Smart City Business May 2022

May 2022

SMART CITY LIGHTING

WORK SMARTER Exploring how smart city lighting projects can be replicated and upscaled successfully

SMART PORTS

BRINGING SMART PORTS TO LIFE The British Ports Association highlights efficiency improvements that benefit the economy

PLUS: PROJECT CAVFORTH | SMART WATER IN GLASGOW | UEL’S LIVING LAB

News RENEWABLE ENERGY

University of East London partners with Siemens in net zero race energy technology – including solar panels installed on rooftops and in car parks, ground source or water source heat pumps fed by the Thames and electric vehicle charging solutions. During the second phase, Siemens will support UEL in its creation of an innovation hub for local green energy enterprises, giving students the opportunity to engage with the latest green technologies whilst on campus. UEL will also provide the opportunity for students to further strengthen their industry skills through mentoring and internships with Siemens.

The third workstream of the partnership will see the development of a ‘Living Lab’, to make the data captured across the campuses available to students and researchers. The University and Siemens will also explore pragmatic ways of introducing local-scale energy projects that make an immediate difference.

The University of East London has partnered with Siemens to drive the shift to renewable energy and transform its campuses in Docklands and Stratford. The plan aims to make UEL’s urban sites reach net zero by 2030 through the roll-out of intelligent technology.

There are four focus areas for UEL’s campuses: introducing renewable energy sources to campuses and reducing overall energy consumption; supporting sustainable

enterprise; leveraging real-time energy data through a ‘Living Lab’ and nurturing a strong talent pipeline. The first phase will immediately cut 10 per cent of the University’s carbon emissions and reduce operational costs by installing LED lighting in all buildings and upgrading the University’s building management systems.

A second workstream will focus on engineering the design of sustainable

SMART WATER SYSTEMS

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

Glasgow Smart Water system reduces flood risk

Research reveals ‘highly compelling’ benefits of smart traffic systems

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Smart Grey Water systems recently installed at two new-build nursery schools in Glasgow are being linked to a Smart Water Management Hub which uses predictive weather technology to reduce the likelihood of localised flood risk ahead of a storm event.

In the same way as Glasgow’s award-winning Smart Canal operates - when the control hub forecasts heavy rainfall in the area, a signal will be sent to the nursery school triggering tanks to pump out any previously collected rainwater to maximise the capacity of underground storage ahead of a storm.

The work to reduce the likelihood of flooding in the areas around Broomhill and Govanhill (Cuthbertson) Nursery Schools, is part of a larger programme that will see green technologies incorporated into four brand-new Early Years establishments, designed by Glasgow’s Property and Consultancy Services team, to help mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

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Smart traffic management systems are forecast to provide global savings in CO2 emissions of 205 million metric tons by 2027, according to a new report by Juniper Research. This represents a growth of 41 per cent, up from just 145.7 MMT in 2022, and almost twice the CO2 emissions arising from UK domestic transport in 2019. The new research, Smart Management: Use Cases, Regional Analysis & Forecast 2022-2027, identified environmental benefits from smart

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS FOR THE CITIES OF THE FUTURE | www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

traffic management systems as being ‘highly compelling’, including significant reductions in congestion, and prioritising greener transport modes. The report identified smart intersections as responsible for driving reductions, with hours of time spent in traffic set to decrease by 36 hours on average per annum per motorist globally by 2027.

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News

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

Project CAVForth on-road testing gets underway in Fife

The UK’s first full-sized autonomous bus will take to the roads of Scotland for the first time as live testing begins for project CAVForth.

Stagecoach, in partnership with Fusion Processing, Alexander Dennis and Transport Scotland, will be carrying out on-road testing of the autonomous bus over the next two weeks in preparation for the launch of the CAVForth pilot service in late summer.

The Project CAVForth pilot, jointly funded by the UK Government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and the project partners Fusion Processing, ADL, Stagecoach and Transport Scotland will see five single-deck autonomous buses operating at SAE Level 4 over the Forth Road Bridge between Ferrytoll Park and Ride in Fife and the Edinburgh Park Train and Tram interchange. The buses are fitted with Fusion Processing’s sensor and control technology, CAVstar, that enables them to run on pre-selected roads without the safety driver having to intervene or take control. The buses will provide a service capable of carrying up to 36 passengers over the 14 miles across the bridge, with capacity for over 10,000 passengers a week.

The on-road testing in Scotland follows successful depot-based trials, track testing and virtual simulation where the buses have been put through their paces to fine tune the autonomous drive systems.

To help support the delivery of Project CAVForth, Transport Scotland recently opened a section of Actively Managed Hard Shoulder for all buses on the M8 eastbound. It will help to reduce journey times and improve journey time reliability for all buses of 24 seats or more on approach to Edinburgh.

As part of project CAVForth, around 500 members of the public have helped with the implementation of the new autonomous bus service on it, providing feedback on what would make them feel comfortable and confident in travelling. Built on the feedback received, the partners have developed a vision for the new autonomous vehicles, which includes making sure future autonomous bus services still have a member of staff on board.

In a further positive step forward in the project, over 20 specially trained ‘Autonomous Bus Professionals’ are soon to be recruited

by Stagecoach from across its East Scotland business. When the service goes live, these experienced bus drivers will monitor the autonomous system alongside a bus ‘Captain’ who will move around the saloon, talking to passengers about the service and answering any questions they may have, demonstrating what a future service might feel like when the staff member is able to leave the cab while the computer does the driving.

Sam Greer, Regional Director for Stagecoach in Scotland, said: “Stagecoach is continuing to look for ways to improve the service it offers to customers, including through major investment in new technology, such as the CAVForth pilot.

“This is a hugely exciting project for Scotland and we are pleased to be starting live testing on roads today. This is a major step forward in our journey to fully launch the UK’s first fullsized autonomous bus service and will provide easy access to a brand-new bus route in the heart of East Scotland.”

