Mr. Masayoshi Tamura, General Manager, Software Group, Hitachi India Pvt. Ltd

Hitachi's Smart City Infrastructure Solutions

In an interview with Built Constructions, Mr. Masayoshi Tamura, General Manager, Software Group, Hitachi India Pvt. Ltd., tells that Hitachi understands requirements of India in order to develop and provide best solutions for the country's smart city initiative.

BE: For a sustainable networked platform, technology plays a vital role. How ICT (Information Communication and Technology) can empower a sustainable and a smart city?

Hitachi has been working on Smart City projects in many countries such as US, China, India and Japan. Japan has the reputation of punctuality and efficiency on our society systems. Hitachi has good track record of providing ICT and solutions for Social Innovation. All the projects require the advanced and latest ICT and solutions. ICT is the core component of realizing it. "How" is explained in more details below.

BE: With the implementation of ICT, how smart cities can reduce the carbon footprint?

One of examples is "Aichi: Toyota City Low-Carbon Society System-Demonstration Project," which focuses on the carbon footprint, and the case shows the solution realizes the low carbon society. The carbon footprint is not the only target of Hitachi solutions. "Eco-model city," and "Smart Transport Society" are other goals that Hitachi's solutions can provide. Japan and Hitachi have learned from past problems and disasters including pollution problems and the recent earthquake and Tsunami. Hitachi's solutions are accumulation of know-how and preventive counter measures learned from the past.

A variety of smart city development projects are underway that seek to create a more comfortable way of life and a society that is kind to the environment. More project details are available at http://www.hitachi.com/products/smartcity/case/index.html

BE: Seamless connectivity interconnecting citizens, government, business and objects is an integral part of smart cities. Is current Indian physical infrastructure in the apt condition to support ICT environment?

Nobody is perfect. Each country and society has strength and weakness. Hitachi has been learning that by working with partners and customers. Some parts of the Indian society have strong infrastructure, and new innovative projects have been carried out and additionally started. Some of examples are large coverage of mobile phone network and unique ways to extending the coverage to tier 2, 3 and rural areas. At the same time, there are some challenges such as hundreds of millions of people are not yet connected to the power grid. Understanding such situations and requirements, Hitachi is developing and providing the best solutions for India.

BE: What kind of research is presently needed (in the elements such energy, transportation, water and waste management) for you to come up with a comprehensive plan?

BE: Hitachi has a dedicated unit as Smart City Infrastructure for smart city services. Can you brief on the services offered by Hitachi under this segment?

A city in harmony with the natural environment of the Earth in which people lead lives that are comfortable, safe, and convenient ??. In Hitachi's vision, a smart city is one that establishes a 'well-balanced relationship between people and the Earth.' The details of the Hitachi's several solutions are available at http://www.hitachi.com/products/smartcity/vision/index.html

Hitachi is trying to realize and implement "eco" using our experiences. For that purpose, Hitachi is learning India. Hitachi is working in India, with India, for India and for the world. As the situation, requirement, expectation at each society is different, Hitachi studies it and combine best solutions for each one.

The convenience and safety of a smart city, as well as the consideration for the environment a smart city empowers, are all made possible thanks to various fully functioning and mutually coordinated public infrastructures. Hitachi provides infrastructure solutions including energy, water, mobility, communications and IT platform. The details of the solutions can be obtained at http://www.hitachi.com/products/smartcity/smart-infrastructure/index.html

The solutions are categorized into System Development Technology, Coordination of Infrastructures, Communications, IT Platform, Mobility, Energy, and Water.

BE: Coordination of Infrastructures and Systems Development Technology are two main categories under Smart City Infrastructure. Please give us the details on these two divisions.

In order to realize a smart city, not only is it necessary to improve the efficiency of infrastructure operations, comfort and convenience must also be improved. Not only must electric power, water usage, transportation, healthcare, and a variety of other urban and service infrastructures be made more efficient on an individual basis, they must also coordinate with each other in order to making living more convenient and comfortable while at the same time reducing the load placed on the global environment.

Coordination of Infrastructure is described in detail at:

http://www.hitachi.com/products/smartcity/smart-infrastructure/cooperation/index.html

Hitachi has been working with lots of customers and partners. It has been helping Hitachi a lot to learn what are the current situations, requirements, and challenges. Then, Hitachi works with partners to improve the situation and satisfy the requirements. For that, Hitachi utilizes the experiences and latest technologies.

In the past, public infrastructure systems have been built with a focus on ensuring that they work exactly as planned in advance. Future public infrastructure systems, however, will be faced with a strong demand for the ability to continue functioning independently and flexibly in the case of a disaster or other emergency situation. Multiple different public infrastructure systems must also be able to act independently while coexisting and coordinating with each other, so that they can respond to changes that exceed the limitations of each individual system. More details are described at:

http://www.hitachi.com/products/smartcity/smart-infrastructure/system/index.html

Hitachi has been developing flexible and sustainable systems even in the extreme situations such as a disaster, and under changing environment and requirements. For that also, Hitachi utilizes the experiences and latest technologies. Hitachi provides solutions in other areas as well. Other areas include Communications, IT Platform, Mobility, Energy, and Water.