Urban planning/Atsushi Deguchi: "5.0 Society model might offer solutions to local needs in Romania"

The concept of "Society 5.0" can be seen as "a source of inspiration for countries like Romania, in their digital transformation," said Japanese professor Atsushi Deguchi, executive director and vice president at the University of Tokyo (UTokyo), a specialist in urban design and planning, in an exclusive interview with AGERPRES on Thursday.

This concept, which aims for a better life for each individual, who becomes a "co-creator" in smart city projects, "aims to solve social problems and contribute to economic growth at the same time," explained the professor, author of the book "Society 5.0: A People-centric Super-smart Society" (2020).

"Society 5.0 is a vision of a future society driven by the development of science and technology, also known as a 'super-intelligent society.' This vision aims to solve social problems and contribute to economic growth at the same time. In order to achieve this, it is important to use advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), AI, 'big data' (large and complex data sets - editor's note) and robotics to create new values optimized for the needs of individuals and organizations," explained Atsushi Deguchi, who led the master plan for the new Kyushu University campus, the "Island City" project in Fukuoka and the "Kashiwanoha Smart City" project, achievements for which he received numerous awards.

The concept of Society 5.0 can be seen as a source of inspiration for countries such as Romania, as part of their digital transformation, according to the specialist. Thus, to promote inclusive development, given that "the vision of Society 5.0 does not only refer to urban areas, but also to rural development," as the professor noted, the concept "can be applied to Romania's policy of using digital technology to revitalize rural industries and reduce inequalities in education."

At the same time, the approach is citizen-centered, with the introduction of technology being seen as a priority for improving the life of the individual. "Examples include improved access to healthcare and more efficient urban services through smart city projects," Deguchi specified.

In this regard, the specialist underscored the importance of public-private partnerships. "The successful implementation of Society 5.0 depends on collaboration between the Government, the private sector and academic institutions to drive policy and technological development. This approach will be a guiding principle to further capitalise on Romania's highly skilled IT workforce and start-up culture," the professor said.

"The Society 5.0 model is not limited to a specific country or region and can be applied at different scales. It can be used as a framework for designing digital solutions tailored to local needs in Romania," he noted.

One of the projects of Atsushi Deguchi, an urban planning researcher and a practitioner in urban design who works on smart city research to integrate Society 5.0 principles, is the construction of a smart city in the Kashiwanoha district of Chiba Prefecture, where the Kashiwa campus of the University of Tokyo is located. "Japanese cities are facing a series of challenges, such as population aging, industrial development and energy issues, while at the same time not having fully adopted digital and advanced technologies. In order to overcome these challenges and to achieve a sustainable and comfortable urban lifestyle, I am deeply interested in the Society 5.0 model and smart cities," said the professor, who is general coordinator of this project called "Kashiwanoha Smart City," located about 50 kilometres from Tokyo.

Asked how such a model could be adjusted to fit Romanian cities, such as Bucharest or Cluj-Napoca, and to address local challenges such as urban congestion or energy efficiency, the Japanese specialist underscored the importance of implementing appropriate technologies and processes, taking into account the specific challenges and characteristics of the area. Regarding the improvement of urban traffic, the professor recalled the importance of introducing smart mobility and optimizing the urban structure. "In Kashiwanoha, shared mobility and automated shuttle buses are being tested. In Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca, the introduction of real-time traffic control and sharing services based on traffic data will also contribute to reducing congestion," he said. At the same time, "decentralized urban development and compact city strategies can reduce transport demand by locating residential, commercial and public facilities in close proximity," added Deguchi.

In terms of improving energy efficiency, the specialist recommended introducing an Energy Management System (EMS) and transforming buildings into "smarter structures." "In Kashiwa-no-ha, we introduced a system for regulating energy supply and demand across the entire region. Following this example, an EMS combined with solar power generation and battery storage could be implemented in cities in Romania to improve energy efficiency. And by introducing building energy efficiency standards and promoting IoT-based energy management, existing infrastructure can be adapted," he explained.

In implementing these measures, Deguchi drew attention to the importance of a process that takes into account local design, especially by "integrating cultural and social elements." "In Romanian cities, smart technologies must be applied while preserving historic buildings and local communities. Co-design with local voices is important," he said. At the same time, the specialist recalled that it is essential to have "a system in which the city and the surrounding rural areas can be interdependent from an energetic point of view, emphasising at the same time the importance of "harmony between the urban and the natural environment," like it's happening in Kashiwanoha.

Asked how the concept of Society 5.0 can provide a solution to the urban-rural divide, a problem faced by both Romania and other countries, including Japan, the professor explained the essential role of telemedicine, by using AI and IoT to allow people living in isolated areas to have access to medical services at home, but also of smart agriculture, which can increase productivity in rural areas. At the same time, he recalled the importance of digitizing education - online education platforms can guarantee that students in rural areas have access to the same quality of education and the same opportunities as their urban counterparts - but also the introduction of automated shuttle buses in areas with limited transportation options.

Citizen participation is essential for the success of smart cities, in the vision of Society 5.0. To involve communities, Deguchi recommends the "living lab." "Local residents know the local problems best, so it is necessary to promote smart cities with the participation of local people," he said. "The 'living lab' is a place where citizens, government, businesses, researchers and various other stakeholders can collaborate to co-create new technologies, services and solutions to the problems of their community. We support the creation of 'living labs' in the communities where smart cities are being built," the professor emphasised.

(Fluierul)