Like most of the European cities, Prague is facing the impact of global mega trends, including the ageing of its population. According to the Strategic Plan of Prague, by the year 2030 there will be an increase of 17% of over 65 year olds living in Prague and a 65% increase of the population above 80 years of age. It is thus estimated that the overall population of Prague above 65 years will count 252 thousand inhabitants, and among them 82 thousand inhabitants above the age of 80 years. This presents great challenges for the city and its services, as with the increase in the number of seniors, the number of those who depend on different levels of care also increases.

The Strategic Plan of Prague estimates that the cost of one bed in a home care is five times lower than a bed in nursing home. Moreover, most of the available studies have showed that the quality of life of home care is higher than the one at nursing homes. It is thus in the interest of the municipality to look at ways on supporting the provision of complex home care services that would enable seniors to stay longer self-sufficient. Consequently, the demand for nursing homes would decrease.

IPR Prague has been inspired by the approach of the Triangulum Lighthouse City Stavanger towards the smart home care agenda and has chosen it as the overarching approach for its pilot project to be designed within Triangulum. The main question of this pilot project is: “How can smart technology and cross-sectoral cooperation enhance the home care services that the city is currently providing?”. However, the pilot project will not only look at the essentials of how to provide safety and minimum wellbeing for seniors on the verge of self-sufficiency, but it will also explore the means of enhancing their quality of life. The pilot project will be focusing on one of the city districts, testing approximately 15 households. The implementation strategy document will have the form of a feasibility study that will closely look at the context of the city district. Through the process of participatory design it will engage the relevant local stakeholders and will map individual needs of the represented seniors. The plan will propose three versions of the pilot project, differing in their scope (must have, should have, could have), and a high-level implementation roadmap of the pilot project.

From a replication point of view, the pilot project will firstly look at Stavanger’s ICT solution in the form of a video communication tool connecting seniors to the caretakers centre, to their peers and family. However, the tool also functions as a platform for additional content, such as exercise tutorials. Secondly, it will explore the possibilities of sensor networks integrated in households together with smart meters aiming for optimisation of energies of the individual households that Eindhoven but also Stavanger have been focusing on. Thirdly, Prague will explore the integrated system of city logistics that involve e-mobility and cargo bikes in the distribution of goods, nutrition and care takers among the tested households. Moreover, the implementation strategy will also look at the option of an online smart home care market place, that would make it clearer what services are available and link those to the needs of the individual senior. Thanks to Triangulum, IPR Prague is also updating its current 3D model of the city and is working with large number of open datasets of spatial data. Finally, as there will be a new mode of cross-sectoral cooperation and an attempt to apply the quadruple helix model of cooperation in the process, the aim is to put together a “lessons learned cookbook”. The book will explain how to manage a pilot project in the context of a city district of Prague and will ideally provide guidelines for future projects. The implementation strategy will be finalised in the beginning of January 2018 and the pilot project is aimed to start from 2018.

At the beginning of June 2017, Leipzig successfully finished the first draft of its Smart City Implementation Strategy. This marks an important milestone on the way towards an integrated strategy, which will enable the implementation of practical measures.

(Picture: Stadt Leipzig)

The strategy focuses on projects to be implemented in Leipzig West. It singles out the four categories climate-friendly district, sustainable mobility, smart living and active neighbourhood community as the most important ones for the district. As the pilot district includes a former cotton mill which is in the process of reutilisation, the project Strijp-S (Eindhoven, NL) could provide valuable input on the transformation of former industrial buildings.

One of the city wide projects is a data platform which connects the municipality with the utilities. This pilot project profits substantially from the input provided by the City of Eindhoven on their OpenData platform. It is one of the first projects to be implemented and set to start mid 2018.

Besides, the city continues to engage with regional partners in order to develop measures in key areas such as transportation and water. At the two most recent events “Zukunftsforum”, where city leaders and CEOs of local utilities regularly meet to discuss future strategies, smart mobility as well as smart water management and smart water usage were the main topics.

(Picture: Stadt Leipzig)

Additionally, together with the Saxon state capital Dresden, Leipzig became a Digital Hub city. The Digital Hub Initiative has been developed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and seeks to support the establishment of Digital Hubs in Germany. As one out of twelve Digital Hubs, the City of Leipzig strives to boost innovation through cooperation between companies and business start-ups. The city is set to establish an Infrastructure Hub which will focus on intelligent energy infrastructure as well as mobility infrastructure.

During the last months, Sabadell has worked actively to design the actions that are included in the local Triangulum’s Implementation Strategy. The strategy is planned to be approved by early 2018 and is strongly inspired by the training workshops and webinars organised within Triangulum. It is being created within a co-design process, where the local and regional knowledge ecosystem is closely involved and funding opportunities are being analysed.