Chris Gall, ADL Group Engineering Director, said: “The start of on-route testing is a milestone for our autonomous bus project. In partnership with Stagecoach, Fusion Processing and Transport Scotland, Project CAVForth helps us to explore new technologies that will make buses even safer and even more efficient. As we move towards passenger services later in the year, the project will be a landmark demonstration of future technologies in transport.”

Jim Hutchinson, Fusion Processing CEO, said: “We are delighted to be leading the world’s most complex and ambitious autonomous vehicle programme. CAVForth will provide a useful service to local people as well as being a great demonstration of Fusion’s automated vehicle technology. The buses are fitted with CAVstar, our automated driving system which combines our own hardware and software to create, safe, full-size buses, operating at SAE Level 4. On road testing is an exciting milestone in the development of autonomous commercial vehicles and we look forward to welcoming passengers onboard in a few months’ time.”

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SMART CITY LIGHTING

Collaboration provides real time analytics in smart street lighting Smart City lighting provider CitiLight has announced its collaboration with Semtech.

CitiLight says more than 1 million street lights have been automated with its smart lighting solution, which have collectively saved up to 1.29 billion kilowatt-hours of energy in more than 100 cities.

Semtech’s VELOCITi LMS system is able to keep street lights connected and monitored in real time without any dependence on field personnel. Any command given to the street

lights, like change of lighting schedule or change in intensity, are executed as the system offers less than five second command latency and 0.5-1 per cent accuracy on metered data.

Semtech’s LoRa devices and the LoRaWAN standard complement the street light system as the technology can support larger data packets based on a city’s needs and communication over a long range.

“Real-time analytics are aiding in the growth of smart cities,” said Marc Pégulu at Semtech.

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SMART CITY BUSINESS | MAY 2022

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Advertisement Feature

Decarbonising the UK & beyond Letaq UK and the Trent Group join forces to bring a zero emisions power pack to market which it believes will be a significant answer to the UK’s decarbonising strategies and plans.

Net Zero by 2050 may be seen as a real challenge and a tall order by some.

Investments are already committed and the clock is now ticking with some real meaning and purpose. The call to arms is underway, with a variety of solutions and ideas to decarbonise the UK and our planet.

Letaq UK and the Trent Group have joined forces to bring to market what it believes to be a significant answer to the UK’s decarbonising strategies and plans.

The strategy involves Ammonia NH3 as the sole fuel to power a specially adapted Internal Combustion Engine, which combines with a battery pack to create a zero-emission power pack for port cranes and other mobile equipment. It features transferrable technology that can be easily applied to marine, road, rail, generator sets and even EV charging stations.

With international patents in hand for the worlds first Letaq Power Solutions ‘ammonia cracker unit’, and an engine that runs solely on NH3, Trent Letaq will provide clients with a true zero emission energy source for the UK and beyond.

The company’s scientists and technical experts have been working in the field of Battery, Hydrogen and Ammonia for the last 30 years, publishing 40 papers, covering subjects such as Power Electronics, Electric Car and High-Speed Automation as well as books on Hybrid Electric Vehicles.

The work spans back to 1990, when lead UK scientist Ron Hodkinson worked with Robert Larson, Chairman of the EPA in California and were both Co-Chairs for the ISATA Clean Fuels Conference.

This abundance of deep technical insight, skill, expertise and global experience has allowed Trent Letaq to reach a position where it is ready to play its part in decarbonising many transportation sectors, including the Port Industry, Road, Rail, Marine, Power Generation etc, using the patented Letaq Power Solutions UK, Zero Emission NH3 Power pack.

Trent Letaq’s ambitions will be achieved through a comprehensive forward thinking Global Franchise network focused on

solutions above and beyond just equipment and zero emission NH3 powerpacks.

When it comes to decarbonisation, changing the world must include a marriage of both zero emission solutions and the most advanced technologies available today.

Therefore, Trent Letaq will be focused on showcasing and delivering the following: New Remote Control / Autonomous Ship to Shore (STS) Port Cranes; New Zero Emission Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) Cranes (automated & manual); New Zero Emission Rail Tyred Gantry (RMG) Cranes (automated & manual); New Zero Emission Straddle Carriers; New Zero Emission Reachstackers; New Zero Emission Empty Container Handlers; New Zero Emission Forklifts ; New Zero Emission Terminal Tractors; New Zero Emission Power Generation Solutions for Road, Rail and Marine; Zero Emission RTG Powerpack retrofits and upgrade; NH3 strategies regarding creation of Green NH3 from renewable energy (Examples today: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, in Oxfordshire, England & Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute in Japan); NH3 strategies regarding country distribution and management; NH3 storage and distribution strategies for ports, rail, road, and marine; Digital e-Marketplace for all Trent Letaq spare parts; Advanced Ai driven, autonomous, automated equipment solutions; Remote control crane and mobile equipment solutions; Ai Failure Prediction Solution for Cranes and Mobile Equipment; Ai Terminal / Business Operational Solutions and Equipment Integration; Full Contract Maintenance Management Contracts; Full dry & wet lease options for Mobile Equipment; Full lease options for Cranes; Full lease options for NH3 Powerpacks; Life Cycle Assessment, Analysis & Management; Asset Management ISO55000 development and implementation.

Trent Letaq believes that to achieve ambitious goals related to climate and decarbonisation, the solution cannot be single focused and must include a holistic approach that goes far beyond just a product.

