Open Data and the challenges of Smart City in Thailand

Developing the Smart City in Thailand is the effort to exploit data tech and innovation to improve the quality of urban life by adding sustainability. The urban economy is powered by targets of building intelligent cities, which are connected efficiently and with good coverage. Digital Solutions are deployed to manage urban challenges and improve livings overall for residents. Different kinds of high tech are integrated such as the Internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and the analysis of Big Data, as well as Cloud Computing. Changes to the urban environment make it more efficient and more inviting to live in, so that urban populations are content.

Under the 12th National Economic Development Plan, the Thailand 4.0 Policy and the principles of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), development of the Smart City is divided into 7 domains which are: Smart Environment, Smart Governance, Smart Mobility, Smart Energy, Smart Economy, Smart Living and Smart People.

Development of the Smart City has many challenges, and one of them is Big Data disclosure. There are many perspectives on disclosing government data, with causes from many factors as follows:

1. Information Access:

There must be confidence that data collected by state agencies and other bodies is easily accessible to the public. Open Data is initiated with targets of making data available for public use and analysis. However, there may be technical barriers to sharing data efficiently, such as the lack of standard formats or limited infrastructure.

2. Data Quality and Standards:

Data quality and standards are crucial for making efficient use of data. Incompatibility, error, or incomplete datasets may be barriers to making use of Open Data. Achieving high data quality relies on standard methods of data processing and verification processes, and ongoing maintenance.

3. Data Privacy and Security:

Initiating Open Data requires a balance between transparency with data privacy and security. Data such as personal data or government secrets should be protected as appropriate to prevent unauthorized access and illegal use.

4. Legal and Policy Framework:

Clear Legal and Policy Frameworks are critical to controlling Open Data as well as issues such as data ownership, permission to exercise rights, rights in intellectual property and liability. Amendments must be made to promote data sharing while complying with all pertinent regulations.

5. Awareness and capacity building:

Promoting awareness and building capacity between state agencies, private companies and the general public is key to initiating Open Data successfully. Training programs, workshops and awareness campaigns will assist stakeholders to understand the benefits of Open Data and augment their data management skills.

6. Culture of Collaboration and Information Sharing:

Promoting a Culture of Collaboration and Information Sharing between different stakeholder groups is absolutely crucial. The promotion of government agencies, private companies and educational institutions to share their data and work collaboratively on programs leads to smart urban solutions which have greater coverage and impact.

The management of these challenges relies on cooperation from government agencies, policymakers, technologists and the general public. To overcome these obstacles, Thailand can unlock the potential of Open Data to power innovation, improve public services and level up overall development of the Smart City. The following are a number of key opportunities:

1. Data-Driven Decisions:

Open Data is large amounts of data which can be deployed by state agencies, businesses and the public for data-driven decision-making with analysis and data visualization. Policymakers can receive in-depth data about urban trends, traffic layouts, resources management and the improvement of public services which lead to more efficient decisions.

2. Public Participation:

Open Data Allows the public more engagement, particularly in developing and improving the smart city. Giving access to the public, private individuals, community groups and NGOs enables them to participate in urban planning, identify issues, propose remedies and monitor progress of the Smart City project.

3. Economic growth and Innovation:

Open Data is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs, startups and other businesses to develop innovative solutions and services through their access to, and analysis of data. Businesses can identify marketing opportunities to create new products and adjust their existing offers, which is a stimulus to economic growth and promotes a lively ecosystem for the Smart City.

4. Service Improvements:

Open Data Makes public services in the Smart City more efficient. Government agencies can identify areas for improvement and increase efficiency of the processes which deliver services to match the requirements of the population efficiently. This can be achieved by providing information which is ready to use. For instance, it is possible to use real transportation times to make traffic flow more efficient and reduce congestion, improving the overall transportation experience.

5. Collaboration and Partnership:

Open Data supports collaboration and partnership between the state sector, private companies and educational institutions by sharing data. Stakeholders can work together on original research and development programs, and collaboratively engineer innovative solutions. It is a holistic and integrated approach to developing the Smart City.

6.Transparency and Accountability:

Open Data encourages transparency and accountability in government operations. Making data accessible enables the public to investigate the efficiency of public services, follow up government spending on the same, and stipulate that government officer8s must be held accountable for their actions. Thus, transparency promotes trust, and improves relations between the government and the public.

Exploiting these opportunities enables Thailand to unlock the potential of Open Data. It can make the Smart City more intelligent and sustainable, and more people-centric. It can lead to improved quality of life through the efficient management of resources and improved public services for residents.

Jirawat Eauchai, Chief Operating Officer, Trinity Roots Co., Ltd.