The state of Hesse is providing the city of Fulda with funding of around 3 million euros to implement the “Smart Infrastructure Street Lighting” pilot project. Susanne Ruth, Head of Department at the Hessian Ministry of Economics, presented the funding commitment to the Mayor of the City of Fulda, Dr. Heiko Wingenfeld, last Tuesday. The energy consumption of LED lights is significantly lower than that of conventional street lights. They also enable more precise control and networking. Equipped with appropriate sensors, they can record valuable environmental data and transmit it to traffic computers, for example. This ensures safe, smooth and environmentally friendly traffic control. In Fulda, it is planned to use the lights to record the traffic load and parking space situation. In addition, climate data can be collected, for example to document the urban climate or to enable needs-based irrigation of urban plant life. In his speech, Fulda’s Lord Mayor Dr. Heiko Wingenfeld highlighted the significant opportunities for increasing efficiency and sustainable development through the model project. “The conversion of street lighting to sensibly used LED technology, which we have been driving forward for many years as Germany’s first star city, will receive an additional boost with this project. In addition, the possibilities of smart linking of data from traffic recording and other sources with street lighting and traffic management offer fascinating prospects for energy savings and intelligent control.” The model project is a good example of how digitalization can have a very concrete impact for the benefit of citizens. With the use of sensors and the networking of streetlights, the city of Fulda is on its way to becoming a smart city. The city is using digitalization as an opportunity to tackle challenges in the areas of mobility and climate change, for example. Digital information and communication technologies are creating new opportunities to strengthen the regional economy and improve quality of life. aconium GmbH has already successfully supported many German cities and municipalities in the development and implementation of smart city projects. With the help of sensors and environmental data, among other things, local authorities are using digital possibilities to sustainably improve the quality of life. aconium GmbH is currently working on digital implementation projects as best-practice examples for Hessian districts as part of the smart municipalities and regions funding project in the “Starke Heimat Hessen” program. With this funding programme, the state of Hesse, represented by the Hessian Ministry for Digitalization and Innovation, is supporting its municipalities with digitalization.
Fulda lights up smart: 3 million euros in funding for innovative street lighting
