Bagaimana Teknologi Akan Mentransformasi Industri Dan Masyarakat? (2)

Bacalah lebih dulu: bagian 1

Data Besar Analitik dan “Cloud”

Sebuah perkiraan menyatakan sebesar 25 quintilion byte data dihasilkan setiap hari pada saat ini, dan banyak perkiraan mengatakan 90% data di dunia saat ini telah diciptakan dalam dua tahun belakangan ini. Tetapi banyak dari data ini dalam keadaan tidur: hanya 5% data yang pernah dianalisa, yang berarti  data besar analitik tersebut  memiliki manfaat-manfaat potensial yang begitu besar untuk dihasilkan.

Terima kasih  kepada sistem komputasi teknologi awan atau cloud, organisasi-organisasi sekarang dapat menyewa kapasitas dalam jumlah yang begitu besar, masif dan kompleks untuk menganalisa data kapanpun mereka membutuhkannya, menempatkan “analitik-analitik data besar sebagai sebuah layanan atau servis” di antara layanan-layanan berbasis cloud yang  bertumbuh pesat. Sebagaimana Interkoneksi via Internet bertumbuh secara eksponensial, platform-platform atau arsitektur-arsitektur sistem kerja awan  pasti  esensial dalam mengoneksikan perangkat-perangkat dan hosting yang terkait aplikasi-aplikasi dan data.

Manfaat-manfaat bagi industri analitik-analitik data besar berbasis cloud mencakup:

Bagaimana Teknologi Akan Mentransformasi Industri Dan Masyarakat? (1)

Forum Ekonomi Dunia telah memulai proyek riset “Digital Transformation Initiative” untuk mengeksplorasi dampak digitalisasi pada segenap pelosok 13 industri utama. Riset tersebut mengidentifikasikan sejumlah teknologi yang diharapkan  memiliki dampak paling banyak dalam mentransformasi bisnis dan masyarakat:

Percetakan 3D: Manufaktur berdasarkan permintaan

Dalam percetakan 3D, atau Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM), obyek-obyek diciptakan dari dokumen-dokumen digital cetak biru dengan menelentangkan lapisan-lapisan material secara bersusun. Rentang material yang dapat digunakan dengan mesin-mesin pencetak telah meluas secara signifikan selama dekade belakangan ini, memampukan solusi-solusi  berdasarkan permintaan atau on demand dan dapat disesuaikan dengan keperluan  yang sangat dioptimasi dengan tambahan kecil biaya per unit.

Industri-industri logistik dan rantai nilai  bisa terganggu, sebab percetakan 3D dapat menolong konsumen dan  usaha-usaha bisnis dalam mencetak obyek atau benda yang mereka inginkan di suatu tempat yang dekat dengan lokasi bisnis mereka sendiri, mengurangi keperluan suku-suku cadang dan barang-barang yang harus dikirimkan.

Global Warming, Fakta atau Konspirasi?

Indonesia Hosts Clean Power Asia To Embrace Cleaner and Renewable Energy

Asian Countries Increase Spend More on Renewable and Clean Power Than Other Developed Nations “Asian countries are overtaking developed ones in terms of spending on renewable and cleaner fossil power projects,” said Daria La Valle, the conference manager of Clean Power Asia. This is clearly illustrated by the 27 case studies of recent and upcoming clean power projects in the Asian region which will be presented at Clean Power Asia 2012 which is taking place in Bali, Indonesia in May. The annual conference and exhibition will gather some 600 leading Asian renewable and cleaner fossil power experts, utilities, energy ministries, regulators, investors and technology and service providers to discuss the latest renewable and cleaner fossil power developments in the region as well as the main challenges that utilities face to adopt greener power sources.

Future of renewable energy in developing world

The future of renewable and clean energy is now in the developing world” says Daria La Valle, “and new government policies have made it more palatable for foreign investors to finance clean power projects here in Asia through various financial instruments and clearer regulatory frameworks.”

The Clean Power Asia conference manager continues: “Indonesia has announced a master plan for the development of renewable energy resources and set a target for renewables to represent 25% of total energy consumption in 2025. Malaysia is hoping that the recently launched National Renewable Energy Policy Plan will help the country hit its targets and the new feed-in-tariffs that recently came into effect will certainly help achieving those targets. Thailand launched its 15-year Renewable Energy Development plan last year and aims to increase renewable energy from 6.4% to 20% in 2022.”

