Under the ongoing project to develop Da Nang into a ‘smarter’ city, over recent years, the city has seen numerous positive results from the application of modern technologies in transportation and healthcare services, along with construction, education, environmental protection and other local aspects. 

A camera image of a car running through red lights at the intersections of Le Duan-Ong Ich Khiem

In 2012, the municipal government and the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) jointly started implementing the project, with a focus on effectively applying ‘smart’ technologies in various local aspects.  Notable are the installation of public surveillance cameras along some local streets in order to monitor and deal with traffic violations, and the automatic water quality monitoring system at the Cau Do (Red Bridge) Water Supply Plant.  In addition, an environmental monitoring station at the eastern end of Thuan Phuoc Bridge has proved effective.  Its global system for mobile communications (GSM) transmits environmental data from the bridge to the centre for controlling traffic light systems and public transport in the city.

In 2016, representatives from the city authorities and Viet Nam’s military-run telecoms group Viettel together entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on building Da Nang into an IT-dependent smart city.  Under the MoU, Viettel is assisting Da Nang to develop its master plans and detailed designs for a smart city model, with a focus on transport, healthcare, education, food safety and hygiene, the environment, energy and clean water quality monitoring.  In particular, healthcare and education have been developing into comprehensively smart aspects in order to enhance the efficiency of their practical applications and enhance the living conditions of local residents.

Currently, the municipal Information Technology (IT) Center for Natural Resources and the Environment is effectively monitoring the operation of the total 40 local pumping stations via 3G connections.  By the end of this year, work will start on the construction of an automated system to monitor the local wastewater collection and treatment systems.

The municipal Traffic Signals and Public Transport Control Centre has helped to ensure traffic order at local intersections and alleviate traffic congestion during rush hours.  The centre is connected to 64 traffic light systems and 33 surveillance cameras at local intersections, which has allowed local relevant agencies to monitor all major traffic areas in the inner-city.  In addition, thanks to the installation of the traffic cameras, local relevant agencies are now able to detect and deal with traffic violations based on images recorded by the cameras and sent to them from the control centre.   Last, but not least, the centre’s bus navigation system is monitoring the travel schedules of local bus routes.