Jakarta, as the capital, accommodates various industrial activities and serves as the economic hub of Indonesia. A well-designed and well-governed city is needed to create a sustainable urban environment.
The UGM Master of Public Administration program addressed this issue in a webinar titled “Policy Forum: Can the Smart City Concept Solve Urban Problems?” on Monday, August 28.
Jakarta Smart City is a concept initiated by the Jakarta Provincial Government in 2014. This concept aims to transform Jakarta into a smart city 4.0 by optimizing technology and public services for the citizens of Jakarta.
“The prerequisite is that we must understand the needs of the people. This means how the government can act as a problem solver and how the existing initiatives align with the people’s daily needs,” said Yudhistira Nugraha, Director of Jakarta Smart City.
“In this concept, we view Jakarta through four aspects: a pandemic-resistant city, a crisis-resilient city, a digitized city, and a sustainable and habitable city.”
The director added that his party specifically designs these initiatives to address urban problems like floods.
“Our flood control system is based on Machine Learning models. We place sensors at various points, which generate data used as a basis for interventions and management by our staff,” Yudhistira explained.
The Jakarta Smart City app allows citizens to easily and quickly report problems. Since its inception, Jakarta Smart City has helped the Jakarta Provincial Government solve 240,000 issues with a 98% resolution rate.
The Smart City concept is not limited to Jakarta. It can be implemented in other major cities if it successfully addresses urban issues.
Director of Information Application Services at the Indonesian Ministry of Communication, Bambang Dwi Anggono, mentioned that implementing the Smart City is necessary but challenging.
“Many local governments misunderstand the Smart City concept. This concept is not just a brand. It’s not just about learning IT or converting paper to computers. Smart City is a concept for organizing an area through innovative and integrated efforts,” he emphasized.
Local governments face significant challenges in realizing the Smart City in all cities. According to Bambang Dwi Anggono, it’s unfair if other regions have to catch up with Jakarta’s progress without assistance from the central government.
“This is where we must come together. The Ministry of Communication is working on supporting local governments to participate in developing the Smart City. We ask the local governments about their problems and try to solve them,” Anggono said.
Public Administration lecturer Professor Ahmad Djunaedi provided suggestions for the Smart City concept if it is to be applied throughout the country.
“Firstly, it requires political will, especially from the leadership. So, we need to disseminate the concept of digital leadership. Leaders need to understand digital capabilities,” Professor Djunaedi said.
“The concept does not only utilize technology but also involves bureaucratic reform. There need to be organizational work processes and collaboration changes.”
Cooperation with various sectors and parties is needed to realize the concept in all cities. Innovation and initiatives should also be designed to encourage Smart City development that promotes domestic production.
Author: Tasya