Blog post -

Safe as Houses: How “Smart” Cities Are Reinventing Urban Security for the Digital Age

The need to protect one’s home is as old as human civilization itself, and historically the methods that have been employed to enforce this security—from razor wire to guard dogs to electric fences—have been of the highly visible, even oppressive, variety. Modern advancements in digital technology, however, have steadily reduced the need for obtrusive physical barriers and there is a growing trend towards ultra-discreet security systems and low-profile personal safety solutions among Asia’s wealthy.

Providing a blueprint for this brave new world of virtually invisible home security is the new generation of “smart” cities—digitally integrated metropolises where ubiquitous electronic sensors are used to respond in real time to the changing needs of residents. By making use of state-of-the-art surveillance equipment and sophisticated motion-activated lighting and alarm systems complemented by human patrols, these cities of the future promise peace of mind without compromising aesthetic harmony.

One such “smart” city is Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town (SST) in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture, a groundbreaking residential development made possible through the work of future-facing companies such as electronics giant Panasonic. Constructed with an appreciation of modern lifestyle trends at its core, this cutting-edge 1,000-home project showcases the latest innovations in urban security at both a household and a municipal level.

Using its advantage of being purpose built, the town’s first line of defense lies in its layout, which is cleverly designed to limit the number of possible entrances. This allows security personnel to easily monitor the flow of people in and out of the town with a subtly integrated camera system. This inconspicuous surveillance network is also used to keep tabs on blind spots, and to alert human security patrols to suspicious activity.

Eco-awareness is at the heart of Fujisawa’s philosophy, and sustainability dovetails with personal safety in the form of the town’s motion-activated LED street lights. As well as reducing energy consumption by more than 80%, these intelligent bulbs are set to illuminate pathways intuitively when people are present and to dim when no one is around to save energy.

In the homes themselves, the traditional security alarm has been given a significant upgrade through the installation of advanced intrusion and fire detection sensors, as well as a warning system for emergencies.

Perhaps the most forward-looking security system of all, however, relies more on people than machines. While over-reliance on technology has been cited in some quarters as a potential cause of social isolation, in Fujisawa it is used to foster closer ties within the community, making it easier for residents to share information and provide extra attention for children and the elderly.

While such integrated and comprehensive systems may be some way off for most cities, this brand of unobtrusive sensor-based technology is increasingly being used by companies and private consumers across Asia. For most of us it may not be here yet, but the day of security without fences lies tantalizingly on the horizon.

Related links

Topics

  • Building, property

Categories

  • fujisawa
  • sustainability
  • business
  • homes & living
  • corporate

Related content

  • Panasonic System Solutions Asia Pacific Hosts the Inaugural Developers’ Forum

    Panasonic System Solutions Asia Pacific hosted a Developers’ Forum today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The forum was attended by almost 100 leading real estate developers from Asia. The event provides a platform for industry knowledge sharing and networking, with the aim to enhance partnerships between Panasonic and real estate developers.

  • Sustainability Begins at Home: The New Breed of Eco-friendly “Smart” Houses

    Though there may be some who continue to debate its very existence, it is difficult to deny that climate change is one of the defining issues of our time. And while tackling the problem relies largely on governments making changes at a global level, increased awareness of the causes of climate change has led to a seismic shift in mindset at the consumer level.

  • After Years of Hype, "Smart" Cities Are Finally Taking Hold

    ​Billed as the future of urban living, “smart” cities have been on the horizon—and the drawing board—for more than a decade. But this new breed of digitally integrated metropolis, in which embedded technology is used to enhance standards of living and sustainability, is no longer a mere pipe dream as the first wave of “smart” cities has come to fruition in a variety of locations around the world.

  • Evolution of Green Building Technologies in Asia [Infographic]

    In recent years, Asia has seen much advancement in eco-friendly and sustainable building technologies, from establishing government regulations to support green building, to the development of entire smart cities. Here's a top down look at how green building technologies have developed in Asia over the last decade.

  • Building Foundations for Smarter Cities From the Ground Up

    With megacities in Asia developing at a breakneck pace, smarter sustainable developments are becoming readily necessary. Read how Panasonic is building the foundation and defining what smart cities should be through key developments in Japan.

  • The future of smart home living

    With technology becoming firmly embedded in our lives, how will the modern home of the year 2020 look? Panasonic unveils its vision for the ideal connected home of the future.

  • New Tips – How to Simply and Efficiently Manage Electrical Bills While Reducing Energy Waste

    Energy, time and money can be some of the hardest things to manage if you don’t have the right tools. Here’s one way to make it easier for yourself.
    One of the primary interests of many home automation enthusiasts is energy management. Having the ability to supervise and exercise tighter control over how much energy is being consumed in one’s home is not only exceedingly convenient, but also

  • Pretty, Green: How the Changing Aesthetics of Sustainable Living are Winning over Consumers

    ​As the technology for generating and managing renewable energy sources becomes more sophisticated, a rising number of governments, companies and private consumers are waking up to the possibilities of sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. But one of the main criticisms that persist is their lack of aesthetic appeal. How is this evolving and winning over customers in society today?

  • Six Innovative Concepts Connecting Our Future Homes

    In Panasonic’s interpretation of the future, we see six ways in how technology can support the connection that we can share with our homes, the people in our lives and most of all simply make a busy working life just a little bit easier.

  • The underpinnings of a successful smart city

    As smart cities are becoming more and more prevalent around the world, we also see an increasing number of new innovations in design and technology. However, it is often easy to simply associate ‘smart’ with buildings or cities that run in automation or with robotics and provide connection to data and services in order to improve services and eco-friendliness.

  • Managing energy efficiency in small spaces

    While Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) are frequently thought to be more applicable for large spaces, it’s surprising how BEMS can help manage energy efficiently in small spaces as well, saving precious energy and money in the long term.

  • Changing the way we build green

    At the Panasonic Developers Forum held in September 2015, attendees heard from Mr. Tai Lee Siang, Group Managing Director for Singapore-based architecture consultancy ONG&ONG, and Vice Chairman of the World Green Building council. We speak to Mr. Tai about his thoughts about climate change, how space is being utilised by cities currently, as well as his vision of urban cities of the future.

  • How Japanese policymakers shape the future of sustainable living

    Asia’s growing urban population is placing the environment under heavy strain, but Japan is proving we can implement effective policies for a greener future.
    Over the last few decades, Asian economies have experienced a phenomenal rise to prominence on the global stage. Making way for socioeconomic growth, however, has incurred heavy costs: overexploitation of resources, degradation of the envi

  • The new era of building green in Thailand

    Image Source: Photo by David Berkowitz/CC by 2.0
    Eco-friendly buildings are slowly but surely increasing in Thailand. Here’s what you need to know.
    Bangkok, one of the hottest cities in the world with an air temperature that regularly stays above 30 degrees Celsius, experienced an unprecedented cold snap this January. .
    The freak weather underscores the fact that our planet continues to

  • Smart homes. Smarter insulation.

    Green homes and smart insulation are synonymous today, since the combination not only enhances structural aesthetics but lowers energy costs. Here’s how.
    Ensuring comfort in a home requires that the focus remains not just on structural robustness and aesthetics but also on the surroundings and how they affect you. In this context, a key area of consideration is insulation.
    The case for insul