Indonesia the next regional powerhouse

Clean Power Asia’s Daria La Valle says Indonesia in particular has huge potential to be a leading power player in the region: “Indonesia is actually the country with the biggest potential for both renewable as well as cleaner fossil power generation in Southeast Asia. The country sits on the largest geothermal energy resources in the world and has great bioenergy, solar and hydropower potential. Combine this with extensive coal resources and a low electrification rate, and you can see the potential of Indonesia to be the powerhouse of the region.” ===

In addition, she notes, the fall in equipment costs and growing appetite for clean technology has resulted in increased policy support measures and increased investment in cleaner fossil power investments. She adds: “Thailand is involved in clean coal pilot projects, Indonesia is building its first ultra supercritical coal fired power plant. TNB Malaysia has increased its operational efficiency by upgrading 6 existing plants. Successful CO2 sequestration achievements are made and much effort is being made in power plant optimisation and efficiency increase resulting in tremendous CO2 emission reduction results.”

Clean Power Asia’s conference programme will feature more than 80 experts, including:

• Datuk Loo Took Gee, Secretary General, Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Malaysia

• Dr. Songpope Polachan, Director General, Department of Mineral Fuels, Ministry of Energy, Thailand

• Hatsady Sysoulath, Director General of Institute of Renewable Energy Promotion, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Lao PDR

• Dr Direk Lavansiri, Chairman, Energy Regulatory Commission, Thailand

• Dr Kardaya Warnika, Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesia

• Nu Pamudji, President Director, PT PLN (Persero), Indonesia -Shinta W. Kamdani, Vice Chairwoman in KADIN Indonesia (Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Owner and Managing Director of Sintesa Group, and Steering Committee of IBCSD (Indonesian Business Council for Sustainable Development)

• Y. Bhg. Dato’ Mohd Nazri Shahruddin, VP of Power Generation, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Malaysia

• Yokihiro Hirabayashi, Department Deputy Director, International Business Development Dept., J-POWER, Japan

• Dr. Nattakit Parkpoom, Specialist System Power Planning, Generation Division, EGAT, Thailand -Heru Dewanto, Commissioner, PT Cirebon Electric Power, Indonesia

• Anupam Datta, General Manager, Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC Ltd), India

Event dates and location:

14 - 16 May 2012
Bali International Convention Centre, Bali,
Indonesia

Korea Begins, Leads, and Becomes Green

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gives a speech during the OECD's 50th Anniversary Forum held on May 25, 2011 in Paris, France. On the same day, the OECD adopted Korea's Green Growth Declaration. (Photo: Gonggam Korea)

The President proposed his ‘Low Carbon Green Growth’ vision during his speech on Korean National Liberation Day in 2008, during his first year as president. He emphasized that Korea can seek a way out of the economic crisis with green technology and eco-friendly policies by finding the potential of the environment and economy and making them the driving force of future growth. Since his announcement, Korea has become a leading country of green growth. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) introduced Korea's national strategy for green growth in its report Global Green New Deal in February 2009, as an example meeting the requirements of the Green New Deal. International organizations and media also have paid attention to Korea’s green policy.
The Korean government established the Five-Year Plan and Low Carbon Green Growth National Strategy to meet the objectives of the policy, strategies, and major projects of green growth. It also enacted the Framework Act on Low Carbon, Green Growth covering all green growth policies for climate change, energy, and sustainable development.

The objectives of the five-year plan will be achieved by 2013: to become one of the four major producers of green cars, to increase the export of green products by 15%, to secure an 8% market share of green technology products in the world market, and to achieve a 3.8% penetration rate of bicycles in traffic. Based on these goals, the government is aiming to become one of the seven leading nations of the green policy by 2020.

The Korean government also has endeavored to reinforce international competiveness in major green industries including new energy, renewable energy, and smart grids. Korea held the inaugural executive committee meeting of the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN) in June 2011, to great success. In addition, Korea is planning a 10.2 trillion won wind farm off the southwest coast of the nation by 2019. By 2014, it will begin with an initial 400 billion won (USD 355m) 100MW demonstration project. The government also has established a comprehensive national plan to promote wind, bio, renewable, and new energies.

Since the announcement of the vision, Korea also has focused on investing in new and renewable energies. As a result, the amount of exports related to new and renewable energies recorded USD 4.5 billion in 2010, showing significant progress in industrial indicators such as market size and employment in the new and renewable energy industries.

The penetration rate of new and renewable energies has steadily increased, with an annual rate of 6.65. The penetration rate of solar photovoltaic energy has exceeded its target, entering the world’s top ten with the accumulated penetration of 6,800,400 TOE. In order to foster the new and renewable energy industries, the government recently introduced the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), a regulation that requires the increased production of energy from renewable energy sourcessince 2012. It also plans to double the size of energy R&D by 2015 compared to its size in 2011.

