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These exhaustive handpicked urban initiatives, with innovative elements and transformative capabilities, have been collated from various sources including news, reports ect. published over the past year. Information source link provided with each item.
The list can be a handy reference for those interested in the subject of wide-ranging urban innovation from governance, to technology to #infrastructure, #sustainability, #circulareconomy, and #smart cities among others.
100 Urban Innovation which emerged or matured in #2024 and to further track in #2025.
GOVERNANCE
1. Local Batho Pele Forum (Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality, South Africa)
Moving the Public Service from a rules-bound approach that hinders the delivery of services to an approach that encourages innovation and is results-driven, i.e. instead of looking for reasons why the government cannot do something, they can find better ways to deliver what people need.
Link: https://www.lepelle-nkumpi.gov.za/?q=news
2. Operation Sukuma Sakhe (Mkhambathini Municipality, South Africa)
Operation Sukuma Sakhe is a continuous interaction between #Government and the community to come together to achieve the 14 National Outcomes. Formation of war rooms at ward level to ensure program participation of ward committees together with ward councillors. Program seeks to institute food security, fight disease and poverty, to empower women and youth, and to instill behavioural change amongst the citizens.
Link: https://lg.treasury.gov.za/supportingdocs/KZN226/KZN226_IDP%20Final_2023_Y_20220531T113127Z_cfo.pdf
CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
3. Participatory budgeting process (Gdańsk, Poland)
It exemplifies transformative approach to civic #participation in urban development, from Mobile voting stations to the innovative uses of city buses as mobile billboards for promotion, large stickers in buses for awareness.
Link: https://cooperativecity.org/gdansk-participatory-budgeting/
4. Digital budget simulator to understand #community priorities, Sugar Land, USA
The simulator gives residents a chance to tell the #city how they would organize Sugar Land’s budget based on priorities they value most. As a educational gaming tool, it allows city’s budget department to fully gauge resident priorities.
Link: https://www.sugarlandtx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1687
5. Smart Lens system (Municipality of Sharjah City, UAE)
Leveraging advanced optical language model to enable residents to conveniently submit audio and video complaints and observations to the municipality via the WhatsApp application
Link: https://www.wam.ae/en/article/13rxong-sharjah-municipality-unveils-innovative-projects
6. Community's e-participation -"My Idea Project" (Greater Irbid Municipality, Jordan)
Opening the door for the local community to submit ideas for city improvement and development.
Link: https://araburban.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mudununa-English-Issue-5_Pages.pdf
7. Cocreating a Future for the LA River using State-of-the Art Tools, Los Angeles, USA
Key features include, a platform to bring together different voices, bringing together imaginative artists and engineers, physical model employing custom pick and place magnetic vegetation system; augmented reality system allowing visitors to make comments and visualize existing proposals ect.
8. ‘Ainsley’ – an innovative, artificial intelligence (AI) supported engagement platform:
The City is inviting locals to start conversations with Ainsley at 42 locations across the City about why community infrastructure is important and local residents are encouraged to ask a question about their neighbourhood; so that City can better understand what matters to the unique communities across the 30 suburbs.
CITY BRANDING
9. Indiana Destination Open-source Marketing Campaign – “IN Indiana” (Indiana, USA)
Extensive “IN Indiana” toolkit of resources available free of charge to businesses, small towns, big cities, and other state destinations. #Toolkit includes, logos and brand guides, digital ad templates, print collateral templates, tradeshow collateral, social media templates, promotional items, and more. Said to be a model for other states to replicate in telling their “authentic story.”
Link: https://www.nga.org/updates/indiana-innovative-travel-tourism-and-outdoor-recreation-case-study/
CAPACITY BUILDING
10. IDC challenges framework (Algiers)
The #framework targets the challenges of building a smart city capacity in an emerging economy. Isolation, Dependency, and Lack of Confidence" (IDC) challenges framework seeks to address the isolation of the tech industry in the city, the dependency of local initiatives on global industries, and the lack of confidence within local firms to develop advanced large-scale commercial solutions. It also aims to address the 'cascading technology trap', i.e. the gap between technological advancement and policy development.
