July 25, 2024 • 23 mins
Today’s cities face ongoing issues related to pollution, waste management, and energy consumption. But as smart technology and solutions get more integrated into urban environments, efforts are being made to promote sustainability. Axiomtek, for example, uses artificial intelligence and edge computing in recycle and waste bins to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
In this podcast, we explore sustainable smart city efforts, examine real-world use cases, and discuss the necessary infrastructure to achieve sustainability goals.
Join us as we explore these ideas with:
Jody Cheng, Product Solution Manager, Axiomtek
Manny Hicaro, Application Engineer Supervisor, Axiomtek
Christina Cardoza, Editorial Director, insight.tech Talk
Podcast Topics
Jody and Manny answer our questions about:
- Driving factors of sustainable smart cities
- Latest innovations for sustainable smart cities
- How edge AI contributes to sustainable solutions
- Necessary smart city infrastructure
- Examples of AI-powered sustainability efforts
- The value of Intel and its technologies
- Future edge AI smart city implementations
Related Content
To learn more about the latest innovations for smart buildings and spaces, check out our smart cities page. For the latest innovations from Axiomtek, follow them on Twitter/X at @Axiomtek and on LinkedIn.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
(light upbeat music)
(light upbeat music)
- Hello and welcome to"insight.tech Talk,"
formerly known as "IoT Chat,"
but with the samehigh-quality conversations
around the Internet ofThings, technology trends,
(00:21):
and the latest innovationsyou've come to know and love.
I'm your host, Christina Cardoza,
Editorial Director of insight.tech,
and today we're going to betalking about smart cities
and how to make them more sustainable
with industry leaders from Axiomtek.
So as always, before we get started,
let's get to know our guests.
We have Manny and Jody from Axiomtek.
Manny, what can youtell us about yourself,
what you do at the company,and the company itself?
(00:43):
- Hi, my name is Manny Hicaro,
and I'm an Application EngineerSupervisor at Axiomtek.
We're a computer manufacturing company
and a leader in industrialcomputers and embedded systems.
Axiomtek providescustomizable, robust solutions
for smart cities, manufacturing,
and other criticalindustrial applications.
My role primarily at Axiomtek
(01:04):
revolves around enhancing the performance
of hardware and softwaresystems for our clients.
I work closely with various teams,
from sales to product managersand technical support,
to ensure that our customizable solutions
are perfectly tailored
to meet the specificneeds of our customers.
This involves everythingfrom conducting benchmarks
and compatibility tests
to working with our customers directly
(01:25):
to meet their projectgoals and requirements.
Our goal at Axiomtek
is not just to providecutting-edge technology,
but it's also to ensure
that these technologies areaccessible and effective,
enabling our clients to achieve
their business and sustainabilitygoals more efficiently.
- Well, hi, my name is Jody, Jody Cheng,
and I'm the Product SolutionManager at Axiomtek.
(01:48):
I'm responsible for IoTand AI edge solutions,
and I've been with the company
for a little bit over seven years now.
Axiomtek has been a key player
in industrial computermanufacturing for over 30 years,
with our expertise in technology
and experience serving industrialcustomers in the markets
like automation, energy, medical,
(02:09):
transportation, gaming, and retail.
We gained our market know-how,
and we're now ready to bring our values
even closer to the application level.
We hope through working with our customers
and our eco partners,
we could bring more valuablesolutions to the market,
help customers solve the problems,
and make the changes
with all the emerging andexciting technologies.
(02:31):
- Great stuff.
Yeah, I'm looking forward
to digging into some of these things.
Like you said, Jody,
you're looking to helpcustomers and businesses
improve their operations
or meet some of the challengesthat they're facing.
Sustainability has been a major trend
among different organizationsand different industries.
At insight.tech, we've been writing about
how manufacturing companies,medical companies,
(02:55):
how they can all become more sustainable
in their operations.
So smart cities are one of the big factors
in being able to makesustainability efforts happen.
We focus a lot on inside the factories
or inside the business,
but there's a lotoutside in the real world
that we can be doing
to make our efforts more sustainable.
So I'm curious, want tostart the conversation.
(03:16):
Why or how is sustainability
an impact or a goal of smart cities?
Why has it become a majortrend in these areas?
- So there are a few different factors
that have been driving this trend.
First off, more and more people
are becoming aware of climatechange and its effects.
It has really pushed thecities to be more proactive
(03:39):
about reducing their carbon footprints.
Since urban areas can contribute a lot
to greenhouse gas emissions
and with global populationbecome increasingly urbanized,
the pressure is on the cities
to tackle these environmental issues.
So basically sustainability is the goal.
It's about keepingeconomic growth on track
(04:01):
while minimizing environmental impact.
And also I share thisinformation, listen to this.
According to a studydone by the World Bank,
56% of the world populationlives in the cities,
which is about 4.4 billion people.
So by 2050, it's expected
that seven out of 10 peoplewill be city dwellers.
(04:23):
So that's why cities focuson adopting practices
to combat climate change,improve air quality
will boost the overall qualityof life for their residents.
So at Axiomtek, we're really excited
to see this trend towardssustainability growing.
