Smart city message goes global

Wyndham Cr Aaron An and Dr Adam Mowlam, the WynLens creator. Photo: Damjan Janevski

Wyndham council’s WynLens project is in the running for a smart city global award.

City economy, innovation and liveability director Kate Roffey, WynLens creator Adam Mowlam, mayor Henry Barlow and smart city portfolio holder Aaron An are in Barcelona this week for the Smart City Expo World Congress.

Wyndham is one of only two Australian councils attending the event, with Dr Mowlam selected to deliver a presentation on the WynLens project.

WynLens employs holographic mixed-reality technology – merging real and virtual worlds to produce new environments where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact – to provide a three-dimensional vision of what the future holds for Werribee.

The Australian-first technology is so cutting edge that it recently won the 2017 National Award for Excellence in Local Government, leading to the global award nomination.

Ms Roffey said the annual event would allow Wyndham to make connections and learn from other smart cities.

She said becoming a smart city was all about using technology for the benefit of Wyndham.

“It’s really important for us that we learn more about what’s happening in a global sense.

“We’re particularly interested in big data, [such as] water usage and usage on roads, pedestrian counting.

“Our job is not to invent [technology] but to leverage off those groups who are.”

Cr Barlow added:  “We were so proud to receive the award in Canberra earlier on this year, and the fact that we’re able to take it on to the bigger stage is a feather in the cap for the City of Wyndham.”