Smart City – Page 2 – IOT NETWORK NEWS

Citizens lean towards car-free cities

November 28, 2022November 25, 2022 Editorial staff

A survey reveals more than two-thirds of people living in London, Paris and New York would like to see fewer cars in their cities. In addition, more than half of those surveyed in London (51 per cent) support the city centre being completely car-free, with exemptions for car-sharing clubs, taxis and cars used by disabled people. These were among the findings of a survey conducted by Survation on behalf of the Car Free Megacities campaign. Pedestrianised visions The Car Free Megacities campaign is calling on the mayors of each of…

Seoul crowned smart city of the year at Barcelona Expo

November 23, 2022 Editorial staff

The capital of South Korea, Seoul, has been named as Smart City of 2022 at the World Smart City Awards at Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) taking place in Barcelona. The Ukrainian capital of Kyiv received a special City Award in recognition of its use of digital services to save lives in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in February. Earlier this week, Kyiv mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko, took part in the Smart City Expo World Congress to explain how the commitment to digitalisation has allowed…

NYC jail complex set to transform into renewable energy hub

November 14, 2022 Editorial staff

A comprehensive plan to transform New York City’s Rikers Island into a citywide green energy hub has been announced. As City officials plan for the jail complex’s closure by 2027, Regional Plan Association (RPA) and Rhode Island School of Design’s (RISD) proposal calls on the City to replace Rikers’ ‘noxious’ energy and waste infrastructure with a range of green and equity-focused measures. Renewable infrastructure hub The report, A Plan for Renewable Rikers, follows last year’s City council vote to finally reimagine Rikers and outlines a vision to replace the island’s…

Glasgow installs cycle-activated signage to increase safety

October 21, 2022October 19, 2022 Editorial staff

Glasgow City Council has installed cycle-activated electronic signage on the road network, designed to reduce incidents of conflict, particularly where travel routes cross side junctions or building entrances. The pilot project showed a decrease in the percentage of conflicts between drivers and cyclists at the junction of Berkeley Street and Claremont Street. Prompted by cycle movement, they have been installed at multiple locations across the city following a successful pilot. Safety initiative The solar-powered LED warning signs illuminate a cycle symbol to alert drivers to the presence of cyclists. The…

New relay extends LoRaWAN coverage for metering, utilities, smart cities and industrial IoT applications

October 19, 2022 Editorial staff

The LoRa Alliance, the global association of companies backing the open LoRaWAN standard for internet of things (IoT) low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs), reports it has expanded the LoRaWAN link-layer standard with the addition of a relay specification. Relay allows for battery-operated, easy-to-deploy network coverage extensions at a fraction of the cost of adding additional gateways. This allows LoRaWAN to achieve excellent coverage in use cases requiring deep indoor or underground coverage, or relay data on satellite connected LoRaWAN devices within proximity. “LoRa Alliance members identified that end users in specific…

Etihad Rail progresses major logistics hub in Abu Dhabi

September 30, 2022 Editorial staff

Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network, has announced the completion of the connection between the railway freight terminal at the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD) and the UAE National Rail Network. Spanning just over 2.7 million square feet, it will comprise over 22 buildings and major structures to support operations, processing up to nine trains each day. It is the largest inland freight railway terminal in the country and is part of the emirate’s goal to provide an integrated transport system in line…

Affordable solar energy trees unveiled

September 14, 2022September 5, 2022 Editorial staff

UK company SolarBotanic has developed what claims to be the world’s first affordable, mass-produced solar energy trees. A single tree can reportedly provide all the electricity needs of an average household through clean, secure and renewable solar power. The first SolarBotanic Trees will become available in early 2023. Sustainable energy source The trees, which are designed to be aesthetically pleasing as well as sustainable, are ideally suited to large-scale commercial environments such as car parks at airports, shopping malls, exhibition centres, office sites and sports stadia. The SolarBotanic Tree is…

