NSW Smart

Public Spaces
Guide

NSW Department of Planning,

Industry and Environment
December 2021
Acknowledgement of Country
The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and
pays respect to Elders past, present and future.
We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’
unique cultural and spiritual relationships to place and rich
contribution to society.
Aboriginal people take a holistic view of land, water and
culture and see them as one, not in isolation from each
other. The NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide is based on
the premise upheld by Aboriginal people that if we care
for Country, it will care for us.

Published by NSW Department of Planning,

Industry and Environment
dpie.nsw.gov.au
Title: NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide
First published: December 2021
Cover image: Adam Hollingworth
© State of New South Wales through Department of
Planning, Industry and Environment 2021. You may copy,
distribute, display, download and otherwise freely deal with
this publication for any purpose provided you attribute the
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment as the
owner. However, you must obtain permission if you wish to
charge others for access to the publication (other than at
cost); include the publication in advertising or a product for
sale; modify the publication; or republish the publication
on a website. You may freely link to the publication on a
departmental website.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication
is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of
writing (December 2021) and may not be accurate, current
or complete. The State of New South Wales (including the
NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment),
the author and the publisher take no responsibility, and will
accept no liability, for the accuracy, currency, reliability or
correctness of any information included in the document
(including material provided by third parties). Readers
should make their own inquiries and rely on their own
advice when making decisions related to material contained
in this publication.
Contents
Introduction 4 How technologies can
Technology contributes improve quality public
to great public spaces 4 space outcomes 14
Purpose of this guide 4 How technologies can
What is public space? 5 measure progress in
What are smart public spaces? 5 public spaces 15

Smart public spaces 7 Putting it into practice 16

Open spaces 7
Resources 16
Streets 8
Public facilities 9

Qualities of smart
public spaces 10
Am I able to get there? 10
Am I able to play and participate? 11
Am I able to connect? 12
Am I able to stay? 13

Image: Connected Research Project, DPIE

Introduction

Image: Connected Garden, The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Technology contributes
to great public spaces
COVID-19 has shaped our experiences and the way we The NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide
live in profound ways. It has changed our priorities. introduces the role of technology
Creating great public spaces has never been more in delivering better public space
important. The community highly values public spaces
for the central role they play in our experience of living outcomes for communities.
in urban centres and cities.
People are also more connected than ever before.
The rise of digital solutions and new technologies has
helped us participate in civic life in new ways.
Purpose of this guide
This guide brings these 2 big shifts together. It is
The NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide introduces
designed to spark ideas and encourage you to harness
the role of technology in delivering better public
innovative new approaches to delivering quality public
space outcomes for communities. This guide
spaces for our communities. It showcases the ways you
forms part of the NSW Great Public Spaces
can use connected technologies to enhance the quality
Toolkit and can be used alongside other guides
of public spaces and measure quality outcomes.
and resources.
The NSW Smart Places Playbook provides more
information on the steps needed to harness
the power of data and smart technologies to
deliver more resilient places that respond to the
community’s needs. The playbook also includes
helpful links to technical guidelines, policies
and standards.

NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide 4

Introduction

What is public space?

Public spaces are all places publicly owned or of What are smart public spaces?
public use, accessible and enjoyable by all for free Smart public spaces are streets, public
and without a profit motive. They include: open spaces, and public facilities using
technology to improve the quality of life
Public open spaces
of our communities.
parks, gardens, playgrounds, public
beaches, riverbanks and waterfronts, Technology can support a better public space
outdoor playing fields and courts, and experience by increasing accessibility (can I get
bushland that is open for public access there?), engagement in activities (can I play and
participate?), sociability (can I connect?), and
comfort (can I stay?).
Public facilities
The data generated by smart public spaces
public libraries, museums, galleries,
helps improve the visitor experience; informs
civic/community centres, showgrounds
the way they are planned, managed and
and indoor public sports facilities
maintained; and drives innovation and
business  opportunity.
Streets
streets, avenues and boulevards;
squares and plazas; pavements;
passages and lanes, and bicycle paths

The quality of a public space makes people feel safe, welcome and included.
Quality is not only reflected in a public space’s physical form – how it’s designed,
maintained and integrated with its environment – but also through the activities it
supports and the meaning it holds. Consistent with the NSW Evaluation Tool for
Public Space and Public Life, public space quality can be evaluated in 4 ways:

They are accessible Am I able to get there?

