Smart City and Utility Industry News Roundup
May 8, 2024

The Municipality of Naples, through its specialized company ABC, is initiating a major upgrade of its water infrastructure with a €37 million loan from the Pnrr* program and an additional €7 million from its own funds. The project, named ‘Abc4Innovation – digital and technological transition towards the smart water system of the city of Naples’, aims to fully digitalize the city’s water distribution networks. This will involve several key projects :

• Smart Measurement Tools and SCADA Systems: Installation of devices to monitor network parameters and a new platform for enhanced network management and optimization.
• Network Districtisation and Active Loss Control: Implementation of smart meters to better understand and control water distribution, aiming to optimize the districtization of the water network.
• Leak Pre-localization: About 500 new acoustic noise-logger sensors will be deployed to monitor an additional 250 km of the water network.
• Smart Metering in Homes: Installation of approximately 115,000 new smart meters in residences to improve transparency and promote sustainable water usage among citizens.
• City Fountains Refurbishment: Rehabilitation works on major city fountains to restore their functionality.
• Network Maintenance and Upgrades: Reconstruction and replacement of around 27 km of the water network to modern standards.

These projects are designed to modernize Naples’ water network, increase operational efficiency, and reduce losses. This upgrade, set to be implemented by 2026, marks a significant step towards transforming Naples into a city with a smart, sustainable water system.

*The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) is Italy’s response to the global Covid-19 emergency and to the obstacles that have blocked the growth of the country’s economic, social and environmental system in recent decades. It is is part of the European recovery project Next Generation EU.

Essonne Numérique, a collaborative effort led by the Department of Essonne and 124 communes, has entered a 12-year public performance contract worth €90 million with partners Axione, Free Pro, NGE, Sogetrel, and Eryma. This initiative marks a major digital strategy across the region, enabling local governments to independently manage their telecommunications network and services without relying on third-party providers. Essonne Numérique, established in 2016, leverages a fiber optic network and LoRaWAN radio coverage to connect to the regional Francilien community datacenter in Lognes, aiming for cohesive regional digital integration.

Local governments in Essonne can join the network for free and select services à la carte through a dedicated website, billed via a standard rate contribution. The digital solutions offered include telecommunications services, building management systems, security solutions, and connected outdoor solutions, all designed to enhance public service efficiency and improve quality of life while pushing forward digital and energy transitions. More information is available on essonnenumerique.com.

Rubicon Technologies has divested its fleet technology business, including its Smart City and software products, to Rodina Capital for $94.2 million. The deal, which is part of Rubicon’s strategy to focus on core waste management services, includes an initial payment of $68 million and potential additional payments of $12.5 million, dependent on revenue targets. This sale marks Rubicon’s exit from the smart city solutions sector, shifting away from less profitable software ventures to concentrate on enhancing its primary business operations. The divested Smart City product, which serves over 100 municipal clients, will now operate under new leadership as an independent company, focusing on technology for waste, recycling, and municipal services.

LACROIX has finalized the sale of its Road Signs division, historically central to its business, to AIAC as of April 30, 2024. The divested Road Signs segment, historically a foundational business unit for LACROIX and a significant contributor to its growth until the early 2000s, generated €59 million in 2023, accounting for 7.8% of the company’s revenue. The sale is aligned with LACROIX’s decision to streamline its focus due to the limited synergies between the Road Signs division, known as “Signa,” and its other high-tech ventures in public lighting, mobility, and energy networks. As a result, the Road Signs segment, now under AIAC, will operate independently, allowing LACROIX to focus more on its core strategic markets.

Firefighters in the western U.S. now have a new AI-assisted camera network called ALERTWest, developed by the University of Oregon’s Oregon Hazard Lab and partners. This network, spanning about 1,200 cameras, provides early wildfire detection to enhance response times. Initially set up in 2018, these cameras provided a 360-degree view and were sporadically monitored by emergency responders. With the integration of AI, these cameras now continuously analyze visual data to detect signs of wildfire, such as smoke or heat. When the AI identifies potential fire activity, the system alerts operators to verify the incident before notifying emergency services. Users, including the public, can access these cameras via a single login for real-time updates. The network, which started in 2018, is expanding, with more cameras planned across additional states.

Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE) is testing AI-enhanced wildfire detection cameras through a pilot program in partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia. This initiative involves three specialized cameras providing continuous surveillance for smoke indicators 24/7. The cameras, mounted on towers, offer a 360-degree view and link to the FireScout system, which uses machine learning to detect potential wildfires by analyzing image feeds for smoke signs. FireScout can detect fires up to 29 kilometers away during the day and 21 kilometers at night. Detected smoke alerts HRFE personnel to assess the situation and potentially dispatch fire crews. This program is a component of the broader municipal strategy to enhance early wildfire detection and improve community resilience, including offering FireSmart assessments for property owners.