COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN SMART VS CONVENTIONAL HOUSING DISTRICT

Abstract

With the rapid advancements in technology, integrating smart solutions into housing environments has emerged as a promising avenue to enhance quality of life for residents. As part of its aim to become a Smart Nation, Punggol Northshore is Singapore’s first public housing district to be equipped with smart technologies. However, since the development of smart public housing in Singapore is still in its nascent stage, research understanding residents' perceptions and adaptation to such technologically enhanced environments is lacking. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the change in residents’ experiences transitioning from conventional to smart housing districts. Surveys were conducted among Punggol Northshore residents to collect data on their perceptions of their living environment, assessing quality of life through subjective measurements. The collected data from 51 respondents were analysed using Chi-square test. The findings indicated that gender, age, and education background do not significantly affect the quality of life of residents. The study also highlighted that residents perceive a higher quality of life living in Punggol Northshore compared to their previous experience living in a conventional housing district. Notably, among the technological features examined, smart sockets were revealed to be the most impactful in improving residents' quality of life. These findings provide valuable insights for urban planners, developers, and policymakers in comprehending residents' experiences and concerns in smart housing districts. Informed decisions can thus be made regarding the future development of smart public housing in Singapore.