People can in engage Am I able to

in activities there play and participate?

It is a sociable place Am I able to connect?

The space is comfortable

Am I able to stay?
and has a good amenity

NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide 5

Introduction

Benefits of smart
public spaces Generating and collecting
When digital connectivity and What happens:
technology solutions are used in Technology generates data Connecting
public spaces, they provide new Tools to make it happen: What happens:
information and insights. This can • sensors Data and insights
help us to quantify and improve • GPS are moved through
the quality of public spaces and • social data the value chain
the experience of people using • pedestrian counting
Tools to make
and visiting them.
it happen:
A smart public space: • power and fibre
Housing and protecting • 4G/5G mobile
Connects people, both networks
What happens: • Internet of Things
to the public space and
Data is transmitted, stored, shared Networks
to each other
and managed by data custodians.
• wi-fi
Tools to make it happen: • Bluetooth
Increases inclusivity
• data platforms
and accessibility for
everyone

Engages visitors to Analysing and sharing

invite more feedback What happens:
on their experiences in Data sources are brought together.
a public space Data is de-identified, cleansed and
shared. Data is analysed to
Increases resilience generate insights that are shared.
and efficiency, supports Tools to make it happen:
management and • machine learning
informs programming • artificial intelligence tools
of public space • open data APIs

Supports the planning

and maintenance
of equipment, Informing and acting
street furniture, and What happens:
infrastructure to meet Insights are communicated
the needs of communities to inform decisions and drive
actions – machine to human
or machine to machine.
Supports the health and
wellbeing of visitors and Tools to make it happen:
users and makes it safer • public display boards
to stay after dark • connected street furniture
• watches, phones, tablets
• internet dashboards
Drives economic
• speakers, alarms/alerts
activity and supports
• digital twin visualisations
local businesses

NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide 6

Smart public spaces
OPEN SPACES B

J
F
E
!

L
C

G M
K
A I D

Connecting
public spaces
A Fibre and power to street
furniture and multi-function poles Informing and acting
B Mobile coverage, wi-fi and G Live information boards on street furniture
Internet of Things networks and multi-function poles, providing local
information on park bookings, transport,
weather, shade, events and culture

Generating and collecting H Data and insights to governments to

measure activity, keep places safe
C Network of multi-function poles to house and tidy and maximise use of park
devices, small cells and sensors to collect infrastructure
data - like speakers, CCTV, movement-
activated lights, emergency safety buttons, I Benches equipped with charging stations
noise monitors to detect anti-social and speakers for people to hear local
behaviour, and sensors on local environment history, news and information
(including air quality, temperature),
J Live information direct to customers and
pedestrian counts and movement
community to help them plan visits
D Ground moisture sensors
K Online dashboards with live community
E Sensors on play equipment, sanitising
information to help customers plan visits
stations and BBQs monitoring utilisation
F Sensors monitoring waste levels in bins,
L Live air quality and/or heat alerts to
making collection more efficient and subscribers’ phones or smart device
reducing litter triggered by GPS

G QR codes inviting feedback, engaging M Smart irrigation system triggered by

with community, linking to interactive weather data and ground moisture
hybrid play sensors.

NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide 7

Smart public spaces L

STREETS M

D
K

H B
J

F
I

N
E
J G

C
A

Connecting public spaces Informing and acting

A Fibre and power to street furniture I Interactive pavement marking,
and multi-function poles giving pedestrians priority in
peak times
B Mobile coverage, wi-fi and Internet of Things networks
J Live information boards
C Electric vehicle charging station on street furniture and
multi-function poles, providing
local information on transport,
weather, events and culture
Generating and collecting
K Loud speakers to help relay
D Network of multi-function poles to house devices,
emergency information
small cells and sensors to collect data - like
speakers, CCTV, movement-activated lights, L Data and insights on activity
emergency safety buttons, noise monitors to to businesses to help
detect anti-social behaviour, and sensors on local them design services and
environment (including air quality, temperature), customer offerings
pedestrian counts and traffic movement
M Data and insights to
E Ground moisture sensors monitoring tree health governments to measure
activity, keep places safe and
F GPS tracking transport for live-transport data
provide services to customers
G Sensors monitoring waste levels in bins, making
N Online dashboards with live
collection more efficient and reducing litter
community information to help
H QR Code invitation to provide feedback and engage customers plan visits.
with community

NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide 8

Smart public spaces I

PUBLIC B
H

FACILITIES

N C
K

L
J

E
G

Connecting
public spaces Informing and acting
A Fibre and power G Live booking system – information to
visitors on how busy the facility is
B Mobile coverage, wi-fi and
Internet of Things networks H Data to facilities managers to help
predict resourcing needs

I Remote building management,

Generating and maintaining thermal comfort for visitors

collecting J Responsive dripper system for plant health

C Environmental sensors K Data and digital literacy programs

– thermal comfort  increasing citizen capability and inclusion

D Plant health moisture L Augmented and virtual reality

sensors immersion experiences

E People counters, M Public connectivity – supporting equity and

online booking systems  remote working opportunities

F Interactive displays N Collaborative innovation using live local data

NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide 9

Qualities of smart public spaces

Am I able to get there?

For public space to be inclusive, it must be culturally, Case Study:
physically and socially accessible. Technologies Staying safe on your journey
already play a large part in helping us to travel Transport for NSW is developing innovative
around and through our communities, providing live solutions to help keep its customers safe. It is
information on transport, traffic, and parking. There exploring:
are big opportunities to use technologies to support • connected CCTV to detect threatening
walking and cycling to connect people to public spaces. behaviours and alert an operator to quickly
respond
• a passive surveillance index to predict the
safety of a route using information about
Case Study: Smart kerbs open businesses and available lighting. This
will be useful in customer wayfinding apps.
Transport for NSW and Liverpool City Council
are testing new technologies to collect better New smart solutions like these are helping
data on the use of kerb space in the Liverpool people to get to public spaces safely. The same
local government area. approaches can be used in public spaces as
well to help people to feel safe and secure
The data will help council use its kerbsides
while they visit.
more flexibly. It will provide better parking
information to drivers in real time, so they
spend less time looking for parking. Image: Rose Lamond
The pilot is being delivered with co-investment
from the Smart Places Acceleration Program,
part of the Digital Restart Fund.

e re ?
t th
ge - Accessible
- Rideable
to
e
bl

- Walkable
Ia

- Proximity
Am

- Signage
- Connected
NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide
- Equitable
Qualities of smart public spaces

Am I able to play and participate?

Public space plays a crucial role in building Case Study: ChillOUT and connect
sustainable and healthy communities by supporting Georges River Council installed smart ChillOUT
social interaction and connection, and providing play hubs that offer people a free, comfortable place
and active recreation opportunities. Smart public to meet, work and play. The data collected
spaces are all about blending the real with the through the hubs also helps councils to monitor
virtual, and using technologies to make public spaces utilities, visitation and the microclimate. Each
inclusive and fun for all. hub is right for its community. The Kogarah
Hub site is just outside the library. Kogarah
is a culturally diverse and dense area. Its hub
offers a place to take a break along a busy
Case Study: Making inaccessible thoroughfare or work outdoors using the free
places a virtual reality wi-fi and charging points. The Hurstville Hub is
Canyons are natural wonders. Normally, in a suburban park, offering a place for family
you need to be fit and agile to visit them gatherings and parties.
because you need to abseil and trek through
rugged terrain. NSW National Parks and
Wildlife Service is changing this by providing
an immersive virtual reality experience of
Claustral canyon in the Blue Mountains,
making this amazing environment accessible to
everyone. People can take part by visiting the
Blue Mountains Heritage Centre in Blackheath.

Case Study: Interactive Play

The play equipment in Kinkuna Park in Eglinton
is kitted out with augmented reality ‘markers’.
The interactive players are linked to a free
smartphone app, giving parents access to
games to engage children of all ages and
abilities in energetic, imaginative play. Children
can spot digital butterflies near the swings or
climb ladders in search of runaway robots. It’s
blending the physical and virtual worlds of play
for kids. The technology collects data to help
councils better understand how, when, and why
their community is using the playground.

Am I
a bl
et
op
e Active - la
y
Diverse -
an
d

Vibrant -
pa
rti

Creative -
cip

Cooperative - Image: Vivid Sydney 2019, Destination NSW

ate?

