Delivering benefits that last

Everything that makes up smart places has specific management needs. The life cycle of each component begins even before the creation or installation of an asset, with its planning and design, continues through ongoing maintenance over its service life and eventually ends in disposal. This is true for physical infrastructure just as much as digital connectivity, sensors, software, and data.

Benefits from smart places depend on these assets all working together over time - infrastructure and equipment require physical maintenance, software needs to be updated and data quality and security needs to be monitored.

What this principle will achieve

• Systems, networks, supporting infrastructure and data follow shared and understood formats, can evolve with emerging technology, become multi-functional and integrate with other systems to maximise benefits.
• Customers know who to contact to report issues or make enquiries about smart technology and have visibility of the benefits delivered by smart places.
• Installation of technology, connectivity and related infrastructure is coordinated to minimise cost and disruption to customers.

How to follow this principle

Smart places should be transparent about whether benefits are being achieved over time, including any new benefits that arise when circumstances change. Customer needs can evolve, and the pace of change is increasing for technology, software, data formats, cybersecurity risks and infrastructure. Smart places should be adaptable, have budget for immediate and ongoing costs, clearly identify asset owners, allocate responsibility for maintenance of assets, and provide for proactive management of evolving risk profiles.

Customers should be able to trust that networks are secure and managed in accordance with NSW cyber security policies, and that data is treated as an asset and managed in accordance with relevant laws and policies. Future connectivity needs should be factored into the planning and design of infrastructure to get the most benefit from investment in smart places - a requirement for NSW government agencies under the Smart Infrastructure Policy.

Resources

Resources to support organisations in implementing this principle: