution of sewage systems by untreated industrial effluents and the intrusion of solid waste, which frequently leads to blockages. Citizens' primary demand is for an efficient sewer system devoid of hazardous open manholes. In response, technology offers a plethora of solutions, beginning with the mapping of sewer lines—a process yet to be initiated in numerous cities and towns. Innovations include smart sewer systems capable of monitoring their own condition, identifying leaks and blockages, and IoT-based systems for comprehensive data collection. Additionally, robots designed to navigate sewer interiors and transmit visual inspections are among the advanced solutions now available to tackle these urban infrastructure challenges.
The healthcare services offered by municipalities face several challenges, including insufficient medicine supplies and a scarcity of medical professionals in hospitals and dispensaries. Urban residents seek reliable healthcare services, encompassing accessible doctors and medication in healthcare facilities, alongside proactive measures to prevent epidemics through timely fogging and vaccination campaigns. In addressing these needs, technology plays a crucial role, offering solutions such as resource planning software to efficiently manage medicines, patient care, and healthcare staff. Telemedicine emerges as a transformative approach, connecting specialists with patients in remote dispensaries, eliminating the necessity for the ill to travel to hospitals. Moreover, advancements like street sweeping and dusting machines significantly contribute to urban cleanliness, thereby lowering disease incidence. Additionally, AI-equipped CCTV cameras are deployed to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of service agencies responsible for providing these essential healthcare services to the community.
Roads, Street Furniture and Transportation
Potholed roads and delays in their repair, leading to significant inconveniences and hazards for the public, alongside the traditional manual inspection for road maintenance, are common grievances among citizens who demand smooth, pothole-free roads. Addressing these concerns, technology offers several innovative solutions to assist municipal governments. Real-time data from dashboard cameras and mobile phones in Uber vehicles and taxis are now utilized to pinpoint the precise locations and dimensions of potholes. This timely information enables the rapid notification of maintenance staff or contractors for prompt repairs within specified time frames. Additionally, this data aids city governments in overseeing the service level agreements (SLAs) with contractors tasked with road maintenance, thereby enhancing citizen satisfaction through improved urban infrastructure management.
In terms of automation of regulatory services, cities have done quite
well in terms of enabling online function of property tax payment, building plan
approvals, issue of birth and
death certificates, application for licensing and permits etc. This has led to
generation of huge amount of data which could be used by AI/ML applications for
identifying property owners who are not paying due taxes by using data
from water supply, electricity and telephone companies. Integrating building
approval system with Property Tax system will ensure property tax computation
is correctly done and its levy starts immediately after completion certificate is
granted. In many cities long gaps are noticed between date of completion
certificate (CC) and date when the levy of property tax starts.
Services like admission to
primary school could be offered based on date of birth maintained by the
municipalities avoiding parents to apply for the same and also ensuring every
child gets admitted in school and no one is left out. Similarly, linking of death
certificate system with benefits system will ensure that flow of benefits stop
to such people.
In the realm of automating regulatory services, Indian cities have made
significant strides, notably in the digitalization of essential functions such
as online property tax payments, building plan approvals, birth and death
certificate issuance, and applications for licenses and permits. This digital
transformation has culminated in the accumulation of vast datasets, ripe for
AI/ML application deployment. These technologies can identify property owners
evading taxes by cross-referencing data from utilities like water, electricity,
and telecommunication services. By synchronizing the building approval and
property tax systems, cities can ensure accurate property tax self-assessments
and initiate tax collection promptly upon the issuance of completion
certificates, addressing the often-observed delays between the granting of
completion certificates and the commencement of property tax levies.
Citizens often encounter
significant challenges when attempting to report issues and track their
grievances with city administrations. In many instances, cities lack dedicated
call centers for grievance redressal, and those that exist are typically understaffed
and operational only during official working hours. Generative AI (GenAI) based
chatbots emerge as a solution, capable of operating around the clock. These
chatbots can be scaled according to the volume of calls and are adept at
engaging in conversations in multiple Indian languages, mimicking the
responsiveness of human agents and significantly enhancing the accessibility
and efficiency of city services for residents.
