Dimensions

Building a Smart City or a Smart Region is not an easy ride for local administrations and decision-makers. They have to consider different parameters of an integrated development for successfully managing the digital transformation processes. All relevant departments and regional organisations have to be involved to ensure local and regional participation and thus successful rollout.

SMART INFRASTRUCTURE

Smart Cities and Smart Regions above all require broadband infrastructure that is accessible to everyone: local administrations, companies, schools and universities, public and private institutions and private households. This infrastructure, composed of fiber optic cables and mobile networks, is the backbone of the intelligent region that enables efficient, resource-saving control solutions – such as smart grids – to be built. Physical infrastructure (e.g., transport, energy, water) are connected to digital infrastructures (through sensors or smartphone apps) and can be remotely monitored and steered.

SMART DEVICES AND USE OF DATA

Network technologies and IoT (Internet of Things) solutions are key to the development of Smart Cities/Regions. Sensors for data collection can help modernise a municipality’s critical infrastructure by enabling new processes (smart services); for example, for road traffic management, pollution monitoring or e-health services (e.g., automatic emergency calls). This requires targeted generation (data mining), processing and evaluation (data analytics) of large and diverse data volumes (big data).

SMART SERVICES

Public digital services help to improve the quality of service and the cost-efficiency of administrations, thereby increasing the attractiveness of municipalities and regions. Digital channels such as user-friendly or citizen-friendly portals and apps ensure a quick and easy access to services in various areas (e.g., local economy, tourism, environment, energy, traffic management, security, education or health).

SMART USER GROUPS

IT applications alone are not enough to make a region smart. Digital solutions have to be accepted and adopted by society. Education and training programmes, as well as network events, can help disseminate and enhance digital skills. In the same way, regional hub networks can help citizens and companies to develop new ideas and innovations. Teaching digital skills can also contribute to higher local and regional participation, strengthening the competitiveness of the municipality or the region.