Smart Environment

Guimarães City Council, Vitrus Ambiente and Resinorte joined forces and introduced a new smart waste management system in the historic centre of the city. With the launch of the Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) system, in 2016, citizens and traders have to pay for the garbage they produce, encouraging the recycling of their solid waste.

An electric vehicle collects the trash bags that are left on the street every day, several times a day. Residents and shop owners can leave their waste outside to be collected during the day.

U-bike is a public self-service bicycle rental system for the citizens of Daejeon that joins high-tech IT infrastructure and green transportation to create an eco-friendly and sustainable urban mobility solution. Daejeon Metropolitan City also expanded the bicycle exclusive routes and improved its safety to complement the U-bike system.

The Food Care Programme “Cuidemos los alimentos” was created by the City of Buenos Aires with the aim of creating a sustainable food policy, reducing food waste, and promoting responsible consumption among citizens through the implementation of recycling initiatives and providing training in schools. 

The city of Bloemfontein, in South Africa, is improving its streetlight infrastructure by installing smart LED lights. Started in 2016, this 3-year project will upgrade 18,000 lamp posts from Echelon Corporation.

Cool Streets combines scientific research and public engagement, working with local communities to implement effective street tree plantings that provide shade in heat-affected urban areas and reduce CO2 emissions. Cool Streets provides a practical way for people to take action. Residents, community groups, schools, councils, housing corporations and developers can get involved and achieve environmental, economic and social benefits for their local area. 

Miskolc city’s district heating system, reducing greenhouse gas emission by 40 percent compared with the previous gas-based heating system. The geothermal project produces 660,000-1,000,000 gigajoules (GJ) of energy annually providing nearly 32,000 households and 1,000 public amenities (university, swimming pool, etc.) with heat.

Blue Gate Antwerp is being developed into a water-linked eco-effective industrial park. With this site, the City of Antwerp and the Flemish Region want to attract innovative businesses – both domestic and international – marking a new milestone for Antwerp in its innovative history.

SunSpot uses geographical information systems data to estimate the technical potential of rooftop solar, accounting for the tilt of roof surfaces and shading at the site.

The Australian Photovoltaic Institute and the University of New South Wales have partnered with Solar Analytics and Enosi in the Energy Data for Smart Decision Making project to develop an open modelling platform that uses spatial data and data on solar exposure, energy generation and consumption to help end users calculate the solar power potential of areas of interest. 

The Flooded Roads Smart Warning System (FRSWS) project uses smart technology to provide both proactive and reactive mechaims to enhance road safety during flood episodes. The FRSWS minimises the risk of drivers inadvertantly driving into flooded roads by using advance warning signs that only activate in flood conditions. The innovative design and programming of these signs allows real time mapping and information for each road location with a FRSWS to be provided to disaster management entities and the community through a range of communication methods.

The ParkPower project is exploring the potential for parks to provide energy services and support green energy infrastructure. This offers opportunities to develop new income streams and savings for our parks and greenspaces.