Songdo introduces technological innovations

The word smart usually brings to mind

recent innovations such as smartphones that
have changed the way that millions of individu-
als function. To remain parallel to the develop-
ment of individual technological developments
such as laptops and smartphones, several
cities have made an effort to reform the tradi-
tional structure of a city, hiring corporations to
improve smart cities with modern technology.
Although the defnition of smart cities is still
vague, it is clear that many international gov-
ernments and corporations are pursuing cit-
ies more reliant on information and commu-
nications technology (ICT). For example, Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil, incorporates an operation
center connecting 30 government agencies to
manage transportation systems and prepare
for emergency situations. Cities also utilize
data analysis to create algorithms that make
predictions about different aspects of society,
such as crime management and job availability.
"In Seoul, I fnd several technological as-
pects that are so convenient, said Marilou Pa-
garigan, Technology Support teacher. I see bus
signs that use satellites to tell me how long a bus
will take to come, and in the future, I see more
advances for people who are not necessarily so
tech-savvy. Maybe subway transits will talk, like
in movies-'I have a destination suggestion. You
are going north. You can ride on subway Line 1,
or the bus going in this direction.` I think it`s re-
ally cool how cities are continually developing
technology to make our lives more effcient."
Other important aspects that corporations
and governments are pursuing for smart cit-
ies are self-sustainability and environmental
care. As energy resources run out and pollu-
tion increases, environmental concern is be-
coming one of the leading issues for cities. In
Masdar, United Arab Emirates, water and trash
are monitored and analyzed, while the streets
are kept entirely car-free by the use of per-
sonal rapid transit of electric cars underground.
Since corporations do have a more money,
they will lead the way in looking for renewable
resources, said Sara Broadhead, environmen-
tal science teacher. I think most developed
countries, with its technology and money, will
solve environmental problems to an extent, and
the problem lies more with developing countries,
such as China or India. Of course the whole
problem can`t be solved with just a few cities
changing, but someone has to be the leader in
moving towards more sustainable practices.
As for any other fast-paced development,
smart cities and their implications have led
to polemic perspectives. Greg Lindsay, visit-
ing scholar at New York University, argued
that the emphasis on planned urban develop-
ment led by corporations such as International
Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in Rio
de Janeiro or Cisco in Songdo, South Korea,
hinders organic growth and that it is impos-
sible for technology to simply manage the in-
trinsically unpredictable nature of humans.
Although I look forward to all the convenienc-
es that future technology will bring, I can`t help
but think about all the negative things that people
say about further development, Douglas Chang
(11) said. "I`m always reminded of Fahrenheit
451 or Wall-E; I imagine robots doing everything
for people, making people lazy and stuck in their
homes. I guess we really can`t do anything,
but just sit and watch where society leads us.
Smarter cities introduce progressive solutions,
indicate changes in future lifestyle, technology
By Daniel Kim
By Sara Shin
!"# %&'()* %#"()+ *,'&! -(!(#*
An eco-friendly city that provides residents
with a park modeled off of New York`s Central
Park and houses with up-to-date technologies
all within walking distance to each other is
no longer something that appears in dreams.
Korea`s frst "smart" city, Songdo, is an area
that utilizes modern technology to provide
a more comfortable lifestyle while promot-
ing environmental-friendliness. This interna-
tional business district started construction in
April 2001 and is expected to fnish in 2015.
With the collaboration of international
real estate and electronic companies
Gale International, Posco Engineering and
Construction, Cisco Systems, 3M, Consen-
tini and United TechnologySongdo is cel-
ebrated not only for its innovative designs
and technologies but also for its status as
an aerotropolis; Songdo is located seven
miles from Incheon International Airport.
I think after living in Korea for six years,
Songdo will never be truly 'fnished`," said An-
drea Clark, former SIS teacher and current
Chadwick International Athletics Coordinator.
