September 1, 2022

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Updates on Smart Nation Sensor Platform- Connecting all 110,000 lampposts in the city; video analytics pilot in 2nd half of 2017

Updates on Smart Nation Sensor Platform- Connecting all 110
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In his opening speech at the 2nd Digital  Government Exchange (DGX), Mr. Peter Ong, Head of Singapore’s Civil Service, talked about the the Smart Nation Sensor Platform (SNSP) and the aim of converting all 110,000 lamp posts in Singapore into an interconnected network of wireless sensors.  

SNSP, previously known as the Smart Nation Platform, is one of the three large, complex, cross-cutting projects currently in focus for the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech), the other two being National Digital Identity and E-payments. 

SNSP will enable agencies to collect, analyse, and share data from sensors deployed island wide. Agencies can share common sensor communications backhaul and share the collected data to gain deeper insights. It would include a range of initiatives from smart metering in residential areas to provide consumers with timely information on their utility consumption to planning public transport using vehicular counting on a video analytics platform. 

Along with software to enable sensor data exchange, and data and video analytics, the platform includes hardware in the form of public cameras and lampposts.

In January this year, it was announced that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is installing energy-efficient Light Emitting Diodes (LED) for Singapore’s street lights and will replace the existing timer-based street lighting system with a Remote Control and Monitoring System (RCMS). The press release also stated that GovTech would leverage LTA’s smart lighting infrastructure to test the feasibility of deploying a shared network for low bandwidth.

The Singapore government plans to make all 110,000 lampposts in the country into an interconnected network of wireless sensors. In Singapore the lampposts are separated by an average distance of 20 to 40 metres.

For this network, the lampposts will be looked at as a clusters, rather than individual lampposts. This means that not all lampposts in a cluster would have the same connections or sensors. One lamppost could be connected to the nearest NGBN (next generation boradband network) point, acting as a 'base' lamppost and providing connection for bandwidth devices and the base of a meshed network. Other 'spoke' lampposts could connect through Wi-Fi meshed network for fixed frame rate CCTV, while others could extend connectivity by rebroadcasting to other sensors. Each could contain different sensors. Not every sensor would be required for every single lamppost, with the cluster approach.

GovTech will build in standard connectivity and power sources into the lamp posts, and then different devices can be plugged into it as required. The devices could be CCTVs or environmental or motion sensors.

The network will factor in the power in the lampposts which can be utilised for connectivity and IoT devices. Though the LED lights will reduce power consumption, there are limits on the amount of power which can be pumped into the lamppost without replacing cables. The network will take this into account and leverage existing infrastructure, using the power saved by use of LEDs for the sensors. Designing the backhaul for transferring the collected data to data centres is another challenge being tackled.

Data from the sensors will be used for urban and operational planning and also for maintenance and prompt response to incidents. Mr. Ong provided an interesting example of a potential application, by having lampposts communicate with connected cars to alert drivers when an ambulance or pedestrians are nearby. An accompanying Factsheet provided more details, adding that the vehicles could make way for the ambulance, once notified of an emergency and the ambulance’s presence. The smart lampposts could also host navigational beacons to guide autonomous guided vehicles, adjusting their route for road cleaning or grass cutting purposes.

The proof-of-concept development and trials are expected to start soon.

In addition, GovTech has deployed some CCTVs in public areas, environmental sensors and connectivity infrastructure in Yuhua, Civic District, Orchard Road and some other areas.

GovTech is also developing a video analytics platform which will be part of SNSP. Under this initiative, GovTech is working with various interested agencies for anomaly detection, studying human traffic patterns etc. Feeds from public cameras could be shared and the insights obtained from analysis could be used for improved planning and incident response. The pilot for the platform is targeted for the second half of 2017.

Robot-guided Tour of WWII Museum in Singapore

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The Changi Chapel and Museum (CCM) presents new content and artefacts in an intimate and engaging format to tell the story of prisoners of war and civilians interned in Changi prison camps during the Japanese occupation. The National Museum of Singapore, which manages CCM, has been collecting stories and personal objects from families of former internees to highlight their personal experiences since its renovation.

With this, CCM debuted Temi, a museum guide who moves around on wheels and greets visitors with audio and videos displayed on a flat screen. Temi is a commercial robot that has been programmed and trained to be a tour guide for the museum depicting life as a POW during WWII. The museum’s narrative focuses on remembrance and reflection, encouraging visitors to consider both the hardships endured by the internees, as well as their courage and resilience in the face of adversity.

Temi, despite being petite and reaching the waist level of an average adult, possesses the necessary intellect and wisdom to navigate and lead museum visitors through various exhibits entirely on its own.

