Chiang Mai University, through the CMU Smart City for Delivering Sustainability initiative led by the Sustainable Campus Management Centre (SCMC), has been ranked fourth among Thailand’s top smart cities in the Thailand Smart City Competitiveness Index (TSCCI) 2024, conducted by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA). With a score of 76.22%,
CMU stands out among 22 smart cities across 36 provinces, demonstrating its strong capability in developing a smart city model that meets real public needs.
To drive this initiative, the university has implemented several key projects. CMU Transit enhances on-campus mobility with an electric bus system supported by real-time tracking via
a mobile application; CMU Smart Surveillance employs AI-driven image processing to strengthen campus security; and the Solar Rooftop Project manages distributed solar power systems throughout the university. These initiatives contribute to the university’s comprehensive smart city development approach, structured around the 7 Smarts: Smart Environment, Smart Mobility, Smart Energy, Smart Economy, Smart Living, Smart People, and Smart Governance. Through the integration of technology and digital innovation, CMU aims to ensure efficient city management and to improve the overall quality of life for the community.
The assessment evaluates five core components: development vision, infrastructure, data and security systems, service provision across the 7 Smarts, and sustainable management. CMU Smart City performed strongly, scoring 86.64% in infrastructure, 80.95% in sustainable management and investment, and 79.91% in the 7 Smarts service provision. These results highlight CMU’s readiness in terms of technology, innovation, and robust management frameworks. Covering an area of 2.90 km?, the CMU Smart City is designed to serve as
a prototype model for smart city development in the Northern region.
This national recognition marks a significant milestone for CMU as a regional leader in smart city development. The university is advancing the integration of data from multiple agencies to support in-depth analysis and informed policy decision-making, while also fostering collaboration among public, private, and community sectors to enhance quality of life through modern, long-term, and environmentally sustainable solutions.