ESPRESSO Content Portal
Security and safety
DIN SPEC PAS 91331 is providing a classification of risks in international large-scale infrastructure projects. The standard was written in German, together with the city of Hamburg, insurance companies, German Society for Quality, amongst others. The ESPRESSO consortium is also in touch with the Horizon2020-project Smart Mature Resilience, which will develop technical standards on the safety of critical infrastructures (hubs, power plants, water purification plants, etc.). Not necessarily limited to the topic of smart cities, this standard is going to be of interest to ESPRESSO as well.
Material:
Smart Mature Resilience (external Link)
Buildings and built infrastructures
For the digitalization of economy and society, the digital transformation of cities and communities plays a major role. Sustainable traffic flow, energy efficient lighting and charging stations are only some examples of future lead markets. In the next years, many cities have to modernize their street lighting, mainly with LEDs. This is the chance to create a unique digital infrastructure for the Smart City: from the simple light source to the integrated multi-functional street lighting infrastructure with public WIFI, sensors measuring CO2 as well as harmful pollutant emissions and electric vehicle charging points. Cities can gather data on regulated emissions, offer new services and generate revenue instead of coping with high energy costs and expiring permits for outdated street lighting. Citizens profit from the benefits of these new services based on anonymous data such as improvement of traffic flow, health or environmental information. However, the integrated multi-functional street lighting infrastructure needs standards as a precondition for market development. Definitions of components, interfaces or quality requirements are lacking. Communities interested in investing do not have the necessary framework for the procurement process yet. Together with the Urban Software Institute, [ui!], DIN has formed an industrial consortium which is currently creating the first technical standard bringing together various technologies and industry stakeholders. DIN SPEC PAS 91347 will be available by the end of 2016.
Mobility
The topic of mobility is not solely limited to the transportation of people. While the number of people relying on affordable means of transportation is increasing, environmental considerations are also of paramount importance when evaluating the global mobility sector. One of the goals is therefore the creation of technical standards supporting innovative technologies always with the premise of increasing environmental protection. In many cases, increasing a system’s intelligence inadvertently decreases the (negative) impact it has on the environment. Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) illustrate this impressively. By making smarter use of a transportation network, roads, rails, etc. will be used more efficiently. Within the topic of mobility, electromobility is continuously carving out a larger piece of the mobility sector due to its profound technological changes over the last couple of years. Again, we are at the intersection where a number of technologies meet. The silo structure is no longer valid and it is becoming increasingly important for experts in the individual professions to understand each other. The German institute for standardization (DIN) has published a terminology standard that will allow various stakeholders to communicate with each other. The standard, DIN SPEC PAS 91340 was developed with German automakers and city planners. It is currently only available in German.
Production
A joint working group investigates the need for standards in the realm of production processes; in particular projects revolving around Industry 4.0, i.e. standards in automation, data transfer and communication systems for suppliers and producers with the common goal of computerizing traditional industries in order to increase productivity and value of their products. Here, the term Smart Factory has been coined to elucidate the benefits business partners and customers can expect from the fourth industrial revolution. Again, one of the major obstacles is the creation of seamless interconnectivity that will not be facilitated without the proper installation of standards. DIN SPEC PAS 91345 is providing a reference architecture model that will help understand the new, interconnected structure of the industrial work space.
Urban Logistics
A number of international logistic providers are currently developing a technical standard on accessibility of parcel boxes, both for private and public use.
Energy
The production and distribution of electricity is one a crucial pivot point in the 21st century. Germany’s national initiative Energiewende (Energy transition) has gained a lot of international attention but also caused some concern among traditional energy providers who consider a large fragmentation of the electrical grid a problem for regulators. Technical standards will enhance the progress of this initiative and provide the necessary support for sustainable, more efficient energy production.