smart product | august 2021

mobility above today’s traffic

www.ottobahn.de

Shaping the future of transportation: ottobahn is engineering an emission-free and fully autonomous transportation system above today’s traffic.

Ottobahn is based on individually scheduled trips with pods, planning to provide door-to-door transport both for passengers and cargo delivery. The pods can be equipped for people with special needs, with the goal to provide accessibility and comfortable traveling for everyone.

Furthermore, the transportation system shall be 100% renewable-powered.

Status & Application:
Prototype

URBAN MENUS Analysis

Characterization along 5 societal goals: Happiness, Safety, Innovation, Profitability, and Circularity.

The graph below shows for which of these themes the product is mainly relevant on a societal level. Some products are more specialized, while others may be covering all topics equally. The results are based on a self-evaluation questionnaire that was developed by URBAN MENUS and filled in by the products or services themselves.

Below is an explanation of how the product or service may contribute to the 5 themes, based on the information provided by the solutions in the onboarding process as well as research by the URBAN MENUS team.

For more details about the analysis and the 5 main themes, please click here.

Happiness

Easy-to-access public transport can increase the overall well-being of citizens, by making workplaces, meeting spots, and recreational areas in the city easier to reach for everyone. Furthermore, reduced car traffic leads to reduced emissions, thus improving air quality which can affect citizens’ overall health.

Safety

Reliable transport services during the day- and nighttime, as well as reduced car traffic, can contribute to an overall feeling of safety in a city.

Innovation

The expansion of public transport is an important factor for innovation in modern cities. With public transport widely available, access to services such as education and health services is increased for citizens.

Profitability

Ottobahn is intended to lead to cost savings both for individuals as well as the government, due to comparably low installing and maintenance costs.

Circularity

Due to the reduced car traffic, ottobahn can contribute to a reduction of emissions (such as CO2 and particulate matter). This leads to better air quality and contributes to meeting climate goals.

smart service | august 2021

healthy urban trees

www.schwammstadt.at

Sponge City for Urban Trees is a concept that – using local materials – seeks to ensure a subsoil structure in streets that is conducive to the growth of healthy trees. Trees are not only fundamental to the city’s blue-green infrastructure but are also key to addressing climate change.

The Sponge City for Urban Trees aims to mitigate the climate impact in cities through a blue-green infrastructure based on the healthy growth of urban trees that are the best instrument to cool down the street and foster urban life.

The project aims to implement the Sponge City concept in several Austrian cities by planting trees in streets and squares with a substrate that offers the trees about 30% of cavities where their roots can expand and where the water necessary for their consumption is retained.

Status & Application:
The Sponge City for Urban Trees concept has been applied in different cities in Austria.

URBAN MENUS Analysis

Characterization along 5 societal goals: Happiness, Safety, Innovation, Profitability, and Circularity.

The graph below shows for which of these themes the product is mainly relevant on a societal level. Some products are more specialized, while others may be covering all topics equally. The results are based on a self-evaluation questionnaire that was developed by URBAN MENUS and filled in by the products or services themselves.

Below is an explanation of how the product or service may contribute to the 5 themes, based on the information provided by the solutions in the onboarding process as well as research by the URBAN MENUS team.

For more details about the analysis and the 5 main themes, please click here.

Happiness

Healthy urban trees and an overall greener environment can improve the quality of life and health in cities, therefore contributing to happiness – for instance by creating a more pleasant climate, an improvement of overall appearance and by creating outdoor spaces where people like to spend time together as a community.

Safety

Well-tended, healthy greenery can improve the overall impression of a neighbourhood as well as increase the social climate, thus potentially leading to an increased sense of safety in a community.

Innovation

Even though trees are an integral part of most cities, giving them the root space they need is not commonly practiced yet. The Sponge city approach is innovative in this sense and carries several benefits.

Profitability

Greenery such as urban trees can lead to cooling effects and improve the microclimate in a city, therefore relieving the healthcare system. Furthermore, with the Schwammstadt principle, the lifespan of urban trees is increased, reducing overall costs. Also, it can be an impulse for the emergence of Urban Forestry.

Circularity

Sponge city provides natural air conditioning of the city. It allows the creation of shady, cooling, zones in the city by using trees as infrastructure to create climate-resilient areas without losing the multifunctionality of living urban spaces, using only natural building materials. Furthermore, excess rainwater from heavy rain events can be retained and the groundwater under the city can be replenished.

smart service | august 2021

creating energy as a community

www.rescoop.eu

REScoop.eu is the European network for energy cooperatives that connects citizens to work together for a future with cleaner energy. All citizens are invited to participate and to take action as a community, such as investing in renewable energy installations and energy efficiency measures.

A participatory approach and the sense of being part of a community are fundamental for the success of energy cooperatives.

REScoop.eu provides the necessary tools to successfully complete such citizens’ energy projects. From community coaching to a toolbox providing guidance, REScoop.eu makes sure that everyone involved gets the support they need in each step of the way.

Status & Application:
REScoop.eu is active EU-wide, with over 1.900 ongoing energy cooperatives.

URBAN MENUS Analysis

Characterization along 5 societal goals: Happiness, Safety, Innovation, Profitability, and Circularity.

The graph below shows for which of these themes the product is mainly relevant on a societal level. Some products are more specialized, while others may be covering all topics equally. The results are based on a self-evaluation questionnaire that was developed by URBAN MENUS and filled in by the products or services themselves.

Below is an explanation of how the product or service may contribute to the 5 themes, based on the information provided by the solutions in the onboarding process as well as research by the URBAN MENUS team.

For more details about the analysis and the 5 main themes, please click here.