Evidence amassed today shows that advanced technologies in operations and onboard equipment play their part in positively impacting energy consumption as well as material consumption. It is this holistic approach and understanding that will allow Trent Letaq to stand apart from the rest and deliver on decarbonisation pledges. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.trent-global.com

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BUSINESS SOLUTIONS FOR THE CITIES OF THE FUTURE | www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Smart Ports

The smart technologies changing port operations A Smart Port is a port that uses automation and innovative technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT) to improve its performance. Evolution in ports is needed to meet with the changing demands of global trade: ships are getting bigger; goods are moving faster; and geopolitical issues are creating new challenges for ports. In December last year, a British Ports Association study highlighted the five smart port technologies changing the way UK ports operate for the better Published in collaboration with Royal HaskoningDHV and the Connected Places Catapult, the Smarter UK Ports paper summarises five examples from ports that were explored last year, including a constantly learning digital twin, remote infrastructure and asset monitoring, and upstreaming of border administration.

The intention for the British Ports Association (BPA) was to explore how new technology use cases can be better shared across the industry in 2022. Mark Simmonds, BPA Director of Policy, said: “The whole concept of ‘smart ports’ can be a bit confusing to some, but these use cases highlight how new and existing technology can be put to use in innovative ways to increase port resilience and efficiency. We are constantly looking for new ways to share stories like these and are exploring how we can better collect these sorts of interesting use cases in the new year.”

The themes for the studies were based on real port challenges, collaboratively defined with five partner ports from across the UK, including:

Stimulating foreign investment Much attention is given to the trade and tariff allowances and tax benefits associated with freeports, but the opportunities associated Background with freeport status go far beyond this, Freeports are hubs for business and enterprise particularly in relation to their potential to for both manufacturing and services trade, stimulate foreign direct investment in port reducing costs and bureaucracy, whilst communities. For example, UK freeports are encouraging manufacturing businesses to set split across discrete ‘virtual’ sites, which will up or re-shore. In 2019, the then Department require goods to be tracked and monitored, for International Trade announced that the first obliging freeports to employ digital solutions new Freeports would be established after the UK for improved supply chain integration. left the EU, to turbocharge growth and ensure The British Ports Association says that, towns and cities across the UK benefit from through establishing a clear, globally Brexit trade opportunities. Liz Truss, relevant investment prospectus who headed the department at that based on regional and These time, said that a newly formed national strengths, there use case Freeports Advisory Panel would is significant potential to s highligh be established to advise the attract investment to fuel new an t how government on the creation innovative initiatives and of up to 10 freeports. contribute to regional technolo d existing gy can b In February the following economies through u e se in inn put to year, the government new jobs and wealth ovative ways to increase outlined the benefits of the creation. Innovation port r 2020 Freeports model as will not be confined to and effi esilience including: goods brought into freeports, where benefits ciency. a Freeport not attracting tariffs will be felt across the whole until they leave the Freeport and maritime sector and the UK enter the domestic market; no duty economy. is payable if they are re-exported; when raw materials are imported and processed into Portsmouth International Port: a final good, duties are only paid on the final Connected Logistics good; freeports could be located inland as well The Connected Places Catapult has recently as adjacent to ports. The latter point has the completed a Phase 1 project with Portsmouth potential to reduce relocation or investment International Port based on the connected costs for existing manufacturing sites near ports; logistics theme discussed in the ANPR preand a full customs declaration would not be clearance use case. The ‘SpacePort’ feasibility required to move goods into a Freeport. This project, funded by the Geospatial Commission saves businesses time and makes it easier to in partnership with Innovate UK, successfully import goods. established a novel geospatial solution to E Portsmouth International Port; Shoreham Port; Port of London Authority; Port of Tyne; and Port of Milford Haven.

SMART CITY BUSINESS | MAY 2022

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Smart Ports

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“The River Thames is a critical artery for leisure and freight traffic. Understanding future behaviour is vital to planners and operators to ensure service resilience is maintained. This project considered the potential value of a reliable and self-learning river level prediction tool for operational decisions, absorbing all the river influence data, and then extrapolated into a climate scenario simulation model – a constantly learning digital twin.”

 streamline port operations, improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impacts of port operations on the city of Portsmouth. This project was a collaboration between MSE International, the Catapult, Portsmouth International Port and Portico, working to show how transferable solutions in port operations can make significant contributions to the UK’s decarbonisation of freight and logistics infrastructure.

The project considered the challenges for the port including; the impact of maritime logistics on the city’s air quality; the requirements of the 2050 maritime emissions targets; the congestion in the city centre and surrounding areas and alignment with the city’s transport strategy including the Solent Freeport. The project assessed the diverse geo-spatial and other data resources that could offer solutions as well as undertaking a detailed technical appraisal of available geo-spatial solutions. In addition, the port’s existing logistics systems were reviewed and a detailed use-case mapping exercise conducted to check that all the data resources and positioning and sensing technologies could deliver the functionality required by the port.

can be routinely monitored quickly and safely.

Thus, allowing them to quickly prioritise areas for maintenance and plan future maintenance more effectively. Royal HaskoningDHV is continuing to expand its AI-based inspection toolkit for ports to incorporate other extensive structures from quay walls to warehouse roofs.

Shoreham Port: infrastructure condition monitoring In Shoreham, Royal HaskoningDHV has applied its AI-based CREATE platform to identify road and pavement defects in the port. This tool enables inspections of pavements to be undertaken in a lower cost, quicker and safer method, by capturing video images using a camera attached to a vehicle. Images are passed through the Envision engine for defects to be automatically identified and classified. Royal HaskoningDHV is looking at combining this with drone technology so that the condition of large, functional areas of the port

Port of London: Energy Diversity Strategy In the Port of London, Royal HaskoningDHV are working on an Energy Diversity Study for the Thames. The purpose of the study is to model the future energy demand and supply on the tidal Thames as the Port of London Authority (PLA) looks to shape the zero-carbon port for the future. Over the course of the study, researchers assessed the energy solutions (available and emerging) and infrastructure needed to support decarbonisation of the vessels using the Thames, including the PLA’s own fleet and to support

BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT | www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

both the PLA and the wider Thames community in making their next steps towards a lower carbon future.

