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SINGAPORE:
              Urbanization                                                        50 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE



 long-term comprehensive planning of the   run out of spaces to expand. They will then take on vertical   Blockchain
 city of the future, the country has been able   expansion. The mode of transportation in such cases will be by   Technology in Finance
 to overcome its geographic disadvantages   air. The Government of Singapore has already started testing
 and become a leader in global commerce.   the prospect of advanced drone programs for the future.   To smoothen the development trajectory, a
 But what exactly is it like to live in   Drones are already being used for cargo delivery. These drones   well-functioning financial market is a
 Singapore? How does a 4-hour flight from   are built with multiple aerospace grade navigation systems so   must. Without the provision of bank loans
 Dhaka take you 50 years ahead to the   that if one of the drones malfunctions, the others can reach   and transaction facilities, investors might
 future? We explore, one by one, how the   the destination properly.  deem a site unprofitable. For Singapore,
 city has pushed its limited resources   the financial sector alone makes up 12% of
 beyond its limits and turned it into   Vertical Farming  GDP. To make the process faster and well
 something grandiose.   protected from hackers, Singapore has
 While the whole world ponders upon food scarcity, Singapore   started using a blockchain technology
 Modern Housing  has come up with innovative, self-sustaining solutions.   named Project Ubin. Blockchain technology
 ‘Sustenir’, a controlled agricultural farm in Singapore,
 Tasked with the responsibility of creating   simulates outdoor environments inside concrete buildings.   is fast, save, and convenient for overseas
             transaction. Traditionally, banks keep their
 sustainable and manageable housing   Plants grown inside this closed artificial ecosystem receive   transaction records on their own
 spaces for 5.7 million people, Singapore’s   neither sunlight, nor soil. Instead, scientists control the   centralized ledger, but Ubin keeps them in
 Housing and Development Board (HDB) has   humidity, temperature, carbon-dioxide saturation etc. and   a blockchain making identical copies of the
 already provided living solutions to many.   produce different kinds of plants that vary in tastes. It is   record and distributes them through a
 But now they want to step up a gear and   predicted that this type of farming is the future, and that the   network of computers around the world. If
 search for complex, hi-tech solutions for a   idea will be replicated in all   in any case a copy does not match with
 better environment. Dr. Cheong Koon Hean,   developed cities.   others, it is rejected. For a hacker to break
 Chief Executive Officer of HDB, emphasizes   But these advancements will   into the system, they would need to
 on design decisions that incorporate large   be futile in the long run if   simultaneously attack all the computers in
 openings for increased ventilation.  people are unable to live a life   the blockchain network, which is virtually
 Singapore has also reclaimed parts of the   long and healthy enough to   impossible.
 sea to increase its land mass. The   enjoy the amenities the city
 ever-famous Marina Bay is one of the most   has to offer. One of the most   Medical and
 successful engineering projects of our time.   major health concerns the city
 It attracts businesses and Michelin star   has been increasingly dealing   Technological
 restaurants to strike official deals amidst   with is diabetes. An ageing   Advancement
 the grandeur of the city, and tourists to   demographic further
 behold in awe, the progressive emotion the   exacerbates the problem. The   Singapore has estabilished itself as a
 city has to offer.  city, however, has brought   global medical hub, housing innovative
 Over the years, experts in Singapore looked   science to its aid. Dr. Lee Mun   technologies, well-trained doctors, and
 for alternative ways to expand its land.   Wai, a bioengineer, is   top-tier hospitals. For example, an
 With precise engineering and architectural   conducting research to create   automatic, low-latency, high-precision
 technology, the city is opting for expansion   food that provides exact   needle targeting mechanism allows for
 over and under the ground. The Urban   nutritional values adjusted for   safer and faster microsurgery procedures.
 Redevelopment Authority (URA) of   individuals. The process will   During crises like the South-Asian haze,
 Singapore wanted to build a business   include a smartwatch to   Singapore's medical and technological
 district that would not only serve official   monitor health issues and a 3D   capabilities allowed them to quickly design   to the modern world, Singapore has incorporated technology
 purposes, but also serve as a multipurpose   printer that prints out the   plasma masks for children and adults.   education in school curricula. The lessons are not merely
 precinct where activities would be carried   nutrient requirements for the   Advanced technology is being used in   education - they are interactive, playful, and communicative.
 out 24/7. This meant infrastructural   person in a jelly-like   monitoring and making life better for   Through trial and error, the kids are developing
 development was required round the clock   substance. Such innovative solutions can provide a longer life   everyone, from newborn babies to the   communication, language, and analytical skills. But digital
 for the Marina Bay Model to work. The plan   to the citizens, gradually increasing their standard of living.  elderly. A startup named ‘TransferFi’ has   literacy does not stop here. The benefits of digitization will
 outlines undergrounds to be used for   come up with a technology that transfers   only be realized when the citizens are well-adapted to it. The
 With the world moving faster than ever, urbanization has   Among all these debates, Singapore stands at the   transportation infrastructures, electrical   Water Desalination  electric power wirelessly through   Info-Communications Media Development Authority is tasked
 become a part and parcel of our lives. The United Nation   pinnacle of success as a glaring example of   tunnels, pedestrians, and commercial   radiofrequency. Such innovation can   with the responsibility of making the process easier for older
 projects that in the coming decades, hundreds of millions   urban life and futuristic development. A small   spaces with precise designs for the next 50   As global temperatures spike, fresh water has become   revolutionize industries reliant on   people as well.
 of urban dwellers will swarm into cities, especially   country with minimal natural resources, the   years.  increasingly scarce. Up until now, Singapore depended on   electrical devices. This will also benefit
 within Asia and Africa. Accommodating this many urban   city-state of Singapore was a charming pocket of   rainwater to cater to their needs. But a modern city needs an   electronic devices used in hospitals,   Singapore really is a city of the future. Not only have they
 dwellers efficiently and equitably may be an arduous   urban chaos and scruffiness even in the 1960s.   Transportation of the   even modern solution. A desalination plant named ‘Tuas’ uses   alongside facilitating other industries.  achieved commendable economic growth over the last few
 task, and brings additional concerns of detrimental of   But, today it has developed into a city of   reverse osmosis to turn sea water into potable water. But this   decades, but they have also reached new heights of success in
 technology over-use, environmental degradation and loss   towering high-rises and immaculate cleanliness.   Future  too comes with challenges as it uses a lot of energy. Thus, a   Preparing the Next   multiple industries. Their digital adaptability, and spirit of
 of biodiversity arising from rapid urbanization. From an   Singapore’s ascension to one of the strongest   An even futuristic idea hailing from the city   company named Evoqua came up with electrodialysis to use   Generation for the   growth is still going strong. The rapid urbanization that we
 optimistic perspective, the growing numbers could   economies in the world over a span of five   is the use of drones to travel. Professor   electricity to remove salt from the sea water. The plant has a   Future  are currently facing in Bangladesh can be tackled and used to
 contribute to economic prosperity. However, official   decades is nothing short of remarkable. By   Jason Pomeroy from Pomeroy Studio   capacity of desalinating 3,800 cubic meters of water per day,   our benefit if we take Singapore as an inspiration. The process
 attitudes towards rapid urbanization remain broadly   embracing globalization, free market capitalism,   believes that cities of the world will soon   with hopes of increasing the capacity to 100,000 cubic meters   To make children better prepared for a   can be complex, but proper planning with frequent monitoring
 negative.  education, pragmatic policies and, as a whole, a   per day.  highly digital workspace and well-adjusted   and evaluation can make it happen.



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