Morgenstadt network joining INTERGEO in Berlin / Keen interest in Smart City Solutions / INTERGEO conference to focus on mobility and energy / EU’s TRIANGULUM project forms blueprint for other cities

The ongoing debate about smart/digital cities, which has simmered for some time, now is really heating up. A wealth of experience and solid research results have now been accumulated. The topic’s growing importance is reflected in its headline status at this year’s INTERGEO conference in Berlin (26–28 September) and the dedicated exhibition zone SMART CITY SOLUTIONS.

The Morgenstadt Initiative is appearing at INTERGEO for the first time this year under the mantle of the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO. “We want to raise awareness of the initiative even further among urban authorities and companies and expand links with the geo-sector in our innovation network. INTERGEO is the ideal national and European arena for this aim,” says Project Director Alanus von Radecki from the Fraunhofer IAO in Stuttgart, the lead institution for this collaborative project involving 15 cities from a range of countries, 24 international companies and 11 different Fraunhofer Institutes.

Smart cities will also return as a key topic at this year’s INTERGEO conference in the wake of the enthusiastic response in Hamburg last year. The main focus will be on energy and mobility. The DVW’s President, Prof. Hansjörg Kutterer, points out that ultra-precise environmental information and its visual representation are important developments with regard to mobility in particular. He says the key issues regarding urban energy supplies are how to shape their flow patterns, optimise use and minimise consumption.

The 550 or so exhibitors will also be focusing more heavily on the pioneering field of smart cities. “This will be evident in many of the presentations,” says Daniel Katzer, Project Manager for INTERGEO. “The link between geodata and the process of digitalisation is one of the key themes at INTERGEO. So it’s the perfect phase in the project for the Morgenstadt initiative to get involved.”

The Morgenstadt innovation network collects and evaluates the experiences of more than 30 smart city projects. One of these is the TRIANGULUM project sponsored by the European Commission, which has used concrete pioneering concepts in Manchester, Eindhoven and Stavanger to create a blueprint for further cities. Among other things, these practical experiences will be presented and shared.

INTERGEO will take place from 26 to 28 September 2017 at Messe Berlin.