(Picture:: Ajuntament de Sabadell)

(Picture:: Ajuntament de Sabadell)

Moreover, new projects on energy, mobility and ICT are being considered and studied with the impulse of Triangulum, some of them inspired or influenced by the Lighthouse City projects. Examples of these potential actions are:

• Innovative applications of videoconferences to municipal services, planned to be operational in June 2018, inspired by Stavanger
• Innovative recharging points for electric vehicles connected with the renewal of the municipal fleet, planned to be operational in September 2018, inspired by Stavanger
• City „beacons” (interactive screens in the public space in crowded areas), planned to be operational in December 2018, inspired by Eindhoven
• Innovative public lighting, adapted to the natural perirurban environment, festivities/commemorations, decorative purposes, running circuits, planned to be operational in December 2018, inspired by Eindhoven
• Parking sensors, planned to be operational in December 2018, inspired by Eindhoven
• Traffic light priority for delayed buses and access control to pedestrian zones, planned to be operational in December 2018, inspired by Eindhoven
• A digital platform to match demand and supply for empty spaces in the city, such as offices, empty outdoor private spaces, public or private spaces for working, studying, leisure, artistic or cultural activities, sports, etc., planned to be operational in January 2019, an original idea from Sabadell
• Incentives for the green last mile urban delivery of goods, planned to be operational in the 1^st quarter of 2019, inspired by Manchester
• “Start-up” companies acceleration programme, planned to be operational in the 1^st quarter of 2019, inspired by Eindhoven
  

  (Picture:: Ajuntament de Sabadell)

*Vendor lock-in: The municipality is obliged to purchase software from the same supplier as for the hardware, as otherwise it is not possible to establish communication between both, using proprietary, non-standard protocols. Data is owned and stored by the hardware provider, not by the municipality.

Stavanger municipality has installed a new renewable energy plant for three municipal office buildings. The energy central heats and cools the buildings using energy from the city’s waste water, reducing the CO2 emission by 85 %.

In Norway, there are great natural renewable resources in hydropower. In the Triangulum project, however, Stavanger thrives to find solutions that can be replicated in most cities around the world.

The new energy facility harvests energy from every toilet flush and all the water that goes down the drain, rain water, water from dishwashers and washing machines. The water flows in a gigantic tunnel underground. For this demonstration, the municipality uses 100 meters of the tunnel where 108 drain heat exchangers are placed, absorbing heat from the waste water that flows in the tunnel.

With this solution, Stavanger has created a renewable energy source that can be replicated all over Europe. The new concept is calculated to meet the target of usage of 75% renewable energy sources, achieve the best possible performance on reduction of CO2 emissions, and provide the best value for money.

The new energy facilities answer to the obligations the city of Stavanger has committed to regarding the Paris agreement, the Covenant of Mayors and national and local climate and environmental requirements.

The rehabilitation department at Bergåstjern, an old people’s home in Stavanger, is now testing energy management provided by the Innovation Department in Lyse. The solution involves the staff at the department and means that they can adjust the heat and automate this to give the inhabitants the best indoor climate, based on their personal needs.

“We have both older and young residents and thus very different needs to be covered,” says head of department Bryndis Gudbrandsdottir. She is interested in that her department must be at the forefront of technology and sees it as a natural part of contributing to testing.

Energy management also means that the rehabilitation department can control light and air quality. In addition to the rehabilitation department’s management function, the same control is also installed in the gym at Kvaleberg Primary School.

Manchester’s Triangulum e-cargo bikes have been hard at work helping businesses get moving. Working with cargo bike specialists Manchester Bike Hire, Manchester City Council has bought four electric assist cargo bikes to be used by businesses in and around the city. Here’s some of the clever things they have been up to! The bikes are fully GPS tracked to evaluate journeys, distance and carbon savings.

See the Manchester mobility work in action in this video:

LETTERS
Manchester Metropolitan University post room is now whizzing letters across their campus. The bike is much easier – no need to find parking and walk – just ride up to the door and drop off the letters. What could be easier?

(Picture: Manchester Bike Hire)

Take a letter!

LEGO
Local entrepreneur Helen Beesely runs Lego parties for kids and not only that, she goes by bike! Helen was crowdfunding to replace her existing bike / trailer set up. Triangulum was able to come to her aid and now she loans a bike from the scheme. And because her parties are at the weekend, it works perfectly with the other users.

(Picture: Manchester Bike Hire)

Lego to go!

LETTUCE
Vida Health Kitchen offer a scrummy menu of good foods for you. They used a bike for the Ironman 2017 triathlon and dressed it up to promote their business by offering freebies to spectators. After the trial they have taken a longer term hire from Manchester Bike Hire. A great result for healthy eating and for Triangulum!

(Picture: Manchester Bike Hire)

Food to go!

Manchester’s universities are using technology to cut their carbon emissions, thanks to a project showcasing the economic and environmental benefits of electric vehicles. A short film is now presenting the project’s work in the Corridor Manchester innovation district.

