smart service | september 2021

Thinking and feeling the landscape

www.lali-iniciativa.com

LALI is a well-established collective that creates a common ground for discourse and action where answers and solutions to a social and environmental crisis are proposed. LALI promotes solidarity, union, and coexistence to encourage an integral change for the benefit of urban and regional development.

“Philanthropy for the environment” is how one could describe the approach behind LALI’s initiative which originated back in 2012. Restoring the relationship between human beings and nature is at the heart of the LALI declaration.

The landscape represents a right, and it is fundamental to recognise our responsibility to protect it.

Status & Application:
LALI is active in 19 different 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

Urban landscapes have an impact on our well-being. LALI addresses the management of the landscape (as a public good) and aims to create an open space for discourse, to develop harmonious and friendly urban life, building health and happiness.

Safety

LALI encourages the encounter of different age groups, the revitalization of little-used neighbourhoods, and better orientation in urban settings, thus contributing to a general feeling of safety in the city.

Profitability

Profitability is not a main focus of the initiative.

Innovation

The LALI initiative fosters solidarity, partnerships, and coexistence to facilitate comprehensive change for the benefit of urban and regional development. The initiative provides a platform that enables different actors to collaborate, learn from each other, and find innovative solutions.

Circularity

LALI aims to offer answers to various urban “urgencies,” such as the fight against climate change, the progress of the circular economy, the implementation of the Urban Agenda and the SDGs, sustainable mobility and the multiple needs for living in more human, cohesive, and greener cities.

smart product | august 2021

creating space for everyone

www.velovio.com

Velovio’s goal is to improve cycling infrastructure by providing cities and companies with space-saving and bespoke bike parking solutions with a functional and attractive design.

There are several products in the still increasing portfolio, such as the BENTO bike stand or the BIKEPARKER, which includes a bike lift to make the most efficient use of urban space.

Velovio also offers advice and support in the planning process so that the project can be implemented in the best possible way.

Status & Application:
Ready-for-market; Some products of Velovio`s Portfolio are already in use in Austria, some others are still in development.

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

By providing functional bicycle infrastructure, Velovio can contribute to increasing the use of bicycles in a city and therefore to higher happiness of citizens in the long run (for instance through reduced motorized traffic).

Safety

The product can contribute to an overall sense of safety in a city by reducing car traffic and providing safer parking for bicycles.

Profitability

Bicycles are becoming increasingly important in modern cities, also for services such as passenger transport, cargo, and food delivery. Improving bicycle infrastructure can therefore also be beneficial in economic terms.

Innovation

As the importance of bicycles in many cities is growing, bicycle infrastructure can be an important driver of innovation, for example by enabling the use of bicycles for business purposes.

Circularity

Velovio was designed with recyclability and durability in mind. On a societal level, it can contribute to the reduction of climate change, due to reduced car traffic and increased bicycle use.

smart service | august 2021

transparency for all users

www.swearit.io

SwearIT provides a service to back up product claims via blockchain technology. Target groups are both the private as well as the public sector.

The aim is to expose the life cycle of a product or service by providing evidence in blockchain and increasing transparency so that the consumer or contributor can understand it better.

For example, the technology can be used to show when a public transport vehicle was last cleaned and checked or demonstrate and raise awareness of the cost of management and execution of public services (garbage, public works, jobs. etc).

Status & Application:
Ready-for-market; SwearIT is currently in use in Spain.

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

The tool can contribute to happiness by involving citizens in processes that affect them – it is providing knowledge about their environment, enabling them to make choices accordingly.

Safety

The tool can be used to demonstrate safety processes and compliance with protocols, for instance during the COVID-19 pandemic, in this sense potentially contributing to a sense of security.  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 service.

Profitability

The tool can support in ensuring that investments arrive where they are The tool can support in ensuring that investments arrive where they are intended to, for instance when it comes to donations or government investments.

Innovation

The tool can contribute to education, by providing citizens with information about their environment. Tourism and transportation may be promoted through the provision of evidence that services provide security in their use or consumption.

Circularity

Showing the life cycle of a product can raise awareness of the benefits of a circular economy and encourage manufacturers and consumers to pay more attention to sustainability in their daily decisions.

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.