In response to the Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0, the EMSD has been actively promoting the application of innovative technology and co-operating with various government departments to support smart city initiatives, including the smart toilet pilot programme (pilot programme) in collaboration with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). The smart toilet system (system) utilises Internet of Things technology to deploy various sensors in public toilets to collect data transmitted by the GWIN. The system will also analyse the data in detail, assisting client departments in improving management efficiency and service quality of the toilets.
The system has a wide range of applications and is able to collect different types of data, including usage of public toilets (e.g. user flow, occupancy status of toilet cubicles/urinals), environmental parameters (e.g. temperature, humidity, odour), operation status of equipment (e.g. hand dryers, floor fans, flushing cisterns), usage of consumables (e.g. sanitisers, liquid soap, toilet paper). Besides, some toilets are also equipped with touchless devices or QR codes to collect feedback from toilet users, enabling client departments to make necessary adjustments based on the feedback.
The pilot programme mainly covers two types of venues, including public toilets with high utilisation rate in Hong Kong (usually located near tourist spots or popular country trails), and toilets in remote areas covered by the GWIN. The construction work of the pilot programme has commenced gradually at the end of 2021, and the system has been installed first in some toilets, including Tak Wah Park Public Toilet and Chuen Lung Village Public Toilet in Tsuen Wan. The entire pilot programme will cover 17 toilets under the FEHD and the LCSD. When the system is in full operation, it will help enhance the management efficiency and service quality of the toilets, as well as the image of Hong Kong as a smart city.
In addition, the EMSD has been collecting innovative ideas on the application of the system through the E&M InnoPortal for further system optimisation.