1. 5G infrastructure
Start by fast and hyperconnected city!
The 2021 Mayoral Manifesto pledged to create an Emerging Technology Charter for London was motivated by the premise that only now we reached the correct timing to build a Smart City due 5G will enable a new paradigm shift. Currently coined as Cognitive City, that paradigm shift will only be possible in cities with a proper 5G infrastructure.
5G Lampposts: outdoor infrastructure
5G infrastructure is different from 4G: it requires more proximity!
5G network has a smaller range. Installing 5G antennas where the city has 4G simply will not work. For a city, it means new ways to get more revenue from the public space! But city design also needs to not overload the streets with new poles with more antennas.
Our proposal is to install 5G in existing lampposts: not only will deliver the proximity 5G requires but will also provide the communication infrastructure to turn it into a smart lamppost!
Build a Cognitive City!
5G neural network city
By using 5G lampposts and bringing the correct proximity range of this network we are creating the basis for a massive adoption of 5G. Buildings will also use 5G increasing the proximity and accessibility of the network while opening a completely new world of living possibilities. Concepts like living buildings, self-managed home robotics, and cognitive houses combined with self-driving vehicles communicating with each other (vehicle-to-vehicle communication) in real-time video using generative AI to train us exactly on what we need to know at the moment we need to solve a situation are just some possible nearby futures.
5G Neural Network City
AI on 5G!
A neural 5G infrastructure is at the core of all these possibilities. It combines distinct levels of edge computing equipped with machine learning and MLL capabilities in order to take the proper actions with a higher level of prediction and problem mitigation for the local communities. This local AI edge computing infrastructure is connected to the cloud feeding the Digital Twin City platform with actionable predictions. There, the city planning cognitive engine will orchestrate all local AI edge computing nodes to locally act according to main city directives.
Pioneer cities building a 5G infrastructure will lead the cognitive cities paradigm
The Cognitive City infrastructure
There is a simple reason why only now is happening this Smart City paradigm shifted towards Cognitive: infrastructure and technology advancements!
Produced in June 2020 by the UK’s Digital Catapult, the report concluded that the city was at a tipping point where 5G is going to take off and, in turn, enable artificial intelligence, a broader internet of things, larger networks, and that these technologies lay the foundation for a whole range of applications and services, or by other words: lay the foundation for a cognitive city.
The Cognitive city uses 5G hyperspeed connectivity, edge computing and AI to shift the urban living paradigm.
Something that only now can we start planning. But the plan’s first stage has to be building this new advanced infrastructure!
Similar to Energy Transition, InnovateCity, can partner with cities to Build, Own, Operate and Transfer this Digital Transformation towards a Cognitive City.
5G infrastructure
Ultrafast and hyper-connected city.
AI city sensing
Beyond the Internet of Things (IoT) to Intelligence of Things!
City Digital Twin
The city becomes a learning platform for sustainable development.
We will bring you the best-fit business model to support the building of a 5G infrastructure in your city!
3. BOOT – Partners for Smarter Cities
Blended finance to support execution!
According to the European Investment Bank, local budgets will need an additional €352 billion annually to meet the EU 2030 sustainability goals. Our mission is to enable the city to meet its goals by presenting a blended finance model engaging investors and technologies to support an effective and transparent partnership.
Build
Energy Transition requires heavy investments in decarbonisation but also results in significant savings and new revenue lines.
LED lamps, for example, can reduce the energy bill to less than 30% but represents a heavy investment in replacing working lampposts.
To avoid suffocating the local budget and still meet sustainable development needs, partnering with Smart City investors and operators in a blended financial and operational model is critical for progress.
The Blended finance model means the Partner will fund and build the necessary urban infrastructure and return such investment via a share of its savings.
But building such a partnership starts by building trust between partners! Innovate city is recognised globally as a trustful link between local administrations and investors! Our building expertise and technology deliver transparency and a reliable plan for building trusting relationships!