It's all about making sure
that our environment stays healthy
(04:45):
and thrives in the long run.
- Absolutely.
And when you consider the amount of people
you mentioned, living in cities,
it becomes that much more of a priority.
I just had a conversationaround buildings,
making buildings smart.
They give off a lot of the pollution,
about 40% of carbon emissions,
and how we can makethose more sustainable.
But when it comes to a city,
(05:05):
it's all these different things
and all of these different people
that are stakeholders
or really can make a changein making it more sustainable
in addition to the buildings.
So I'm curious,
what are some solutions or technologies
that can help smart citiesbecome more sustainable?
- There are a lot of solutionsthat we can talk about here.
Sustainable smart cities areall about planning technology
(05:27):
with environmental responsibility
for a thriving urban future.
It's about creatingcities that work smarter,
not just harder, for bothpeople and the planet.
This is achieved by using smartgrid, IoT, data collection,
along with innovations in buildings,
transportation, and mayberesource management.
(05:50):
Smart cities rely on Internet of Things,
think a of network ofsensors around the city
tracking air quality,water usage, and traffic.
This data helps city managers
optimize resources and reduces waste.
For example, smart gridscan balance energy demands,
cutting down on fossil fuels.
(06:11):
Let's say, traffic lights can adjust
based on real time traffic,
easing congestion and lowering emissions.
And that's just the start.
The possibilities are endless.
So edge computing and AImake things even better
by processing data rightwhere it's collected.
This means like quicker decisions
and more efficient operations,
(06:33):
making smart cities even smarter.
Let's talk about smart grid first.
Smart grids are the foundationfor sustainable smart cities,
with advanced electric grid
using monitoring tools
and efficiently managing electricity use.
So this will help integraterenewable resources like solar
(06:53):
and reduce the reliance onthe usage of fossil fuels.
Another big driver of sustainability
is smart buildings and homes.
You talked about that earlier.
These places have energy-efficient systems
like automated lighting thatadjust based on the occupancy
or the HVAC systems thatoptimize heating and cooling,
(07:16):
plus the LEED-certified buildings
which follow strictsustainability standards
are becoming more common.
Another topic we can talkabout is transportation.
Transportation's also another key focus
for cities aiming to reduce emissions.
Cities are developing EVcharging infrastructure
(07:36):
and promoting public transit systems
with passenger trackingand traffic optimization.
These innovations help cutemissions, ease congestion,
and offer eco-friendlytravel options for residents.
So last I like to mentionis resource management.
Resource management can be one
of the most crucialaspects of sustainability.
(07:59):
Managing resources like water and waste
is key to sustainability.
Automated waste collectionand energy-to-waste conversion
help reduce landfill useand promote recycling.
Also for water, smart integration
and advanced treatment processes
optimize usage and cut down waste.
(08:19):
So these are some ofthe solutions or areas
I personally see that will contribute
to our society'ssustainability going forward.
- I love all those examples.
Like I mentioned, wetalked about buildings,
and that's just one area,
but when you look at it froma smart city perspective,
it really is an end-to-end solution
that you guys are providing
to really make these efforts
(08:40):
done in conjunction of one another
and not these improvementsand enhancements
happening in silos.
One thing you mentioned
was of course AI and edge computing.
That's going to be extremely important,
especially to all this data collection
and all of the benchmarking
that you were talking aboutin the beginning, Manny.
So I'm curious, obviously AI,
you're getting all of this data,
(09:01):
and AI is going to be important
to be making sense, to bemaking these predictions,
to be measuring it upagainst these benchmarks,
and edge computing is making sure
that the data is happening in real time
so that we can makequick, informed decisions.
From your perspective,
what is the role of AI and edge computing
contributing to the sustainable solutions
(09:22):
beyond some of the benefitsthat I just mentioned?
- The advancement of AI and edge computing
has elevated these sustainable solutions
to a level that we haven't seen before,
with processes becoming
more efficient, faster, and autonomous.
Both AI and edge computing aretransformative technologies
that, when they're combined,
significantly enhance the sustainability
(09:43):
of the smart cities.
So maybe we can break this down
and discuss each part ofthe edge computing and AI
and how they combine intothis great form of computing.
So in general terms,
AI has the ability toanalyze vast amounts of data
collected from various sensors
and can build off established algorithms.
(10:06):
So through these advancedalgorithms and data analysis,
AI holds the ability
to enable energy efficiency improvements
in all city environments,
from buildings and factories
to transportation systems and more.
So this can all happen simultaneously
while managing renewable energyintegration into the grid.
(10:28):
On the other hand,
edge computing is a distributed system
that brings computation data storage
closer to where it's generated,
improving response timesand saving bandwidth.
So instead of relying solelyon centralized data processing,
like we do in cloud computing,
edge computing process data locally
(10:49):
onto devices such as IoTsensors, routers, or gateways.
So this proximity to the data source
allows for quick decision making
and reduce the need for data transmission
to centralized servers,
like enhancing theresponsiveness within the system
while also cutting down
on energy usage, consumption, and resource
(11:12):
associated with transferringlarge amount of data.
