The avenue, which is renovating until November, will have wi-fi and pollution control and light
El paseo de Gràcia de Barcelona “smart city” photo
Who has not ever seen the street lights on during the day ? A mistake , no doubt, or is that someone forgot to turn off the light . Or that the irrigation system run for a rainy day or watering the driveway rather than on the green . They are scenes that outraged citizens , who do not understand that it is wasteful of energy and water resources. Barcelona has been proposed to use technology to eliminate such situations and improve waste collection services , lighting, irrigation , parking , traffic, offer free wi – fi in the street and to monitor earthquakes. Therefore, it has decided to make the Passeig de Gràcia , where all kinds of art sensors will be used in the test of what should be a smart city .
For many it may be a trend of urban development may be transient . A fad as it comes rather than leaves. But the City Council wants to make Barcelona champion of smart cities of the world and plans to extend this model in all the reforms carried out in the city in the coming years. Intelligent intersection to control traffic in the district of Les Corts , introduced last week , is aimed in the same way. Superblocks , where the car wants to withdraw from the streets and yet to develop and specify , beyond theory and good intentions , are also in this line.
The Passeig de Gràcia , the City Council is about to tender the construction project that will allow the installation of fiber optic cables and electronics and a large sensor network worth 400,000 euros. This technological infrastructure Avenue become the first smart city promenade . Whatever happens there will be registered.
This will allow pedestrians to enjoy 50 meter free wi – fi city , connect to the world from the same walk , see restaurants, shops , theaters, and all the leisure activities available in the city. These communication nodes will be installed in luminaires that are running designing and also incorporate sensors to measure atmospheric and light pollution. In the latter case , it can control particulate matter , carbon monoxide or nitrogen and know what weather conditions the city center is located. The wi – fi network that is installed along the promenade will also allow sensors to cover the big brother that their location can not be physically connected to the network . This is the case of many of them .
The lighting will be another big bets for future reform. The sensors are installed there , and that will also apply in other urban reforms in the city, control the passage of pedestrians. Thus, the lighting can be adapted to the flow of pedestrians at the time roam the streets. 300 points of light will be installed and are expected to save 60 % of energy consumption by adapting the lighting to the volume of pedestrians. This does not entail any change in the historic lampposts Ride , currently being restored.
Another issue that will require the company to finally win the competition is to introduce a sensor to assess water pollution . As stipulated by the project, will be considered an improvement in the system plan to measure humidity, temperature , pH and availability of an anemometer , rain sensor and controlling wind speed , among other factors . Is even planning to install sensors on public sources to monitor its quality . It is, as a municipal spokesman said , a pilot, but it is possible that other sources end up imposing city .
Another requirement is that the criteria that incorporate sensors to measure ground vibrations and traffic flow , and dispose of items that can record earthquakes. To some it may seem exaggerated , but the intent of the City is to the service of other local government agencies and regional data that can be drawn from this clever installation.
The purpose is that the data end up serving to better manage municipal services and resources serving the area in which the sensors are installed. A clear example is garbage collection . Containers shall have a sensor that will indicate the center when they are full and need emptying . Once the system was extended to the rest of the city , we can determine what behavior have different neighborhoods , and also what needs.
However , the City does not rule out that once the sensor network to be extended to other areas of Barcelona to reach the market with certain data. Currently , the only model to capture this type of data is through Open Data and the city offers it for free, but city officials do not rule out this line boost charge for information in the future.
Between the lines you are working , although in this case not affect the Passeig de Gràcia are eliminated because parking spaces, is the location of sensors to help identify the blue zone seats free on the street. This would allow an application through drivers could know instantly how many seats are free and in what areas.
While the installation work of this network and fiber optic cabling , which will install the sensors, are awarded the Passeig de Gràcia urbanization continues. The renovation work between Diagonal Avenue and Mallorca are almost ready . To the naked eye and the only platform and the transformation of the former terciana , where have disappeared cars and bikes is identified. The second phase of work , which affects the section between the streets Mallorca and Arago , is dated end of work on July 15 . The third phase, which leads to the Gran Via , until 20 November, when starting the Christmas season. For now , facing the Pedrera and you can enjoy a taste of what the ride will be once it is remodeled.
EXECUTIVE CHAUFFEUR BARCELONA 