By narrating tales and playing videos that provide context for the visible physical exhibits, it improves visitors’ museum experiences. All visitors need to do is sign up at the door and communicate with Temi using the touchscreen. As a result, visitors can use Temi whenever they like rather than having to wait for scheduled tours led by human tour guides.

The National Heritage Board contacted GovTech for solutions to support its human tour guides at the beginning of the project. The team decided to build its mechanical tour guide on top of an already-built, commercially available robot after carefully weighing their options.

Engineers from GovTech created a customised app to show the videos to visitors. They also took care of mapping Temi’s path through the museum. This involved mapping out each stop along the tour route so that the robot could move independently.

Temi uses a lidar sensor to detect obstacles in its path, so it won’t run into other people or things that are in the way. Additionally, contractors were hired to apply stickers to specific translucent glass doors so that Temi would recognise the door as something it should avoid.

Temi also can find its way back to the charging station when its battery is running low, so carrying it back is not necessary. Additionally, the robot can send signals that cause automatic sliding doors to open and remain open as it passes through.

Additionally, it can automatically reduce the volume of nearby exhibit videos that are also playing. This helps users concentrate on the information that Temi is presenting. The volume of the exhibit videos will return to its original setting once Temi has moved on.

The GovTech team had to retrofit Temi with some DECADA Edge hardware to make these features available. The gadget functions as a gateway to control the sound system’s volume reduction and opening of the glass doors. This is accomplished by the robot communicating with other sensors by relaying and sending messages from the robot.

Changi Chapel and Museum serves as a proof of concept for Temi. If the guide proves to be popular with museum visitors, additional robot guides of the same type will be deployed to other museums so that more visitors can benefit from them.

There is also the possibility of expanding Temi’s capacity to interact with other technological equipment. Temi can be programmed to coordinate a fully synchronised visual and audio show, for instance, by connecting to various lighting, sound, and IoT systems. This will create an immersive tour experience that engages the various senses of visitors.

India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce to be Beta-Tested

Image credit: Press Information Bureau
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The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, recently chaired a meeting to review the progress of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). It is a non-profit company established by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to develop open e-commerce.

According to a press release, it was apprised that since the alpha launch in five cities in April, ONDC has been testing with a closed user group for end-to-end execution to understand their fulfilment. ONDC expects the number of network participants to substantially increase to more than 30 in the coming weeks. Building on this, ONDC plans to start beta-testing the network with public users in limited areas.

Goyal noted that while continuing the various network development initiatives, the organisation must keep in mind that the basic purpose of ONDC is to assist the small, undigitised trader, who must be helped in their digital transformation journey. The aim is to digitise these traders and enable them to avail opportunities offered by the e-commerce ecosystem.

He said that existing e-commerce platforms are popular because they remain consumer-focused. They have created robust trust in their platforms based on their ability to deliver on promises made about products, fulfilment of orders in time, no-questions-asked returns policies, and consumer-friendly refunds and cancellations. ONDC will be tested against these benchmarks. ONDC must create consumer trust through robust mechanisms for ensuring the redressal of grievances of consumers and enforcing transparent policies for returns, refunds, and cancellations, he added. These policies are to be implemented at the network level.

DPIIT has been directed to work with all state governments to create awareness about the utility of ONDC and devise programmes in collaboration with state governments so that small traders, artisans, handicraftsmen, farmers, and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) from across the country are able to take full advantage of this open network.

Goyal also added that ONDC must work in active cooperation with traders and industry associations to implement the network at the ground level. Faster scaling up can be achieved with the cooperation of these associations. The government wants ONDC to work with the startup ecosystem to encourage and assist more entrepreneurs from across the country to develop e-commerce apps and assist their local traders. All government-supported incubators and other institutions and mechanisms working for innovation and entrepreneurship should be leveraged.

Earlier this week, Goyal reviewed the progress of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal. As OpenGov Asia reported, among several other things, various functionalities of the portal, as well as the timeliness in procurement and delivery, were reviewed in detail. Launched in 2016, GeM is an online platform for the public procurement of goods and services in India. The initiative aims to create an open and transparent platform for government officials. Currently, there are around 62,000 government buyers on the platform.

GeM’s initiatives for compressive monitoring and anomaly detection in procurement, which are based on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), were also reviewed. They detect and report potential collusion and fraud. Goyal said that strong legal and punitive actions must be taken against buyers and suppliers that conduct fraudulent activities.

CSIRO Scientists Leads Study to Develop Lifesaving Tech

Image Credits: CSIRO, Press Release
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Scientists from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have led a study to develop a machine learning tool which provides an early warning to medical professionals of a patient’s deteriorating condition.