So when combined, edge computing with AI
brings together real-time data analysis
and decision making at the network's edge,
minimizing latency andbandwidth constraints.
This decentralized approachenhances system responsiveness,
(11:33):
reduce network congestion, and cut costs.
For city operations,
this can optimize everything
from traffic flow to energyconsumption patterns,
reducing energy waste andincreasing overall efficiency.
Smart cities, like AI-driven insights,
support proactive andadaptive urban planning,
(11:54):
realtime data on metrics
like air quality, trafficcongestion, or waste management,
and energy usage allows city managers
to make informed decisions andoptimize resource utilization
and minimize the environmental impact.
So this synergy betweenAI and edge computing
(12:14):
helps on traffic engineering
and more sustainable urban initiatives,
ultimately improving quality of life
while addressing environmental challenges.
- Great.
So I keep coming backto this building example
just because it's easier to visualize
how you can makeimprovements in a building.
You mentioned the lighting, the occupancy,
(12:35):
there's different infrastructurealready involved in there.
So when we're looking at an entire city
and all of these differentthings you can be doing
from the building, fromthe transportation,
from all of these different areas,
I'm curious, what type ofinvestment and infrastructure
is necessary to make sustainablesmart cities possible?
- Creating smart cities isn't cheap.
It does need a big investmentin advanced hardware,
(12:58):
and it also requires a strongnetwork infrastructure.
We're talking about setting up
powerful GPU-based edge computers
that can handle a variety of processors.
These machines are essential
for realtime data processing and AI tasks.
We also need to integrateIoT sensors and cameras
throughout the city.
These devices are keyfor realtime monitoring
(13:18):
and data collection.
They gather informationon things like traffic,
public safety, andenvironmental conditions,
and then process it locally toenable quick decision making.
On top of that,
smart grids and intelligenttransportation systems
help optimize energydistribution and traffic flow,
making the city more efficient overall.
But it's not just about the devices.
(13:40):
Having a solid networkinfrastructure is crucial too.
This ensures secure andhigh-speed data transmission
across the city systems.
A network of edge data centers
strategically placed around the city
can boost the efficiency and reliability
of this edge computing.
These centers reduce latency
and speed up the processingof realtime information,
(14:00):
plus they provide redundancy,
support the quick deploymentof new applications,
and improve disaster recovery capabilities
while contributing tosustainability goals.
However, implementing these technologies
in existing urbaninfrastructures isn't easy.
It comes with a high initial cost
and the challenge ofensuring compatibility
with older legacy systems.
(14:22):
This is where collaboration
between the public and privatesectors become crucial.
These partnerships helpalign technology deployments
and public policies,
making sure that the solutions
are sustainable andeffective in the long run.
- And then in addition tothese types of partnerships,
I'm sure there's technology partnerships
going on behind the scenes as well.
But before we get there,
I want to talk about some use cases
(14:44):
or customer examplesthat you guys may have.
We've been talking a lotabout the technology,
the solutions, what can be done,
what are some areas
that we can be implementingthis technology,
but to really paint apicture for our listeners,
do you have any customerexamples or use cases
that you can share with us
that highlight the effectiveness
of the technology we'vebeen talking about?
(15:05):
- Absolutely.
One of our standout projectsthat we were involved in
involves an AI-enabled recycling bin
that pretty muchtransformed waste management
in several urban areas so far.
These bins use advanced AI algorithms
to efficiently sort throughthe recyclable materials,
which significantly cuts down
the frequency of waste collection.
(15:26):
With the help of high-performanceprocessing system,
these bins can quickly andaccurately execute tasks,
making recycling programsmuch more effective.
Here's how it works.
People can easily deposit recyclable waste
like plastic bottles andcans into these bins.
The system then autonomouslysorts through those materials,
ensuring that they arecorrectly categorized
(15:46):
for optimal resource recovery.
This boosts sorting, accuracy,and overall recycling rates.
Plus, the system maximizesthe physical storage space
by automatically compressingthese papers and bottles,
which reduces the need forfrequent cleanup visits,
and improves the labor and efficiency
in waste collection so far.
These AI-powered recycling bins
(16:06):
also take a proactiveapproach to maintenance.
They can notify cleanersthrough remote management
when they need attention.
The sensors continuously monitor
the fill levels in real time
and send notifications whenthe waste is nearly full.
This pretty much streamlines operations
and eliminates the need
for constant manual monitoring.
This results in improved accuracy,
(16:28):
higher recycling rates,
and greater operational efficiency.
Additionally, cities like Baltimore
are making strides withsimilar initiatives.
They're investing $15 million
to deploy 4,000 smart trashreceptables across the city.
These solar-powered,wifi-enabled trash cans
can work much like our solution,
transmitting informationabout the fill levels
(16:48):
to optimize collection schedules
and enhance overall efficiency.
- I love that example.
Anytime we can automate
and take manual tasks out of the equation,
that makes it a lot more accurate.
Recycling and being sustainable
is a priority for me as a citizen,
but when I come to a recycling can
and there's paper, plastic, metal,
(17:09):
and there's different pictures
of what constitutes aswaste and not waste,
it gets confusing, andsometimes I'm worried
that I put it in the wrong bin.