Own
Like every renting operation, the infrastructure belongs to the investment fund until it ultimately pays off. Transparency plays a critical role in the ownership process. A correct and real-time calculation of the return on investment combined with its impact on the city’s development is vital for the global perception of a win-win relationship.
The development of the local economy heavily depends on its investment attraction but can’t be at the cost of the public realm. The strength of a consistent blended finance partnership relies on its transparency via a real-time perception of each one’s positioning. As experts in bridging this partnership, our Digital Twin system is the foundation of a transparent relationship in every development stage.
Operate
InnovateCity was never a supplier but rather the operator of a Smarter City! Operating a Smarter City means supporting the local government to establish a favourable regulatory framework for thriving local sustainable development and aligning local communities and businesses to innovative urban operations. By successfully building such an urban foundation, the city becomes attractive to investors.
We intend to be recognised as the world’s most trustful Smart City operator! Our technology and expertise turn us into preferred operational support by investors and local governments. Operating the infrastructure while the investment is amortised is the critical trust leveller between the parts involved.
Transfer
Transferring the operation to the new owner once the investment has been paid off is a critical success factor in the entire process. Such a process must be smooth and imperceptible to users while meeting every part’s expectations to act as another stepping stone to future partnerships.
To guarantee a smooth transfer, we at InnovateCity, work on engaging local communities and businesses in the process of ownership. We can set up a local cluster to operate it directly under our guidance or a local supplier network to work with our operational centre. While we operate the infrastructure, we are committed to developing efficient local teams, and by doing so, we contribute to the city’s economic development.
Both investors and governments trust us to stand as the execution link of a win-win partnership!
2. Energy Management System
Evidence-based planning
Effective Planning means rapid Returns On Investments by simulating the need and usage upfront. All that is possible by collecting real-time data into a Digital Twin system that enables scenario simulations using AI.
Sensing the city
Data is one of the engines for progress! It is the entry point to data economy and AI. Develop an efficient data collection strategy by retrofitting current infrastructure with a modular approach combining different sensors according to the specific need of each geography. Collected data will allow you a new level of efficiency based on real-time evidence and simulation. Our open-source data platform allows a “bring-your-own-IoT” policy and boosts local data economy and progress.
Remote control of Public Lighting
Apply Smart Lighting sensors on every lamppost to thoroughly understand its consumption and emissions! The investment will pay off in the short term thanks to the new ability to control it remotely. Our Energy Management Platform (EMS) provides complete control of the lampposts allowing you to schedule when to turn them on and off depending on their specific needs. The savings from the efficient use of energy will pay off the investment. At the same time, it provides further insights and ways to improve.
Beyond remotely controlling the lampposts, control its cost!
Our EMS offers a new level of control: control over the energy cost! From a complete overview of every energy-related cost (maintenance, purchase and consumption) for each street individually to the ability to program street lighting behaviour results in complete control over energy cost and the possibility to plan savings.
Contract Management
Our Energy Management System (EMS) is one of the very few worldwide that includes contract management with direct control of energy budgets and lampposts.
Thanks to our system’s AI engine, our EMS can automatically keep costs under the budget by controlling the lampposts not to consume over than planned.
A plan is what stands between information and execution. Both depend on it
1. Smart Lighting
Start by controlling all your lampposts
Design to retrofit every lamppost. Our solution can now control public lighting and its costs!
We worked on every detail to be a low-cost but highly advanced solution. The city builds its data network to be applied in the pole as it’s far cheaper than installing on the top, paving the way for future sensing.
The sensor remotely controls every lamppost, from the modern LED to the old and outdated sodium vapour.
Schedule when the lamppost is turned (or intensity if the lamp allows flux control) based on the movement in the street, and the hour paves the way for significant energy and carbon emission savings.
Applying the sensor will not affect the pole’s conditions or maintenance agreements.
Build a Cognitive City!
Our City Digital Twin system incorporates all supplier contracts from maintenance to energy consumption, allowing you to plan by anticipation using budgets.
