Understanding and Planning Cities Sustainably
The Smart City plays a role in all challenges relevant to municipalities but is not the solution to everything, explained Dr.-Ing. Timo Munzinger, representative of the German Association of Cities, in the CONFERENCE session "Smart Cities: Present and Future." He cited examples such as the severe damage to infrastructure, the spatial requirements of the new mobility mix needed for the transportation transition, or the resilience of cities and municipalities after shock events such as extreme weather. Munzinger presented Smart City projects such as the participation platform in Münster, car-to-city communication in Kaiserslautern, smart tree irrigation in Bochum, and an accessible guidance system in Lemgo and Kalletal. Smart City projects are municipal services that should always aim to improve local quality of life. Munzinger sees risks in over-technologization and the unaccounted-for follow-up costs of digitalization projects. Important for implementation is a cross-departmental strategy, a high degree of citizen participation, and integrated urban development. Not to forget: project evaluation must not be neglected. Dr. Nora Reinecke, overall project manager of the project Connected Urban Twins, which was awarded by DVW last year, presented developments in the pilot cities of Leipzig, Munich, and Hamburg. Magdalena Konieczek-Woger from the Berlin Smart City model project presented pilot projects that are part of Berlin's Smart City strategy "Gemeinsam Digital: Berlin"; including Kiezbox 2.0: Data in everyday life and crises, the Smart Space Hardenbergplatz, which aims to transform mobility, and the pilot project "Smart Water," which aims to design water and urban greenery in a climate-friendly way. The program was moderated by DVW Vice President Dr.-Ing. Frank Friesecke.
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