The integration of physical infrastructure and information technology (IT) systems will improve the safety of cities, but these capabilities will also underpin smart city systems that will improve the efficiency of Africa’s cities, says multinational IT firm NEC chief engineer Shinya Kukita.

NEC’s local partner firm and system integrator XON CEO Carel Coetzee emphasises that the safety of Africa’s people and cities is the main priority that needs to be addressed. However, the two other priorities, energy and cyber-physical integration – the so-called Internet of Things (IoT) – will also enable the continent to leapfrog stages in its development through the application of existing technologies.

NEC has significant experience and proven products to meet all three priorities, and providing high-quality services for Africa through deep partnerships with firms on the continent will contribute to the sustainable realisation of a brighter Africa, says NEC Europe president Ikeno Masahiro.

The compnay has global deployment experience in public safety solutions, such as biometric technologies and cyber security operations centres, with a strong history of collaboration with local and international security agencies, large-scale networking solutions to underpin connected societies, and utility-scale energy and energy storage systems. These can all be adapted to fit local needs, he explains.

“NEC and XON can support the digital revolution affecting all aspects of life, and we can deploy information and communication technologies (ICTs) for all resource-intensive processes and supply chains.”

Masahiro adds that data analytics, predictive analytics, computing, network and security technologies, as well as ways to control all data in real time remotely and dynamically to support IoT and artificial intelligence, will further enhance the effectiveness and efficiencies of Africa’s infrastructure, cities, enterprises and societies.

NEC Global Safety Division head of innovation Walter Lee highlights that three main trends are affecting cities worldwide – IoT, interagency collaboration and the use of sensors and analytics to gather and process the massive volumes of data.

“Physical and cyber threats have multiplied and the increasing integration of all aspects of society, commerce and infrastructure is increasing the risks associated with these threats. IoT drives the need for interagency collaboration, and collective vigilance provides ways of protecting against these risks,” he says.

Further, big data analytics is necessary to provide the required speed of response and to automate much of the interagency communication and responses that must be calibrated for each of the agencies, in accordance with international security best practices, says Lee.

“Criminals love the silos in which we typically work. The counter to this is better collaboration. NEC is working with international security agency Interpol’s offices, in Singapore, where it helps the agency in its digital forensics laboratory, and has also established a capability and training centre for cyber security officers.”

Similarly, safe and smart city systems that improve security and emergency responses in a holistic manner, simultaneously reducing response times and improving efficiencies, will also require analytics and the dynamic management of assets and resources, which, in turn, relies on effective IoT and networking.

“Smart cities are about how we apply technologies to advance our own needs and support what we aim to achieve.”

A framework to deploy secure smart and safe city systems and intelligent sensor networks, which are the foundation of IoT, is necessary to enable effective orchestration of all the systems through integration and analytics layers, he concludes.

Story highlights:

* NEC aims to make African cities safe and smart by deploying networking and analytics systems.
* Safe and smart city systems that improve security and emergency responses will require analytics systems and dynamic management of assets and resources.