Huế Smart Digital City Model

The ASEAN Australia Smart Cities Trust Fund (AASCTF) is collaborating with the Thừa Thiên Huế Provincial People’s Committee (PPC) in developing a standardised digital parametric model of Huế City through the Huế Smart Digital City Model (SDCM) project to help address the city’s urban development challenges and opportunities while preserving its cultural heritage.

The project aims to develop a data-driven master planning model that uses satellite data to create an accurate 3D digital model of Huế, replicating the city’s landforms, infrastructure, natural features and built structures. Leveraging three-dimensional spatial data of the city will allow the local government to simulate various urban planning scenarios and reveal potential risks and issues before implementation.

By enabling local authorities to visualise and analyse future development scenarios, the Huế SDCM project hopes not only to improve the integration and efficiency of the city’s planning systems and governance processes, but also to help foster meaningful collaboration between local government departments, stakeholders and citizens.

The city of Huế in Thừa Thiên Huế province, boasts rich cultural heritage as Vietnam’s ancient capital. The city, with its strategic position within the country’s Central Key Economic Zone, is considered an important gateway to the East-West Economic Corridor, which connects to the Indo-Pacific international maritime trade route. As Huế rapidly evolves into a modern metropolis, it faces various urban development challenges and opportunities. Despite its potential, the absence of a comprehensive urban master plan, coupled with the city's growing needs, hinders its smart city ambitions.

Traditional urban planning methods are not equipped to manage this, highlighting the critical necessity of a digital platform for integrated urban planning and development.

Huế City aspires to become Vietnam’s first smart city. The SDCM project aims to develop a 3D urban master planning tool that will enhance the city’s resilience and efficiency while bridging gaps in urban planning, empowering decision-making, and fostering sustainable growth as well as preserving the city’s rich cultural heritage.

Following the approval of the Thừa Thiên Huế Master Plan Scope of Works for 2021 to 2030 and vision to 2050, a provincial integrated master plan needs to be prepared and submitted to the Government.

The project’s use of satellite data in creating a 3D digital city model offers a cost-effective and precise method of capturing extensive urban areas, thereby providing a scalable and replicable solution for cities to enhance their own smart city development initiatives.

The Huế SDCM project seeks to transform the city’s urban development landscape by combining digital technology with a commitment to preserving the city’s rich heritage, while at the same time promoting orderly urban development, attracting investment, and fostering inclusive, resilient and sustainable growth.

The MLCP contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 8 Decent work and economic growth, 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure, 11 Sustainable cities and communities, and 13 Climate action.

The AASCTF assists ASEAN cities in enhancing their planning systems, service delivery, and financial management by developing and testing appropriate digital urban solutions and systems. By working with cities, AASCTF facilitates their transformation to become more liveable, resilient, and inclusive, while in the process identifying scalable best and next practices to be replicated across cities in Asia and the Pacific. The Trust Fund is supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, managed by the Asian Development Bank, and implemented by Ramboll.

AASCTF project flyer: Transforming the smart city future of Huế through the Smart Digital City Model project