Azerbaijan's future - smart cities and villages
Anaysis by Caliber.Az
ANALYTICS 22 November 2022 - 17:28
Khazar Akhundov Caliber.Az |
In recent years, projects aimed at the digital transformation of various sectors of the economy and the sphere of public utilities have been implemented in Azerbaijan. Separate components of Smart Cities in public transport, communication, urban management systems, security, etc. are also being formed in Baku, Ganja, Shamakhi, and other cities of the country. Since the liberation of the Karabakh region, the concepts of smart city and smart village have been identified as the basic principle for the revival of these territories. Plans to digitalise the infrastructure of Azerbaijani cities and villages and achievements in this area were discussed at an international conference on "Innovative approach to the development of cities and rural areas: smart cities and villages" held the day before in Baku.
According to the UN estimates, 67% of the global population, more than 6.3 billion people, will live in cities by 2050. Today, many of the world's megacities are overcrowded, and the paradigm of the analogue era is no longer sufficient for city authorities and municipalities to manage safety and environmental issues, public transport, and public utilities. In order to provide the population with quality urban services, administrations are increasingly using automated data collection systems and implementing various IT systems for urban management. In such megacities, a centralised city management system functions by using sensors, telemetry, and video surveillance systems that are integrated in real-time into a single network. Digital systems manage traffic infrastructure, including traffic forecasting, adjusting the operation of smart traffic lights, and even monitoring bus driver fatigue. Sensors and real-time video monitoring systems help regulate almost all urban infrastructure, from street lighting systems and substations that redistribute power between residential areas and the city centre during peak hours, to ensuring efficient water supply, sewage, garbage collection, ambulance and hospital services, air, water, soil quality, and even street crime control.
According to a forecast by the British analytical agency IHS Markit, by 2025, at least 88 cities around the world will be "smart", where integrated information, communication, and technology solutions in three or more areas of life are implemented or being tested.
Such ideal forms of urban and rural infrastructure redevelopment are also sought by Azerbaijan, where back in pre-pandemic 2019, at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev, it was decided to deploy a full-fledged Smart City system in Baku, and subsequently in other cities of the country. In particular, this programme involves the gradual digitalisation and connection of schools, hospitals, libraries, public transport, power substations, water supply, and waste management systems, and other public services to remote centres, which will optimise control over urban infrastructure and improve the quality of life of citizens.
These plans have been reinvigorated following Azerbaijan's resounding victory in November 2020, and today the digitalisation programme is aimed at creating 'smart' settlements in the country's liberated territories. In particular, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev recently issued a decree approving the first State Program "Great Return to the Liberated Territories of Azerbaijan", the most important direction of which is the implementation of the concepts of "smart city", "smart village" and "green energy zone" in the Karabakh region. The five-year State Programme includes also the introduction of Smart Elements into utilities and other infrastructure of the region's reviving settlements, and steps are planned for the application of IT technologies in the field of energy efficiencies, such as heating in buildings and street and road lighting. The strategy document also outlines measures for establishing renewable energy (RE) generating capacities and their integration into the overall energy grid, construction of charging stations for electric vehicles, etc.
"Azerbaijan's former IDPs will be returning to smart cities and villages. Azerbaijan's concept of implementing projects on digitalisation of settlements and the use of alternative energy here is unique, and international organisations have already praised quite highly the implementation of the Aghali smart village project in Zangilan district," Agriculture Minister Inam Kerimov said at the international conference. According to him, the elements of digitalisation, use of alternative energy sources, electronisation of public services, environmental measures, and waste management are introduced in a comprehensive manner in the "smart villages" being formed in Karabakh and are being implemented for the first time in the post-Soviet space. According to the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, all these steps can be considered as a unique Azerbaijani model of digitalisation.
