HDB signs deal to study evolving needs of residents and build communities
HDB signs $6m deal with Singapore University of Technology and Design
Wifi-enabled void decks could become a reality as the Housing Board embarks on a three-year social behavioural study to better understand evolving resident needs.
A $6 million memorandum of understanding to embark on this study, titled New Urban Kampung Research Programme, was signed with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) yesterday.
The study, which will steer future town planning and housing design, will use a data-driven approach to understand resident preferences and build stronger communities.
Information from traditional census and surveys - as well as big data from sensor networks around the neighbourhood, such as human traffic and movement sensors - will help identify lifestyle trends and sentiments in a community.
For instance, using big data on smart lighting could help HDB understand how residents move around and use community spaces in their estate. Residents can then be engaged to co-design under-used spaces, said an HDB statement on Thursday (Sept 7).
Common interests of residents can be identified and result in new ways of bringing communities together.
For instance, if data shows that residents in an estate are fond of cycling, customised cycling apps can be introduced to link cycling enthusiasts, allow them to share their cycling mileage and make recommendations on scenic or safer cycling routes.
Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong also signed a $4.7 million agreement to collaborate with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to boost construction productivity at the International Housing Forum yesterday.
NTU will develop a Smart Integrated Construction System that will serve as a collaborative workspace between industry partners through a central digital platform.
The fastchanging urban landscape brings along with it increasingly complex housing issues and needs.HDB chief executive Cheong Koon Hean
This streamlines data sharing among partners such as architects, contractors and construction material suppliers, enabling them to better keep track of budgets and timelines.
The platform will be powered by a Smart Tracking System to better manage the logistics of construction inventory, such as precast components for HDB buildings.
HDB chief executive Cheong Koon Hean said: "The fast-changing urban landscape brings along with it increasingly complex housing issues and needs. To meet these challenges, HDB wants to advance the 'science' behind how we plan, design and build our HDB towns and estates.
"With behavioural science studies and data analysis, we can better understand our residents' needs and changing lifestyles and their likely responses to our plans and initiatives.
"Smart construction solutions will also enable us to build more productively and achieve better quality."
More HDB resale flats sold in August
More HDB resale flats were sold last month, with prices a tad higher than in the previous month. In all, 1,957 flats were sold, a 9.6 per cent increase over the 1,785 units in July.
The number of transactions completed was also higher than in August last year: a 3 per cent increase over the 1,900 units resold in August 2016. The price rise, however, was up and down.
Compared to this July, the August prices inched up by just 0.1 per cent. But the year-on-year comparison shows the prices in August this year had dropped 0.7 per cent.
Mr Nicholas Mak, executive director of property firm ZACD Group, said the rush to seal deals before the Hungry Ghost Month, which began on Aug 22, could have contributed to the increased sales. - THE STRAITS TIMES
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