Page 259 - ITU Kaleidoscope 2016

Session 1: Role of ICT in environmental sustainability

S1.1 How organisations can assess and improve their green ICT activities in a standard and efficient
way.
Albert Hankel, Patricia Lago (VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
This study demonstrates how a maturity model on Green ICT can help organisations improve
themselves and become more environmental sustainable in a standard and efficient manner. For
this we have used the SURF Green ICT Maturity Model and facilitated the use of this model in
four organisations. These organisations participated in a maturity scan, evaluation session to
discuss the results of the scan and a questionnaire on the use of the model. This field study showed
that individual participants were very positive about the use of such a model and that it provided
inspiration for improvement, both to reduce the environmental impact of ICT as well as to use ICT
as an green solution for other business processes.

S1.2 Mobile signal extension in deep sea - towards a safe and sustainable fisheries.
Dineshkumar Singh; Sanjay Kimbahune (Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., India); Veerendra Veer
Singh (Mumbai Research Center of CMFRI, India)

Despite having one million active fishermen, India lacks a scalable boat-to-shore communication
framework. Small boat operators, which form 80% of entire fishing community, are more
vulnerable to the wilder nature of the ocean, due to dynamic sea current, wind speed, direction and
wave heights, etc. This is also one of reason for fishermen entering accidently in other country’s
territory, getting caught and sometimes costing their life. This poses a serious question to fishermen
and their family, whether they would return the next time they venture out in to the sea. Deep sea
mobile connectivity and Information, given in advance about the sea conditions such as wind speed
and wave height can help fishermen to plan their trip effectively and avoid the danger zone. This
infrastructure could provide path of building “knowledge society” to fishermen deprived of real
time and usable information. For realizing this, integration of the existing communication
technologies like VHF transceivers, satellite communication and extension of mobile
communication network is needed. A consortium of partners like Central Marine Fisheries
Research Institute, Tata Consultancy Service and Tata Tele Services piloted a project for mobile
signal extension into the sea upto 30kms. This enabled an extended network accessibility, which
led to create an Early Warning System over a digital highway of 30 by 120 KM, along the coast.
This paper captures the experiences and recommendations derived from this pilot.

S1.3 Human safety considerations in the emerging ICT environment.
Shailendra K. Hajela (ITU-APT Foundation of India, India)
This paper deals with the challenges posed to human safety in the emerging IoT and ubiquitous
network scenario by super intelligent machines/ cognitive robotics that would coexist in the
upcoming heterogeneous world comprising humans and super intelligent machines. Questions of
trust in the super intelligent machines have been raised by scientists, sociologists, industry
stalwarts, etc. After deliberating on the issues, aligning AI to human interests has been suggested
as a plausible option. Agenda for further action proposed is that the ITU may constitute a
multidisciplinary umbrella group, collaborating with existing technical and policy groups working
on AI standards at technology and policy levels, for in-depth study of all facets, bridging the
technology innovations and the policy considerations, and bring out Guidelines for AI aligning
with human interests adhering to ethical code.

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