On January 8, Huang Dan, Director of the Digital Communication Research Center and Senior Professor of the College of Humanities at Zhejiang University, led a team to the Hangzhou Data Resources Management Bureau for a research visit. The purpose of the visit was to gain an in-depth understanding of the latest developments in the construction of Hangzhou's City Brain, explore issues related to digital urban communication, and engage in exchanges and discussions on relevant research findings.
The research team first visited the City Brain Operations Command Center, where they received a detailed introduction to the construction of Hangzhou's City Brain by the Hangzhou Data Resources Management Bureau. They also learned about the promotion and application of relevant scenarios, such as the One Network for All Government Services, One Network for City Operations Management, and One Network for Social Governance.
Since its launch in 2016, Hangzhou's City Brain has gradually developed into a comprehensive intelligent platform covering various fields, including transportation, healthcare, and social governance. The City Brain 2.0 version plays a crucial role in improving city governance efficiency and optimizing public service provision through real-time data analysis and intelligent decision support. It has been particularly instrumental in optimizing the business environment, promoting common prosperity, and building a city for hosting international events, as well as driving the development of City Brain projects in more than 200 cities worldwide. The City Brain Operations Command Center has hosted nearly 100,000 domestic and international visitors for learning and research. The achievements of Hangzhou City Brain 2.0 have received multiple awards and recognition from organizations such as the National Data Bureau and the China Information Association.
During the subsequent seminar, members of the research team introduced the background, research process, and findings of the Hangzhou Digital City Communication Power Assessment project. The project, based on the digital interaction experience of urban residents, established an evaluation system covering four dimensions: digital infrastructure, digital integration mechanisms, digital platform efficiency, and digital welfare acquisition. Through surveys and analysis of Hangzhou and other cities in the Yangtze River Delta, the research team found that Hangzhou has significant advantages in areas such as digital infrastructure construction and data sharing and integration.
In the seminar, Huang Dan pointed out that the communication power of a digital city is not only reflected in the technological aspect but also in the interaction and connection between people and between people and the city. He believes that the construction of smart cities and digital cities should not be limited to hardware and technology, but should focus on the needs of citizens, optimizing digital services as the core, and enhancing citizens' sense of participation and satisfaction. Moreover, enhancing digital communication power requires collaboration among governments, businesses, and society to build an open and efficient digital ecosystem. He emphasized that urban construction and assessment are ongoing processes aimed at promoting the development of digital cities. The research team will adjust the evaluation indicators according to technological changes and work closely with frontline personnel to meet new communication needs.
Wu Guangjing, Director of the City Brain Promotion Department of the Hangzhou Data Resources Management Bureau, stated that Hangzhou's City Brain will continue to deepen cooperation with universities and enterprises to promote the innovative application of digital technologies in urban governance. He mentioned that the City Brain will focus on strengthening data integration and analysis capabilities to improve the accuracy and scientific nature of data-driven decision-making. At the same time, the City Brain will place greater emphasis on user experience, optimizing the interaction design of digital services so that citizens can more conveniently and efficiently enjoy the benefits and services of the digital city.
In the interactive exchange session, both sides had an in-depth discussion on the issues and recommendations raised during the project. The Hangzhou Data Resources Management Bureau expressed its willingness to actively absorb suggestions, further optimize the functional design of the City Brain, strengthen the promotion of digital services, and improve citizens' digital literacy and participation. Both sides also discussed how to strengthen government-business cooperation and promote the innovative application of digital technologies in urban governance, with the aim of reaching cooperation intentions.
This research visit established a good communication bridge between the Digital Communication Research Center of Zhejiang University and the Hangzhou Data Resources Bureau, facilitating in-depth cooperation in the field of digital city construction and contributing wisdom and efforts to the digital development of Hangzhou and the Yangtze River Delta region.
The leaders of the relevant business departments of the Hangzhou Data Resources Management Bureau accompanied the research team during the visit. The research visit and seminar were attended by Lin Nailian, Director of the Hangzhou Citizen Interaction Research Center, Deputy Director Zheng Yu, Associate Professor Pan Ji from the Information and Communication Research Center at Fudan University, Deputy Director and Professor Wu Hongyu, Associate Professor Zhang Zike, and Associate Professor Gao Fangfang from the Digital Communication Research Center at Zhejiang University, Assistant Dean and Hundred Talents Program Researcher Li Siyue, and Hundred Talents Program Researcher Huang Guangsheng.