So it's great that these recycling bins
can do the work for you
so that we can start making these efforts
and be more sustainable, be more accurate,
and not have to worry
about relying on error-prone processes.
So that's awesome to hear.
I want to come back to, like I mentioned,
(17:31):
this probably takes
a lot of technologypartnerships to do this.
We mentioned powerfulprocessors, edge computing,
I should mention insight.tech
and the podcast as a whole,
we are sponsored by Intel.
But we have had this themegoing on, "better together,"
that it really takes teamworkfrom different organizations,
different partners, different experts
(17:51):
to leverage all of this technology
and really create apowerful, impactful solution.
So I'm curious what the valueof your partnership with Intel
and its technology has been
to enable some of the usecases you just talked about.
- Oh, yeah, definitely.
Our partnership with Intel has been key
to the success of oursmart city solutions.
Intel's processors provide
the high-performance computing power
(18:11):
needed to handle these complex
AI and data processing tasks.
And over time, Intel hasfine tuned these processors
to boost efficiency and performance,
making sure that theymeet the tough demands
of city applications.
Here at Axiomtek,
innovation is at the heartof our collaboration,
and Intel's dedicationto advancing technologies
aligns perfectly with our goals.
(18:32):
This allows us to usecutting-edge technologies
to develop robust and reliable solutions.
Also, this partnershiphas helped us stay ahead
in the AI and edge computing advancements.
Another benefit of it is scalability.
There's a wide range of products
that Intel lets us customize our solutions
for various use cases,
(18:53):
ensuring our systems can scale efficiently
to meet the growingdemands of urban areas.
Whether it's expandingthe network of IoT sensors
or adding more advanced AI capabilities,
Intel's technology supportsthe seamless scaling
of our solutions.
Overall, Intel's technology and support
have empowered us to developadvanced smart city solutions
and enhanced our ability toimplement them effectively.
(19:16):
This partnership keeps our systems
at the cutting edge of technology,
and it also provides reliableand scalable solutions
for cities around the world.
- Great.
And, of course, sustainability
is only one aspect of smart cities.
So in the beginning in your backgrounds,
you both mentioned different areas
that you are focused on at the company.
I'm curious, how else do you see edge AI
(19:39):
being implemented across smart cities
and benefiting this area?
- We talked about howedge AI can help cities
become more sustainable
by integrating it intofoundations of a city,
like smart energy grid,resource management,
transportation, and smart buildings.
As edge AI technology continues to advance
and become more effective,
(19:59):
it can also expand intoareas beyond sustainability.
The possibilities are onlylimited by our imagination.
In transportation, while EV charging
and promoting public transportationsupports sustainability,
edge AI can offer many other applications.
For instance, realtime sensorscan optimize public parking,
and self-driving can continuously improve,
(20:20):
driving new data.
In the future, autonomous vehicles
might even coordinate with each other
with traffic infrastructure
to improve efficiency and safety.
We can also see how automatedpublic transportation
could optimize routes andmanage passenger flow.
Edge AI can enhance traffic management
by enabling realtime traffic optimization,
(20:41):
taking into account multiple factors
like nearby streets and intersections.
With more cameras in place,
it allows for immediate accident detection
and traffic rerouting.
Moreover, AI-powered surveillance
can boost public safety
by detecting unusual activity
and predicting incidentslike floods or fires.
Infrastructure monitoringcan detect anomalies
(21:01):
for prompt maintenance,
including road conditionsand utility lines.
This kind of monitoring can even extend
to resources like water and air quality.
Edge AI's integration into smart cities
shows a lot of promise,
and it can enhance daily life
for virtual assistants
that automate routines andinteract with smart devices.
These assistants with AI advancements
(21:22):
can adapt routines based on user patterns,
making life more convenientand efficient in the long run.
- Well, I can't wait to see
what else Axiomtek does in this space,
and I invite all of our listenersto follow along with them,
contact the company, visit their website
to see how you can be a part
of some of these innovations happening
as well as follow along on insight.tech
as we cover partnerslike Axiomtek and others
(21:44):
and what they're doing in these spaces.
Before we go, I just wantto throw it back to you guys
if there's any finalthoughts or key takeaways
that you want to leaveour listeners with today.
- Yeah, we shared varioustechnology perspectives here,
and now maybe we can shiftour focus back to humanity.
In the past, many peoplehave traditionally viewed
(22:05):
our economic and environmental concerns
as conflicting interests.
However, we anticipate thatthe introduction of edge AI
will significantly alter thisdynamic for urban cities.
In the past, maintainingsustainable operations
often demanded like asignificant human resource
for management and close oversight.
(22:28):
We saw examples of this
in recycling and resourcemanagement operations
where many of them incorporate edge AI now
operate more efficiently and autonomously,
reducing the need for human intervention.
So with edge AI advancement,
these activities will become
more cost-effective,achievable, or more efficient.
(22:52):
We're really excited to contribute
to the sustainable journey
by offering improved methodsto fight the greenhouse effect,
reduce carbon emissions in the long term,
and maybe leave a cleaner environment
and brighter future forthe next generation.
