Kuching’s Urban Transformation: Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future
A smart city leverages technology and data to enhance residents’ quality of life, streamline operations, and promote sustainability. In Kuching, Sarawak, this means using technology to address local challenges, support economic growth, and improve living standards through better resource management and adaptability. Ultimately, Kuching’s smart city approach aims to enhance daily life and ensure long-term sustainability.
Figure 1&2: Distribution of Point of Interest (POI) in Kuching & Ease of Living
Kuching’s city center is a vibrant hub, densely packed with essential facilities that greatly enhance residents’ quality of life. With easy access to safety services, educational institutions, and a variety of dining options, the city center offers convenience and comfort. This concentration of amenities not only makes daily life more manageable but also fosters a sense of community among residents. As Kuching embraces its transformation into a smart city, these features become even more significant, ensuring that the city center remains an attractive place to live, work, and visit. By prioritizing accessibility and sustainability, Kuching is creating an urban environment that truly caters to the needs and well-being of its residents.
Figure 3: Facilities Density Map
The darker areas on the facilities density map show that Kuching’s city center has a high concentration of essential services, making it easy to access schools, hospitals, and shops. However, this can result in overcrowding and dependence on the city center. To address this, improving existing facilities, developing services in underserved areas, enhancing public transport connections, and monitoring population changes are essential for equitable service distribution. Implementing a smart city approach is the best solution to overcome these challenges.
Figure 4: Kuching Telco Coverage
Kuching boasts stable 4G and 5G coverage from various telco providers, ensuring reliable high-speed internet access. This competition enhances service quality and affordability, while 5G strengthens the region’s readiness for smart technologies, positioning Kuching as a digitally advanced area.
Figure 5 and 6: Distribution of (sale) property and median price range of property type
The Kuching property market reveals that most properties for sale are priced below RM300K, with a notable number in the RM300K-RM600K range. This indicates significant value differences between residential and commercial properties, where higher-priced assets reflect premium status and market demand. Understanding these dynamics can help the government enhance infrastructure development, supporting sustainable urban transformation in Kuching.