It is noteworthy that the Zangilan district, which has become the main area for the implementation of best practices on digitalisation, will soon implement an even more ambitious project: in May 2023 the master plan of the "smart city" Zangilan is to be submitted to the government of Azerbaijan. "The project covers the introduction of Smart technologies in the transport, fire safety, disaster warning system, law enforcement, and other public services sectors. There will also be an integrated control centre for Zangilan city's transport system, with smart parking, bus stops, etc. In this regard we plan to hold a series of meetings between experts and representatives of government agencies of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Korea," project manager of "smart village" Aghali Donghwan Lee said.
In October 2022 the Azerbaijani-Turkish agro-park "Dost" was put into operation in Zangilan district, where "smart" technologies are actively used: conditions for the maintenance of 3,500 cattle have been created and a feed base was created. At the first stage, 5,200 sq. m. of enclosed space and 113,000 sq. m. of open livestock have been built, and processing plant are underway. At the next stage, total investments will reach $100 million, dairy and beef herds will increase almost threefold, and meat and dairy products produced here will be exported under the "Made in Karabakh" brand.
At present, the main work on the development of Smart infrastructure in the Zangilan district is being carried out in the "smart" village of Aghali, the settlement of which started in July this year and is currently home to 66 families (325 people). Works on the formation of a high-tech agro-industrial complex, as well as communal IT infrastructure, continue in the village: over 200 residential facilities will be built on the area of 100 hectares using environmentally friendly materials and IoT technology (smart home), solar panels are installed, biogas production equipment is planned for introduction, other facilities for generating "green" energy will be installed. To manage the production cluster, a data and analytical centre is being established, as well as a computerised irrigation management system, drones will be actively used to control and pollinate crops, etc. Similar work on the introduction of smart technologies is underway in the village of Dovletyarli in the Fuzuli district, where a second "smart village" is being created: solar panels will also be installed here and it is planned to develop smart management systems for aquaculture and poultry farming with high export potential.
"Of the 200 residential units to be built in the Aghali smart village, 87 have been commissioned, construction work on the remaining houses is ongoing and about 100 more families are expected to be resettled here by the end of March 2023. Works on the planning of other villages in Zangilan district are being carried out and construction of which will be started from mid of 2023," Vahid Hajiyev, special representative of President of Azerbaijan to Zangilan district, who participated in the forum, said. The special envoy noted that the implementation of the Aghali smart village project is based on the strategy of 17 priority Sustainable Development Goals until 2030, developed by the UN.
It is appropriate to note here that Azerbaijan has been actively cooperating with relevant UN structures, the World Bank (WB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and other international donor structures within the framework of country programs for several years and plans to introduce elements of "green" energy in Karabakh, energy efficiency systems in the utilities and energy sector of the city of Ganja (the EU Green City program), and, of course, the implementation of experience in the field of digitalisation of the transport sector in Baku, Sumgayit, Shamakhi.
"The Smart City and Smart Village projects implemented by the Government of Azerbaijan in Karabakh are important in terms of IT development, high-tech agricultural sector, and also contribute to the acceleration of the 'Great Return' by strengthening economic activity in the region. The World Bank welcomes the implementation of these projects and will support Azerbaijan in the implementation of the state strategy outlined until 2026," said Sarah Michael, WB Country Manager at the Baku Forum.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Iran re-evaluating its ties with Azerbaijan, Armenia Baku - more important, honest partner than Yerevan