Hydrogen-powered refuse trucks fleet deployed in Europe

September 5, 2022 Editorial staff

It is estimated that each hydrogen refuse truck makes a saving of 30,000kg of CO2 each year, reportedly the equivalent of 18 return flights between London and New York. Hydrogen storage systems company Luxfer Gas Cylinders is helping to power a 10-strong fleet of zero-emission refuse trucks being deployed in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, where all waste collection vehicles must be zero-emission by 2030. It is estimated that each hydrogen refuse truck makes a saving of 30,000kg of CO2 each year, reportedly the equivalent of 18 return flights between…

Plans unveiled for zero-carbon smart city in Riyadh

July 26, 2022 Editorial staff

ICT and internet of things technologies will be integrated into Alnama Smart City’s infrastructure to create an intelligent and collaborative ecosystem. A zero-carbon smart city for 44,000 residents is being planned for Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Alnama Smart City will aim to promote sustainable living in a 10 square kilometre community with various hubs including residential, educational, commercial, tourism and medical ones. Circular economy Derived from the Arabic word “thrive”, the city will provide 11,000 residential units and create 10,000 jobs in various sectors including green-tech industries to create a…

Seoul uses geothermal tech to help decarbonise buildings

June 29, 2022June 27, 2022 Editorial staff

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) has announced it is converting its public buildings, including city hall, to an eco-friendly geothermal energy system as part of its bid to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2050. For example, the SMG will complete replacing old heating and cooling systems of the Mokdong Stadium with a geothermal system this year. Energy consumption Once the geothermal system is introduced, energy consumption is expected to decrease by almost one third (30 per cent). SMG also reports, noise and vibration levels will drop as the new system does not…

Pop-up mini solar electric vehicle charging hub unveiled

June 22, 2022 Editorial staff

Papilio3 is a car park built around a recycled shipping container that integrates solar photovoltaic electricity generation, battery energy storage systems and electric vehicle charge points. What claims to be the world’s first pop-up mini solar car park and electric vehicle charging hub, deployable in just 24 hours, has been unveiled at the Surrey Research Park, Guildford. Developed by 3ti, which designs, installs, funds and operates Solar Car Parks (SCPs), Papilio3 aims to meet the need for an expansion of the UK’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure ahead of the government’s…

Urban air mobility JV to facilitate smart cities in Thailand

June 3, 2022 Editorial staff

Agreement between EHang and Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group sets the foundations for a range of potential use cases including city air taxis and last-mile delivery. Autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) company EHang has formed a strategic partnership with Thailand conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) to establish a joint venture in Thailand for sales and urban air mobility (UAM) operations. The partnership opens up cross-sector cooperation opportunities for both sides with potential use cases for EHang AAVs in areas such as smart city management, city air taxis, aerial sightseeing and…

WEF uses metaverse for private-public collaboration

May 25, 2022May 24, 2022 Editorial staff

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has announced it is building a “Global Collaboration Village” – harnessing the potential of the metaverse – as the virtual future of public-private cooperation. In collaboration with Accenture and Microsoft, the aim is to provide immersive spaces where stakeholders can “convene, create and take action” on the world’s most pressing challenges. Critical global issues “Since our founding in 1971, the forum has served as a platform where business, government, civil society and other stakeholders can come together to address critical global issues,” said Klaus Schwab,…

World-first hub for flying taxis opens in Coventry

May 13, 2022May 5, 2022 Editorial staff

The world’s first demonstration of a fully-operational hub for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles – such as air taxis and autonomous cargo drones – has been opened in the UK city of Coventry. Air-One will operate in Coventry for at least one month and aims to provide a blueprint for more than 200 sites planned worldwide over the next five years. It has been opened by Urban-Air Port, a UK-based developer of ground infrastructure for air taxis and autonomous delivery drones, which is backed by the UK Government…

Seoul pilots immersive metaverse platform

May 5, 2022 Editorial staff

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) is working with Seoul Institute of Technology (SIT) to launch a pilot version of its immersive metaverse service via SIT’s website. SIT is conducting prototype analysis to build Metaverse Seoul and said it will explore “pre-emptive responses” to the metaverse’s potential issues and future policy directions. It is enlisting the help of Seoul-based technology company 3D Factory. Virtual venue Seoul will open virtual Seoul City Square and indoor event venues during the pilot programme. The project will further expand to key events, forums, and educational…