Master in Smart City Solutions: “How do we train?”
A BABLE Podcast Write-up
Missed the eighth episode of Smart in the City — the BABLE Podcast? Catch up here on key highlights of our conversation with Iris Belle, discussing the development of the Master’s programme for Smart City Solutions at the Stuttgart University of Technology, as well as other case studies and reference literature on the topic.
The unexpected revelation is that [Smart Cities are] highly complex. Smart City projects do not start by putting in hardware and software and putting it to use. They start by training people. — Iris Belle
For the eighth episode of Smart in City — the BABLE Podcast, host Tamlyn Shimizu sat down with Iris Belle, Professor and Dean of Studies for the international Master’s programme for Smart City Solutions at the Stuttgart University of Technology, to discuss the topic of urban design, the ecosystem of stakeholders, the role of different cultural perspective as well as the creation of the Master Smart City Solutions at the Stuttgart University and different case studies in the field.
Unique case studies
One of the projects mentioned during the interview is the Franklin barracks project, which has evaluated prototype houses with internal climate control. As inhabitants usually refuse the automated control system, engineers chose a gamification approach for this project. Most efficient energy savers were not disclosed for data privacy but the average amount of energy consumed, as well as the highs and lows of each of the residents were shared to activate the desire to improve at the game. This project illustrates well how Smart City solutions can be provided as an option, an “opportunity to use”, instead of mandating them to everyone.
I think it’s important to point out that […] the most interesting case studies are the ones where they co-created something together with the citizens, or they took a different approach to how they address citizen participation and citizen engagement, or things along these lines such as gamification. — Tamlyn Shimizu
Another cited example is on the other end of the spectrum — an autonomous shuttle bus in the city of Sion, Switzerland. It’s a high-tech vehicle, which won’t need any driver in the future, thanks to sensors at every traffic light. This experience resonated with our guest, because as a rider “you become part of that experience that shows you how the future will develop”.
Top qualities of a Smart City professional
Retired professor Roland Dieterle at the University of Technology in Stuttgart, architect and urban designer, had numerous ideas in urban planning and saw the need for specialists who would push for thinking across disciplines to plan for more sustainable and more resilient neighbourhoods that are nicer to live in. — Iris Belle
Roland Dieterle started the curriculum at the University of Technology in Stuttgart with the aim “to have professionals who can look into different silos, who are not afraid to expose themselves to the methodologies and also the performance indicators of the related disciplines”.
Iris Belle goes on to explain that the Smart City field is a field that is rapidly evolving. So, the advice she would give to experts currently working in this industry is to pay great attention to the pilot projects that are being performed. She added that it is also worthwhile to keep an eye on projects that are not managed by municipalities but rather by private developers with greater reach.
How much do students have to go out there, practice and stay up to date?
When asked about whether or not such a fast-evolving topic can be taught in a classroom instead of out there on the field, Iris Belle told us about Park and Burgess’ book “The City”, in which they explored how information gets to citizens, what is the perfect commute, and how we deal with the environment in the city. However, to illustrate these topics while still keeping up with the ever-changing realities of the sector, the Smart City curriculum at the University of Technology in Stuttgart offers case studies. For the past one and a half semesters, they have worked with the city of Ulm, Germany, among the first ones to receive funding for a Smart City Model project. Furthermore, the students can put up their suggestions in communication with the staff of the digital agenda. As the students of the Smart City Solutions Master are mostly international, the program helps them to become part of the process and share different perspectives.
What about digitalisation?
For me also, being here at the department of architecture and design, one of the big questions is how to make all these ideas that we have about Smart City feel good and feel right. And for me, style is a big key to that. We have these horrible statistics of public money being spent on digitalising processes, like getting your car registered. Now that is something that is very far away from architecture and urban planning, but there’s these shocking statistics that municipalities spend, up to hundreds of thousands of euros, and then they’ve got four cars registered on that system, because it’s just so complicated. — Iris Belle
For Iris Belle, a Smart City is more than digitalising procedures, it’s about the “cyber-physical”. With the expression of urban design, a Smart City becomes visible in its own unique way.
How do we get the digital out there and connected with the physical in a way that’s aesthetically pleasing, that just looks right? That makes good use of space? And that makes good use of resources? I feel that not many have mastered it. — Iris Belle
With the importance of urban design in mind, Iris’ topic of interest is residential neighbourhoods, as she sees in it an “opportunity of harnessing the digital” and thinks that Smart Cities should address the needs of these “most complex forms of co-living, co-existing and of co-investing” in order to make the most out of digitalisation.
Want to learn more about the Master in Smart City Solutions?
Make sure to listen to the full podcast episode for more interesting insights, including:
- What is Iris’s favourite topic to teach?
- An interesting Use Case on the BABLE platform about an autonomous shuttle bus in Tallinn, Estonia.
- More insights and advice for people who want to work in the Smart City industry.
- How much can we really teach about this industry?
- What is a Smart City in Iris Belle’s opinion?
And if you are reading (or listening) as a representative of a city or network, we’d love to have you join us on a future episode. Reach out to our host Tamlyn Shimizu with your interest.
And for even more insights, join our Smart City community.
Make sure to also take a look at our other Podcast Write-Ups, and always feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries.