The administration has set a goal to create a new driving force for growth and examined similar previous projects from their starting point. The administration saw that the more unstable economic environment a country has, the more support should be given to growth industries to build an advanced economy. The government then started fostering a growth industry that will lead economic growth in the future.
The government has set different goals for each industry to enable them to create a new driving force of growth; it set the objectives of the industries that currently have a competitive edge such as semiconductor, shipbuilding, display, automobile, and mobile phone industries while setting the objectives of infrastructure industries such as energy, consulting, and financial industries to improve the competitiveness in their fields.

Moreover, the government enacted the Science Belt Special Law in April 2011, establishing legal and institutional bases to establish the International Science-Business Belt, a proposed industrial complex dedicated to science.

It also founded the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) to conduct research exclusively in basic sciences. Starting from 25 research groups in 2012, it will expand to 50 research groups employing 3,000 researchers by 2017. Currently, the IBS is considering a project for building a heavy ion accelerator in the institute.

The government also has established legal and political footing to create, use, and protect national intellectual property such as industrial property, copyright, and brands. Enacting the Framework Act on Intellectual Property in May 2011, it launched the Presidential Council on Intellectual Property to conduct the deliberation, control, and inspection of policies and strategies related to intellectual property as a government organization at large.

koreaittimes.com Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

ITU approves new worldwide smart grid standards

mauinow.com

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) said that its standards for smart grids have been approved and now available for download. The new standards -- Recommendations ITU-T G.9955 and G.9956 -- contain the physical layer (PHY) and the data link layer (DLL) specifications, respectively, for NB-PLC transceivers based on OFDM (orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing). The specifications define technologies that support indoor and outdoor communications over direct current and alternating current power lines (including low and medium voltage lines), through transformer communications, for both urban and long distance rural communications and at frequencies below 500 kHz. 

 

These standards are envisioned to enable cost-effective smart grid applications such as distribution automation, diagnostic and fault location, smart metering, demand response, energy management, smart appliances, grid-to-home communications and advanced recharging systems for electric vehicles. 

ITU also said the standards are an ideal platform for smart grid applications because of their use of power lines as a communications medium, which is under the direct and complete control of power utilities. In addition, because the family supports popular protocols like Ethernet, IPv4 and IPv6, smart grid networks can easily be integrated with IP-based networks. 

"The approved ITU NB-PLC family of international standards will be a fundamental building block for realizing a robust smart grid anywhere in the world, and will allow utilities to start immediate deployment of NB-PLC on a worldwide basis,” said Dr. Hamadoun Touré, Secretary General, ITU. 

http://egovasia.enterpriseinnovation.net

China unveils £1 trillion green technology programme

To fulfill the spending target, the central Chinese government itself would most likely not deliver the bulk of the money, but would seek to spur spending by corporations, investment by local governments and lending by banks. Photo: AFP/Getty

China has confirmed that it plans to pour £1.1 trillion (10 trillion yuan) into the so-called "strategic sectors" over the coming five years, US Commerce Secretary John Bryson told said during a visit to Chengdu, China. The confirmation of the huge sum of money showed Beijing's ambition to shift the growth engine of the world's second largest economy to cleaner and hi-tech sectors while also boosting domestic growth as the global economy struggles.  

The package - equivalent to the entire GDP of Italy - is two and a half times the size of the four trillion yuan fiscal stimulus launched during the global financial crisis in 2008. There were also concerns that China would scale back some investment plans, notably the manufacturing of hi-speed railway equipment, after a deadly train crash.

But Mr Bryson said the Chinese officials in Chengdu have not scaled back their ambitions. "Much of the emphasis on the emerging industries and the $1.7 trillion investment was focused on clean energy and clean energy technology," Bryson said, following a US-China Joint Commission of Commerce and Trade meeting. Chinese officials have promised that overseas firms will have access to contracts during the growth in these sectors.

"We had a very good dialogue on China's strategic emerging industries and we welcome China's commitment that it will create a fair and level playing field for US companies in those industries," Bryson said. According to Beijing, the targeted sectors include alternative energy, biotechnology, new-generation information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, advanced materials, alternative-fuel cars and energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies.

To fulfill the spending target, the central Chinese government itself would most likely not deliver the bulk of the money, but would seek to spur spending by corporations, investment by local governments and lending by banks.

telegraph.co.uk

Korea takes a step closer to smart grid development

koreaittimes.com

Legal system ready for power grid that allows two-way communication between suppliers, consumers

Korea became the first country to complete a legal framework to develop a national smart grid digitally enabled to collect and act on information about the behavior of suppliers and consumers, making electricity provision more efficient and reliable. The Cabinet on Tuesday passed the ordinances of legislation on smart grids as part of the government’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions, two months after nationwide power outages that led to the knowledge economy minister’s resignation.  