Everywhere you go, in and out of Seoul there
is a construction project happening, and the
same is true in Songdo. Projects out here are
constantly reshaping our little city, and more
people are moving out here. I had the op-
portunity to see Songdo four and a half years
ago and I can say that Songdo has changed
so much and it is continuing to change.
According to a study by Gale International,
in 2016, Songdo is expected to house 65,000
residents and 300,000 commuters. With 40
percent of its 1,500 acres of land reserved for
open space and the rest for apartments and
offces, Songdo, according to British Broad-
casting System (BBC), also maintains an ex-
ceptional level of environmental friendliness.
All buildings are rated according to the
Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design, an organization in the US that evalu-
ates buildings on fve criteria areas: sus-
tainable sites, water effciency, energy and
atmosphere, materials and resources and
indoor environmental quality. Also, there are
underground machines that eliminate and
recycle trash and return certain wastes back
into the environment as nutrients or soil.
Despite Songdo`s advanced and "green"
technologies, according to BBC, its streets
are empty and less than 20 percent of
the commercial offce space is occupied.
The only concern I have about [Songdo]
is what will happen if there is another global
fnancial crisis," said Art DeFilippo, elemen-
tary school principal and member of Songdo
coordinating board. [Songdo] was going
full blast and when this fnancial crisis hit,
with the American housing markets failing,
all companies stopped moving there. John
Hopkins University Hospital was planning
to move in, but stopped once this crisis hit.
Though Songdo may be undesirable be-
cause it is located two hours away from Seoul,
studies conducted by the Korean Ministry of
Future Planning predict that Songdo will garner
the international audience it hopes to attract.
Smart cities demonstrate how advanced
our world is today and what our world will look
like in the future," said Judy Kim (11), member
of Science Club. Apple amazed everyone
with the iPhone and now all people own this
device. I think smart cities will be the next iP-
hone, except more advanced and sensation-
al on a whole new scale. It is really cool how
Songdo is one of those cities from movies.
68-story Northeast Asia
Trade Tower: the tallest
building in Korea with an
advanced wireless system Songdo Convensia: the
largest column-free
interior space in Korea
Chadwick International School: an
international school that provides a
state-of-art learning environment
Incheon Arts Center: a multifunc-
tional cultural complex
tion increases, environmental concern is be-
coming one of the leading issues for cities. In
Masdar, United Arab Emirates, water and trash
are monitored and analyzed, while the streets
are kept entirely car-free by the use of per-
sonal rapid transit of electric cars underground.
Since corporations do have a more money,
they will lead the way in looking for renewable
resources, said Sara Broadhead, environmen-
tal science teacher. I think most developed
countries, with its technology and money, will
solve environmental problems to an extent, and
the problem lies more with developing countries,
such as China or India. Of course the whole
problem can`t be solved with just a few cities
changing, but someone has to be the leader in
moving towards more sustainable practices.
As for any other fast-paced development,
smart cities and their implications have led
to polemic perspectives. Greg Lindsay, visit-
ing scholar at New York University, argued
that the emphasis on planned urban develop-
ment led by corporations such as International
Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in Rio
de Janeiro or Cisco in Songdo, South Korea,
hinders organic growth and that it is impos-
sible for technology to simply manage the in-
trinsically unpredictable nature of humans.
Although I look forward to all the convenienc-
es that future technology will bring, I can`t help
but think about all the negative things that people
say about further development, Douglas Chang
(11) said. "I`m always reminded of Fahrenheit
451 or Wall-E; I imagine robots doing everything
for people, making people lazy and stuck in their
homes. I guess we really can`t do anything,
but just sit and watch where society leads us.
Smarter cities introduce progressive solutions,
indicate changes in future lifestyle, technology
!"# %&'()* %#"()+ *,'&! -(!(#*
Layout by Bason Park
Graphics by Yeni Cho
Source: Songdo IBD
Jack Nicklaus Golf Club: a club-
house that includes 18-hole cham-
pionship golf course, ftness center,
luxury villas and condominiums
Songdo International City Hos-
pital: a hospital supplied with
the newest medial and diagnos-
tic technologies