Fun -
11
Loveable -
- Authentic

Qualities of smart public spaces - Welcoming

- Inclusive
- Interactive

Am
Am I able to connect?
- Stewardship

Ia
Public spaces bring people together and build strong,

bl
connected and resilient communities. For smart public o - Character

e
co

t
spaces, connectivity is about more than wi-fi, fibre - Sociable
nn
and mobile coverage. Technologies can also create ec
connections between communities, and between t?
people and places, their history, culture and heritage.
Case Study:
Connecting to Country
The language and heritage of First Nations’
Case Study: Connecting open spaces
Australians is being highlighted through smart
Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens and The city technology in Newcastle.
Domain have a network of multi-function light
poles equipped with mobile small cells. The In 2018, interactive signage was introduced to
poles also have wi-fi capability, and when celebrate the traditional names of 8 landforms
enabled, this provides visitors with free internet across the city.
connectivity and access to information about The signs help bring the language and heritage
the garden and the area. of the Awabakal and Worimi peoples to a broader
The multi-function poles also include ‘ranger audience as part of a dual-naming project.
assist’ push buttons, general-purpose power Newcastle City Council has also developed
points, electric vehicle charging points and virtual and augmented reality experiences
sensors to provide data on visitation. Housing to immerse community members and visitors
all this equipment and infrastructure in the in the landscape of Newcastle before
pole reduces clutter. European settlement, including an augmented
Every pole has power and fibre, so there is reality Welcome to Country at the Newcastle
limitless capacity for future digital services. Visitor Information Centre.

A similar approach on a smaller scale has also

been adopted by Wollondilly Shire Council in
Telopea Park.
Case Study: Sharing local stories
Storybox Parramatta was installed in
Parramatta Square in October 2020 and was
Australia’s first interactive digital storytelling
box created by Esem Projects.
The two-metre solar-powered cube used high-
resolution LED panels to stream visual stories
and interactives created by program partners
and community members, as well as local
footage from the ABC Archives.
The initiative connected people with real-life
stories and artworks about the City’s past,
present and future, and included an interactive
MoodRing that allowed members of the public
to share their sentiment about the space.

Image: ChillOUT Hub,

Georges River Council

NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide 12

Attractive -
Comfortable - Qualities of smart public spaces
Seating -
Safe -
Am I able to stay?

?
ay
Clean -
Public spaces should be considered as places that

st
Affordable - invite people to visit and stay, not just as places to
to le
Shaded - b move through.
Ia
Am Planned well, smart public spaces reduce
clutter and litter and improve amenity outcomes.
Connected technologies can make public spaces safer
and greener, and the data generated can improve the
visitor experience.

Case Study: Better amenity, byte by byte Case Study: Safer, smarter beaches
The City of Unley uses smart technologies in Cutting-edge technology creates safer, smarter
Heywood Park to improve safety and amenity and better beaches by:
and reduce operating costs. This includes • giving beachgoers more information about
predictive lighting, apps to help people check conditions
the availability of car parking, sensors to • collecting data to help decision-making and
monitor water use, environmental sensors, policy development for beach lifesavers
pedestrian counters and digital information • helping collaboration with, and across,
kiosks. Smart bins alert Council when they need industry and government.
to be emptied, reducing litter and making waste
collection more efficient.​ Smart beaches automatically and digitally
collect beach safety data for insights and
The smart technology is almost entirely better reporting. Connected cameras at
invisible, and the use of multi-function poles Redhead Beach in Newcastle, Blacksmiths
reduces the number of poles, pits, distribution Beach near Belmont, and Shelly and Manly
boards and enclosures in the park. ​ beaches in Sydney use artificial intelligence
The project was delivered with a Smart Cities to count and monitor crowd numbers, allowing
and Suburbs Program Grant from the Federal lifeguards to manage beach safety. Lake
Government.​ Macquarie City Council also installed new
remote shark alert systems that broadcast
public health messages when lifeguards are
Image: Smart Beaches Project, Lake Macquarie City Council not on duty. The Smart Beaches program
builds on the successful pilot delivered by Lake
Macquarie City Council in partnership with
Northern Beaches Council and the University of
Technology Sydney.

NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide 13

How technologies can improve
quality public space outcomes

Quality public spaces are accessible, engaging, comfortable, and sociable. Connected technologies
can help you to achieve quality outcomes and better experiences for people in public spaces.

