'Smart city' JB using Al to ease jams, detect potholes

It leads other Malaysian cities in smart tech use but analysts question real-world impact

- Harith Mustaffa

In a former multipurpose hall atop the Johor Bahru City Council building, a 12m screen displays live feeds from 555 CCTV cameras monitoring every corner of Malaysia’s southern capital.

The Johor Bahru Integrated Operations Control Centre (JBIOCC) in the city centre uses artificial intelligence (AI) to track traffic flow, detect potholes, and even catch litterbugs in real time - technology applications that helped JB pip capital city Kuala Lumpur to become Malaysia’s first “leading smart city” on Oct 28.

JB residents can tap into the system through mobile apps and the council’s digital map to get information from traffic conditions and parking availability, to flood warnings and public toilet cleanliness ratings.

“This command centre helps us in solving three main issues often faced in JB: traffic congestion, security, and city management,” Dr Choo Kok Wah, commander of the JBIOCC, told The Straits Times during a visit on Dec 4.

Dr Choo, who is also the JB City Council's assistant director of urban transportation, said the control centre’s AI can detect issues through CCTV cameras, long before a complaint is lodged.

With the system, the average time to solve garbage disposal problems is within three hours, while potholes are repaired within 24 hours, he noted.

“Without AI, we may need to wait for the ground maintenance team to detect these issues during inspection or via complaints from the public,” Dr Choo said.

The control centre’s AI can also detect traffic jams early and adjust traffic light timings to hasten the flow of traffic.