Link: https://araburban.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mudununa-English-Issue-5_Pages.pdf
URBAN PLANNING
11. AI Urbanist tools (Dubai, Municipality, UAE)
AI tool for urban planning helping planners generate solutions for urban environments, providing accurate recommendations in city planning processes, resulting in up to 80% savings in cost and effort.
Link: https://araburban.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mudununa-English-Issue-5_Pages.pdf
12. AI in detecting construction violations, Dubai
Integrated system of precise aerial photography using drones and processing images through AI to detect unauthorized violations, additions, and modifications in buildings.
Link: https://araburban.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mudununa-English-Issue-5_Pages.pdf
13. Galgenwaard Stadium -Unique Land Use Approach (Utrecht, Netherlands)
Set to become the world's first stadium to offer residential units within its structure on this scale. This innovative approach will maintain the commercial and leisure spaces while introducing a whole new dimension—living spaces with unparalleled views.
Link: https://mvsa-architects.com/en/news/mvsa-unveils-a-new-era-for-utrechts-iconic-galgenwaard-stadium/
14. Autism Certified public beaches, Dubai
Dubai #Municipality achieves global milestone as public beaches become Certified Autism Center
Link: https://www.dm.gov.ae/2024/10/09/dubais-public-beaches-become-autism-certified/
URBAN MANAGEMENT
15. #AI for monitoring and addressing places of visual distortion (Riyadh Municipality, Saudi Arabia)
Using AI to detect and analyze urban violation and visual distortions across Riyadh city, contributing to reducing visual pollution and raising the city's quality of life
16. The Imperfect City- Innovative Actions leveraging #Culture & Cultural #Heritage (Aarhus, Denmark)
Embracing the Imperfectness of Buildings and People to Create a Good City for Everyone, by increasing public awareness – and acceptance – of urban imperfections. Solution involves restoration and adaptation of a landmark brutalist building at risk of demolition in order to host a community centre and social and employment services for youth prone to mental health issues, overcoming the stigma attached to both.
Link 1: https://www.urban-initiative.eu/news/how-are-innovative-actions-leveraging-culture-cultural-heritage
17. #Wellbeing Dashboard Protocol for Venserpolder, Amsterdam, #Netherlands
Dashboard Protocol for Venserpolder, being the first of its kind, forms part of a series of neighbourhood-specific protocols to develop a neighbourhood platform around the dashboard and embedding it as a democratic instrument in local policy practice.
Link: https://www.welzijnsdashboard.nl/learning-community-for-a-local-wellbeing-economy/
18. City Living Museum, Madinah, #SaudiArabia
“City Living Museum” initiative turns Madinah into a living, open-air museum. Using technologies like augmented reality, the museum creates an immersive experience that allows visitors to interact with the city’s historical sites in new and meaningful ways. Also with the goal to welcome 30 million visitors annually by #2030, the city is using AI and #data analytics to monitor and address potential stress points.
Link: https://www.thebuzzbusiness.com/madinah-heart-of-innovation/
19. Local Action Plan for Cultural Heritage Resilience, Atlixco, Maxico
First of its kind globally to use the Scorecard self-assessment tool, Cultural Heritage Resilience Addendum. Features include communication plan, emergency plan, risk atlas among others.
20. #Citizen Centric Smart Seoul, Seoul Metropolitan Government(SMG), South Korea
“6S Smart Seoul Platform” including S-Net, to bridge digital divide via a hyper-connected city, S-Dot, digitizing citizen-driven data to provide value to the citizens, S-Data, a city that best utilizes data, S-Brain, a city that personalizes services through AI, S-Map, a 3-D virtual city, and S-Security
21. Manchester City (MCFC) fan experience strategy, Manchester, England
Unique initiatives include, Qualtrics platform, targeted post-match surveys, ‘in the moment’ feedback from fans, introducing a sensory suite for fans with such special needs, among others
HOUSING
22. PM’s urban housing scheme, India
Key initiatives include, Technology Innovation Grants (TIG)- financial incentives offered to developers for adopting “modern, green and innovative technologies”, PRiTHVi - which provides passive-design solutions, ARH - converting existing government-funded vacant housing into rental housing encouraging energy-efficient and disaster-resilient retrofits among others
URBAN DESIGN
23. Innovative wayfinding technology, City of Vaughan, Canada
The city utilizes innovative wayfinding technology GoodMaps, an Indoor Navigation App, for blind or partially sighted to navigate City facilities.