- Absolutely, and totallyagree with you there.
The roles and the responsibilities
(23:13):
and our impact in this
is going to significantly change,
especially when youthink about the use case
and the recycling bin that you provided.
It is no longer on the human
or the manual effort tomake some of this happen.
It's just going to become second nature,
and we're going to start beingable to make these efforts
even if we don't know we're making them.
So it's great to seecompanies like Axiomtek
making all of these different innovations
(23:35):
and advancements in this space.
I want to thank you bothagain for joining the podcast
as well as our listeners for tuning in.
Until next time,
this has been "insight.tech Talk."
(light upbeat music)
(light upbeat music)
(light upbeat music)
- Hello and welcome to"insight.tech Talk,"
formerly known as "IoT Chat,"
but with the samehigh-quality conversations
around the Internet ofThings, technology trends,
(00:21):
and the latest innovationsyou've come to know and love.
I'm your host, Christina Cardoza,
Editorial Director of insight.tech,
and today we're going to betalking about smart cities
and how to make them more sustainable
with industry leaders from Axiomtek.
So as always, before we get started,
let's get to know our guests.
We have Manny and Jody from Axiomtek.
Manny, what can youtell us about yourself,
what you do at the company,and the company itself?
(00:43):
- Hi, my name is Manny Hicaro,
and I'm an Application EngineerSupervisor at Axiomtek.
We're a computer manufacturing company
and a leader in industrialcomputers and embedded systems.
Axiomtek providescustomizable, robust solutions
for smart cities, manufacturing,
and other criticalindustrial applications.
My role primarily at Axiomtek
(01:04):
revolves around enhancing the performance
of hardware and softwaresystems for our clients.
I work closely with various teams,
from sales to product managersand technical support,
to ensure that our customizable solutions
are perfectly tailored
to meet the specificneeds of our customers.
This involves everythingfrom conducting benchmarks
and compatibility tests
to working with our customers directly
(01:25):
to meet their projectgoals and requirements.
Our goal at Axiomtek
is not just to providecutting-edge technology,
but it's also to ensure
that these technologies areaccessible and effective,
enabling our clients to achieve
their business and sustainabilitygoals more efficiently.
- Well, hi, my name is Jody, Jody Cheng,
and I'm the Product SolutionManager at Axiomtek.
(01:48):
I'm responsible for IoTand AI edge solutions,
and I've been with the company
for a little bit over seven years now.
Axiomtek has been a key player
in industrial computermanufacturing for over 30 years,
with our expertise in technology
and experience serving industrialcustomers in the markets
like automation, energy, medical,
(02:09):
transportation, gaming, and retail.
We gained our market know-how,
and we're now ready to bring our values
even closer to the application level.
We hope through working with our customers
and our eco partners,
we could bring more valuablesolutions to the market,
help customers solve the problems,
and make the changes
with all the emerging andexciting technologies.
(02:31):
- Great stuff.
Yeah, I'm looking forward
to digging into some of these things.
Like you said, Jody,
you're looking to helpcustomers and businesses
improve their operations
or meet some of the challengesthat they're facing.
Sustainability has been a major trend
among different organizationsand different industries.
At insight.tech, we've been writing about
how manufacturing companies,medical companies,
(02:55):
how they can all become more sustainable
in their operations.
So smart cities are one of the big factors
in being able to makesustainability efforts happen.
We focus a lot on inside the factories
or inside the business,
but there's a lotoutside in the real world
that we can be doing
to make our efforts more sustainable.
So I'm curious, want tostart the conversation.
(03:16):
Why or how is sustainability
an impact or a goal of smart cities?
Why has it become a majortrend in these areas?
- So there are a few different factors
that have been driving this trend.
First off, more and more people
are becoming aware of climatechange and its effects.
It has really pushed thecities to be more proactive
(03:39):
about reducing their carbon footprints.
Since urban areas can contribute a lot
to greenhouse gas emissions
and with global populationbecome increasingly urbanized,
the pressure is on the cities
to tackle these environmental issues.
So basically sustainability is the goal.
It's about keepingeconomic growth on track
(04:01):
while minimizing environmental impact.
And also I share thisinformation, listen to this.
According to a studydone by the World Bank,
56% of the world populationlives in the cities,
which is about 4.4 billion people.
So by 2050, it's expected
that seven out of 10 peoplewill be city dwellers.
(04:23):
So that's why cities focuson adopting practices
to combat climate change,improve air quality
will boost the overall qualityof life for their residents.
So at Axiomtek, we're really excited
to see this trend towardssustainability growing.
It's all about making sure
that our environment stays healthy
(04:45):
and thrives in the long run.
- Absolutely.
And when you consider the amount of people
you mentioned, living in cities,
it becomes that much more of a priority.
I just had a conversationaround buildings,
making buildings smart.
They give off a lot of the pollution,
about 40% of carbon emissions,
and how we can makethose more sustainable.
But when it comes to a city,
(05:05):
it's all these different things
and all of these different people
that are stakeholders
or really can make a changein making it more sustainable
in addition to the buildings.
So I'm curious,
what are some solutions or technologies
that can help smart citiesbecome more sustainable?
