Smart urban street furniture are a very tangible manifestation of the Smart City; helping to increase the attractiveness of public spaces by providing public service information, and connectivity, while at the same time enabling the collection of important environmental data.
Project Activities
Throughout 2019, smart benches were installed in a number of spots across the Dublin region bringing the future of smart technology to our streets and parks. From Balbriggan to the Docklands, to Sandyford and Dun-Laoghaire Town, the benches are a visible expression of Dublin’s Smart City status as we deploy new and exciting technologies that seek to improve quality of life in the region.
With solar panels, phone charging ports, Wi-Fi and digital advertising space, the benches offer a range of digital capabilities to both the public and the local authorities. Across the region, different models have been sourced, with those in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council even providing electric sockets for charging e-bikes along with bike repair tools.
Another example of smart furniture in our city region includes the deployment of “Bikekeep” – a smart bike locking system in Dublin’s Docklands. This smart locking system provides improved security for bicycle storage in the city.
Impact
Apart from adding to the public realm, smart furniture can also play a role in collecting important data. Inside the smart benches, a number of sensors collect non-personal data relating to temperature, humidity, energy production and how much energy the bench consumes, providing local authority staff with valuable information about the environment and bench usage.
The arrival of smart street furniture, one of the most noticeable smart city developments in Dublin, bring the realities of innovative technology to life in our communities.
Resources
- Monna Bench Charging
- Smart Bench can charge a phone and fix bikes
- Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Launch Worlds first solar powered smart bench