The use of IT for two-way communication between power suppliers and consumers to optimize energy efficiency will be possible nationwide by 2030, according to the government’s plan. Under the smart grid system, electricity will be charged at different rates depending on the demand and the power generation costs.

For example, when consumption soars in the summer due to the use of air conditioners, costly thermal power plants will be run in addition to cost-efficient nuclear power stations. Suppliers will charge higher rates at times of high demand to discourage power use. Consumers will be able to set washing machines to run at hours when electricity rates are cheapest and charge electric cars at low, late-night rates even when they are parked during the day.

Based on the new ordinances that go into effect next Friday, the government will complete its five-year blueprint for smart grid development including investment plans by early next year. It will also designate smart grid base areas.

Businesses that wish to take part in the smart grid program such as electric car charging service providers and smart grid infrastructure builders are to sign up with the Ministry of Knowledge Economy starting next Friday. Also participating will be companies that reduce power consumption within a building or a specific area by using smart grid equipment, resell the saved electricity and share the profits with consumers.

The government will pick companies to invest in or offer financial support for research and development to under the criteria stated in the ordinances. According to data released by the International Energy Agency, smart-grid-related demand across the world will surpass $2.99 trillion by 2030.

Visitors take a look at an electric car at the second Korea Smart Grid Week fair at COEX in Seoul on Wednesday. (Yonhap News)

A smart-grid consulting firm named Pike Research forecast that some 3.5 billion smart meters, or electrical meters that record electricity in intervals of an hour or less and send that information back to the utility for monitoring and billing purposes, will be installed by 2016 in the Asia Pacific region. The electric car business is expected to grow quickly too, becoming a key driving force for smart grid development.

Like Japan, Germany and China, Korea projects there to be 1 million plug-in electric vehicles in the country by 2020. The U.S. anticipates more than 1 million electric cars by 2015. Korean companies such as LG Chem, SK Energy and Samsung SDI are prominent in battery technologies. Hyundai Motor, after a test run of several dozen electric cars, plans to unveil an electric compact vehicle for mass production in 2015.

Hyundai’s sister company Kia Motors plans to debut its own a year earlier. “Smart” home appliances are another major wheel of the smart grid technology. Based on the estimated electricity costs transmitted from power suppliers, users will be able control the ice-making and defrosting time on their refrigerators and check the amount of power they have consumed and the costs on a weekly or monthly basis.

LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics have already developed smart refrigerators, washing machines, ovens and vacuum cleaning robots and televisions that can be connected to smartphones and smart meters through smart servers. Germany’s Miele was first to unveil smart-grid-ready washing machines and dryers last year.

Siemens has tested energy-saving “smart watt” programs that can be installed in domestic appliances in European homes. Korea Electronic Power Corp. has been working with IBM to prepare for its smart grid business and became the 12th member of IBM’s Global Intelligent Utility Network Coalition, a group of global electric power suppliers dedicated to further the adoption of smart energy grids.

As part of efforts to promote smart grids, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy hosted a three-day smart grid industrial fair that closes Friday. Representatives of governments and businesses discussed ways to standardize smart grids and share development cases at international conferences during the second annual Korea Smart Grid Week in COEX, southern Seoul.

“This year’s event will go beyond allowing consumers to experience new smart grid technologies to focus on communication for actual use and adaptation,” Koo Ja-kyun, chairman of the Korean Smart Grid Association, a group of smart grid technology developers, said in his opening speech. “Universities must foster relevant manpower and develop contents for cooperation with industries.”

.koreaherald.com

Singapore's new power grid center to develop cleaner energy solutions

SINGAPORE: The Experimental Power Grid Centre (EPGC), one of the largest ...

news.xin.msn.com -

Singapore is investing in the development of a smart grid industry. The opening of the S$38-million, one megawatt Experimental Power Grid Center (EPGC) is a step closer to this objective. "Smart grids will pave the way for a competitive energy market. Its technologies will enable us to offer services that allow businesses and households to choose their electricity retailers and packages according to their needs," said Minister S Iswaran, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry, during the opening ceremonies.  

"Smart grid technologies will also provide consumers with real-time information on their energy usage. Such information will allow consumers to make informed choices on how to use energy efficiently and save cost," he added. The Minister explained that EPGC will allow researchers and companies to experiment with energy technologies in a safe grid-like environment to evaluate their performance and reliability before deployment in live, operational grids.