- There are a lot of solutionsthat we can talk about here.
Sustainable smart cities areall about planning technology
(05:27):
with environmental responsibility
for a thriving urban future.
It's about creatingcities that work smarter,
not just harder, for bothpeople and the planet.
This is achieved by using smartgrid, IoT, data collection,
along with innovations in buildings,
transportation, and mayberesource management.
(05:50):
Smart cities rely on Internet of Things,
think a of network ofsensors around the city
tracking air quality,water usage, and traffic.
This data helps city managers
optimize resources and reduces waste.
For example, smart gridscan balance energy demands,
cutting down on fossil fuels.
(06:11):
Let's say, traffic lights can adjust
based on real time traffic,
easing congestion and lowering emissions.
And that's just the start.
The possibilities are endless.
So edge computing and AImake things even better
by processing data rightwhere it's collected.
This means like quicker decisions
and more efficient operations,
(06:33):
making smart cities even smarter.
Let's talk about smart grid first.
Smart grids are the foundationfor sustainable smart cities,
with advanced electric grid
using monitoring tools
and efficiently managing electricity use.
So this will help integraterenewable resources like solar
(06:53):
and reduce the reliance onthe usage of fossil fuels.
Another big driver of sustainability
is smart buildings and homes.
You talked about that earlier.
These places have energy-efficient systems
like automated lighting thatadjust based on the occupancy
or the HVAC systems thatoptimize heating and cooling,
(07:16):
plus the LEED-certified buildings
which follow strictsustainability standards
are becoming more common.
Another topic we can talkabout is transportation.
Transportation's also another key focus
for cities aiming to reduce emissions.
Cities are developing EVcharging infrastructure
(07:36):
and promoting public transit systems
with passenger trackingand traffic optimization.
These innovations help cutemissions, ease congestion,
and offer eco-friendlytravel options for residents.
So last I like to mentionis resource management.
Resource management can be one
of the most crucialaspects of sustainability.
(07:59):
Managing resources like water and waste
is key to sustainability.
Automated waste collectionand energy-to-waste conversion
help reduce landfill useand promote recycling.
Also for water, smart integration
and advanced treatment processes
optimize usage and cut down waste.
(08:19):
So these are some ofthe solutions or areas
I personally see that will contribute
to our society'ssustainability going forward.
- I love all those examples.
Like I mentioned, wetalked about buildings,
and that's just one area,
but when you look at it froma smart city perspective,
it really is an end-to-end solution
that you guys are providing
to really make these efforts
(08:40):
done in conjunction of one another
and not these improvementsand enhancements
happening in silos.
One thing you mentioned
was of course AI and edge computing.
That's going to be extremely important,
especially to all this data collection
and all of the benchmarking
that you were talking aboutin the beginning, Manny.
So I'm curious, obviously AI,
you're getting all of this data,
(09:01):
and AI is going to be important
to be making sense, to bemaking these predictions,
to be measuring it upagainst these benchmarks,
and edge computing is making sure
that the data is happening in real time
so that we can makequick, informed decisions.
From your perspective,
what is the role of AI and edge computing
contributing to the sustainable solutions
(09:22):
beyond some of the benefitsthat I just mentioned?
- The advancement of AI and edge computing
has elevated these sustainable solutions
to a level that we haven't seen before,
with processes becoming
more efficient, faster, and autonomous.
Both AI and edge computing aretransformative technologies
that, when they're combined,
significantly enhance the sustainability
(09:43):
of the smart cities.
So maybe we can break this down
and discuss each part ofthe edge computing and AI
and how they combine intothis great form of computing.
So in general terms,
AI has the ability toanalyze vast amounts of data
collected from various sensors
and can build off established algorithms.
(10:06):
So through these advancedalgorithms and data analysis,
AI holds the ability
to enable energy efficiency improvements
in all city environments,
from buildings and factories
to transportation systems and more.
So this can all happen simultaneously
while managing renewable energyintegration into the grid.
(10:28):
On the other hand,
edge computing is a distributed system
that brings computation data storage
closer to where it's generated,
improving response timesand saving bandwidth.
So instead of relying solelyon centralized data processing,
like we do in cloud computing,
edge computing process data locally
(10:49):
onto devices such as IoTsensors, routers, or gateways.
So this proximity to the data source
allows for quick decision making
and reduce the need for data transmission
to centralized servers,
like enhancing theresponsiveness within the system
while also cutting down
on energy usage, consumption, and resource
(11:12):
associated with transferringlarge amount of data.
So when combined, edge computing with AI
brings together real-time data analysis
and decision making at the network's edge,
minimizing latency andbandwidth constraints.
This decentralized approachenhances system responsiveness,
(11:33):
reduce network congestion, and cut costs.
For city operations,
this can optimize everything
from traffic flow to energyconsumption patterns,
reducing energy waste andincreasing overall efficiency.
Smart cities, like AI-driven insights,
support proactive andadaptive urban planning,
(11:54):
realtime data on metrics
like air quality, trafficcongestion, or waste management,
and energy usage allows city managers
to make informed decisions andoptimize resource utilization
and minimize the environmental impact.
