ULM holds int'l seminar to support Banjarmasin toward smart city

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The University of Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) has committed to support Banjarmasin toward smart city, while the city government keep making improvement in various aspects.

"The International & National Joint Seminar on Smart City Governance is a concrete manifestition of ULM full support for Banjarmasin progress toward smart city," Vice Rector IV for Planning, Cooperation, and Public Relation Dr Ir H Yudi Firmanul Arifin remarked here on Tuesday (Oct 8, 2019).

He ensured all research and technology produced by ULM academics can encourage to increase the people quality of life.

He viewed, the smart city is not only about to maximize the use of IT to connect various existing resource to be more effective and efficient, but also to increase the quality of life of urban community. Energy saving building, environmentally-friendly house, and the use of renewable energy are some examples. 

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Banjarmasin Mayor H Ibnu Sina acknowledged he was very pleased with the joint seminar held by ULM and Brawijaya, because it was very useful for the city government. While Banjarmasin is one of the city in the movement toward 100 smart city in Indonesia.

"We hope the Banjarmasin Smart City council in its composition later to be filled by some academics and practitioners, so it become a form of collaboration a spirit together with other cities in Indonesia," he pointed out.

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Ibnu Sina stated, the spirit of the cities in Indonesia today is no more a competition, but a collaboration, while competition means to give the best and to go forward together. 

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He also acknowledged that Banjarmasin is a livable city number 7 in Indonesia in 2018 as a result of the Indonesian Association of Planners (IAP) survey index with a feasibility value of 65.1 percent. But with many notes, including residents complain about transportation still using minicab. In response, the city administration prepares mass-transportation and has planned to operate ten bus fleet at the end of the year to realize smart transportation.

The seminar, which was initiated by ULM, Brawijaya University Malang, and Banjarmasin government, was attended by rectors of universities in Indonesia, Prof Samrit Yosomsakdi and Dr Amrat Anantantorn from Burpha University Thailand, and Prof Madya Dr Azizah from University Malaysia.