Lessons from 2020 to inspire Smart Cities in 2021
There is no greater potency than the strength of the collaborative spirit and the open sharing of high-quality information is at the core of this effort
2020 is taking its final bow and it was indeed a challenging year for many. The shocks and reverberations of the COVID-19 pandemic have been diverse and far-reaching, and are, unfortunately, not over. Nevertheless, in the Smart City sector, we have seen a necessity-driven urban paradigm shift which brings us into 2021 with optimism and energy for the coming year. Hence, this piece focuses on the positive and profound products of this past year, particularly what lessons we can learn from past trials and experiences.
Over the past twelve months, the BABLE team has showcased twelve Use Cases, that is — twelve stories from smart cities that highlight implemented solutions. This recap of the year serves as a reminder to us that every story and every experience holds unique, valuable and replicable knowledge. There is no greater potency than the strength of the collaborative spirit and the open sharing of high-quality information is at the core of this effort. It also is a reminder that these concepts correlate with the true beauty of innovation.
Innovation builds upon and webs from the building blocks of earlier great minds and projects. It is how we truly — step-by-step — build the solutions to the greatest problems faced by our society.
Therefore, let us take 2020 as a stepping stone and step into 2021 prepared to reflect, listen, learn, innovate and inspire.
Welcome to 2020 — January
Does January 2020 feel like eons ago? Probably…. but Use Cases like the single ticket experience for multi-modal travel and events in Turku, Finland, are even more relevant now than back at the beginning of the year. Although travel and events are not two things we do frequently right now, urban mobility demands consolidated services and aims to provide citizens with an integrated process for increased adaptability, even when leisure travel and events are halted. Therefore, changes in the ways we conceptualise and implement mobility for urban citizens have (rightfully) been a hot topic in 2020 and the relevance is not ceasing any time soon. At BABLE, we have a passion for inclusive mobility, and this theme will carry on in subsequent Use Cases and in all the work we do.
Most importantly, what were the lessons learned from this use case?
A need for early-stage feedback became apparent during the course of this project. In addition, pre-commercial procurement and piloting schemes could provide added flexibility for future plans. As with many projects, funding is a crucial component of any successful project. The use of external funding could make any future projects more replicable and future-proof.
29 Days of February
In February, we featured the city of Stavanger, Norway, for its innovative smart water utility solution. Water and sewage solutions will necessitate increased attention in the coming decades. This project uses sensors to send real-time data to tell the city when maintenance is needed and when to empty the sewer. This project reduced maintenance costs and costs associated with high expense challenges, such as flooding. As the planet warms, these solutions become increasingly more relevant for cities with water borders.
What can we take away from this?
The open data element was a vital component of this solution and the collaboration of the Nordic Edge cluster was essential. Different stakeholders are needed across many levels to be part of a common solution. Additional steps are also needed to include more data sources and focus these efforts on waste management as well.
‘Only Those with Tenacity can March forward in March’
The district of Domagkpark in Munich, Germany, was the location of our featured Use Case in March for its community information and participation portal. In March, the first wave of the Coronavirus pandemic was sweeping across Europe and the need for up-to-date information portals was becoming increasingly apparent. The focus on the community is a major reason why portals which consolidate information and encourage participation can succeed. The initial funding for this particular portal was obtained via the CIVITAS ECCENTRIC project and the maintenance of the site is now financed by commercial partners. It provides a good example for a mixed funding plan, which is often a first worry of cities — and why looking at prior Use Cases is so crucial to every project.
What were the impacts and lessons?
A platform like this can encourage residents of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds to adjust mobility behaviours to more sustainable modes while increasing social equity through easy networking. Such a network should seek to organise the community’s mobility options not just for the immediate surrounding area but also for the entire city and region.
April Showers…
On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the optical sorting system for smart waste collection in Stockholm, Sweden, took the spot as our chosen Use Case of the Month. By using different coloured bags for different types of waste, this solution enables the transportation of the bags underground while also automating the sorting process. The goal of such implementations should always be multi-faceted. In this example, the impact simultaneously involves the improvement of life quality, reduction of an environmental impact and promotion of sustainable economic development.
Lessons learned?