So this synergy betweenAI and edge computing
(12:14):
helps on traffic engineering
and more sustainable urban initiatives,
ultimately improving quality of life
while addressing environmental challenges.
- Great.
So I keep coming backto this building example
just because it's easier to visualize
how you can makeimprovements in a building.
You mentioned the lighting, the occupancy,
(12:35):
there's different infrastructurealready involved in there.
So when we're looking at an entire city
and all of these differentthings you can be doing
from the building, fromthe transportation,
from all of these different areas,
I'm curious, what type ofinvestment and infrastructure
is necessary to make sustainablesmart cities possible?
- Creating smart cities isn't cheap.
It does need a big investmentin advanced hardware,
(12:58):
and it also requires a strongnetwork infrastructure.
We're talking about setting up
powerful GPU-based edge computers
that can handle a variety of processors.
These machines are essential
for realtime data processing and AI tasks.
We also need to integrateIoT sensors and cameras
throughout the city.
These devices are keyfor realtime monitoring
(13:18):
and data collection.
They gather informationon things like traffic,
public safety, andenvironmental conditions,
and then process it locally toenable quick decision making.
On top of that,
smart grids and intelligenttransportation systems
help optimize energydistribution and traffic flow,
making the city more efficient overall.
But it's not just about the devices.
(13:40):
Having a solid networkinfrastructure is crucial too.
This ensures secure andhigh-speed data transmission
across the city systems.
A network of edge data centers
strategically placed around the city
can boost the efficiency and reliability
of this edge computing.
These centers reduce latency
and speed up the processingof realtime information,
(14:00):
plus they provide redundancy,
support the quick deploymentof new applications,
and improve disaster recovery capabilities
while contributing tosustainability goals.
However, implementing these technologies
in existing urbaninfrastructures isn't easy.
It comes with a high initial cost
and the challenge ofensuring compatibility
with older legacy systems.
(14:22):
This is where collaboration
between the public and privatesectors become crucial.
These partnerships helpalign technology deployments
and public policies,
making sure that the solutions
are sustainable andeffective in the long run.
- And then in addition tothese types of partnerships,
I'm sure there's technology partnerships
going on behind the scenes as well.
But before we get there,
I want to talk about some use cases
(14:44):
or customer examplesthat you guys may have.
We've been talking a lotabout the technology,
the solutions, what can be done,
what are some areas
that we can be implementingthis technology,
but to really paint apicture for our listeners,
do you have any customerexamples or use cases
that you can share with us
that highlight the effectiveness
of the technology we'vebeen talking about?
(15:05):
- Absolutely.
One of our standout projectsthat we were involved in
involves an AI-enabled recycling bin
that pretty muchtransformed waste management
in several urban areas so far.
These bins use advanced AI algorithms
to efficiently sort throughthe recyclable materials,
which significantly cuts down
the frequency of waste collection.
(15:26):
With the help of high-performanceprocessing system,
these bins can quickly andaccurately execute tasks,
making recycling programsmuch more effective.
Here's how it works.
People can easily deposit recyclable waste
like plastic bottles andcans into these bins.
The system then autonomouslysorts through those materials,
ensuring that they arecorrectly categorized
(15:46):
for optimal resource recovery.
This boosts sorting, accuracy,and overall recycling rates.
Plus, the system maximizesthe physical storage space
by automatically compressingthese papers and bottles,
which reduces the need forfrequent cleanup visits,
and improves the labor and efficiency
in waste collection so far.
These AI-powered recycling bins
(16:06):
also take a proactiveapproach to maintenance.
They can notify cleanersthrough remote management
when they need attention.
The sensors continuously monitor
the fill levels in real time
and send notifications whenthe waste is nearly full.
This pretty much streamlines operations
and eliminates the need
for constant manual monitoring.
This results in improved accuracy,
(16:28):
higher recycling rates,
and greater operational efficiency.
Additionally, cities like Baltimore
are making strides withsimilar initiatives.
They're investing $15 million
to deploy 4,000 smart trashreceptables across the city.
These solar-powered,wifi-enabled trash cans
can work much like our solution,
transmitting informationabout the fill levels
(16:48):
to optimize collection schedules
and enhance overall efficiency.
- I love that example.
Anytime we can automate
and take manual tasks out of the equation,
that makes it a lot more accurate.
Recycling and being sustainable
is a priority for me as a citizen,
but when I come to a recycling can
and there's paper, plastic, metal,
(17:09):
and there's different pictures
of what constitutes aswaste and not waste,
it gets confusing, andsometimes I'm worried
that I put it in the wrong bin.
So it's great that these recycling bins
can do the work for you
so that we can start making these efforts
and be more sustainable, be more accurate,
and not have to worry
about relying on error-prone processes.
So that's awesome to hear.
I want to come back to, like I mentioned,
(17:31):
this probably takes
a lot of technologypartnerships to do this.
We mentioned powerfulprocessors, edge computing,
I should mention insight.tech
and the podcast as a whole,
we are sponsored by Intel.
But we have had this themegoing on, "better together,"
that it really takes teamworkfrom different organizations,
different partners, different experts
(17:51):
to leverage all of this technology
and really create apowerful, impactful solution.
