Thousands of people poured into the Christchurch Town Hall, in Christchurch, New Zealand to see the future.
According to a recent press release, the Smart Christchurch Innovation Expo has provided a platform to showcase technological advancements and fresh approaches to creating smarter, more liveable cities.
Featuring more than 40 exhibitors, the expo was packed with leading-edge technology.
Christchurch City Council Smart Christchurch Programme Manager shared that the response to the expo has been remarkable and have exceeded all expectations.
Smart Cities Programme
Christchurch’s Smart Cities programme explores new technology and approaches to help make the city a smarter and safer place in which people live, work, and play.
New smart technologies and sensors will allow for the gathering of real-time data on all sorts of things.
Having these data will help the Council see how the city is functioning and be able to respond accordingly.
Moreover, being a smart city will bring many other benefits for Christchurch. These include:
- Better planning and decision making
- Attracting international talent to the city
- Creating new business opportunities
All of the programme’s projects are grouped to fit in with the Council’s priorities and are designed to create a better Christchurch for everyone.
They are currently working closely with Auckland and Wellington councils to share research and data, as well as partner companies and agencies to deliver trials and projects.
Work will also start with the education sector, local residents, community groups and volunteers in order to create a connected city in which people will enjoy working and living.
The Innovation Expo
Well over 2000 people visited the one-day expo to see and learn from some of the best innovators in New Zealand.
The Innovation Expo plays a major role in the evolution of a smart city. There is a rapidly developing cluster of innovators in Christchurch.
The expo has opened the door to stronger connections that benefit all.
Combined, the remarkable range of smart solutions on show illustrates that cities can thrive within an environment of sustainable innovation.
The panel and presentation sessions also attracted big crowds as industry experts discussed data security, AI, 5G, future transport, and New Zealand Smart Cities.
Among the transport technology on display were Christchurch International Airport’s autonomous vehicle, a Tesla Model S, electric cars, and a functional cut-in-half electric car.
The expo lets people know what is on the innovation horizon. Many of the exhibitors have international profiles and are creating the technology of the future.
Planning is already under way for next year’s expanded event. Many of the exhibitors have already registered their interest because of the event’s success this year.