The Triangulum project sees Manchester City Council working with the University of Manchester (UoM) and Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester Met) to transform their vehicle fleets and make significant energy savings, while demonstrating the power of the new innovations to help create economic growth.

To date, UoM have changed seven of their diesel operational services vans for electric vehicles, while Manchester Met have added two 30KW electric cars to their car share scheme – allowing more staff to use low-carbon transport options for business journey and leave their own car at home.

Many mail deliveries to Manchester Met are now made by electric bike, a process made simpler thanks the recent Wilmslow Road Cycleway scheme, which makes cycling safer and easier along Oxford Road.

Meanwhile, electric cargo bikes have been made available to local businesses on a free trial, with the UoM’s IT services department already having taken advantage of this offer.

Data gathered from usage of the electric vehicles and e-bikes is being used to develop to a greater understanding of mobility in the city.

The Leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese, said: “Manchester needs to generate growth and create more jobs, but we need to do that in a way that is environmentally sustainable. Using new disruptive technologies and sharing knowledge is the most effective way to achieve that – and being a ‘smart city’ is Manchester’s future.”

This spring, the Triangulum project invited the citizens to a bus ride quite unusual to normal ones. The bus ride, undertaken with an electric bus, successfully brought together interested residents, professionals, students and politicians.

During the “Tour de Triangulum“, which took place on 15 June 2017, the guests received answers and information about the local project activities – and had a perfect opportunity to get familiar with some of the persons behind the solutions and the companies involved.

“Experience the smart solutions in the Triangulum project! Perhaps the solutions can be used in your municipality too? Or maybe the smart solutions are something for your home?” was the invitation that should inspire people to join the ride. And more than 50 persons did! The event was a joint initiative of the local Triangulum partners Lyse, Stavanger Municipality, the University of Stavanger and Greater Stavanger.

“As a partner in Triangulum, we have an important commitment to involve the inhabitants. The project is going on for a period of five years until 2020 and is now halfway. The timing was perfect in other words, and gave a nice framework for the event, “says Per Fjeld, Senior Advisor in Lyses Innovation Department.
Stavanger’s mayor, Christine Sagen Helgø, came to Lyse and held the opening speech, followed by a Triangulum introduction by Per Fjeld and Kristian Helland, managing director of the Lyse company Smartly. The participants then received a demonstration of Lyse’s demo apartment, where a number of smart home solutions were installed before the tour continued to the University of Stavanger. Here, the participants received information about the data the university collects in its solution, and how this benefits the inhabitants. Finally, the tour went to the cinema in Stavanger, where a movie premiere presented the new energy centre built by Stavanger municipality.

The Triangulum Tour is planned to be repeated this autumn – a strong indicator that this event was both interesting and useful.

More than 50 decision makers from nearly 30 smart cities participated in the Smart City Solutions Workshop to draw out concrete ideas for improving infrastructure and services in India. Triangulum was also presented as a best practice by the project’s coordinator Damian Wagner.

Fraunhofer in association with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research Germany, the Indian Ministry of Urban Development, the Government of India, and the National Institute of Urban Affairs organised an Indo-German Smart City Solutions Workshop on 9th May in New Delhi. The workshop was organised as a part of the Indo-German cooperation on Smart Cities and Urban Infrastructure which has committed support to Kochi, Coimbatore, and Bhubaneshwar funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Participation at the smart city solutions workshop included government representatives from more than 31 Indian cities, senior policy makers and bureaucrats who are major stakeholders and decision makers in the implementation of various government initiated smart city projects in India. The workshop also witnessed the participation of experts and dignitaries such as Dr. Jasper Wieck, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) of the German Embassy in New Delhi. Shri Anupam Mishra, Economic Advisor of the Ministry of Urban Development and the Government of India, and Mr Jagan Shah, Director of the National Institute of Urban Affairs. Mr. Ambitabh Kant, CEO of Niti Aayog delivered the keynote speech at the closing session of the workshop and responded to the suggestions and outcomes of the deliberations.

The objective of the workshop was to share the best practices and expertise in smart solutions and models as gained through the Morgenstadt Global Smart Cities Initiative which is backed up by a Consortium of more than 40 partners from industry, NGO, government and research institutions. The Morgenstadt Initiative is coordinated by Fraunhofer and includes already several smart city labs and initiatives across Europe, as well as in Asia and Latin America. The workshop was divided into three main sessions – Smart Energy & Water Session, Smart Mobility & ICT and Smart Governance & Management System, it also included sessions on topics like Smart Water Management, Financing Models for Indian Smart Cities, Sustainable Energy Systems for Smart Cities and Energy and Building amongst others. The lectures were followed by interactive Q&A sessions. In addition to the workshop, information on specific technologies was also displayed.

Pictures: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft