Page 18 - Urban Renewal Authority 2023-24 Annual Report
P. 18

MANAGING DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT




            Self-funded Subsidy Scheme for Preventive Maintenance – A New Building
            Maintenance Concept
            At the start of my term as Managing Director, I recognised that the key to achieving sustainable urban renewal
            hinges on the effectiveness of building rehabilitation. I also believe that the guiding principle of “thinking ahead
            and taking precautions” is the cornerstone for building maintenance and repair, with the ultimate aim of slowing
            down the ageing of buildings from the source.
            To this end, the URA launched a new Preventive Maintenance Subsidy Scheme in April 2024 that encourages
            owners to maintain the condition of their buildings by proactively conducting maintenance and repair works from
            a preventive standpoint. Owners of eligible buildings are also offered subsidies to cover the costs of compiling
            building maintenance manuals, with guidelines and templates to help them formulate a 10-year maintenance
            plan and estimate the associated costs. The Scheme also helps owners set up a dedicated fund for future
            maintenance needs, with interest incentives to motivate regular contributions to the fund.
            The Scheme has been well received by owners and property management professionals. In the first quarter after
            its launch, the URA received a good number of applications, indicating owners’ acceptance of the preventive
            maintenance concept — an important milestone in promoting building rehabilitation.


            Embracing Technology to Meet Future Requirements
            The URA has always emphasised the application of innovative technologies to enhance operational and project
            management efficiency in urban renewal, examine future urban renewal needs and formulate viable strategies.
            One example is our self-developed Urban Renewal Information System (URIS), which we have continuously
            optimised since its launch. This system comes with a series of applications that help strengthen the internal
            processing and analysis of spatial data and, in turn, improve efficiency in project planning, acquisition and
            clearance, financial assessment and technical studies.




























                                                         On the URIS applications, various planning data including land use,
                                                         building age, plot ratio, pedestrian network, green and recreational space
                                                         areas and others can be swiftly extracted by layers. This functionality
                                                         enables  planners  to  efficiently  conduct  analyses,  facilitating  the
                                                         development of a holistic regeneration plan aimed at optimising land use
                                                         during the planning process.









            Since 2021, we have also been utilising Three-Dimensional Intelligent Map (3D iMap) technology for the freezing
            survey conducted at the onset of our redevelopment projects. This technology provides real-time, on-site
            monitoring of survey progress and helps us deploy manpower more efficiently. We also analyse the living status
            and demographic data of households via the 3D iMap to expedite future acquisition and rehousing efforts.


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