The study, which was published in Nature: Scientific Reports, was conducted alongside Princess Alexandra Hospital and Metro South Health. The study showed that early warning deterioration alerts can be set to monitor patients two to eight hours before they are triggered by current clinical criteria.

CSIRO scientist Dr Sankalp Khanna noted that medical professionals will now be able to use the data contained in electronic medical records (EMRs) to predict when a patient’s vital signs such as blood pressure or temperature are likely to reach a danger zone, triggering patient decline.

With the massive amount of data in the EMR comes the potential for better patient care. For example, the information from the data can be used to help medical staff make decisions that can prevent a patient’s deterioration from adverse events and acute illness. Up until recently, and still, in some hospitals, patient data was not available electronically, restricting the capacity to develop digital tools to benefit from it.

He noted that this is the first time there has been a way to harness all the data in the EMR to predict patient health. This new tool has the potential to transform the day-to-day functioning of health systems. When applied to a test cohort of 18,648 patient records, the tool achieved 100% sensitivity for prediction windows two to eight hours in advance for patients that were identified at 95%, 85% and 70% risk of deterioration.

CSIRO scientists hold expertise in transforming data into usable information to help guide clinical choices. In addition, the new tool puts forth the reasons for the warning, which can guide the choice of intervention. The alerts warn medical staff when a patient is at risk of deterioration leading to possible death, cardiac arrest, or unplanned admission to ICU. The tool can notify of the need for clinical intervention. Clinical decision support tools such as these are a pre-emptive solution that can provide medical staff with an opportunity to intervene earlier to prevent adverse patient outcomes.

An Intensive Care Unit Staff Specialist at Princess Alexandra Hospital’s intensive care unit, Dr David Cook noted that the project is a genuinely useful, and implementable way of managing unexpected patient deterioration across a large hospital.

He said that it occurs without process duplication and does not interfere with established best practice systems which are used to recognise sick and deteriorating ward patients. CSIRO scientists are now in discussion with partners for a clinical trial to explore how the alerts work and how they can be best implemented into clinical workflows.

The Biotechnology in Australia strategic plan articulates the range of Australian Government initiatives that support the entire biotechnology ecosystem. It puts forward three pillars of Government support for health and medical applications of biotechnology and signals how current initiatives align.

Moreover, it provides a framework for the coordination of future commitments that aim to identify and address gaps as they emerge across investments, infrastructures, skills and capabilities.

The long-term Australian Government’s Plan for biotechnology in health and medicine focuses on three key pillars:

  • Pillar 1 – Supporting world-class research and development by strategically investing in areas of need and driving strong partnerships between academia, government science organisations, industry, health services, and consumers.
  • Pillar 2 – Facilitating high-quality and secure clinical development that attracts global interest by continuously improving research capabilities, processes, and infrastructure thus ensuring they remain or become globally competitive.
  • Pillar 3 – Accelerating commercialisation through partnerships and collaborations between academics, government science organisations, and industry; fit-for-purpose regulation; and by supporting the development of advanced manufacturing capabilities for biopharma and med-tech products.

Military Health Tech Reform in the U.S.

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The accessibility of beneficiaries’ electronic health records has significantly improved thanks to technological advancements and by utilising this technology, the U.S. Defense Health Agency (DHA) is streamlining services and bringing together key professionals to enhance the patient experience.

“I don’t think we’ve even scratched the surface of what we can do with a single system and the benefits it will bring,” says Holly Joers, Programme Executive Officer, Programme Executive Office, Defense Healthcare Management Systems.

DHA is putting the nexus of health care and technology at the forefront with a symposium for the Military Health System (MHS) and ongoing service and resource promotion. Defense Health Information Technology Symposium attendees from the Department of Defense’s health care community gathered in August 2022 to talk about the MHS’s transformation to ensure high-quality, patient-centred care.

The future of cybersecurity and improving virtual health were among the topics discussed. Systems, programmes, and apps for information technology are being developed all over the DHA to improve the efficiency and accessibility of health care for service members and their families.

The Veterans Affairs (VA) Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Defense (DOD) will eventually be able to transfer health records seamlessly as individuals leave the military and enter the VA healthcare system.

While the DOD, VA, and U.S. Coast Guard are developing a more integrated system, there are currently programmes available to access records online, get health-related information, and assess one’s own well-being.

Tag as MHS GENESIS Patient Portal, this electronic health record allows for 24-hour access to information as well as the ability to send messages to the care team and manage appointments.