Factors considered included the speed of technological change for both the inland and international shipping fleets, future growth, geographic constraints, safety, supply chain, current regulations, and commercial viability. The first phase of the study has highlighted some of the remaining challenges with respect to regulation and safety, but also the opportunities for stakeholders on the Thames as energy supply and demand patterns change. The second phase will consider the feasibility of delivering identified solutions at potential sites, gauging the pros and cons of the best suited options for relevant end users. L FURTHER INFORMATION https://www.britishports.org.uk

Are You Prepared?

ISDN / PSTN Switch-Off 2025 Have you considered what exposure or risks the ISDN / PSTN Switch-Off 2025 poses to your organisation?

Your telecoms network will have been built historically on these technologies. However, what you are using and where it is located may be an enigma.

Voice calls, security, well-being and any equipment reliant on these services will be affected. The longer action is delayed, the more problematic the situation may become.

From a completely independent viewpoint, Segmentation Group, with our depth of knowledge in legacy services, can help you gain clarity and remain in control.

Call us on 03300 240480 for a free consultation or email us at info@segmentationgroup.com www.segmentationgroup.com/isdn-/-pstn-switch-off-2025

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

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FURTHER INFORMATION www.FocusGames.com

SMART CITY BUSINESS | MAY 2022

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Well-planned lighting schemes can be influential catalysts to revitalize public spaces and support the growth of towns and cities.

By gaining a better understanding of how our public spaces are being connected and may be used, we can think about and plan them in a different way to drive better outcomes.

Let’s get connected Talk to us about making the right connections.

Get in touch at logic@urbis-schreder.com

Advertisement Feature

Lighting up the road to net zero As an increasing number of local authorities declare climate emergencies and join the collective drive to reach net zero emissions, Clare Thomas, Head of Applications and Solutions at Urbis Schréder, looks at the role lighting can play in improving energy efficiency and how, by thinking – and procuring it differently, we can make the connection between good lighting and better outcomes producing significant savings in both energy and CO2 emissions, so we shouldn’t dismiss it, but I think we could be doing even more.

Street lighting accounts for a significant proportion of most local authorities’ overall electricity consumption, especially if assets have not yet been converted to LED. Add to this the fact that outdoor public lighting is also a significant contributor to CO2 emissions, and it’s easy to see the impact poorly planned and managed lighting can have on both the environment and the already-squeezed financial budgets that many local authorities are faced with.

It is widely acknowledged that switching from traditional light sources, typically HID, to LED delivers energy savings of 60% or more, and can provide the benefit of reduced maintenance costs. But it’s less well understood that, by taking a different approach to how lighting is procured, it can deliver broader benefits. Lighting can also be a tool for driving town centre recovery, improving mobility and safety and creating adaptable, more engaging public spaces – all of which can contribute to wider improvements.

The cost-first approach to procurement The procurement and funding options available to most local authorities are based around whole life ‘value’. Salix funding and other funding mechanisms for LED replacements are all assessed on a whole life payback basis.

What does this mean in practical terms?

Basically, for large-scale or borough-wide LED replacement projects with public funding, whether undertaken direct or via a maintenance contract, it is a numbers game. The successful bidder will be the one that can work the numbers to deliver as close as possible to the specified lighting class, using the cheapest product that can be deployed as quickly as possible and will consume the smallest amount of energy over the lifetime of the installation.

From a practical perspective this means that as an industry, we collectively look at the most efficient way to hit the numbers, including taking a predominantly deskbased approach for the lighting design.

That approach has already allowed us to convert several million lanterns to LED,

Thinking differently about procurement to drive better outcomes Over the past few years, our lives – and the way we live them - have changed. We’re now seeing the way people behave and live through a very different lens. We want to see better, more positive outcomes in all aspects of our lives. We want to build stronger relationships and to see more inclusivity in the world, but sustainability and health and safety are also key.

So, what has this got to do with procurement?

When we procure lighting in a silo, based solely on delivering the light we need in the places we need it at the lowest cost, we risk not seeing the bigger picture. Many of the lighting schemes installed, for both indoor and outdoor applications, seem to focus on tick box compliance against the numbers given within the relevant lighting standards, rather than taking a risk-based approach based on a true understanding of the space and the people using it. I believe this needs to change.

Taking a joined-up approach to procurement Lighting has a huge influence on how people think about, and interact with, public spaces. People naturally gravitate towards good lighting and will spend

more time in better lit places. As a result, a well-planned lighting scheme can be an influential catalyst in regenerating public areas and post-Covid, encouraging people back into our town and city centres.

But that will only happen if we connect the dots – if the different silos come together and integrate lighting infrastructure into their plans for town centre recovery, or for increasing active mobility or improving safety.

Good lighting is a crucial part of the planning process. By gaining a better understanding of how our public spaces are being connected and may be used, we can think about and plan them in a different way.

It is time to carefully analyse and explore the potential in each unique location, and to provide lighting solutions that create safe, engaging spaces that people love to be in.

By using the right lighting solution, and working together to design, procure and implement it, we can have an instant impact on operational and maintenance costs as well as improving our public spaces, connecting our communities and contributing to the sustainability agenda.

So let’s get connected, and make the connection between good lighting and better outcomes. L FURTHER INFORMATION logic@urbis-schreder.com www.urbis-schreder.com

Olympic Way – Wembley Customer Quintain Limited Partner(s) Architect: Dixon Jones Lighting design: Speirs Major Principal contractor: Volker Fitzpatrick

SMART CITY BUSINESS | MAY 2022

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Advertisement Feature

Waste management and recycling software solutions VWS Software Solutions has been providing end-to-end waste management and recycling software solutions to businesses since 2014. Designed and built from the ground up by a team of experienced professionals from the waste management industry, PurGo is a modular and scalable solution, able to grow with your business and adapt to your changing needs

Initially developed for use in commercial operations, PurGo has now been expanded upon to meet the needs of Local Authorities, especially those striving to make a return on their investment. PurGo represents a fresh approach to Local Authority waste software – with the focus being on streamlining operations for commercial waste collections.