Link: https://www.vaughan.ca/news/advancing-accessibility-our-facilities
PUBLIC SERVICES
24. “Madinaty” Platform for Smart Hygiene (Makkah, Saudi Arabia)
To enhance the sanitation system through unified digital solutions for monitoring and controlling the collection and transportation of waste, targeting transporters and business owners. It involves, electronic registration of waste producers, conditions for tracking, electronic contracting and work process automation.
25. AI for Algorithmic Transparency in public service delivery, Chile
Chile’s Transparency Council is developing a General Instruction on Algorithmic Transparency that mandating 1000+ public agencies to disclose algorithms employed in providing services to the population, allowing transparency.
26. Integrating AI in municipal functions, Taipei, Taiwan
Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to integrating artificial intelligence (AI) across its municipal functions, the city showcased 24 pivotal projects from various departments, 13 of which leveraged AI recognition and generative AI services.
Link: https://topics.amcham.com.tw/2024/06/taoyuan-city-deploys-smart-solutions-to-advance-life-for-all/
INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES
27. Seawater heating and cooling (Trondheim, Norway)
Embracing The Full Potential of Seawater Energy. Seawater can provide a stable and economical source for heat pumps during the coldest months and cool down buildings when the temperatures rise.
28. Trenchless repair technology Cured-In-Place Pipe technology (CIPP), City of Kelowna, Canada
Offering sustainable, cost-effective, and minimally disruptive solutions for underground pipeline rehabilitation
29. Dashboard for Water Security, eThekwini Municipality, South Africa
Water demand in eThekwini exceeds available supply. The dashboard is expected to provide reliable and up-to-date information to allow water users including residents, businesses, and relevant stakeholders to make informed decisions about their personal water use.
30. Achieving Grid Stability with Demand Flexibility, Connecticut, USA
Innovative initiative enhances grid reliability, reduce carbon emissions, and lower energy costs for business customers. Uses “smart,” often AI-based, dispatch algorithms, predictive load forecasting models using machine learning algorithms.
31. Algorithm to automatically calculates most optimal routes for rubbish truck, Twente, Netherlands
Using state-of-the-art insights from 'operations research', a mathematical algorithm has been developed to find the best route through a neighbourhood within a reasonable calculation time.
SMART CITIES
32. “Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds—Discovering the CitiVerse”, UNICC, ITU and Digital Dubai
CitiVerse initiative aims to drive capacity development, facilitate sharing of best practices and develop a sandbox environment for cities to simulate virtual world scenarios.
33. Tampere CitiVerse- Leading metaverse for cities, Tampere, Finland
Tampere’s x-CITE project aims to collaborate with various stakeholders in smart city development and leveraging collective expertise, as well as derive results from testing various intelligent solutions in practice.
Link: https://www.tampere.fi/en/current/2024/06/13/tampere-leading-development-metaverse-cities-europe
34. Innovation Testbed, City of Aurora, Municipality in Colorado,
Transitions from ‘City of Lights’ to ‘city of bytes, bandwidths and breakthroughs’ through innovation and technology. First city to have a carbon-neutral, net-zero energy Nicor Smart Neighborhood.
35. Open Urban Platform (#OUP) with #DigitalTwin, #Rotterdam, Netherlands
Digital infrastructure that ensures that they are digitally connected to each other in Rotterdam and can exchange data from a shared reality; the Digital Twin. An ecosystem in which data flows between all participants and new applications can be developed and implemented. Fully developed with flexible technical components (#MIM) that are connected to each other by means of fixed open interfaces (PPIs).