Am I able Am I able Am I Am I
to get to play and able to able to
there? participate? connect? stay?

Free wi-fi, mobile connectivity and Internet of Things networks

connect communities and transfer data and insights.
✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Multi-function poles and connected street furniture provide
power and fibre connections to devices and house equipment ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
and technology, ensuring good amenity.

Public charging stations charge electric mobility aides, laptops

and mobile phones.
✔ ✔ ✔
Online booking systems provide live information on availability
of public spaces and assets.
✔
Predictive and responsive watering and water management
systems keep places cool and green, and waterways clean.
✔
Responsive building management use thermal sensors to keep
indoor public spaces energy efficient.
✔
Flexible, connected kerbs collect data on kerb use and parking
to maximise kerbsides for parking, loading and active transport.
✔
Movement-activated lighting, safety buttons, noise monitoring and
connected CCTV improve safety, making footpaths and cycleways ✔ ✔
accessible all the time.

Transport, travel and parking apps use real-time data across our
transport and parking networks to help people plan their journey.
✔
QR codes and markers link visitors’ real experience in public spaces
to an online experience, and also provide information and insights ✔
to the visitor or invite feedback.

Virtual and augmented reality experiences make the inaccessible

accessible to all, as well as add elements of play to public spaces.
✔
Live and interactive signs with visual and sound displays on street
furniture and in public spaces can boost culture, accessibility and
inclusivity by:
• sharing local cultural and heritage information in many languages
• providing real-time information on local weather and air quality, ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
and use of equipment like picnic tables to reduce overcrowding
• providing wayfinding on the coolest or fastest route using
live data
• bringing art outdoors.

NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide 14

How technologies can measure
progress in public spaces

You can generate insights using data

As well as helping us achieve quality generated through:
• pedestrian counts at entries to public parks and
outcomes for our communities,
facilities and along high streets
connected technologies can help us • interactions with QR codes and markers or
gather data and generate insights to interactive signage
measure how well we are achieving • environmental sensors and equipment sensors
those quality public spaces outcomes. • traffic and parking data
• openly available transport data
• sensors on equipment
• public wi-fi connections
• use of charging stations.

Image: Melrose Park, Parramatta City Council

NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide 15

Putting it into practice

Putting people at the centre Buddy up

Taking a ‘people-first’ approach will help you make The best smart public space projects happen when
your smart public space a success. This means you team up with other people and learn from their
identifying the outcomes you want and the ambitions experiences. Engage early and often with other
of the public space first, and then selecting technology public space managers, your community, businesses
and data solutions to help meet these goals. and industry.
The Smart Places Customer Charter and Smart Places The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Playbook will help you to co-design your smart public has published the Smart Places Playbook as a resource
space with the community, so you can be sure it meets to guide your smart places journey and link you with
their needs. great resources and case studies.

Connectivity is critical Community

Fast, reliable and comprehensive digital connectivity
is the key to creating smart public spaces. It allows
people to connect and participate in education, work
and civic life and is required regardless of whether Industry Government
you are deploying an individual sensor or lots of
different solutions. Good connectivity is needed
to move the data from the sensors collecting the
information to the platform you use to house the data
and generate insights. It is also needed to share the
insights and information in the public space.
If you are designing a new public space, or upgrading Smart public spaces
an existing public space, you should install multi-
function poles and connect light poles and street
furniture with power and fibre, or at a minimum install
conduit to facilitate connections, when you are in
the construction stage. This will give you freedom to
rollout smart solutions whenever you are ready without Resources
expensive retrofits.
• The Great Public Spaces Toolkit helps
Designing for great bring the principles of the NSW Public
Spaces Charter
amenity outcomes to life with a collection of free resources
When rolling out new technologies in public spaces • The Smart Places Playbook takes a ‘place-
like streets and parks, there is a risk that the devices based’ and people-first approach to smart
will create clutter, impacting the amenity of the cities and connected infrastructure
space. Multi-function poles provide a neat and • The Smart Places Customer Charter will help
contained home for devices like speakers, CCTV, you build community trust and confidence in
sensors and small cells. smart public spaces
• The Smart Places Acceleration Program
can provide funding to NSW Government
agencies to partner up with place owners and
managers to deliver technology solutions in
public spaces, improving the quality of life for
NSW communities.

NSW Smart Public Spaces Guide 16

dpie.nsw.gov.au