Benefits The benefits of the technology and its workflows being cited by users range from huge cost savings, through to streamlined and paperless operations. As the system is live and records and transfers transactions in real time, operators, drivers and system users throughout the business have instant access to powerful business information.

Live KPI Round and Customer Profitability reports can be run, along with real time updates on round progress. Such information can help manage and improve customer service and quickly identify trends that are occurring. One waste operator recently quoted an 85 per cent reduction in queries as a result of the improved communication since implementing PurGo! Seamlessly integrated with bin weighing systems from Vehicle Weighing Solutions, real time weight data is recorded in PurGo and enables a fairer billing approach – identifying the weight of the bins collected by customer and charging based on weight.

Identification of heavy bins may lead to proactive recommendations to customers to change their waste handling approach,

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in order to reduce their costs or identifying trends that can be addressed to improve operational efficiency. Originally designed for commercial trade waste organisations, PurGo is clearly able to identify in real time those customers who are driving a profit and those who are loss makers.

Something often commented on by users of PurGo is that “it is obviously built for commercial waste operators, by people with experience of the industry.” These comments are typically driven by the appreciation of relevant terminology within the software of the workflows that have been specifically built with waste operations in mind - not modifying an alternative solution to be shoe-horned to fit the sector.

As well as the native integration with Vehicle Weighing Solutions, other third-party systems can be integrated with PurGo, including accountancy packages. Although PurGo may streamline or replace some processes, existing systems can usually be included.

For Local Authorities, management of bulky waste collections and other council related commercial waste operations can all be managed by PurGo. This includes skip hire and household waste recycling centre operations.

Recently implemented by Spelthorne Direct Services (SDS), Business Development Manager, Graham Boswell explains: “Other solutions on the market were either expensive for what they offered or were not built for the commercial waste activities that we operate.”

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS FOR THE CITIES OF THE FUTURE | www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

He continues: “VWS Software Solutions offers a one stop shop solution and that’s what we needed.

“PurGo has a 2-way link with our Sage accounting system, our VWS weighing data and our PurGo CRM so that we can seamlessly generate reports, quotes and manage customers efficiently.”

As a customer of Vehicle Weighing Solutions, the SDS vehicles are fitted with EnviroWeigh bin weighing. The data captured from each bin lift is seamlessly integrated into PurGo waste management software and can be used for identifying excess bin weight and charging accordingly.

Since implementing the technology, some of the key areas of efficiency noted

by Zoey Gingell, Commercial Account Manager at SDS, are the accuracy of the data recorded, due to no manual records and the ease of customer communication.

Zoey explains: “With PurGo, we are completely paperless – so much so, that we don’t even own a printer!”.

She continues: “The customers can have as much information as they require – it is all there in the system, in real time.”

As well as providing information to customers by email or phone, customers are also able to log into their own customer portal to view their account.

Duty of care From a duty of care and compliance perspective, PurGo provides a full workshop management module. Zoey explains: “We use PurGo to complete our vehicle checks.

The drivers carry out their walk around checks and record any defects on their tablets. Instructions for them to follow are included on the device, so we know that checks are being fully carried out.

This information comes straight back into the PurGo back office so we can plan remedial works, if necessary.”

Commenting on the features of PurGo and its longevity, Graham Boswell recognises that “It does everything we need and more, and because it is scalable, I don’t think we will ever be able to outgrow it.” L FURTHER INFORMATION www.vwssoftware.com

Smart Lighting

Enhancing the Replication Potential of Smart Lighting Projects In its smart cities paper, researchers from the Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences at Eindhoven University of Technology explore how smart city lighting projects can be replicated and upscaled successfully To address major threats to the sustainability and quality of life in urban settings, many municipalities have started exploring routes toward smarter cities to, for example, lower their energy consumption and carbon footprint. These explorations, in the form of living labs or other pilot projects, often suffer from major problems in scaling up the initial try-outs.

In this study, we identify the mechanisms that facilitate the diffusion of smart city solutions, which are developed with public funds but typically lack dedicated resources to spur the diffusion of these solutions. We introduce the construct of embedded replication potential - the capacity of an original project to be either scaled up locally or replicated elsewhere. Subsequently, empirical findings from a study of smart lighting projects in several municipalities in northwestern Europe serve to develop a checklist-based tool for assessing the embedded replication potential of an initial project and to assess the replication potential of other smart city projects.

New innovative products often require substantial upfront investments by adopters to achieve major gains such as improved energy efficiency or enhanced quality of life. As such

To overcome these boundaries, all stakeholders involved have to adopt a “broader” perspective. However, many stakeholders may not be able to invest sufficient resources (e.g., time) to become familiar with the worldview of others.

Using Boundary As such, innovation scholars have Objects A demonstrated that knowledge to Enable growin g sharing and collaboration benefit Knowledge numbe from so-called boundary objects, Sharing r o f municip involving abstract or physical A key challenge appreci alities artifacts with the capacity to in smart city bridge perceptual and practical projects is that they potenti ate the a differences among diverse inherently involve l o f an active d actors and thereby promote highly diverse cooperation. Boundary objects actors, representing with re ialogue sidents may include models, graphs, different backgrounds visual representations, tools. Using and institutional settings. a combination of boundary objects More specifically, people improves the effectiveness and efficiency of with highly different backgrounds knowledge transfer. often do not have enough common “language” to effectively engage in conversations about Involving residents collaboration. In this respect, three types of in decision making knowledge boundaries have been identified in Many municipal staff members appear to focus innovation processes: syntactic, semantic and on obtaining a minimum level of stakeholder E pragmatic boundaries. investments are often associated with high costs, the decision to allocate resources may involve numerous factors that can hinder the adoption decision.