Link: https://ibestuur.nl/artikel/rotterdam-ontwikkelt-open-urban-platform-met-digital-twin/
36. Miami’s smart city revolution, Miami, USA
AI, startups, and future-ready communities. Newly formulated Department of Economic Innovation and Development. aims to further bolster Miami’s economic growth, promote innovation and attract new businesses, particularly in technology and entrepreneurship. It also hosts Smart City Expo Miami an annual event, and share the latest and greatest in smart city technologies.
37. Smart San Antonio of the future, San Antonio, USA
“Smarter Together Testbed” - seven prototype projects, including AI-powered chatbot for citizens; a data-driven mobile application supporting food-desert analyses; an augmented reality platform supporting youth engagement in the parks system; and LiDAR sensing to enhance traffic data collection.
Link: https://www.cio.com/article/3476112/4-cities-proving-the-transformative-value-of-data-and-it.html
38. Helsinki 3D+ city model, #Helsinki, Finland
Detailed 3D models covering over 500 square kilometers of the city with up to 10 centimeters of accuracy. Vital for energy efficiency planning, infrastructure management, and decision-making for new city development initiatives.
Link: https://landvault.io/blog/digital-twins-for-urban-planning
39. Intelligence Data Exchange Alliance, #Amsterdam, Netherlands
Providing more precise and trustworthy information for service providers (i.e. for routing application) and cities on road and tunnel closures to avoid unforeseen challenges for city traffic. Initiative involves, establishing a trusted environment for navigation system providers, National Data Warehouse for Traffic Information (NDW) data platform, DATEX2 standards, machine learning (ML) algorithmic procedures among others.
Link: https://inventory.ds4sscc.eu/collected-use-cases
TECHNOLOGY
40. Open access fibre infrastructure, Saldanha Bay Municipality, South Africa
Embedded in the overarching framework, open access infrastructure focus on solving the provision of fibre-to-the-X for all in the community, that creates an open, equitable and transparent platform for the private sector and municipality to provide value-added services on the back of the fibre network and platforms.
Link: https://sbm.gov.za/category/baobab-fibre-project/
41. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) - revolutionising real-time digital payments, India
UPI is popular mobile-based real-time payment system, which enables instant personal and merchant payments. UPI has become a pivotal force in India's digital economy as an architecture framework with a set of standard Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that facilitate easy integration.
42. #XR/ #VR to simulate alternative futures city experience, Mexico City,
Allowing residents and policymakers to virtually “inhabit” alternative futures in a horizon year at local and regional scales, using atlas complementing extended reality/virtual reality (XR/VR) platform, helping them understand impact of climate change impact among others.
Link: https://clarknow.clarku.edu/2024/11/14/virtual-reality-real-life-consequences/
43. London Gatwick Airport (LGW), London, UK
Video streams from the cameras are analyzed on-premise, giving the airport full visibility of all turnaround activities in real time. The system uses AI algorithms to turn the video streams into structured data, including timestamps for turnaround events and safety-related data. Airport staff and vendors can then use this data to increase on-time-performance, enhance safety, and decrease costs.
Link: https://www.sysgen.de/media/pdf/7f/4c/86/NVIDIA-AI-for-Smart-Spaces-Ebookyer5sxfYPqRZi.pdf
44. Digital maturity assessment tool, European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN)
LORDIMAS is an interactive tool helping local and regional governments to understand where they are in their digital transformation journey.
Link: https://errin.eu/news/release-lordimas-digital-maturity-assessment-tool-regions-and-cities
45. National Identification Initiative, India
India's national identification system and the world's largest national biometric ID card initiative, transforming India's Public Distribution System (PDS) into a much more efficient, transparent and reliable welfare system.
Link: https://www.indiancentury.org/research-papers/understanding-aadhaar
46. Data Space for Sustainable and Smart Cities and Communities (#DS4SCC)
Creation of a data space for smart communities as an enabler of the EU Green Deal goals and Sustainable Development Goals.