The public procurement process is often difficult and time-consuming for projects like these, and the projects must secure many outside contractors to solidify the complete process. Thus, special attention should be paid to these procedures to prevent project delays. Collaboration between the private and public sectors is often a point in which projects struggle (which is why we at BABLE are passionate about connecting this divide).
…Bring May Flowers
Smart cities are also resilient. As May came, the buzz around building resiliency in cities was abounding. But what does resilience really mean? The Oxford English Dictionary defines resilience as:
1) the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, and
2) the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape, to be elastic.
The modernization and innovation of our electrical system is one way in which cities can be more elastic in their approach to energy. The Greencity in Zürich Süd, Switzerland, made it to our Use Case of the Month for May because of its resiliency due to its capacity to generate 100% of its energy from locally generated renewable energy sources.
What can we learn from this Use Case?
The topic of Big Data became a fundamental issue during this project. Balancing the critical infrastructure of the energy infrastructure with Big Data while also protecting personal data should be at the forefront of any city’s pre-planning efforts.
Cities must tackle governance issues in relation to emerging technologies and data, and this will continue to play a progressively more significant role in subsequent years.
‘It is better to be a Young June-Bug than an Old Bird of Paradise’
The European Commission has made some big leaps this year towards a sustainable future, and in late June we celebrated the EU (European Union) Sustainable Energy Week, focused on clean energy. So many creative and innovative solutions have been developed in 2020 and The Aberdeen City Council in Scotland inspired us with its Use Case of their hydrogen bus project and refuelling stations. The project, H2 Aberdeen, is also an example of how to combine local, national and European level funding to pursue hydrogen technology innovation.
How can others use this trial of hydrogen solutions for further implementations?
The use of hydrogen presents a unique opportunity for businesses in the future. The private sector should consider these opportunities for future pursuits. This pilot Use Case shows the capabilities and explores further steps to test modern technologies with hydrogen as well as incorporate other solutions, such as the deployment of hydrogen cargo bikes and other vehicles, into the blueprint for cities in the future. The Aberdeen City Council also invites others to contact them for more lessons learned.
July is a Blind Date with Summer
This year, city life was certainly lacking the proverbial sounds of typical summer festivities. Nonetheless, sound is a fundamental component of an urban environment and can be used as a tool for safety measures. Dreaming of future post-pandemic days where crowds of people can safely celebrate in communal areas, Eindhoven’s innovative and clever usage of sound sensors and cameras made it to the spotlight of our July issue. In non-pandemic years, Stratumseind in Eindhoven is the largest pub street in the Netherlands. With the bar owners and resident participation, the sound cameras and sensors can detect sounds of aggression and loud noise disturbances to increase safety and security for all in the area.
What can we learn from this project?
Existing infrastructure can help during this implementation. In addition, the close cooperation with the bar owners is a necessary component of this project. Some complications can occur with the tuning of the sensors. It can also be considered that video surveillance systems can add additional information to the case. Cities looking to implement similar technologies should consider citizen perspectives, due to some scepticism of such surveillance techniques. In addition, consideration should be given to the deployment of such technologies, as to not discriminate against certain groups.
August is like the Sunday of Summer
Reviving our own energy in the summer is often done by refuelling on some renewable sun sourced energy. Likewise, our old buildings often need revitalization and integral renovation to meet net-zero energy goals. The refurbishment of two old textile factories into energy-efficient buildings in Barcelona, Spain, can be used as a source of inspiration for those looking to preserve historical buildings while decreasing energy consumption.
How can we use this experience for future actions?
Usage of local energy generation helps to protect the heritage status of buildings. However, it is crucial that staff receives training in the operations and maintenance of the building. This project was a prime example of a public-private partnership. Working together with the urban planning department of the municipality from the design phase of the project is strongly recommended in order to select the most appropriate innovative technologies that respect the historical value of the buildings.
Ah, September!
Use of electric vehicles (EVs) has increased this year and previous years and these changes consequently require a shift in infrastructural needs. Increasing the number of EV charge points (EVCP) to support these shifts represent a challenge for cities but one that can be tackled with strategies such as the geospatial analysis undertaken by Energeo for East Lothian Council in Scotland. This use case delivers data, innovation, and actionable strategies — which is why we chose it in September as our use case of the month. We can take plenty of these lessons into 2021 as environmental and sustainability objectives drive electric vehicle policy support at all governance levels.
