At the end of the week, the Prague City Council approved an update to the Smart Prague concept. The implementation of this updated concept aims to improve the lives of everyone who lives, works, or visits Prague, through smart technologies and innovations in the areas of transport, energy, waste management, and digital services.
“The original concept was developed in 2017 with the goal of transforming Prague into a smart city by 2030. Today, technology is developing rapidly, which is why the capital uses the concept as a living document, regularly updating it,” says Daniel Mazur, City Councillor for ICT, Smart Cities, Science, Research, and Innovation. “We want the development of smart solutions to respond to new technological opportunities and trends, take into account feedback from citizens and partners, and address new city-wide needs.”
The concept identifies the primary needs of the city, presents principles for the development of urban innovation, and establishes a framework for their implementation through the services of the city’s OICT (Operátor ICT). OICT manages IT and smart city projects for Prague, provides much of the technical support, and develops original applications. One of the best known is PID Lítačka, which allows Prague residents to plan their daily journeys using public transport in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region.
The document identifies three key areas: Mobility and Public Space, Environment and Energy, and Buildings. Each of these areas faces specific challenges that can be overcome through a combination of technological innovation, data analysis, process innovation, and cultural change—i.e., changing the city’s attitude towards the need for innovation.
Specific innovations already being implemented in Prague include monitoring air quality in the city, information boards for public transport, and optimising waste collection by monitoring the fill levels of sorted waste bins.
You can find out more about Smart Prague on the project website at smartprague.eu.