Link: https://www.fiware.org/project/ds4sscc.html
47. Cloud based solution for communication system (Teams Operator Connect) ( Varberg Municipality, Sweden)
Enabling municipality to decrease its CO2 emissions and lower energy consumption, eliminating the need for investing in and maintaining its own hardware, resulting in additional cost savings
48. CLUSSTER Project, to strengthen cloud industry, France
CLUSSTER aims to strengthen the French and European cloud industry by creating a single point of entry for the entire French academic and industrial community to a set of sovereign infrastructures and services. IaaS approach, sovereign, secure, unified and scalable system. Cloud dedicated to AI, high-performance computing and quantum computing.
Link: https://www.csgroup.eu/en/portfolio/clusster/
49. Innovative digitalization, Jelgava Municipality, Latvia
Examples include, digital identity, very own AI language technology at national level, AI based virtual assistants, coordination of civil defence processes by managing the flow of information during times of different crises and natural disasters, Smart video surveillance systems using AI among others.
50. Space data and A.I. on disaster/humanitarian response, Europe
European Space Agency (ESA) is using AI capabilities to enhance Europe’s ability to respond more effectively and quickly to civil security and disaster situations. Ciseres project will enhance natural disaster detection and response by using on-board satellite image processing and predictive AI.
51. Using LiDAR for Illumination Modeling of Street Lights (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
This enables cities to explore street lighting scenarios, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing light pollution.
Link: https://amsterdamintelligence.com/posts/illumination-modelling-of-streetlights-in-urban-point-clouds
52. The GeoSence project, Europe
First of its kind to investigate the implementation of geofencing and its impact from a holistic perspective, with aim to improve traffic safety, increase transport efficiency and reduce environmental impact in cities.
Link: https://closer.lindholmen.se/en/geosence
53. Chatbots- virtual sidekick, City of Kelowna
City of Kelowna has launched more than a dozen chatbots to provide efficient and convenient service, 24/7, utilizing Generative AI, NLP and #LLM e.g. including building permit chatbots to navigate permit complexities,
54. Tracking sapling growth - Tree App, Panji, Goa, #India
This innovative tool will track the growth of saplings plant across city. Documenting all the biological, geospatial, growth status and challenges over the period. Citizens assess to be limited to basic information.
55. Innovation to curb wind farm light pollution, Netherlands
Lights at Windpark Fryslân may be switched off at night with the implementation of an proximity detection system, Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS), the first of its kind in the Netherlands for a wind farm. Such lighting can otherwise cause annoyance to nearby communities and wildlife due to light pollution.
Link: https://www.ventolines.nl/en/category/news/
#MOBILITY
56. Urban mobility living lab, Spain
Deployed along 8km of the city's bus line. Citizens were an active part of the validation and testing process of the project. The vehicle was used for a special free service where the systems were tested in real operating conditions. 968 passengers in 125 trips with a high valuation of the experience.
57. Multimodal Information Point (Miskolc, Hungary)
To provide detailed transport information to help commuters make informed decisions and sustainable choices
Link: https://www.metaccaze-project.eu/miskolc-finalises-location-for-future-multimodal-information-point/
58. Innovative e-Parking System (Municipality of Trikala, Greece)
e-Parking System of the Municipality of Trikala is the 1st controlled parking system in Greece with direct return of revenues to financially vulnerable households. Average parking time reduced from 9.5 hours to mere 3 hours and probability of finding a parking space increased by 50%. Involves. Oversees revenue, fines, permit applications, and urban planning through the Novoville cloud-based management dashboard.
Link: https://novoville.com/trikala-parking-1-5-year-operation-blog/
59. eFTI4EU - Making the Future of Freight Transport Digital, Estonian
A project of the Estonian Ministry of Climate that uses blockchain technology to improve cross-border freight transport across Europe by making freight logistics more secure, transparent, and streamlined.
60. Adaptive traffic management systems supported by artificial intelligence, City of Prague, Czech Republic
Prague completes first phase of AI-enabled traffic control system Yutraffic FUSION, a significant step. Designed to optimize the setting of traffic lights at intersections and ensure the smoothest possible passage of vehicles.