How can the insights and lessons learned guide infrastructure plans in other cities?
It is absolutely crucial that the data is up-to-date, high quality and high resolution to achieve optimal results. This means that a data audit should be taken pre-project to determine feasibility. Cooperation with stakeholders also plays a vital role in building trust between the supplier and customer and to bring a wider technical understanding to the team.
‘October is a Symphony of Performance and Change’
It is with the topic of citizen engagement and empowerment in mind that we selected the citizen platform for urban air quality from Breeze Technologies as our Use Case of the month for October. Through this platform, residents of Rothenburgort in Hamburg can access real-time data about local air quality, which considers the special needs of sensitive population groups. At BABLE, we are strong advocates for a citizen-first approach to all smart city solution implementation, so platforms designed with and for the citizens make us want to share these products with the world.
How can we use this story to shape a better future?
The most important lesson to draw from this use case is to move beyond citizen engagement to citizen empowerment. A bottom-up approach is a solution where everyone benefits and should be considered from the start-line to the finish line and beyond. There should be clear goals and metrics of the project, strong and consistent communication with the citizens, open discussions and a user-friendly interface.
Listening and learning from the people most impacted by a problem is critical to supplying a solution that solves the core of the problem.
Fallen Leaves in November
As the cold set in across (most of) Europe and the second wave of COVID-19 pushed citizens inside and to stay at home, we chose the Smart Home Solution Pilot in Tartu, Estonia, as an exemplary case for how we can help make residents comfortable, both physically and mentally, at home. For example, solutions like this pilot create a richer environment for improved indoor air quality benefits. Therefore, this project promoted not only energy usage efficiency and sustainability but also increased quality of life — which should always be the end goal.
What are the lessons learned and next steps?
Implementors should expect, anticipate and listen to resident concerns regarding the safety and health risks that they associate with the technology. In particular, care should be given to older residents who tend to struggle more with changes and technological adaptations, especially when they are expected to interact with technology on an individual level. These main lessons can be funnelled into active citizen engagement in the design phase. As additional cable works make up a significant part of the costs of setting up the smart home solution, the availability of these connections should be taken into consideration as a proactive measure when planning and implementing retrofitting activities, even if initially there is no intention of installing and integrating smart home devices in the apartments.
‘It is December, and nobody asked if I was ready’
The holiday season this year is certainly lacking the same lust without the bright lights of Christmas markets and the smell of Glühwein in the crisp air, but practical mobility measures like the bicycle tram in Konya, Turkey, bring us out of the dreariness and into the holiday spirit. The environmental movement loves to re-use, and this Use Case is an ideal example of how to take old items and refurbish them to fit new needs. Encouraging active and sustainable modes of transport is also a major plus of an exclusive bicycle tram, refitted from an old tram that no longer fit into the city’s current mobility plan.
How can we ‘re-use’ this Use Case in the forthcoming years?
Innovation often can come from the repurposing of the old. Cities can look to this Use Case as an example of how to fit old items into new mobility plans for the future. Mobility measures should always consider the variant needs of older and less mobile populations, while also encouraging sustainable and active modes of transport for the health of the citizens and the health of the planet. Looking at patterns in mobility (i.e. an increase in cycling behaviours) can give us the tools we need to provide an improved standard of life for commuters and travellers.
So, What can we leave behind in 2020 and what can we bring with us into 2021?
While many of us would like to sweep 2020 under the rug and leave it there, we can also choose to embrace the lessons it has stubbornly gifted us. The future is looking hopeful and we remain optimistic that transformations to improve urban life will continue accelerating more rapidly than ever.
The European Union is pledging a united front against the threat of climate change and towards regional development and cohesion. The EU has also made major plans to transform the transport sector to provide green, smart and affordable mobility. Funding opportunities for green initiatives are becoming increasingly easier to capture with the proper guidance, and the private and public sectors are joining forces and working more closely together than ever before.
The geographic dispersity of these Use Cases shows us how inspiration can come from various regions and how partnerships from all countries, regions and cities are needed to bring about the greatest chances for innovation in a post-COVID-19 world.
So 2021, together, we are ready for you.
Are you ready, too?
