Ian Chung: Infrastructure must change with technology

Today, infrastructure and urban development are closely related to advanced technology. Ian Chung, PRC Leader and Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific, of AECOM, believes that it is impossible to wait for technology to develop to the required standards before using it for projects in such industries since these projects take a very long time to complete. Instead, these industries must integrate new technologies as soon as possible in order to contribute to the urban environment in a timely manner.

He said that a smart city must be one that serves “people”. This is because “people” are the only core reason and driving force for all activities and development of the city. The infrastructure engineering industry should use new advanced technologies such as digitisation and artificial intelligence to create a better living environment for people.

Chung pointed out that “smart city” refers to how a city can improve the ability to respond to a crisis. In addition, it can convey public service information to the public more efficiently and establish the uniqueness of individual cities to bring a sense of belonging for their residents. He believes that innovation is not just about new invention or cutting-edge technology. Innovative optimisation, improvement or better management of existing technologies and resources is also innovation.