So I'm curious what the valueof your partnership with Intel
and its technology has been
to enable some of the usecases you just talked about.
- Oh, yeah, definitely.
Our partnership with Intel has been key
to the success of oursmart city solutions.
Intel's processors provide
the high-performance computing power
(18:11):
needed to handle these complex
AI and data processing tasks.
And over time, Intel hasfine tuned these processors
to boost efficiency and performance,
making sure that theymeet the tough demands
of city applications.
Here at Axiomtek,
innovation is at the heartof our collaboration,
and Intel's dedicationto advancing technologies
aligns perfectly with our goals.
(18:32):
This allows us to usecutting-edge technologies
to develop robust and reliable solutions.
Also, this partnershiphas helped us stay ahead
in the AI and edge computing advancements.
Another benefit of it is scalability.
There's a wide range of products
that Intel lets us customize our solutions
for various use cases,
(18:53):
ensuring our systems can scale efficiently
to meet the growingdemands of urban areas.
Whether it's expandingthe network of IoT sensors
or adding more advanced AI capabilities,
Intel's technology supportsthe seamless scaling
of our solutions.
Overall, Intel's technology and support
have empowered us to developadvanced smart city solutions
and enhanced our ability toimplement them effectively.
(19:16):
This partnership keeps our systems
at the cutting edge of technology,
and it also provides reliableand scalable solutions
for cities around the world.
- Great.
And, of course, sustainability
is only one aspect of smart cities.
So in the beginning in your backgrounds,
you both mentioned different areas
that you are focused on at the company.
I'm curious, how else do you see edge AI
(19:39):
being implemented across smart cities
and benefiting this area?
- We talked about howedge AI can help cities
become more sustainable
by integrating it intofoundations of a city,
like smart energy grid,resource management,
transportation, and smart buildings.
As edge AI technology continues to advance
and become more effective,
(19:59):
it can also expand intoareas beyond sustainability.
The possibilities are onlylimited by our imagination.
In transportation, while EV charging
and promoting public transportationsupports sustainability,
edge AI can offer many other applications.
For instance, realtime sensorscan optimize public parking,
and self-driving can continuously improve,
(20:20):
driving new data.
In the future, autonomous vehicles
might even coordinate with each other
with traffic infrastructure
to improve efficiency and safety.
We can also see how automatedpublic transportation
could optimize routes andmanage passenger flow.
Edge AI can enhance traffic management
by enabling realtime traffic optimization,
(20:41):
taking into account multiple factors
like nearby streets and intersections.
With more cameras in place,
it allows for immediate accident detection
and traffic rerouting.
Moreover, AI-powered surveillance
can boost public safety
by detecting unusual activity
and predicting incidentslike floods or fires.
Infrastructure monitoringcan detect anomalies
(21:01):
for prompt maintenance,
including road conditionsand utility lines.
This kind of monitoring can even extend
to resources like water and air quality.
Edge AI's integration into smart cities
shows a lot of promise,
and it can enhance daily life
for virtual assistants
that automate routines andinteract with smart devices.
These assistants with AI advancements
(21:22):
can adapt routines based on user patterns,
making life more convenientand efficient in the long run.
- Well, I can't wait to see
what else Axiomtek does in this space,
and I invite all of our listenersto follow along with them,
contact the company, visit their website
to see how you can be a part
of some of these innovations happening
as well as follow along on insight.tech
as we cover partnerslike Axiomtek and others
(21:44):
and what they're doing in these spaces.
Before we go, I just wantto throw it back to you guys
if there's any finalthoughts or key takeaways
that you want to leaveour listeners with today.
- Yeah, we shared varioustechnology perspectives here,
and now maybe we can shiftour focus back to humanity.
In the past, many peoplehave traditionally viewed
(22:05):
our economic and environmental concerns
as conflicting interests.
However, we anticipate thatthe introduction of edge AI
will significantly alter thisdynamic for urban cities.
In the past, maintainingsustainable operations
often demanded like asignificant human resource
for management and close oversight.
(22:28):
We saw examples of this
in recycling and resourcemanagement operations
where many of them incorporate edge AI now
operate more efficiently and autonomously,
reducing the need for human intervention.
So with edge AI advancement,
these activities will become
more cost-effective,achievable, or more efficient.
(22:52):
We're really excited to contribute
to the sustainable journey
by offering improved methodsto fight the greenhouse effect,
reduce carbon emissions in the long term,
and maybe leave a cleaner environment
and brighter future forthe next generation.
- Absolutely, and totallyagree with you there.
The roles and the responsibilities
(23:13):
and our impact in this
is going to significantly change,
especially when youthink about the use case
and the recycling bin that you provided.
It is no longer on the human
or the manual effort tomake some of this happen.
It's just going to become second nature,
and we're going to start beingable to make these efforts
even if we don't know we're making them.
So it's great to seecompanies like Axiomtek
making all of these different innovations
(23:35):
and advancements in this space.
I want to thank you bothagain for joining the podcast
as well as our listeners for tuning in.
Until next time,
this has been "insight.tech Talk."
(light upbeat music)
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