25 April 2024 - 12:00
|
2
|
Armenia returns four villages to Azerbaijan, paving the way for peace in the South Caucasus Landmark accord
23 April 2024 - 09:14
|
3
|
"Peoples of South Caucasus should resolve their differences independently" Foreign analysts on Caliber.Az
24 April 2024 - 17:40
|
4
|
Mark Rutte seeks Türkiye's backing for new job A new pair of hands
24 April 2024 - 16:55
|
5
|
Armenian PM's Moscow visit sparks speculation on bilateral relations Dilemma between East, West
23 April 2024 - 11:19
|
Türkiye bases its relations with African countries on win-win principle: Parliament speaker
26 April 2024 - 20:53
ICJ concludes public hearings on 'Azerbaijan v. Armenia' case, proceeds to evidence verification
26 April 2024 - 20:45
Turkic parliament committee chairmen tour Khankendi & Shusha in Azerbaijan
26 April 2024 - 20:39
ByteDance prefers TikTok shutdown in US over sale
26 April 2024 - 20:39
Health Ministry: Over 50 Palestinians killed in Gaza as Israeli onslaught continues
26 April 2024 - 20:26
Azerbaijani president meets German FM in Berlin, discusses COP29 & peace agenda
26 April 2024 - 20:22
Russia, Ukraine hand over bodies of dead soldiers
26 April 2024 - 20:11
Political analyst: Armenian leadership hostile towards Russia
26 April 2024 - 19:56
Israeli civilian fatally injured in anti-tank missile strike near Lebanon border
VIDEO26 April 2024 - 19:41
Turkish court sentences Syrian woman to life in prison for bombing in Istanbul in 2022
26 April 2024 - 19:26
Azerbaijani, Kazakh military specialists convene for bilateral co-op discussions
26 April 2024 - 19:16
Armenia, Italy agree on military-technical cooperation
26 April 2024 - 19:11
Kazakhstan hosting meeting of defence ministers of SCO member states
26 April 2024 - 18:56
Azerbaijan, Armenia install 28 markers as border clarification works reach 35% completion
26 April 2024 - 18:50
UK’s ministry: Russian forces accelerating advance west of Ukraine’s Avdiivka
26 April 2024 - 18:41
Kazakh military delegation explores Azerbaijan's defense capabilities during visit
26 April 2024 - 18:35
France, Germany push on with 2040 joint tank project
26 April 2024 - 18:26
Political analyst: Demarcation of border with Azerbaijan meets Armenia’s vital interests
26 April 2024 - 18:11
Palestinian Resistance factions fighting against Israeli forces across besieged Gaza Strip
26 April 2024 - 17:56
US Central Command conducts humanitarian airdrops into Gaza
26 April 2024 - 17:41
Azerbaijan unveils programme of sixth World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku
26 April 2024 - 17:26
Azerbaijan's energy offer signals path to normalization with Armenia
Amid geopolitical shifts26 April 2024 - 17:24
Spain to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine
26 April 2024 - 17:11
Russia's oil revenues grow despite Western sanctions
Bill of the war26 April 2024 - 17:05
US, China spar over bilateral, global issues
26 April 2024 - 16:56
Kyrgyzstan's school-building gesture in Karabakh signals deeper ties with Azerbaijan
26 April 2024 - 16:41
Armenian PM vows to tackle existential challenges
We will address this issue26 April 2024 - 16:30
Azerbaijani police find explosive devices, ammunition in Khojavend
PHOTO26 April 2024 - 16:28
IAEA: Situation at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains unpredictable
26 April 2024 - 16:13
US Mojave proves its unmatched versatility in unprecedented live-fire demo
26 April 2024 - 15:58
From energy cooperation to investment expansion
Baku, Budapest forge stronger business ties26 April 2024 - 15:45
Russian operation to seize Chasiv Yar offers most immediate prospects for significant advances
ISW analysts’ opinion26 April 2024 - 15:43
Turkish president to meet with US counterpart at White House in May
26 April 2024 - 15:28
Sweden to move ahead with sending troops to Latvia as part of NATO forces
26 April 2024 - 15:13
Armenian, Serbian FMs discuss regional issues
26 April 2024 - 14:58
COP29 leadership team, Spanish minister discuss Presidency’s Plan
26 April 2024 - 14:43
NATO Secretary General warns West against dependence on China
26 April 2024 - 14:28
Azerbaijani President attended High Level Segment of 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue
VIDEO26 April 2024 - 14:19
Joint Turkish-Russian Monitoring Centre in Azerbaijan’s Aghdam ceases its activity
26 April 2024 - 14:13
All-Belarusian People's Assembly adopts new military doctrine, security concept
26 April 2024 - 13:58