Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany, and its port is the second largest in Europe. It is also a transportation, tourism, financial and media center.
Looking ahead, it has great potential as it is being developed into a “Smart City.” That happens with pilot projects via Cisco's Smart+Connected Communities program and Internet of Everything (IoE). As a smart city, there will be increased efficiency, mobility, safety and sustainability.
Hamburg and Cisco already signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the initiative. Late last year, the MoU was signed in Hamburg by representatives of the public sector, research and education institutions, and local and international companies. They identified the framework of a Smart City, and it will lead to pilot projects around smart traffic, smart street lighting, infrastructure sensors and remote citizen services, according to Cisco.
Among the partners of the early projects are: AGT International, avodaq, InnoTec Data, Philips, Streetline, T-Systems and Worldsensing. Cisco will also help Hamburg develop a digital agenda.
"By signing the Memorandum of Understanding, we are preparing our city for the future," Frank Horch, Senator for Economic Affairs, Transport and Innovation of the City of Hamburg, said in the statement from Cisco.
"Future possibilities through connecting people, processes, data, and things will not only revolutionize cities and communities, but will also bring additional convenience for citizens. Our job is to guide these developments in the right direction by establishing the appropriate framework and ensuring that we take advantage of opportunities and master challenges,” he added.
In addition, Wim Elfrink, executive vice president Industry Solutions and chief globalization officer at Cisco, predicted in the statement, "Hamburg is quickly emerging as one of the world's Smart City showcases through its visionary development of urban and inter-related port services empowered by the Internet that can improve how people live, work, play and learn. Already a pioneer in its use of technology, Hamburg is fast becoming the first true Seatropolis because of collaborative leadership that understands the economic and quality-of-life value that can be realized from the Internet of Everything."
In fact, cities are now competing, “looking for ways to create jobs, drive profitable growth and productivity, become more efficient and - most importantly - increase the quality of life for residents,” Michael Ganser, senior vice president Central and Eastern Europe at Cisco, said in the statement. “At Cisco, we are proud to partner with the City of Hamburg and Hamburg Port Authority to foster innovation and help embrace the opportunities offered by the Internet of Everything."
Some of the Smart City projects now under consideration are: smart street lighting, smart traffic systems, environment and infrastructure sensing, administrative services to be offered via high-definition, remote video kiosks, and a smart port.
“Over the next years, we will be developing the Port of Hamburg into a smartPORT in order to further increase the efficiency of the current infrastructure and quality of services," Jens Meier, chairman of the Management Board of Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), said in the statement. That will include an intelligent parking space control system for trucks and loaders near the port – to prevent traffic congestion. It will also include monitoring of port infrastructure for safety and efficiency.
In addition, smart building will be tested in HafenCity, a development project. And Cisco Networking Academy will offer more classes at vocational and general schools and universities. Building on current classes, new courses will be offered on smart grid, cybersecurity, and the Internet of Everything.
All of these changes will lead to more economic growth for Hamburg. A similar initiative is taking place in Amsterdam, as well as some cities in the United States.
For instance, Kansas City, Mo., is partnering with Cisco to develop a mobile platform to launch pilot projects that will help turn it, too, into a Smart City. It is part of Cisco’s Smart+Connected Cities initiative. Examples are integrating sensor data to improve Kansas City’s streetcar service, and partnerships with entrepreneurs to test solutions to water main breaks, GreenBiz reported.
Edited by
Maurice Nagle