It will also serve as a natural technology partner for companies exploring the integration of renewable energy sources in any climatic zone. Many partnerships are also in the pipeline, including a collaboration with wind technology provider Vestas to co-develop technologies to enhance the capabilities of wind turbines.

EPC is also partnering with SP Power Grid (SPPG) to improve grid reliability. After the unveiling ceremonies, EPGC has signed an agreement with the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to study the integration of distributed energy generation and electric vehicles into housing estates. "This collaboration aims to address the technological challenges in assimilating distributed energy generation and electric vehicles into housing estates," the Minister said.

enterpriseinnovation.net

Korea, Italy to Cooperate on E-Government Programs

Korea and Italy have signed a memorandum of understanding on strengthening cooperation in the e-government sector. The Ministry of Public Administration and Security said Thursday that Minister Maeng Hyung-kyu and his Italian counterpart Renato Brunetta agreed to collaborate on e-government programs.

E-government allow citizens and businesses to access government information and services via the Internet.

The ministry said the two sides agreed to boost exchanges of officials and technicians and added the deal with Italy has opened up the entire European e-government market for Korean IT companies.

chosun.com

Estonia will help Greece to build up e-state

Juhan Parts and Pantelis Tzortsakis. Tallinn, 26.09.2011.
Фото: mkm.ee

Estonian economy minister Juhan Parts discussed possibilities of reducing corruption and bureaucracy in Greece with the help of Estonian information and communications technology (ITC) with Greek administrative reform and e-government deputy minister Pantelis Tzortsakis on Monday, the ministry said.

Parts said that when building up e-state, it is important to observe every state’s peculiarities and create solutions in line with needs.



“It is not reasonable to start inventing a bicycle but share universal solutions with each other. Many solutions that are only talked about in the rest of the world are in everyday use in Estonia,” said Parts.

Tzortsakis said that Greece uses several modern solutions but many systems are built upon old principles which is why administering them is costly. He pointed out eID and X-tee as solutions that Greece would be interested to adopt.

On September 9, Estonia and Greece signed a memorandum of reciprocal help that focuses on the cooperation of the two states to reduce corruption and bureaucracy in the ICT sphere.

baltic-course.com

South Korean Officials Head to UAE for e-Governance Classes

A team of 17 members have left South Korea  to UAE to learn tips on e-governance. The visitors comprised of officials who hold key positions in the South Korean government, according to WAM.

Mohamed Ismaeel, director of operations and production of the e-governance department of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, said: 'We are happy to share our knowledge in developing the e-government in the UAE. We hope our association brings out the best in e-government for both countries.'

egovonline.net

Pushing the low carbon boundaries: South Korea's smart grid initiative

Workers install a solar panel on a household within the Jeju Smart Grid project site. More than 2,000 homes along Jeju’s northeastern coast have been connected to the test grid. SK Telecom Consortium

South Korea's economic transformation over the past 40 years is remarkable when considering that this country of 50 million has few natural resources. Its export-driven economy evolved from the garment industry to shipbuilding and now information technology, yet the country has always imported almost all of its fuel. Its vulnerability to spikes in energy prices has long preoccupied business and government leaders.

One step towards increased energy independence has been South Korea's drive to become a leader in smart grid research and development. That work has transformed an agrarian island into a hub of innovation and experimentation.

For decades Jeju island, 50 miles (80km) off southwestern South Korea's shore, was known as the country's honeymoon and holiday destination. But now several of South Korea's leading chaebol (business conglomerates) and government agencies have launched the Jeju Smart Grid Roadmap.

The project started with a 64.5 billion won (£36 million) government investment to test real-time grid monitoring, digital power transmission, and digitally operated power distribution systems. That investment will quadruple by the end of the project in 2013. While South Koreans and foreigners have long complained about the chaebol's outsized influence on the country's economy and politics, the cost of developing smart grid technologies is too expensive for smaller start-up firms alone. More than 160 companies, large and small, are involved with the four-year-long Jeju experiment.

SK Telecom is one chaebol leading the national smart grid project. Paul Kim, one of SK Telecom's smart grid managers, explained in detail South Korea's investment in smart grid technologies, which includes smart appliances, electronic vehicle charging, and micro-grids for renewable energy.

Korea's Smart Grid Roadmap has five core components: smart power grid, smart transport, smart renewables, smart electricity, and smart places. SK Telecom has led the smart places core with its "Test Bed," a programme that has taken modest stucco homes in Jeju's countryside and transformed them into the homes of the future.