Link: https://www.yunextraffic.com/newsroom/prague-ai-enabled-traffic-control-system/
HEALTH
61. Collaborative telemedicine model (Uttargaya Rural Municipality, Nepal)
Provision of essential medical equipment, the implementation of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems, and the facilitation of video conferencing services. Financial sustainability of this telemedicine model is ensured through a unique collaboration with the rural municipality, covering the consultation fees for the doctors.
Link: https://tms.org.np/telemedicine-services-at-uttargaya-rural-municipality/
62. Hospital healthcare revolution with digital transformation (Zhongshan, China)
Robots taking myriad of tasks ranging from delivering medications and equipment to conducting disinfection procedures, advanced, large-scale robotic models assisting doctors in analyzing patient data and providing diagnostic insights, AI-powered digital assistants swiftly addressing patient inquiries, IoT devices infusion alert system ect.
Link: https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20240828/e717e5e421954c1a9723a4b619450e09.html
EDUCATION
63. After-School Childcare Services through Reimagined Senior Centres (Andong, South Korea)
Shifting the perspective of childcare from being solely the responsibility of parents to a collective social duty.
Link: https://bidce.org/en/experience/655
64. AV1 Robots- Helping getting back to education
Revolutionises school absence for municipalities. AV1 robots have potential to become an integral part of municipalities education offerings for years to come, substituting need of homeschooling in many cases.
Link: https://www.noisolation.com/articles/how-municipalities-measure-the-success-of-av1-robots
STARTUP- ECOSYSTEM AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
65. Start-up Village Landscape (Cluj-Napoca, Romania)
An experimental initiative taking place in a group of villages aiming to enhance job opportunities and quality of life in rural areas by leveraging the competitive advantages of urban areas through innovation and entrepreneurship
Link: https://s3.me/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/JRC135826_01.pdf
66. Co-Working Kitchen and Food Lab, Hague, Netherlands
Community approach entails organising workshops and courses for members in collaboration with experts like innovation chefs, regenerative farmers and successful food entrepreneurs.
SUSTAINABILITY
67. Digital Platform for tree-planting activities (Makkah, Saudi Arabia)
Community members can select a preferred tree, identify a location in the city, and make online payments to facilitate planting their chosen trees.
68. LAPA as a climate adaptation instrument, Ilam Municipality, Nepal
By developing a Local Adaptation Plans of Action (LAPA) that is locally funded, context-specific, and embedded within the municipality's governance structure, Ilam is setting a precedent for sustainable and effective climate adaptation.
69. Biodiversity metric and biodiversity offsetting Uppsala, Sweden.
A program to offset negative impacts on biodiversity resulting from urban growth, with the biodiversity metric developed by Natural England playing a key role in shaping the approach. Principles for biodiversity offsetting approved in June 2024, with the requirement to offset expected to be in place in 2025.
70. Private 5G and Zero-Carbon Networks, #SaudiArabia
In a groundbreaking initiative, Saudi Arabia has introduced the world’s first zero-carbon 5G network, at the Six Senses Southern Dunes resort.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
71. UPSCALE project – enabling circular construction, Netherlands
Aims to exploit the potential of digitalization of tracking, tracing, and linking CDW (construction and demolition waste) using state-of-the-art web-based technologies in conjunction with Business Information Models, Material Passports, and Digital Twins.
72. Demolition for innovation (Uppsala, Sweden)
City is showing that lessons from practical experience are invaluable. The city administration is using demolition and renovation projects as real-world laboratories to explore circular construction methods. From steel to concrete, the building blocks that make up the city will be given second life.
Link: https://netzerocities.eu/2024/11/29/demolition-for-innovation-uppsala-is-building-back-greener/
73. Retuna Recycling Mall, municipality of Eskilstuna, Sweden
First-of-its-kind mall dedicated to secondhand shopping. Everything sold is recycled or reused or has been organically or sustainably produced.
74. REUSEABLE to-go cups (Aarhus Municipality city Centre, Denmark)
Enjoy a coffee in a reusable cup that is good for the city and for the environment. TOMRA’s reuse system allows shift from single-use packaging to reusable packaging, by providing city-wide infrastructure. Likely to expand to reusable takeaway food containers.