SMART CITY BUSINESS | MAY 2022

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Advertisement Feature

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Cloud Resource Optimisation Once in the cloud, our optimisation specialist will identify the most cost-effective way to leverage cloud services. Your enterprise will enjoy cost savings and centralised management–without limiting service availability or accessibility.

Capitalise on Cloud Infrastructure with Us RSV Solutions is the perfect partner to organisations ready to migrate to cloud hosting. Our team of cloud infrastructure specialists are adept in all hyperscale cloud provider solutions and multi-cloud models, including Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud Platform.

We have successfully: Migrated legacy technology including WebSphere, Tivoli, mainframes, AIX, Solaris, W2000+, RHEL3+, and many more; created optimised networks using a range of solutions for running services from the cloud in a significantly faster and more secure way than on-premise; delivered streamlined governance through the creation of tailored business cases, complete security assessments, allowing us to complete migrations in months not years; and built Cloud Landing Zones using our repeatable, script deployable solutions

Experts with Private & Public Sector Experience Our team has gained experience by delivery key projects to the UK Public sector and system integrators, and the finance sector.

Infrastructure as Code Capabilities We have a strong focus on infrastructure as code. With Infrastructure as Code, we’re able to automate the delivery of services where possible, including patches, resiliency, provisioning and self-healing. Benefits of implementing IaC include reduce support costs, increasing a client’s network agility, and improved service reliability.

Modernise Your Applications with us RSV Solutions is equipped with various tools and methods to move even the oldest applications. Your organisation will benefit from modern, cloud-native services that are elastic, self-aware, self-healing, can auto-scale, can be deployed by script, are evergreen, secure and resilient, and are supported with full health and security 24×7 monitoring.

We have a team of expert consultants ready to design a modernisation plan aligned with your business profile and risk appetite. We’re ready to handle even the oldest of applications, and ensure that your organisation doesn’t lose productivity while we help you transition.

We’ll help you: Discover and identify the most appropriate treatment; build a Business Case and Roadmap for transformation; transform people (skills, training, experience), processes (cloud-native, CICD, DevOps, SecOps, FinOps) and technology (automation, standardisation, simplification) for this modern way of working; decommission legacy estate and

Gain Control of Your Cloud Network with Us RSV Solutions offers fully managed, comanaged, and interim managed cloud network services. We’re able to manage your networking

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realise full benefits of the cloud; and manage your modernisation project and complete it expediently with zero impact on your operation Create Your Digital Workplace With Us RSV Solutions is the go-to digital transformation partner for public and private sector organisations. We’ve been behind some of the most ambitious projects that have transformed organisations, enabling higher levels of productivity through the use of smart technology.

Strategic Solutions Transformation should start at the beginning of your move to the cloud, but we’ve found that it can start anywhere between developing a business case for a digital workplace solution and being in the throes of a roll-out that hasn’t been executed efficiently. Our team of experts is ready to meet you where you are to help develop and implement the right digital workplace solution for your organisation.

Our scope of services include: Planning and implementation of digital workplace solutions, backed by strong project management expertise and experience in private and public sector; endto-end managed migrations from your legacy environment to a new greenfield Microsoft tenant; management of Exchange Online, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint and Microsoft security and compliance; a single point of contact for managing and maintaining your Microsoft 365 environment; and we have a number of base and advanced services covering Microsoft 365 end-to-end, including Teams Voice, Device Management and Information Management L FURTHER INFORMATION www.rsvsolutions.co.uk

Smart Lighting

 acceptance. For instance: “They think there are going to be small steps, but at the end it’s going to be a big change in their personal life so their acceptance is very important” (municipality #F); “If we tell the residents that we are going to lower the lights they will really think something and express their opinions… if we don’t tell anything they wouldn’t even notice.

So probably it’s better not to tell too much to the residents” (municipality #H); “We want to learn how to work together with the users and other stakeholders like shop owners; sometimes it is very difficult to communicate with them and there is a conflict of interest” (municipality #C).

Likewise, municipal representatives acknowledged ample opportunities to collaborate with business owners; for instance: “we’ll be talking with them to develop the proposals … Also, how to communicate with all these stakeholders is important” (municipality #D); “I think we can ask about issues from the people themselves because when you have some regional arguments in different parts of the city it’s the people there who best know what’s going on specifically” (municipality #F). However, the resources and capabilities of the municipalities appear to be an important limiting factor, since several municipalities had major difficulties in facilitating the meaningful inclusion of residents. Our earlier argument about use cases serving as boundary objects is also relevant here: “But I think if we have some sort of solutions to show them [referring to the ones developed within the project], they’re able to tell if this fits with their particular situation” (municipality #F). Similarly, another representative from the same municipality talked about an interest-based (as opposed to geographical) clustering of resident involvement targeting, for example, “cyclists to ask them what the problems are and what the situation is, because we’re thinking about how improve the streets themselves, but it might be an additional part of the solution to help them feel safer by

Once a pilot project nears completion, its momentum tends to slow down; as a result, various participants have little motivation to pursue replication elsewhere, even if the solution appears to be highly appropriate giving them a better lighting situation.”

Overall, our data suggest a growing number of municipalities appreciate the potential of an active dialogue with residents as an important driver of adopting smart lighting. Boundary objects serve as knowledge carriers between locations as well as focal points for conversations on adoption. A testament to the efficacy of such boundary objects is that the followercity representatives became fully engaged in exploring how use cases developed elsewhere could be implemented in their own city.

Including an Intermediary One key challenge in replicating projects is that some or all implementation roles are fulfilled by different parties. This exchange of partners creates an additional problem around knowledge transfer. In this respect, replication efforts can be reinforced by including an intermediary organisation in the consortium to gather insights from individual projects and disseminates knowledge and network contacts to new initiatives.