Thanks to advanced AI engines in the system, the city gains an automatic ability to control the public lighting, keeping costs under the budget threshold.
All other variables like lamppost maintenance (both corrective and predictive), public use maximization, environmental impact and consumption are considered and displayed in realtime in specific dashboards.
Modular Sensor
Add distinct modules to our Smart Lighting sensor anytime and turn it into a Smart Lamppost!
Photosensitive sensor
Change the color to match your brand or vision and more.
Noise detection
Change the color to match your brand or vision and more.
WiFi repeator
Change the color to match your brand or vision and more.
Energy plug
Change the color to match your brand or vision and more.
Air quality
Change the color to match your brand or vision and more.
Crash sensor
Change the color to match your brand or vision and more.
A Smart Light sensor for every specific need!
Change the color to match your brand or vision, add your logo, choose the perfect layout, modify menu settings, add animations, add shape dividers, increase engagement with call to action and more. Change the color to match your brand or vision, add your logo, choose the perfect layout, modify menu settings, add animations, add shape dividers, increase engagement with call to action and more.
Embedded Cobtroller
Placed inside the pole, it works as a standalone controller preconfigured with the time to turn on and off.
Zhaga and Nema
Modern dimming lamps come either with a Zhaga or NEMA connector. Our range of controllers covers both options connected to our open-source platform and our Digital Twin system.
Pole mounted
Pole-mounted controllers are much less expensive to install, offering the perfect retrofitting option to build an urban IoT communication network and save on energy bills.
Modular
This pole-mounted controller can add more Smart modules, from motion sensors to security and environment, gradually taking the lamppost to another level of Smart.
The greenest, cheapest and most efficient energy is the one we don't use unless it is strictly necessary!
Calm over the horizon
Many years ago, I worked for my parents who own a video production company. Because it is a family business, you inevitably end up wearing many hats and being the czar of many different jobs. I mainly managed projects and worked as a video editor. On production, there were times that I was called on to work as an audio tech and was made to wear headphones on long production days. In those days, having a really good set of headphones that picked up every nuance of sound was essential to making sure the client got what they needed.
First impressions.
Naturally, my first impression of these headphones is based off of the look of them. They have a classic over-the-ear style that is highlighted by a blue LED light that indicates the power for the noise canceling. The padding on the ear pieces seems adequate for extended usage periods.
They are wired headphones, but the 3.5mm stereo mini-plug cable is detachable. Something else I noticed right of the bat was the very nice carrying case that comes with them. It has a hard plastic exterior with a soft cloth interior that helps to protect the surface of the headphones from scratches. I never truly appreciated cases for headphones until I started carrying them from place-to-place. Now I can’t imagine not having a case.
A perfect fit.
Once I gave the headphones a thorough once-over exam, I tried them on. As I mentioned, they have a classic over-the-ear style and just looking at them, the padding on the ear pieces seem adequate and the peak of the headband seemed to be a bit lacking, but you don’t really know comfort unless you try on the product. So, I slipped the headphones on and found them to be exquisitely comfortable.
Quality.
Now that I had the headphones on my head, I was finally ready to plug and play some music. I plugged the provided cable into the jack on the headphones and then the one on my iPhone 6. Then I called up Pandora. I tend to have a very eclectic music purview and have many stations set up for different moods. From John Williams to Fallout Boy, the sound quality of these headphones was remarkable. There is an amazing depth of sound and incredible highs and lows that make listening to music a truly breathtaking experience.
It’s safe to say that because of my unique professional experiences, I’ve tested out a lot of headphones.
In order to test how voices sounded, and the overall art of sound mixing, I pulled up Netflix on my iPad Air 2 and watched a few minutes of a movie to hear all the nuances of the film. None of them were lost. In fact, I ended up hearing sounds that I hadn’t heard before. Echoes…birds chirping…wind blowing through trees…breathing of the characters…it was very impressive what the headphones ended up bringing out for me.
I would highly recommend these to any sound mixing specialist.