2011-11-30

Call for interest: Smart Urban Infrastructure Metrics

As the official Canadian member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is seeking feedback on ISO’s new work item proposal for the development of a new standard on smart urban infrastructure metrics. All responses submitted to SCC serve to generate a Canadian position.

Purpose and justification for new proposal

The purpose of the proposed activity is to improve the international trade environment of urban infrastructure by harmonizing the rapid proliferation of city-indicators.

A number of different evaluation indicators for urban infrastructure are used. This complexity and redundancy makes it difficult for city planners, governors and investors to evaluate multiple urban infrastructure proposals or plans consistently. In addition, infrastructure vendors face difficulty in developing new technology without an appropriate standard. Thus, it is important to introduce appropriate and harmonized metrics to evaluate urban infrastructure.

There is a need for holistic metrics that evaluate urban infrastructure as a whole. For instance, a combination of electrical, water and waste-management solutions, according to their own individual indicators, may not add up to the best urban infrastructure solution from a holistic perspective.

It is imminent to establish globally harmonized metrics in this field, as the number of plans and projects for building smart cities is continuously growing, and decisions made now will affect urban infrastructure for years to come.

Scope of proposed technical activity

To develop harmonized metrics on the “smartness” of fundamental city infrastructure, not the city itself.

More specifically, the following scope will apply to:

1. Energy, water, transportation, waste management, and ICT metrics.
2. Quantitative evaluation of the metrics in a practical way (including a questionnaire).
3. Potential for technological implementation.

Political, societal or cultural solutions are not directly related to the metrics.

Official ISO proposal: Smart urban infrastructure metrics

Comments requested

Stakeholders are invited to consider the following when formulating a response:

1. Is the proposed scope relevant and does it use appropriate terminology, or is the scope too broad or too specific?
2. Could the development of this proposed standard impact your sector negatively or positively and why?
3. Will the development of this proposed standard benefit your sector or will it pose challenges?
4. If this field of technical activity is regulated, will the proposed development of this standard complement it or not?

Deadline for submission

February 1, 2012

For more information or to submit your comments please contact Darryl Kingston, Program Manager, Global Standards Governance, ISO and Regional, via email at [email protected].

The Standards Council of Canada is a federal Crown corporation with the mandate to promote efficient and effective standardization in Canada with the goal of enhancing Canada’s economic competitiveness and social well-being. SCC is Canada’s representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and is responsible for coordinating Canadian participation in the development of international standards. It also accredits standards development and conformity assessment organizations. For more information on SCC’s programs visit www.scc.ca or email [email protected].