Strong leadership The existence of a strong leader enables members to move toward a shared vision, to align their investments and to develop mutually supportive roles. The leader also has to mobilise all participants around a strong vision of implementing and scaling up the developed solutions. In an ideal situation, this vision is created at an early (pilot) stage. A

challenge in replicating smart city innovations is that, once a pilot project nears completion, its momentum tends to slow down. As a result, various participants have little motivation to pursue replication elsewhere, even if the solution appears to be highly appropriate.

Where commercial firms have a market incentive for replication, public organisations may not.

Procuring Standard Solutions Municipalities tend to prefer standardised products, which are perceived as beneficial for at least two reasons. The first reason is costs. With higher economies of scale, standard products typically outcompete fully customised units, even if the integration of the standard product is customised for a specific municipality. The second reason is the expectation of future compatibility and interoperability, in both replacing these units and adding further functionalities.

Momentum Once a pilot project nears completion, its momentum tends to slow down; as a result, various participants have little motivation to pursue replication elsewhere, even if the solution appears to be highly appropriate. This problem partially arises from how the principal–agent relationship between the (public) funding body and the consortium is structured. Publicly funded projects typically measure the impact of the innovative solution within the (funded) project duration itself, rather than beyond it, E SMART CITY BUSINESS | MAY 2022

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Bacula Systems: experts in data backup and recovery Government Business interviews Frank Barker, CEO of Bacula Systems, in which he shares his thoughts on the security challenges facing government departments unable to recover from attack, resulting in catastrophic damage. Although cyber security tools are used to protect networks and overall attack surfaces in the first instance, it is the backup and recovery system which is relied on to have the ability to quickly restore services to normal levels when all else fails or has failed. However, we have seen many examples of organisations lately that have been hit by ransomware or other threat actors, yet have not been able to quickly, nor easily recover – if at all. Government leaders need to understand why and how these dangers exist, and how supporting their IT departments - in a number of various ways, can make a big difference.

Frank Barker is the CEO of Bacula Systems, which provides advanced backup and recovery solutions to many western government agencies

Why is executive involvement and support in making sure an organisation’s IT systems are secure more necessary than ever before?

Frank: The stakes are much higher than before.

Ransomware and other types of cyberattacks are more sophisticated and more prevalent now, happening against a backdrop of growing geo-political tensions. That is why government leaders need to be personally involved in ensuring their departments have been protected to the highest levels. Traditionally, government and business leaders have been happy to leave their IT departments to be responsible for data security. That approach is no longer tenable - guidance, support, communication and accountability in both directions is needed between the IT chiefs and the organisations’ directors in order to attain the true levels of security that are needed in today’s world.

How can an enterprise backup solution strengthen an organisation’s resilience in the event of a natural disaster or large cyber attack?

The government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey found that nearly four in ten UK businesses had experienced a cyber attack in the past 12 months. How important is it that government leaders fully understand opportunities to improve cyber security, especially in the context of backup and recovery?

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Frank: Backup infrastructure can be considered the last, and I would argue therefore most important, line of defence in situations that involve ransomware and other sophisticated cyber attacks. However, because of this, backup repositories have also become a target themselves by these same threats.

If not well protected, backup and recovery systems can also be compromised and a government organisation’s services become

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS FOR THE CITIES OF THE FUTURE | www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

Frank: Backup systems exists primarily to get an organisation’s systems up and running again as soon as possible after they go down for whatever reason. When the moment comes that it is needed – and it will be needed – the organisations’ ability to successfully and quickly recover its services represents the ultimate resilience.

But there are other ways a good backup system can provide significant defence against attack. For example, being able to immediately identify any suspicious or hostile

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data modifications within any part of the infrastructure and report them automatically.

Another example would the ability to translate backed up data into a different format or media, encrypting it and storing it off-site or at other destinations that are clear and separate of the attack or accident.

This demonstrates how a backup system can increase an organisation leader’s options dramatically when facing a disaster scenario.

Strategy for business continuity inherently involves the decision-makers in an organisation. For example, some government services are more time-critical than others.

Other services are more mission critical, but are somewhat tolerant to a limited downtime. Some databases are more critical than others. Government leaders need to be involved in identifying which data, applications and services take the priority in a disaster recovery situation.

What other reasons are there to use enterprise backups?

Frank: Backup systems are also often used

by IT departments to redeploy or replicate systems, but what’s important to government leaders is that these same systems are typically critical for helping to meet the requirements of their organisation’s compliance frameworks.

Privacy policies and disclosures related to data protection, for example, or facilitating specific data encryption needs, data retention schedules, breach notifications and forensic examination of systems would be just a few important factors. It’s important to know that, as part of governmental digital transformation programs, improving data governance capacity

is key. Enterprise backup systems often play an important role in enabling the collaborative management of government-wide data, and contribute towards the ability to manage and align various data-related programs and IT infrastructures with public service objectives. But the obvious priority objective would be ensuring continuity of services in the face of a cyber-attack or other disaster.

The prime purpose of a ransomware is to get inside a networked system. How can businesses protect backups from ransomware?

Frank: There are many ways a government - or any - organisation can protect their backup system from ransomware. I would urge government leaders to check that their organisation is using a backup solution that is modern and up to date, and that their IT team has all the support it needs from the organisation’s directors to be able to execute correctly. Its backup software must be able to conform with best practices, and should really go well beyond the minimum government guidelines. Bacula’s backup system uses an especially resilient architecture that makes it extremely resistant to ransomware. It is used by western military and defence departments, as well as large government research laboratories that need high security backup. I’m proud that my organisation, by modernising governmental departments’ backup systems, has simultaneously brought about a significant reduction in their costs, freeing up funds to invest in other areas. Government leaders can protect their organisations from ransomware

in a wider sense by running through a checklist of sensible precautions. An example of these actions would be identifying all assets that are searchable via online tools and then taking steps to reduce their attack exposure. Developing an organisation-wide culture where each knowledge worker has an awareness of the importance of good security habits is also crucial. There are many aspects where the staff of a government department can significantly contribute to security, such as using caution with email, or choosing and protecting passwords correctly. Working from home networks can introduce further exposure to danger, and everyone in government should be aware of the reasons why. Of course, IT departments typically have additional tools at their disposal to protect and monitor networks, users and infrastructure. Bacula provides a white paper to help government leaders navigate all of these important factors from their own high-level perspective.

