所谓智慧城市，就是利用信息通信技术、技术创新等方式来应对城市面临的问题，打造一个更好的生活环境。依据政府的大蓝图，智慧城市由7个部分组成，当中又以数码基础建设尤为重要。
智慧城市与可持续性的主题相呼应。我在《大马“可持续性”预算案》 一文中对最新的财政预算案涵可持续性主题有所表述。环境污染和交通拥堵是各大城市迫在眉睫的挑战，而数码基础建设可为此提供良好的解决方案。
随著智慧城市推进，去年上市的本地第一家专注于建设公共空间网络系统和相关人工智能领域的企业──ITMAX系统，值得各方的关注。
ITMAX系统的目标是通过创新科技解决方案，推动城市、城镇和企业的可持续发展。其核心业务包括网络化照明系统、交通管理系统、视频监控系统和通讯网络服务。这可使他们成为智慧城市系统建设的提供商。
该公司日前就获得柔佛州16个市议会中3个地方政府的合约。除了在南部，该公司也获得吉隆坡市政局颁发安装5000台智慧型闭路电视的合约。
不管是打造智慧城市，还是在公共监控方面，闭路电视数量是一个关键，根据独立市场调查，吉隆坡在东盟主要城市中，其公共空间的闭路电视，只有5000台，排在第六，与超过十万台排在第一的新加坡相距甚远。这也意味著ITMAX系统尚有庞大未开发市场。
鉴于涉及国家安全和隐私问题，身为本地公司在这一领域更具优势。毕竟，为了确保国家的敏感数据不会外泄再加上本地企业具有合格经验，试问政府还会把相关合约颁发给外国企业吗？
除了政府的合约，该公司也放眼把产品的应用场景，扩大至私人界，如住宅区开发项目、商业开发项目，包括购物中心和办公楼，医院、医疗设施以及高速公路。
须知智慧城市的发展不仅意味著更高效的城市管理，还为安全和生活质量提供了创新解决方案。在这一领域，各种高度智能化的技术应用正逐步融入城市各个层面。
提升城市安全
在这方面ITMAX系统所提供的方案，可以分为城市安全、城市管理、交通管理和防灾管控四大范畴。最重要的是该公司所提供的是网络化方案（networked solutions）。换句话说，该公司无需依赖如电讯公司的第三方也可以综合管理其数码基础建设。
首先在城市安全范畴，该公司提供的人脸识别技术，包括行人分析、落脚点分析、黑白名单布控等，同时结合人体识别技术，如人体以图搜图和人体属性分析，可进一步提升城市的安全性。
该公司系统也可提供车辆结构化分析，包括车牌识别和车辆轨迹分析，不仅有助于交通管理，还可用于事故发生后的分析。在城市管理范畴，也可以监测如店外经营、占道经营、垃圾溢出等，进而可改善城市环境卫生。
此外，该公司的交通管理范畴涵盖交通事故检测和交通拥堵检测，可进一步提高了城市的安全和交通流畅度。最后，防灾防控方面，水位预警监测有助于在面临自然灾害时提前采取措施。这些应用展示了科技在多个领域的广泛应用，为城市的可持续和安全发展提供了强有力支持。
ITMAX系统提供的解决方案不仅有助于监控车流量、减少交通拥堵和降低空气污染，还符合环境、社会和治理（ESG）原则。这符合全球社会对可持续发展的日益关注，也为投资者提供了具备社会责任感的投资机会。
总体而言，在这个数码化时代，ITMAX可说是站在智慧城市变革的前沿。无论如何，本文仅为资讯分享而非投资建议，个人的投资决策还是要基于理解自身可承担的风险和充分的研究与专业谘询。
郑荣信《大马智慧城市的先驱》英文版：Pioneer of Smart Cities in Malaysia
The concept of smart city involves using information and communication technology and technological innovations to address the challenges faced by urban areas and create a better living environment. According to the government's blueprint, a smart city consists of seven key components, with digital infrastructure playing a particularly crucial role. Smart cities are closely related to the theme of sustainability. In my article on the "Malaysian Sustainability Budget," I discussed the latest fiscal budget's focus on sustainability. Environmental pollution and traffic congestion are pressing challenges in major cities, and digital infrastructure offers promising solutions for these issues.
As the smart city initiative progresses, attention is drawn to ITMAX Systems, the first homegrown company specializing in public space networked systems and artificial intelligence fields.
ITMAX Systems aims to drive sustainable development for cities, towns, and businesses through innovative technological solutions. Their core services include networked lighting systems， networked traffic management systems，networked video surveillance systems and communications network services that position themselves as providers of smart city solutions.
The company recently secured contracts from 3 out of 16 city councils in Johor. In addition to the southern region, they also obtained a contract from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to install 5,000 smart closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
Whether in the creation of smart cities or public surveillance, the quantity of CCTV cameras is a critical factor. According to independent market research, Kuala Lumpur currently ranks sixth in the ASEAN region with 5,000 cameras, far behind Singapore, which boasts over 100,000 cameras. This indicates a substantial untapped market for the company.
Given the involvement of national security and privacy concerns, local companies have an advantage in this field. After all, to ensure sensitive data does not leak out of the country, coupled with the local companies' qualified experience, it remains a question whether the government would award the relevant contracts to foreign companies.
Apart from government contracts, the company also has plans to expand the application of its products to the private sector, including residential developments, commercial projects, such as shopping centers and office buildings, hospitals, medical facilities, and highways.
It is important to understand that the development of smart cities not only means more efficient urban management but also provides innovative solutions for safety and quality of life. In this field, various highly intelligent technological applications are gradually integrated into various aspects of cities.
In this regard, ITMAX Systems' solutions can be categorized into four major areas: city security, city management, traffic management, and disaster prevention and control. Importantly, the company provides networked solutions, meaning they can comprehensively manage their digital infrastructure without relying on third-party telecommunications companies.
Firstly, in regards to city security aspect, the company offers facial recognition technology, including pedestrian analysis, crowd analysis, and black-and-white list monitoring, along with human attribute analysis, such as image search and body attribute analysis, which further enhance urban security.
The company's system can also provide structured analysis of vehicles, including number plate recognition and vehicle trajectory analysis, which not only aids in traffic management but also assists in post-accident analysis. In the city management area, it can monitor activities like outdoor business operations, sidewalk encroachments, and overflowing trash, thereby improving urban environmental hygiene.
Furthermore, the company's traffic management services cover traffic accident detection and congestion monitoring, further enhancing urban safety and traffic flow. Lastly, in the realm of disaster prevention and control, water level warning monitoring is essential for taking proactive measures during natural disasters. These applications showcase the broad range of technology used to support sustainable and safe urban development.
The solutions provided by ITMAX Systems not only assist in monitoring traffic flow, reducing traffic congestion, and decreasing air pollution, but also align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. This aligns with the growing global societal focus on sustainable development and provides investors with socially responsible investment opportunities.
In conclusion, in this digital era, ITMAX can be considered at the forefront of the smart city revolution. Nevertheless, individual investment decisions should be based on an understanding of one's risk tolerance and thorough research, along with seeking professional financial advice. Investment always comes with risks, and prudent and informed investment decisions are key to success.