Link: https://www.reuseable.dk/about-us
75. Transition to Extended Producer Responsibility, New Brunswick, Canada
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging and paper products, further expected to expand to schools, multi-family dwellings and public spaces set to enhance recycling services by 2027. Integrating innovative technologies to enhance system efficiency and improve recovery rates.
NATURE BASED SOLUTION (NBS)
76. Al Zohour Green Triangle -Nature-based solutions and Sustainable Drainage Urban Systems (Amman, Jordan)
It seeks to mimic the way nature handles water; collecting it, purifying it, and then gently reintroducing it into the stormwater system, providing a blueprint for effective resilience in the face of floods.
Link: https://araburban.org/en/infohub/projects/?id=3964
#CLIMATE ADAPTATION
77. Bold steps towards its climate goals (Laakdal municipality, Belgium)
Creating more natural spaces in the area including two former football fields reimagined as green havens, edible greenery, food forest, situated along the highway, offers sustenance for both humans and wildlife, including birds and critters.
Link: https://plantsoon.com/story/30
78. Creation of cool centres/shelters (Boa Vista, Cape Verde)
It is thought out strategically, promoting small-scale green spaces in urban areas, contributing to biodiversity and climate resilience, especially in Boa Vista which suffers from the urban heat island effect.
Link: https://portaldoclima.gov.cv/en/2024/04/02/nature-based-solutions-for-climate-resilience/
79. Local flood warning system, Jammerbugt Municipality, Denmark
Researchers from DTU have helped Jammerbugt Municipality develop first of its kind early warning tool to provide 48 hours' notice of local flooding along rivers, streams, and coastal areas in the municipality, giving time to react if necessary.
Link: https://www.preventionweb.net/news/ai-predicts-flooding
#ENERGY
80. Innovative underground thermal storage (Finland)
Approach has significant potential for the energy transition. This system can store up to 90 GWh of energy from renewable sources.
Link: https://www.imnovation-hub.com/energy/energy-storage/
81. AI for renewable energy planning, Germany
As the first municipal company in Germany, Leipziger Stadtwerke relies on an innovative AI-supported software solution for the planning of renewable energy installations for commercial and large customers. Using AI and behavioural models, aim is to reduce the time-consuming processes previously carried out using self-developed Excel tools.
Link: https://www.smartinfrastructurehub.com/blog/leipziger-stadtwerke-ai-renewable-energy
82. Central Sava Small Hydrogen Valley (H2SAVA) project, Zasavje region, Slovenia
Accelerating the energy transformation of the region integration of clean hydrogen technologies in various sectors. Establishing a local energy market/ community (LEC), allowing for the dynamic exchange and trading of locally produced surplus electricity between members of the community.
83. AI4Cities program- AI solar surplus prediction solution, Copenhagen, Denmark
Leverages AI to predict and analyze solar surplus potential across the city and Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) to automate result-based reward and incentive schemes for urban solar prosumers.
Link: https://ai4cities.eu/pilots/energy-holoni
84. Multi-fuel engines (2024-25), Nordic
e.g. Under Norwegian research project AMAZE152, innovative NH3 combustion concepts being developed to be applied in an engine that can seamlessly switch between NH3, diesel and biofuels. Likewise NH3 cracking to use NH3 as a H2 carrier in deep sea shipping.
Link: https://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1898411/FULLTEXT01.pdf
85. AI to simulate energy management scenarios; Paris-Saclay municipalities, France
At the agglomeration level AI is used to simulate different energy management scenarios through a territorial digital twin, allowing administration to effectively evaluate environmental and financial impact while providing long-term planning capabilities.
86. Full-city Detox (Heidelberg, Germany)
Heidelberg’s district heating network, aims to fully decouple from fossil fuels by 2030. To achieve this, the city is counting on geothermal, solar thermal, waste heat, biomass and biogas, and is also using water and air-based sources.