This secure site will aid in the integration of patient care by keeping their health care professionals up to date on the most recent information and to facilitate care and a quicker return to duty, specialists can consult with providers in the operating room and provide care via video or other electronic media from anywhere in the world.

On the other hand, the MHS Nurse Advice Line can help clients to find answers to their health questions, locate appropriate medical treatment facilities, schedule appointments, and much more. This option is available 24/7 via web or video chat or phone, providing patients with peace of mind and sound medical advice.

In addition, DHA Mobile Apps are available for smartphone users. These mobile applications can assist service members and their families in achieving their health goals and staying on track. These include:

  • Decide + Be Ready: This app gives service members an interactive way to learn about birth control options and think about what is important to them about the method they choose.
  • My Prosperity Plan: Set goals for your personal life, relationships, spiritual needs, and so on. This app assists in reaching one’s full potential and keeping one on track.
  • MissionFit: Get in shape with this 12-week exercise programme that includes a variety of options and exercises. These programmes are aided by video, text, and images.

DHA recommends visiting the DHA Mobile App page to see what other services are available. The DHA is expanding its focus on integrating technology to make lives easier through these initiatives, services, and resources.

By providing a medically prepared force and enhancing the health of everyone under its care, the MHS supports the National Defense Strategy. More than just combat medicine, the MHS is an intricate system that connects health care delivery, medical education, public health, private sector partnerships, and cutting-edge medical research and development, among others.

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam to Formulate Data Management Strategy

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Ho Chi Minh City is coordinating with a global financial institution to develop a data management strategy, aiming to better cultivate data for government operations. According to the Deputy Director of the Municipal Department of Information and Communications, Vo Thi Trung Trinh, the strategy identifies a vision, specific goals, priority areas, and plans for the implementation of data and digitisation projects to improve the city’s data-driven governance.

Trinh was speaking at a conference on building a data strategic vision for HCM City hosted by the department and institution. She said that the two sides have completed a survey and assessment of the current status of data and data usage needs of local state regulators, with focus placed on three areas: urban planning, citizens’ information, and economic and financial development.

The conference provided the city with an opportunity to receive consultation and recommendations put forth by experts to accelerate digital transformation and strengthen data management. It also offered a platform for local departments, administrations, industry associations, and state-owned enterprises to speak about how data can be used to support its management, Thi Trinh added.

In its digital transformation journey, the country envisions the development of smart cities and provinces, and Ho Chi Minh is among the top cities in terms of digitisation. In the 2021 Digital Transformation Index (DTI), the city climbed two spots to rank third, after Da Nang and Thien-Hue.

A few months ago, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment began using emerging technologies to effectively manage large amounts of waste generated from the city. The city generates about 9,500 tonnes of domestic waste each day, equivalent to about 3 million tonnes per year. Since June, authorities have been working with a private player on a pilot programme using a software application to manage waste. Users can download and install the app on their iOS or Android devices to register for waste collection (including bulk waste collection), pay fees, monitor garbage truck routes, and even give feedback on waste services. The app is widely used by private waste collectors in District 7’s Binh Thuan, Tan Quy, Tan Thuan Dong, and Tan Thuan Tay wards.

As OpenGov Asia reported, a digital map for solid waste collection in the city is also being developed. It offers information about routes, the velocity and status of garbage trucks, waste collection points, and waste treatment stations. Additionally, last year, 14 waste collection units in the city’s Go Vap district began using an app that digitises waste management and allows users to make online payments for waste collection services in the district. With an online waste market, the app allows scrap dealers and owners of waste to connect. Sellers of waste can take pictures of products they want to sell, such as paper and plastics, and post the images on the app. Users can also post information about old items they have and want to donate.

When these software pieces are linked, they will share databases on waste owners, waste transporters, waste treatment organisations, and waste amounts, which will help authorities more efficiently coordinate the process.

Digital Scientific Resources in the Philippines

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The challenge for the librarians and libraries in the era of digitisation is how to make reliable and relevant resources that are available online more accessible to the researchers, and to make what’s available in prints that are not available online be digitised and transformed into formats that are more readily accessible to the users.

“There is no need to compete with an online search as libraries advance and fully digitise themselves, making institutional repositories accessible to target users whenever they want,” says Mary Grace P. Golfo-Barcelona, Dean, School of Library and Information Studies, the University of the Philippines Diliman during the Nutrition Research Information Network’s (NUTRINET) 35th anniversary hosted by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI).

Knowing that other networks of libraries would continue to do the same, she urged her NUTRINET colleagues to continue working together to create the most comprehensive information repositories that address the needs of their target community of researchers rather than those of all researchers.

