Future City Glasgow (Glasgow - Scotland)
Future City Glasgow (Glasgow - Scotland)
The Technology Strategy Board launched the Future Cities competition in 2013 and Glasgow won a £24 million UK government grant to implement a comprehensive IT infrastructure with the aim of improving the quality of life of its citizens.
Future City Glasgow has an integrated approach to technology to enhance economic competitiveness, improve public service delivery, and ensure a wide range of benefits for its residents. Open Data is key to this approach, as the project managers believe that this allows organisations to make better-informed decisions. Therefore, a data hub was created, to store and share as many data as possible, such as health records, data regarding the traffic in each street, demographic statistics, air pollution and other environmental indicators measurements. These data can be used for urban planning, developing business, and providing accurate information to schools and health centres. All data is freely available and personal information is not collected: OPEN Glasgow (http://open.glasgow.gov.uk).
Some of the technologies and innovative systems or procedures that were already implemented are the following: real-time information on traffic flow and public transport delays; monitorisation of energy levels and combined heat and power (CHP) systems; a digital app for all public services of Glasgow City Council (such as reporting issues related to road damage or missing bin collections); intelligent street lights that regulate light intensity according to pedestrian flow, while at the same time reporting malfunctions and collecting data related to environmental indicators (air pollution levels and weather conditions) from a network of sensors; a network of wireless HD CCTV cameras, connected to Glasgow Operations Centre; sensors for traffic light control; apps and websites with bicycle routes and walking tours.
Sources:
http://open.glasgow.gov.uk/future-city-glasgow/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n0wX3_QLrc
https://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2015/apr/21/glasgow-the-making-of-a-smart-city
https://www.theguardian.com/local-government-network/2013/feb/05/glasgow-city-future-technology
http://futurecity.glasgow.gov.uk/pdfs/Gcc_Ideas%20Report_Snook.pdf
Improved e-Governance and citizen services;
Improved Energy management;
Improved Urban Lighting;
Improved Intelligent Transport Systems.
Description of the specific objectives:
- Making city life smarter, safer, and more sustainable through the use of technology;
- Improving energy consumption patterns and energy efficiency all over the city;
- Tackling traffic congestions and ensuring traffic flows more smoothly.
Glasgow City Council; Innovate UK – Technology Strategy Board.
- About 40% of citizens in the Greater Glasgow area are not online (about 115,000 households). The challenge here resides in creating a future city that integrates all its residents, properly addressing digital exclusion matters;
- Open Data was an issue that local government entities had to face, because they were used to protect data as much as possible. Cyber-security has to be ensured.
Glasgow Operations Centre for Traffic Management, Energy Management, Community Safety, Event Management, Weather and Environment; Smart Street Lights; CCTV cameras for central city-wide monitoring; Sustainable and Smart Energy Projects; Bicycle Routes; Digital App for all Council Services.
The City of Glasgow implemented a series of demonstrator projects in key areas:
- Energy: accurate data on energy efficiency is collected by sensors to help inspire innovative solutions to cut emissions, reduce costs, address issues of fuel shortage, and change energy behaviours;
- Active Travel: the Government of Scotland has a target of 10% of all journeys being completed by bicycle, and Glasgow can be made friendlier for cyclists and pedestrians, encouraging their mobility options. A healthier lifestyle is a very positive side-effect from this demonstrator;
- Social Transport: some of the most vulnerable citizens will benefit from easier access to social and educational services through this innovative social transportation system. The smart integration and route scheduling software increases flexibility and responsiveness to transport demand, reduces operational costs, and facilitates the use of the same means of transport by multiple institutions;
- Intelligent Street Lighting: smart street lights regulate light intensity as citizens pass by, while reporting on malfunctions whenever necessary. This allows for a reduced energy consumption and a more efficient maintenance.
- Increased sense of security due to the effective reduction and prevention of criminal and antisocial behaviour;
- Improved events and incidents management;
- Faster response to emergency situations;
- Less traffic congestions and more efficient mobility management related to citizens’ feedback on road conditions and traffic situation;
- More than 800 traffic signals continuously being monitored and controlled;
- Anticipated results of the social transport demonstrator project: better client service; increased fleet utilisation; decrease in CO2 emissions; a transport function that is responsive to demand;
- Reduced carbon footprint.