Link: https://eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu/en/district-heating-the-essential-base-for-a-successful-detox
87. Thermal energy storage technology (Hiedanranta, Tampere, Finland)
Polar Night Energy’s solution. The pilot allowed for testing, validation, and optimization of our heat storage solution. Pilot is connected to the local district heating network.
Link: https://polarnightenergy.com/reference/case-hiedanranta/
88. #Solar map to make informed decisions for solar energy installations, València, Spain
It details the solar potential of every building in the municipality. Uses cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence.
Link: https://www.toumai.es/27/unlock-the-solar-power-potential-of-valencia-you-can-save-big/1658/
89. Decarbonized local energy, Barcelona, Spain
Pioneering cold energy recovery solution in the port of Barcelona to produce local, carbon-free energy. The solution harnesses the energy released during the regasification process of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is usually discharged into the sea.
90. Geothermal community- Geoexchange Community Energy System, Markham, Canada
First net-zero community in Canada to connect all of its houses to a geothermal energy system.
SAFETY, SECURITY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
91. Disaster preparedness through Digital Twin, Istanbul, Türkiye
Istanbul municipality’s Digital Twin project aims to initiate advanced AI use and digital data analysis, especially focusing on natural disaster management for Türkiye’s biggest city.
Link: https://www.turkiyetoday.com/business/us-provides-2m-grant-to-istanbul-municipality-90748/
92. AI for crisis response, California, USA
Successfully used AI to monitor over 1000 cameras to detect wildfires and wIn the first 4 months itself AI detected 77 wildfires
Link: https://hbr.org/2024/12/how-u-s-cities-are-using-ai-to-solve-common-problems
93. Sticker to identify dodgy taxis – Frugal innovation for crime prevention (Eastern Cape, South Africa)
Taxis affixed with stickers on the front and back of the vehicle to help identify them in the event of a crime, number is instantly more recognisable than a licence plate.
Link: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/identify-dodgy-taxis-in-south-africa/
FARMING
94. Harnessing road run-off for sustainable farming (Kako Waia Ward, Kenya)
Integrating the “roads for water” concept into all road-grading projects to ensure sustainable road maintenance and curb soil erosion.
Link: https://makueni.go.ke/category/departments/urban-planning/
95. Eco-Friendly Farmer Card (Antalya municipality)
Incentivized mechanism to properly dispose of hazardous agro-packaging waste in vending machines. Mobile app allowing farmers to track their points, rewards, and vending machine locations.
https://use.metropolis.org/case-studies/eco-friendly-farmer-card
URBAN FARMING AND FOOD SECURITY
96. Mushroom farm that taps AI, Singapore
These mushroom farms are aiming to achieve cheaper, better-quality produce at double the yield. The automation system for mushroom production aims to leverage AI to improve farming efficiency.
97. Vertical Oceans – a fully automated recirculating aquaculture technology,
A Giant biocomputer with an AI native software application wrapped around a biological production system.
Link: https://octopart.com/pulse/p/ai-aquaculture-vertical-oceans-approach
98. AI powered sustainable fish farming, Abu Dhabi
Programme launched using artificial intelligence (AI) and seacages, in Delma Island in the Dhafra region. AI utilization aims to reduce the need for human intervention and positively impact fish welfare.
99. AI for Precision Farming and Crop Yield Prediction,
AI-powered precision farming having potential to increase crop yields by up to 30% while reducing water usage by 20-50%. Key features include, Farm Management Software, Predictive Analytics, Automated Irrigation Systems and Precision Fertilizer Application.
100. AgriLLM ,COP29,
Program aims to harness AI’s potential to drive meaningful change in agriculture, enabling a more secure and sustainable food system worldwide, with commitment to responsible AI.
Link: https://ai71.ai/news/8/agrillm-unveiled-cop29-transforming-global-food-security-with-ai
Compiled by: Anoop Jha,
Founder, Urban Tenets, Netherlands
Website: https://urbantenets.nl/
Email: contact@urbantenets.nl
About Urban Tenets: Urban Tenets provides urban management and design services in the Netherlands and globally.
Image: Google Labs
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