Happiness

Energy communities can contribute to happiness by giving their members the opportunity to be part of an active community and to be empowered to decide on this community’s future together.

Safety

Energy communities can increase people’s general feeling of safety in a city, for example, due to an increased sense of community and belonging. In some examples, energy communities have contributed to the setting up of sustainable street lighting.

Innovation

Energy communities aim to improve the sustainability of the energy system in an innovative way, by giving citizens ownership, strengthening local economies, and creating new job opportunities. In addition, they engage in innovative technologies such as blockchain, demand-response, virtual power plants, and more.

Profitability

Energy communities have the potential to provide high returns to their local community. They can contribute to the creation of new jobs as well as the development of new labour sectors in a community.

Circularity

As Energy communities focus on renewables, they support in reaching climate goals. They raise awareness among their members about the topic of energy – this not only includes renewable energy production but also the importance of reducing consumption. Overall, this can help to promote a circular economy.

smart product | august 2021

analyses the air we breathe

www.breeze-technologies.de

Breeze small-scale air quality sensors can measure common pollutants such as carbon and nitrogen oxides, ozone, particulate matter and many more. The Breeze Environmental Intelligence Cloud allows real-time analysis of urban air quality data.

The Breeze Environmental Intelligence Cloud is gathering real-time data from Breeze air quality sensors as well as external data sources. The cloud platform can assist facility management, environmental scientists, municipality management and governments in understanding air quality, its influences and how to improve it. Breeze supports in finding solutions for local air quality challenges – providing a database with over 3,500 clean air actions to improve air quality.

Status & Application:
Ready for market; Breeze sensors are already in use in several countries.

URBAN MENUS Analysis

Characterization along 5 societal goals: Happiness, Safety, Innovation, Profitability and Circularity.

The graph below shows for which of these themes the product is mainly relevant on a societal level. Some products are more specialized, while others may be covering all topics equally. The results are based on a self-evaluation questionnaire that was developed by URBAN MENUS and filled in by the products or services themselves.

Below is an explanation of how the product or service may contribute to the 5 themes, based on the information provided by the solutions in the onboarding process as well as research by the URBAN MENUS team.

For more details about the analysis and the 5 main themes, please click here.

Happiness

Breeze provides information about air quality, as well as suggests possible adjustments to improve air quality in particularly burdened neighbourhoods. Improved air quality can lead to a healthier and more liveable environment, likely incentivising people to spend more time outside together as a community.

Safety

The monitoring can contribute to the general feeling of safety for the citizens, as air pollution (which is a major public health concern) can be detected at an early stage. Other factors of safety in a city, such as feelings of safety at night, orientation etc. are not addressed however, as this is not the focus of the product.

Innovation

In addition to the sensors, users also receive the possibility to analyze the data and work with it. A catalogue is provided, with more than 3,500 individual clean air actions to improve local air quality in the most efficient and effective way, therefore contributing to education about these issues.

Profitability

The possible health benefits of improved air quality can contribute to savings within the healthcare system of a city or country as a whole.

Circularity

The sensors have been designed modularly, with repair and recycling in mind; old sensors are refurbished to be used in future projects. On a societal level, Breeze can support in meeting climate targets and contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions.

smart product | august 2021

makes houses simply green

www.berta-modul.at

BeRTA green façade modules enable a broad use of vertical greening in existing urban buildings. BeRTA is an all-in-one package that guides you in three steps through the entire planning and coordination process from the initial idea to the finished green façade.

The BeRTA green façade module consists of several parts that are coordinated with each other and thus ensure a high-quality end product.

BeRTA offers a quality-assured and coordinated complete solution for the path to your green façade – which used to be complicated and tedious, especially on public land. It consists of a variably adaptable BeRTA plant trough module with or without trellis support, including planning, approval, erection, and maintenance.

BeRTA can be applied in both private and public buildings, a free quick-check enables to easily analyse whether your building fulfills the needed requirements for a façade greening project.

Status & Application:
Ready-for-market; BeRTA is already in use in Austria.

URBAN MENUS Analysis

Characterization along 5 societal goals: Happiness, Safety, Innovation, Profitability, and Circularity.

The graph below shows for which of these themes the product is mainly relevant on a societal level. Some products are more specialized, while others may be covering all topics equally. The results are based on a self-evaluation questionnaire that was developed by URBAN MENUS and filled in by the products or services themselves.

Below is an explanation of how the product or service may contribute to the 5 themes, based on the information provided by the solutions in the onboarding process as well as research by the URBAN MENUS team.

For more details about the analysis and the 5 main themes, please click here.

Happiness

A greener environment can improve the quality of living and have a positive impact on the health of residents of all ages, creating spaces where people like to come together as a community. The positive effects of urban greening include increased biodiversity, a cooling effect in summer, improvement of the appearance of a city quarter, and better air quality.

Safety

Greening can contribute to the enhancement of buildings/neighbourhoods and improve the social climate in the house and in the neighbourhood, and thus have a positive effect on the feeling of safety.

Innovation

The complexity of the application of façade greening can be reduced through the modules and the entire process from planning to approval to construction can be redesigned through an easy-to-use web submission tool. In future-oriented, innovative cities, green spaces can be important points of attraction for residents and visitors.

Profitability

On a societal level, greening can contribute to cost reduction, for example by relieving the health system through improved air quality and cooling effects in summer.

Circularity

Especially in densely built-up urban areas, along pavements and in ground-floor zones and in ground floor zones, greenery has a positive effect on the microclimate. Greening of buildings improves air quality and creates a more natural, healthier environment in the city. In addition, the greenery stores precipitation, e.g. in the event of heavy rainfall, and thus can also relieve the sewage system.