Smart City and Utility Industry News Roundup
March 13, 2024

The program Lum’ACTEE+ is looking to upgrade between three and four million light fixtures across France with a €15 million fund for public lighting renovation. Following a previous allocation of €10 million assisting 9,100 communities, this new phase extends support through July 2026, focusing on energy efficiency, biodiversity, and broader coverage including project management funding. Key changes include mandatory collaboration for smaller towns and increased funding rates for energy studies, with special incentives for biodiversity consideration and higher subsidies for non-interconnected areas.

The Provincial Council of Valencia launched a €2.5 million subsidy program for small municipalities’ smart city initiatives in 2024, to help them streamline decision-making. The program backs the adoption of smart technologies and digitalization efforts, offering grants for data analysis and device purchases. Municipalities can receive up to €100,000, with a subsidy rate of 80%.

Hawaii is deploying 80 beta N5 sensors for wildfire detection across the state, including Maui, to enhance wildfire response efforts, a move that comes after the deadly Lahaina fire of last August. These sensors, which can detect heat and differentiate smoke from other airborne particles using AI, are part of a system set to provide early fire detection and save lives. The sensors, with a cost of some $10 per acre, are funded by the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology and the US Fire Administration, with no state cost. Homeland Security is planning to deploy a total of 200 Beta N5 wildfire sensors in high-risk areas across the US in 2024 for operational testing and evaluation.

Los Santos Rural Electrification Cooperative (Coopesantos RL) in Costa Rica has completed its first Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployment, using Itron’s distribution intelligence technology across its 1,500 km2 service area in central western Costa Rica. The five-year project involved installing 50,000 smart meters, enhancing visibility and control over Coopesantos RL’s rural territory. The project represents an important step forward in updating electrical infrastructure and distribution in rural areas

Yunex Traffic and Aimsun have partnered up to introduce a digital twin solution in Tees Valley, Northern England. The project is to enhance bus reliability and traffic management using simulation and data analytics for predictive traffic management, potentially automating or assisting in traffic management decisions. By integrating data from Yunex Traffic’s Stratos and UTMC systems with Aimsun’s predictive analytics, the digital twin should offer real-time and future traffic condition insights. This approach not only aims to improve punctuality for buses but also seeks to enhance overall traffic flow, reduce congestion, and cut emissions across Tees Valley’s transport network.