The institutions that makeup NUTRINET have connected their libraries and documentation departments to create a specialised information system for food, nutrition, and related topics.

The Network’s goal is to ensure an effective flow of information for its members and the rest of the nation’s scientific community’s research and development projects on nutrition and topics related to it.

Librarians can strive to create the most comprehensive digital collections of resources, specifically chosen to fit the unique research needs of the community of users, within the available resources that member libraries have, with the aid of various library and information networks like NUTRINET.

Former members were questioned about their favourite memories from their time with the NUTRINET. One mentioned how expensive journals in the past made it hard to find specific information.

To create an information network on food and nutrition research and development, NUTRINET was founded in 1987. By facilitating information sharing between various nutrition and related agencies, NUTRIENT hopes to improve the country’s nutrition R&D information flow. From its first 14 members between 1987 and 1999, NUTRINET now has 24.

Meanwhile, datacasting will soon make the DOST’s digital library Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Station (STARBOOKS) accessible.

A standalone information source called Starbooks was created to help people who have little or no access to Science and Technology information sources.

The project gives Science, Technology, and Innovation-related content in different formats to students and other people in schools and communities across the country that are geographically isolated or have low incomes.

It has tens of thousands of digitised science and technology resources, such as text, research materials, journals and encyclopaedias, video, audio, and more. These resources are organised in “pods” with an easy-to-use interface.

On the other hand, the Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) recently signed a deal to make the portal available in pilot elementary and high schools.

ASTI has been sending educational materials to remote communities by using datacasting, which is the process of sending data over digital television and Low-Earth Orbit satellites.

Datacasting is not a replacement for the internet, but it is a good way to get learning materials to people in faraway places.

The Science Information and Technology Institute (STII) of the DOST, which oversees Starbooks, will make sure that resources are in line with the learning competencies of the Department of Education and the most important learning competencies listed in the agency’s curriculum.

India To create AI/ML Enabled Portal for Pensioners

Image credit: DOPPW_India; Twitter
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The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) is working on an artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)-enabled Integrated Pensioners Portal, linking the DoPPW portal, Bhavishya, and the pension portals of various banks. It will also develop a chatbot to ensure seamless interactions between the government, pensioners, and bankers.

Bhavishya has ensured the end-to-end digitisation of pension processing and payment in line with the government’s objective of enhanced transparency, complete digitisation, and better service delivery. It was made mandatory for all central government departments in 2017 and is currently implemented in the main secretariat of 97 ministries/departments.

The new DoPPW portal development project was announced at a two-day Bankers’ Awareness Programme by V. Srinivas, the DoPPW Secretary. More than 50 officers in the northern zone from centralised pension payment centres (CPPC) and pension dealing branches attended the programme. According to a press release, the Department is setting up a technology team to create the digital systems as the first deliverables in collaboration with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) and other banks. The government will pay specific attention to the process and people-related grievances by PNB.

The Secretary also spoke about the Digital Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan), which is a biometric-enabled digital service for pensioners of the central or state government or employees of any government organisation. Launched in 2014, the Digital Life Certificate is available through Aadhar-based biometric devices and the Indian Post Payments Bank’s Rural Postal Services. Face authentication technology for the service was developed last November, which transformed the way pensioners submit their life certificates.

To make the process more convenient for pensioners, DoPPW has taken several welfare measures in pension policy and in the digitisation of pension-related processes. For instance, in June, DoPPW launched a mobile phone version of Bhavishya to aid the seamless processing, tracking, and disbursal of pensions. The technology can send automatic alerts to pensioners and enable users to submit input, suggestions, and grievances.

Bhavishya 8.0 was released in August 2020 with a new feature to PUSH e-PPOs in DigiLocker. DigiLocker is the government’s digitisation online service that allows citizens to store important and official documents. Bhavishya is the first application to use the Digilocker ID-based PUSH technology. 3,892 e-PPOs have been pushed to Digilocker so far. Bhavishya allows retiring employees to link their DigiLocker account to the portal to get an e-PPO. Since the software is fed with the latest pension rules, the calculation of pension is accurate and as per rule and not based on the interpretation of the staff concerned.

The Bankers’ Awareness Programme is a part of a series of awareness programmes launched by DoPPW since the major pension disbursing authorities are banks. The programmes are for central pension processing centres and field functionaries handling pension-related work. The objective of these programmes is to spread awareness of the various rules and procedures regarding the disbursement of pensions to government pensioners as well as to update the field functionaries about the changes that take place from time to time through various amendments in the policy and procedures. The programme also helps understand the issues faced by bank officials when handling processes and pensioners’ grievances.

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