The city of Whittlesea in Australia is leading a multi-council smart cities pilot programme that uses data to improve how public spaces are managed.
 
A network of sensors is being installed throughout the city to collect anonymous data showing how people are using spaces, air quality, water levels and waste volumes.
 
The data should help the council be more efficient and effective in the way it manages public buildings and outdoor spaces on behalf of the community.
 
The city is installing five types of sensors:

• 38 trackers for council vehicles such as drain cleaners, street sweepers, trailers, lorries and tippers to track usage;
• 62 bin sensors in 35 parks to better manage waste collection;
• Eight air quality sensors to monitor air quality and environmental factors in urban areas and in Whittlesea Township;
• Five water level monitoring sensors to collect flood level data; and
• 21 people counting sensors in three town centre locations to measure pedestrian activity and health of town centres.

Mayor Emilia Lisa Sterjova said the city of Whittlesea was leading the way with the introduction of smart sensors to help the council be more intelligent in the way it delivered services to the community.

“The smart cities programme will enable us to be efficient and responsible in the way we manage public buildings and outdoor spaces,” she said. “These important insights we gain through the pilot programme will help us improve our services to the community and make improvements in the way we operate.”

The pilot project will run until June 2020. The project is funded through the Australian Government’s Smart Cities & Suburbs programme and is being delivered in partnership with La Trobe University, RMIT University, Banyule, Mitchell, Moreland and Nillumbik councils.