Cities are buzzing with data. Traffic ebbs and flows, card readers ping and security cameras monitor footpaths. Every one of us is shedding reams of GPS signals, tweets and likes too.

Most of this data is simply shelved on distant servers and forgotten. But properly aggregated and anonymised, this kind of data can help city authorities develop policies that create greener, safer and more enjoyable places to live.

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That’s exactly what Smart Dublin is designed to do. This is a joint project between Dublin’s four local authorities in partnership with technology providers, researchers and local citizens. Its goal is to use the latest technologies to interrogate open data and unveil effective solutions for Dublin’s most pressing issues. The project aims to find ways to improve governance, integrate transport systems, promote sustainability and support citizens’ quality of life.

You can learn about the work it’s doing in this series of case studies. Alternatively, you can delve into the data yourself. The more people participate, the better the outcomes will be.

Smart Docklands

The presence of global tech giants in Dublin’s Docklands, along with a range of transport options, smart sensors and a steady stream of new-builds made the area perfect for a digital takeover.

In 2018, this part of the city was classified as a ‘Smart District’. This move provided SMEs and entrepreneurs with a unique opportunity to develop new and innovative solutions for the city.

The Smart Docklands team encourages collaboration and acts as a mediator between the city, innovators and local universities. It aims to boost quality of life for people living in the area. In the process, it also wants to become the world’s most connected business and living district too.

To date, the project has been so successful that it has extended to four more Dublin districts. Smart DCU, Smart Sandyford, Smart D8 and Smart Balbriggan are currently in operation. They work on diverse projects which include everything from drones that tackle illegal dumping through to gully monitoring that predicts flooding.

Whether you live, work or invest in the city, you can get involved with the Smart Dublin project.

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