BaculaSystems’ checklist against ransomware for organisation leaders is available here. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.baculasystems.com

SMART CITY BUSINESS | MAY 2022

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Recruitment Difficulties Remain at Record Highs - Quarterly Recruitment Outlook 4 out of 5 (78%) firms that attempted to recruit facing difficulties in finding staff. Hospitality, construction, logistics and manufacturing firms most likely to report difficulties (80% or higher) but all sectors have significant issues. Smaller firms reporting increasing wage pressures are making it harder to compete for staff Figures released in late April by the British Chambers of Commerce show the pressure on firms struggling to recruit staff remains at record high levels. The data for the leading business group’s Quarterly Recruitment Outlook survey for Q1 2022 was drawn from a survey of 5,500 businesses.

Attempted recruitment in Q1 was down slightly with 60% looking to recruit staff (64% in Q4 2021). However, the proportion of firms reporting difficulties filling roles remains at a historical high at 78%, dropping just one percentage point from the previous quarter (79%).

The hospitality sector was facing the most challenging recruitment issues, with 85%, reporting difficulties, up from 83% in Q4 2021. This was closely followed by construction on 83%, logistics on 81% and manufacturers at 80%.

Retail and wholesale firms were the least likely to report difficulties at 69% but the proportions of firms that cannot find the staff they need remains worryingly high.

Views from business Firms reported a broad range of issues which contributed to the overall recruitment squeeze – this included disruption due to Covid and a drop in the availability of foreign staff. More firms are also reporting that wage competition is proving disruptive.

“We are finding it difficult to recruit all levels of staff. Applicants are able to choose between several employers as we are all chasing the same people.

They feel we are on the edge of the Midlands but still expect Wolverhampton / Birmingham salaries.” Medium sized professional services firm in Shropshire “We are prepared to pay more for the right people, but there just seems to be no one to employ. If we cannot get staff our service slips drastically because we don’t have enough people to serve our customers.” Micro hospitality firm in Scotland Responding to the findings, Head of People Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, Jane Gratton said: “It’s now harder than ever for businesses to fill job vacancies and

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there are no signs of improvement.

In an increasingly tight labour market, competition for skills is ramping up wage costs, leaving many firms unable to recruit the people they need.

“When combined with the escalating price of energy, shipping, raw materials and other costs, it is a precarious situation for businesses. Inevitably, it is the smaller firms, with little in the way of cash reserves after two years of pandemic, who are most exposed to the risk all this presents.

“The UK government needs to take concrete action to address labour shortages as they are a key factor in the economy’s stuttering recovery. If firms cannot get the people they need then productivity and revenue are two of the first casualties.

“Government must also ensure that people can access rapid retraining

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS FOR THE CITIES OF THE FUTURE | www.governmentbusiness.co.uk

opportunities for in-demand jobs at all skill levels in the workforce.

At the same time, where there is clear evidence of national shortages damaging the economy, we need temporary visas for hard working people willing to come to the UK to work in the essential every-day roles that we all rely on.

“Businesses are investing more in developing home grown talent - and creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce – but this won’t solve pervasive skills shortages overnight. Right now, the priority has to be to improve access to skills and ease the wider cost pressures facing business.” L FURTHER INFORMATION www.britishchambers.org.uk

Smart Lighting

 which potentially incentivises consortia to focus on immediate implementation instead of long-term impact. One way to avoid a loss of momentum is to plan for significant efforts in coordinating replication activities in the original project.

Replication Checklist for Smart Lighting Applications 14 checklist items were developed by synthesizing the findings of the research. An initial test demonstrated that the tool serves to assess the design of a (proposed or ongoing) project; it also appears to facilitate discussions about the scope of the project. Moreover, the tool can be deliberately used as a selfassessment instrument when the project owner and its stakeholders evaluate the incorporation of replication-enhancing strategies into the current state of the project. The outcomes of multiple users assessing a single project may not only facilitate discussions about the project’s design but also help monitor the project’s progress at a later stage. In any case, the tool serves to prevent some activities and strategies that would be completely neglected. The tool may have a significant impact in scrutinising consortia-based applications for (publicly funded) projects. Indeed, gaining followers is key to the success of any original application project—from both an energy-saving and an environmental impact point of view. The checklist can be viewed here.

Technology transfer The construct of embedded replication potential and the tool for measuring it may appeal to public funding agencies as a valuable approach for estimating the impact potential of any sustainability project in an urban context. This approach may work both ways. First, funding agencies can request substantial efforts in embedding replication potential in project proposals, especially those aiming to develop and apply novel technologies in use cases; this would make it easier to transfer the technology to other sites. Second, project managers that seek funding for replication activities need to engage in substantial efforts to identify previous projects and their outcomes, to subsequently transfer (some of) that knowledge to reduce the transaction costs of the replication project envisioned. Either way, the tool developed in this paper may inspire funding agencies and project owners to enhance the replication potential of their funded projects and thus make our cities more sustainable. L Extracts published from “Enhancing the Replication Potential of Smart Lighting Projects” by Dr. Madis Talmar, Prof. Dr. Georges Romme, Prof. Rianne Valkenburg.

Academic Editor: Pierluigi Siano. Cofunded by the Regional Development Fund under the transnational program Interreg North-West Europe, project number NWE647. The APC was funded by the Eindhoven University of Technology.

FURTHER INFORMATION Access the full research: https://tinyurl.com/2p8ktkwt

SMART CITY BUSINESS | MAY 2022

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