Third tandem meeting between Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni and Geestland

How can LoRaWAN best be used for sustainable urban development? What are the use cases for drones, for example in the area of forest monitoring? What role can city partnerships play in the further development of our smart cities? These questions were discussed at the third #connectedinEurope tandem meeting between Geestland and Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni.

In the workshop, each city presented its latest developments in the field of smart cities. In the municipality of Geestland, citizen participation in the Smart City development process is of siginificant importance. As this is a challenge in a large municipality in terms of area, an electric bus has been purchased to serve as a mobile town hall, providing information on current Smart City projects.

In Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni, a smart waste system is being tested, including an incentive system for households to use less waste. The prevention of forest fires is also an important issue in the municipality. Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras are being used to detect and report temperature changes at an early stage, allowing a rapid response to threats.

Additionally, a comprehensive technical discussion was held on the topic of LoRaWAN. In particular, the complex tendering process and the placement of the gateways were discussed in detail. Both cities share the ambition to utilise technology to conserve resources and contribute to sustainable development. While Geestland is developing intelligent energy and water monitoring systems, the sensor technology in Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni will be employed to calculate optimal waste disposal routes, among other applications.

The two cities have agreed to further develop the partnership and bring it to life. In particular, further exchange is planned on the potential applications of drones and the potential of LoRAWAN for sustainable urban development through the efficient use of resources.