Smart City Platform

The term smart city describes ideas and concepts for urban spaces that aim to make cities more efficient, climate-friendly and liveable through the use of modern technology. This is done primarily through highly integrated and networked information and communication technologies. The goal is to have the right resource available at the right time in the right place. This concerns above all:

• Mobility and infrastructure
• Food and consumer products
• Energy and water supply
• Communication and administration

A smart city is more efficient, sustainable and advanced compared to traditional cities. Its approach is to tackle problems arising from demographic change, population growth, pollution, climate change and scarcity of resources with innovative concepts and technologies. In addition, synergies are to be created through the close networking of all actors involved, which will help to solve new problems and always develop the city further.

London, Helsinki, Barcelona, Copenhagen and Hamburg are among the leading smart cities in Europe. To save energy, Hamburg has introduced smart street lighting that uses sensors to detect when a road is being used by a road user. In addition, many bridges are now fully automated so that shipping traffic can flow unhindered.

The goal of smart cities is to network information and data as closely as possible in order to save resources. In this respect, functioning smart cities are definitely more sustainable than conventional cities. Through the use of innovative technologies, water management, waste management, energy supply, but also mobility can be better adapted to the needs and behaviours of the people – thus resources can be successfully saved.