More than 2,000 have been revamped with solar panels on the roofs. Smart meters and energy storage batteries integrate televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and air-conditioning units. Tablet computers allow homeowners, many of them farmers, to monitor and adjust their household energy consumption. Power is adjusted according to peak demand and outside temperatures, and local utilities reflect that in the price. "All the appliances are interconnected with one another," said Kim. "The power-saving mode is in place in accordance with real-time pricing."

For SK Telecom, the capital and human resources necessary to support this project should pay off in the long run. SK's Smart Places Test-Bed focuses only on homes at the moment but SK Telecom has developed the Network Operation Centre Building Energy Management System, a smart grid system that can be scaled up for commercial use. Cloud software will manage both large clusters of buildings as well as an organisation's properties dispersed across a wide region.

The technology is still in its infancy, and the final analysis of the Jeju project, which finishes in May 2013, will determine how the chaebol and the South Korean government pursue the smart grid, said Kim. Despite public service announcements touting smart grid's potential, he said that public awareness was still thin. That could change with a more cost-effective smart grid technology and rising fossil fuel prices.

World Bank Continues to Help Improve the Land Administration Systems

Minister of Finance, H.E. Martina Dalić and the World Bank’s Country Manager for Croatia, Mr. Hongjoo J. Hahm signed yesterday a Loan Agreement in the amount of EURO 16.5 million (USD$23.8 million equivalent) for the Integrated Land Administration System Project to the Republic of Croatia aimed at further strengthening the land administration system.

The Integrated Land Administration System Project (ILAS) is a follow on project to the successful Real Property Registration and Cadastre project which helped the Ministry of Justice, the State Geodetic Administration and Land Registry Offices to successfully complete the first phase of the reform of the land registry and cadastre. It simplified procedures, improved efficiency of services, reduced backlogs, increased transparency and access to information and developed joint procedures and a common land database under the Joint Information System (JIS). All of these reforms have been important in improving tenure security and strengthening the land administration system which are both crucial for speeding up the reform of the judiciary and public administration, the fight against corruption and doing business.

The second phase of reforms supported through the ILAS will further strengthen the land administration system, including cadastre and registration, through improved services. Easier access to digital information will further lower the costs of doing business and strengthen private sector-led growth. It will also complete the national roll-out of the Joint Information System which will provide complete data including land registry and cadastre information in one database, making this information available to citizens and the public and private sectors. The Project will also help Croatia adopt the EU INSPIRE directive, a requirement for all member states. INSPIRE calls for effective sharing of spatial data locally and across borders to the benefit of all EU public authorities and governments. To achieve this, the Project will help with the establishment of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure, allowing the implementation of e-government initiatives and effective environmental monitoring.

“By the end of the Project in 2015, we expect that the public and the business community will receive faster services and access to information through fully integrated digital data, government institutions will be able to share and view government spatial data more easily, allowing better planning and spatial development, environmental monitoring and natural resource management,” said Hongjoo J. Hahm, World Bank Country Manager for Croatia. “The increased transparency and access to digital cadastre and registry information is necessary for e-government and other modern services that Croatian citizens will expect as the country enters the European Union.”

The Loan of EUR 16.5 million which was approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on August 4, 2011, has a maturity of 20 years and a grace period of 4 years included.

Since joining the World Bank in 1993, Croatia has benefited from financial and technical assistance, policy advice, and analytical services. To date, the World Bank has supported 48 operations in an amount above US$ 3 billion, and approved 52 grants with a total value of US$70 million.


worldbank.hr

IBM expands partner network in Azerbaijan

IBM is expanding a partner network in Azerbaijan, bringing to market a wide range of new products and services that are in demand in Azerbaijan, IBM Sales Director in the CIS Sergei Tabulin said in an interview with the Azerbaijani magazine InfoCity.

Tabulin said Azerbaijan is developing dynamically; that high-tech solutions are in demand throughout the country, as evidenced in the banking sector. Banks are now actively engaged in the creation of reserve data processing centers, their importance underscored by the travesty that occurred in Japan. A similar demand was observed in the oil and gas industry, where IBM is seen as the solution maker.

Active steps are being taken in Azerbaijan and in the construction of "E-government", which can only be welcomed, he said.

As for the latest projects undertaken by IBM in the Azerbaijani market, Tabulin noted the project implemented on the software-hardware platform of IBM for the "cloud computing" technology at the Information Technology Institute of the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences.


"A growing number of customers are installing the virtualization of computing resources, which serves as a preparatory stage for the subsequent transition to cloud computing", he added.


Tabulin said IBM wants to ensure its position in Azerbaijan not only as an equipment manufacturer. The company seeks to show that all services and products which are in demand and represented globally, are also presented in this country.


"CIS countries have a good chance of a technological breakthrough, as the cost of the technology is gradually lowering, whereas the existing data-processing infrastructure was built up over decades in other countries. So there is a real opportunity to create a fairly developed modern infrastructure using small investments", he said.

.trend.az

Government officials slow to develop, implement smart grid cyber security laws

forcechange.com

The rapid development of the smart grid over the past few years has resulted in the electric grid's increased effectiveness, among other benefits. Industry experts worry, however, that critical infrastructure protection (CIP) regulations are lacking, and according to a published report, lawmakers are to blame.

According to a report from Government Computer News, a number of government agencies are responsible for developing comprehensive cyber security protocols. Nonetheless, various groups are charged with protecting different sectors, and experts are concerned that those tasked with crafting and implementing smart grid cyber security measures are failing to deliver comprehensive guidelines.

Federal officials from the Department of Homeland Security, along with those from the Pentagon and other government agencies, met in Washington D.C. in July to discuss the vulnerability of computer networks to hackers, but little has been done since the meetings to improve smart grid cyber security protocols, analysts say.

In fact, though federal information security has been listed as a high-risk priority by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) since 1997, many industry experts contend that there has been very little accomplished in terms of improving cyber security standards.

The race to improve CIP regulations is of the utmost importance, government officials have said, but with so little accomplished over the past decade, many critics have charged the government with failing to deliver on its promises.

The Obama Administration unveiled in June a guideline of how it believes the smart grid should be developed over the coming years. While Obama Administration officials called for enhanced cyber security protocols, government officials are at odds over how exactly - and in what manner - such regulations should be developed, implemented and enforced.

"Despite the actions taken by several successive administrations and the executive branch agencies, significant challenges remain to enhancing the protection of cyber-reliant critical infrastructures," GAO director of information security issues Gregory Wilshusen told the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee in July.

"The threats to information systems are evolving and growing, and systems supporting our nation’s critical infrastructure are not sufficiently protected to consistently thwart the threats," he added.

With researchers discovering new vulnerabilities in computer defense systems nearly every day, the pressure is on government regulators to develop a comprehensive set of cyber security regulations. Critics, however, are afraid that officials will fail to unveil such rules in a timely manner.

subnet.com

E-Government Goes to the Dogs with Online Pet Services

County governments provide a span of online services including options to receive emergency alerts and apply for permits, and in some counties, Web services are available for dog owners to register their pets and receive other useful information regarding their four-legged friends.

Clark County, Ohio, Auditor John Federer announced that starting Dec. 1, the county will begin accepting online payments for dog tag registration through the county auditor website.

“We received a number of e-mails and phone calls into our office sharing how excited [residents] were [that the county is] bringing this technology to them and how much more efficient and easier it is for people who have dogs to get them licensed,” Federer said.

The county is still in the process of selecting a vendor to supply the electronic payment method and hopes to make its final decision by mid-September, according to the county.

Clark County dog tags range from $20 to $100 and once payments can be accepted online, an additional interchange fee will be added to the registration cost. According to the auditor’s online application form, currently dog owners can fill out the application online but must manually send payments to the auditor’s office.

King County, Wash., residents already have the option to pay for pet registrations and pet license renewals online. However, pet owners who choose to pay for the licenses online through the county’s website must pay a $1.49 service fee, according to the county’s website.

But for some counties, pet services extend beyond paying for dog registrations online.

The Morgan County, Ga., website outlines tips on emergency preparedness for pets during a disaster. A YouTube video on the site provides pet owners with tips to on how to prepare themselves and their pets for an emergency, and shows the proper pet materials owners should pack in the event of an evacuation.

The official website for Manatee County, Fla., shows a list of stray or found dogs and cats to assist residents with finding a lost pet or to find a pet to potentially adopt. The list includes a photo of each animal and a brief description that provides information including its name, type and age.

If a Manatee County resident’s pet goes missing, he or she can register the pet through on online form on the website and receive an e-mail notification when an animal matching the description arrives at the shelter or is registered as “found.”

govtech.com

Economics or Politics? Moving Forward with Smart Grid

As debates and negotiations over the debt ceiling have been consuming congressional leaders, policymakers’ minds are probably far from Smart Grid and the future of our energy systems -- at least right now. But, for the electricity industry, the ways in which the economics of Smart Grid contribute to our long-term energy security and independence — well, that should be at the top of their collective consciousness.

As national energy policy is slow to move, how will future economic, environmental, and local policy drivers impact how Smart Grid evolves?

Will Smart Grid communities that are driven by individuals, neighborhoods, and municipalities emerge? As gas and electricity prices continue to rise, individuals and municipalities will likely start taking matters into their own hands — and without knowing it, begin building a smarter grid at the grassroots level. Adoption of cost-effective EVs will likely pick up, people will find the independence of at-home generation -- like solar panels -- more desirable, and consumers may consider back-up storage to help their homes be more autonomous in the event of an emergency. But, what happens when individuals begin trading power (which is actually illegal in some states) and when communities consider decentralized energy markets? Where does the utility play into this scenario, and how does the system evolve so everyone benefits?

Will the global focus on carbon reduction impact how we do business? Unfortunately, this topic is currently as much a political question as an environmental one. Carbon-reduction efforts undertaken to mitigate climate change — whether at a government or individual level — will certainly impact how utilities and manufacturers do business. The big question prevails: how do businesses make sound and strategic decisions as uncertainty looms, particularly on the policy front? In this case, the economics of Smart Grid are clearly tied to the politics.
Will policy innovation happen at the state level? With uncertainty at the top levels of government, will state governments take energy and Smart Grid policy matters and legislation into their own hands? We’re already seeing states adopt individual renewable portfolio standards and energy efficiency guidelines. If this trend continues, how does this impact different parts of the electricity supply chain — particularly those doing business across state lines?

While Washington DC may be slow to move on national energy policy, DC will be host to another gathering of minds — Smart Grid minds -- at the fifth annual GridWeek this September, where these topics and others related to the way forward for Smart Grid will be discussed. Don’t miss your chance to meet with the industry’s energy leaders to help plan Smart Grid’s future, with the best interest of our nation at the forefro

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Anto Budiardjo is President and CEO of Clasma Events, a global event company specializing in conferences at the center of the worldwide energy discussion. Focusing on Smart Grid, connectivity, and the new energy economy, Clasma’s major events include: ConnectivityWeek, GridWeek, and Grid-Interop. Anto can be reached at Anto@Clasma.com. Follow him on Twitter @AntoBud.

Power companies overstate cost of smart meters

Smart meters expensive

The Australian Energy Regulator that says Victoria's power companies have overstated the cost of rolling out smart meters by $500 million. In a draft decision, the regulator says CitiPower, Jemena, Powercor, SP AusNet and United Energy Distribution have not made a good enough case for charging $1.24 billion for the three-year roll out.

Andrew Reeves, the chairman of the electricity and gas regulator, says the cost increase is not justified.

"On their numbers put in front of us, charges would typically go up from currently about $100 a year to about $160 a year," he told ABC Local Radio.

"Under our proposal the charges would still increase, but would only increase by about an additional $20 a year."

The regulator says the cost of the rollout should be $760 million.

Energy Minister Michael O'Brien says the State Government was always concerned that costs were not properly scrutinised by the former Labor government.
"We'll be making our own submissions to the regulator before they make a final decision.

"If we think there's further room for reducing the cost impact of this project on Victorian families, we'll be arguing for it."

He says a final decision will be made later this year.

"As it is, this determination would suggest that there will only be a very modest increase over the next three years, which I think most families, who struggle to pay their power bills would welcome," he said.

abc.net.au

Philippines rolls out govt funds tracking system

DBM Secretary Florencio Abad

The Philippine Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has launched a management information system programme that keeps track of government lamp sum spending. The system, called electronic Transparency and Accountability Initiative for Lump Sum Funds (eTAILS), digitizes the processing of lump sum funds and supports the timely disclosure of lump sum fund release information on the DBM website (www.dbm.gov.ph).

The module for the priority development assistance fund has been rolled out during the initial phase of eTAILS project.

“This will help us not only to accurately keep track of information on such releases but also to allow the people to scrutinize how their money is allocated by their elected officials,” said DBM Secretary Florencio Abad.

The phase one also includes other lump-sum funds such as internal revenue allotment of local government units and the school building funds.

Meanwhile, the second phase will be developed to strengthen accountability in the use of lump-sum funds.

Its features will enable agencies to electronically submit reports together with photos, video and other supporting files on projects under lump sum funds.

The budget department likewise unveiled the 2011 People’s Budget which is a simplified version of the 2011 National Budget.

“We translated the National Budget into a language that is easier to understand by the people. This, we hope, will be able to help citizens participate more in the budget process,” Abad said.

The People’s Budget contains a summary of the 2011 General Appropriations Act, including budgetary allocations for priority programmes and projects. It also contains basics on the Philippine budget process.

futuregov.asia