Smart Docklands, a project funded by Dublin City Council and Trinity’s Connect Research Centre, is looking for pilot projects to address local needs using tech.
The Docklands have become somewhat of a microcosm for the rapid progress Dublin has seen since the 1990s, and today it features frequently in posters of the city thanks to iconic landmarks such as the Convention Centre, the Samuel Beckett Bridge and the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Today, it is also the centre for a smart cities initiative that has turned the neighbourhood into a testbed for urban innovation.
Read more: IE: Dublin: Do you have what it takes to make the Docklands smarter?
Some of the areas for which drones are being deployed in Dublin include mapping, inspecting dangerous buildings and emergency response services.
Dublin City Council (DCC) has published its first strategy on drone technology today (27 May) that will see the creation of a dedicated drones unit to oversee their use in emergency services and building inspections.
Read more: IE: Dublin gets drone strategy to oversee deployment in city
Dublin City University (DCU) has partnered with Bentley Systems to create an advanced digital twin of its campus as part of its Smart DCU initiative. The partnership combines artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive digital twin technology. The campus will be used as a testing ground for innovative smart city solutions, with the aim of creating sustainable, efficient, and enjoyable urban spaces worldwide.
Bentley’s open 3D and reality modeling technology can create a campus model intricately linked with Internet of Things (IoT) data, which results in an immersive digital twin on its iTwin Platform.
Read more: IE: Dublin City University, Bentley partner for 3D smart city research initiative
As part of the project, a number of sensors have been installed in streets in Cork city.
A number of organisations in Cork have joined forces to launch a smart street data pilot project, which is expected to provide a detailed picture of street usage and mobility patterns to help inform strategic planning.
The project, being undertaken by the Cork Smart Gateway, Cork City Council, Cork Business Association (CBA) and the VQ, has seen five Telraam S2 sensors installed across four streets in the city centre.
Read more: IE: Smart project to give detailed insights into how Cork city's streets are used
Visitors to Dublin can enjoy some extra help touring the city after Dublin City Council announced the launch of a new augmented-reality (AR ) mapping feature that allows users of the Dublin Discovery Trails app to open up a 3D map of the capital on their device and allow them to explore the city in a new, innovative way.
DiscovAR Dublin uses new open Google Maps technology to form an interactive 3D map where users can be transported into the city to interact with the map to uncover Dublin landmarks, museums and attractions. Users can also learn more about the history and significance of locations such as the Guinness Storehouse, EPIC - the Irish Emigration Museum and 14 Henrietta Street.
Read more: IE: Visitors to Dublin can plan virtual reality city centre tours in advance