GeoDatKlim - Preparation of an innovation lab - IoT and geo-AI-supported data management for the climate-neutral city

Starting point / motivation

In view of the up to 80 billion sensors and data-enabled devices that will be installed in our cities in the coming years, it is time to gradually track down the ecological net footprint of the Internet of Things (IoT). There is no consolidated state of research on this yet. Therefore, on the one hand, the general interest is about bundling knowledge that is distributed among numerous (urban) actors.

On the other hand, it is becoming apparent that the ecological benefits of the technologies in question or the data generated with them differs greatly from application to application. Their potential must therefore be evaluated more precisely, in particular to enable public consumers to make targeted investments in digitization measures and thus to use public funds carefully and with foresight. Ethical guidelines from the Digital Agenda 2025 and digital humanism also play a key role in terms of usage in Vienna.

Content and objectives

The long-term vision is a European city that uses the Internet of Things with the help of artificial intelligence in a self-determined and targeted manner to achieve actual social and ecological added value in everyday urban life. Digitization measures can make a valuable contribution to the goal of a climate-neutral Vienna by 2040 set out in the Vienna government program 2020. This project is therefore exploring the framework conditions for an innovation lab on the practical benefits of urban data for a climate-neutral city.

It is therefore primarily about a research infrastructure for a large number of actors, such as research institutions, SMEs or NGOs, who, according to the credo of Open Innovation, want to find the solutions of tomorrow with urban experts and infrastructure operators.

In the future real laboratory, they are to examine the actual added value of AI-supported analysis of various data sets for a climate-neutral city in the coming years. Operationally, the exploration is initially aimed at the framework conditions of such a research environment and its operation. These innovation instruments are aimed at open collaborations.

Methodical approach

The interest in knowledge primarily focuses on possible efficiency gains and increases in performance, which reduce the ecological footprint of a city (cf. energy, material consumption, expenses, etc.) by means of AI-supported analysis of urban data. Several use cases provide initial clues.

The methodology provides for potential analyses (data situation, AI techniques, etc.), the identification of efforts and needs as well as technical requirements and standards (data quality, compatibility, interoperability, etc.). If necessary, feasibility analyses and preliminary evaluations in the context of specific use cases (CO2 footprint, economic assessments, etc.) can also serve as tools.

GeoDatKlim initially focuses on the content of public space and infrastructures of general interest as well as on relevant operational processes. However, the concept is open to all applications and stakeholders of future relevance. For example, the question arises to what extent virtual inspections or measurements are possible using digital object recognition; or whether, with the help of data analysis, the maintenance of our roads and paths can become less time-consuming and more effective.

Expected results

A strong research design (research environment and infrastructure, etc.) as well as a convincing operating concept are required to successfully apply for a digital innovation lab in Vienna. Its detailed conception is, however, the subject of a separate call for tenders in 2022. This exploration clarifies the relevant strategic, conceptual and technical preliminary questions.

Numerous municipal departments - the municipal administration (MD-OS-PIKT), the municipal department 41, city surveying, the municipal department 22, environmental protection, and the municipal department 28, road construction - as well as the research company Aspern Smart City Research (ASCR) support this project in terms of content.

Project management

Nikolaus Summer, UIV Urban Innovation Vienna GmbH

Project or cooperation partners

• Michael Leitner-Hickisch, UIV Urban Innovation Vienna GmbH
• Julia Sauskojus, UIV Urban Innovation Vienna GmbH
• Christian Habernig, Stadt Wien, MA01 – PACE Team, Digital Innovation & Fast Lane
• Bernd Pinter, Stadt Wien, MA01 – PACE Team, Digital Innovation & Fast Lane
• Sandra Stuhlhofer, Stadt Wien, MA01 – PACE Team, Digital Innovation & Fast Lane
• Martin Traunmüller, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
• Hans-Martin Neumann, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
• Ghazal Etminan, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
• Hannes Koller, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH

UIV Urban Innovation Vienna GmbH
Operngasse 17-21, 6. Stock
A-1040 Vienna
Tel.: +43 (1) 4000 84260
E-mail: office@urbaninnovation.at
Web: www.urbaninnovation.at