Urban Management and Transport in Aarhus

Challenge:

The City of Aarhus, the second-largest city in Denmark, faced significant challenges as its population grew. These included public transport inefficiencies, traffic congestion, infrastructure planning, sustainable mobility, and parking issues. Additionally, the city struggled with optimising the management of its vehicle fleet, enhancing the utilisation of office workspaces, and automating compliance processes for temperature-sensitive environments like food and medical storage. These challenges highlighted the need for a more efficient and sustainable approach to urban management and transportation systems.

Approach:

To address these challenges, Aarhus developed and deployed an open-source IoT platform supported by its own LoRaWAN network. This infrastructure provided a cost-effective and scalable solution for transmitting sensor data, emphasising interoperability aligned with EU standards. The city implemented several targeted projects, including the Fleet Optimiser, a tool that uses data to optimise vehicle routes, manage fleet usage, and analyse environmental impact. Additionally, the municipality employed IoT sensors to monitor desk and meeting room usage, enabling more efficient space utilisation and reducing unnecessary expansions (e.g., unused bookings are automatically cancelled if the meeting hasn't started within five minutes, ensuring rooms are available for others). Another initiative automated temperature monitoring in refrigerators, freezers, and medical cabinets using IoT thermometers, providing real-time alerts and digital records for compliance (e.g. alerts via SMS or email about temperature deviations to respond to potential equipment failures).

Outcomes:

These efforts produced significant outcomes. Aarhus’ IoT infrastructure offered substantial cost savings through its open-source platform and network scalability. The Fleet Optimiser reduced fuel consumption, minimised CO2 emissions, and improved both operational costs and service delivery. Workspace monitoring provided data-driven insights, leading to better utilisation of existing spaces, reduced environmental impact, and cost avoidance related to new infrastructure investments. The automation of temperature monitoring improved compliance reliability and allowed staff to focus on higher-value activities. Collectively, these solutions demonstrated how scalable, open-source IoT tools could foster innovation and operational excellence. Moreover, Aarhus’ approach became a model for other municipalities in Denmark, encouraging collaboration and collective benefits across local governments.

Data Sources:

The data supporting these outcomes was collected through Aarhus’ LoRaWAN network, with the IoT platform leveraging open-source technologies like OS2iot and FIWARE for data visualisation and analysis. Real-time data from IoT devices enabled the municipality to optimise operations across multiple domains, driving efficiency and sustainability while enhancing services for citizens.

Additional information:

• https://aarhuscitylab.dk/english
• https://aarhus.dk/demokrati/projekter-og-samarbejder/trafik-og-infrastruktur/aarhus-skal-have-en-groen-mobilitetsplan
• https://aarhuscitylab.dk/det-vi-arbejder-med/nyheder-fra-aarhus-city-lab/gateways-drevet-af-solceller-kan-give-nye-muligheder-i-kommunerne

Point of Contact:

• aarhuscitylabaarhus [dot] dk (aarhuscitylab[at]aarhus[dot]dk)
• mobilitetmtm [dot] aarhus [dot] dk (mobilitet[at]mtm[dot]aarhus[dot]dk)
• bkmoaarhus [dot] dk (bkmo[at]aarhus[dot]dk)