In a move to implement the “smart city” concept, Khon Kaen University (KKU)’s Research and Development Institute hosted eight brainstorming sessions since last July and presented forum comments as well as back-up study results to some 500 attendees at the council’s special meeting on February 26.

Mayor Theerasak Teecayuphan said the eight public forums had tabled 43 urban innovation projects for feasibility studies, while allowing participants to voice opinions and recommendations for the municipality to improve its pilot urbanisation project, namely “Smart City & Creative Space”. The project requires development on three fronts, namely creative traffic and transport; creative economy; and creative space.

‘Creative traffic’ would involve finding activities or creative solutions to ensure orderly and safe road usage, he said. ‘Creative economy’ would focus on introducing changes in manufacturing, service and retail sectors, as well as the entertainment industry via new approaches driven by individuals’ skills and talents, he said. This would bring about a new economic system that combines culture, economy and technology in the “cultural industry”.

‘Creative space’ involves arranging spaces that boost people’s experience and opportunities for well-rounded development and a creative-learning process, he said, adding that this effort would also involve the participation of children, families and communities, as well as related state agencies.

KKU Culture Office director Songwit Pimpakorn said this fast-growing province had an edge in terms of education, culture and diversity, pointing out that Khon Kaen Museum was full of artefacts that should be promoted for people to learn about the province’s history.

Isaan Bizweek owner Charoenlak Phetchpradap said the proposed public creative spaces should serve as learning centres for people. One good candidate for such a space was the building where the Bank of Thailand (BOT)’s branch for the Northeast is located. BOT is not renewing the lease with the Treasury Department. The building is located in a three-rai compound on Sri Chan Road, which is an expensive area, he added.

“I read about calls for this 40-year-old building to be conserved in a newspaper article last month. The construction of this building was completed in 1967 and it was opened for use in 1968. So I would like to propose that the municipality follow up on the return of the property to the Treasury Department by the end of the year to find out what will become of it. I want the municipality to set up a budget in order to bid for it,” he said.

BOT rented the building for Bt4 million a year, while the cost of running this building stood at Bt200,000 per month — hence the total cost of the building was slightly over Bt6 million a year, which was not expensive when compared to what the public would gain, he said.

Other than opening the door to opinions, the February 26 event also offered an opportunity to those who are interested in working to propel this “Smart City” project forward.

The “Smart City” concept surfaced in 2012 when Nakhon Nayok was chosen by the government to become a pilot province for the “Smart Thailand” strategy, aiming to use advanced information and communications technology to improve residents’ lives by providing convenient services and more effective administration.