Cloud-based data platform for smart communities

Practical example and current challenges

• The digital transformation is crucial for the future development of cities, communities and districts in Germany and Europe. It secures locational advantages in international competition, increases the quality of life on site and helps to meet the sociological, economic and ecological challenges of society. This is achieved through the decentralized development of new digital infrastructures and applications by cities, communities and districts. In a commune, for example, data infrastructures in the areas of mobility, health, administration, energy and education are developed in a decentralized manner.
  
• Smart urban planning and control requires the bundling of different data sets. Only this makes it possible to aggregate and process data to enable data-based urban and community development. Data platforms and cloud solutions are subsequently the technical core of all intelligently networked communities. The data platform enables data providers and data consumers to connect with each other in a "data marketplace", so that products and services can be created offering citizens added value in terms of improving their quality of life. The potential of cloud applications for the digital transformation of the public sector is currently not being sufficiently leveraged, as some providers are concerned, among other things, about maintaining data sovereignty when using non-European providers.
  
• Currently, only a few cities, districts and communities in Germany have data platforms that meet the criteria and requirements of a Smart City data platform. Across Germany, there are still a few municipalities on the way to using Smart City platforms and are confronted with numerous hurdles. On the one hand, the procurement of Smart City data platforms is currently accompanied by high legal and technical-regulatory uncertainties. On the other hand, a possible operating concept must be considered at the time of procurement. Due to the current very uncertain requirements, the procurement of Smart City data platforms is linked to a high risk in terms of content and high costs.
  
• Currently, many local communities are attempting to solve the same challenges independently of each other and in parallel; a nationwide implementation and establishment of Smart City platforms is not in sight. However, the resulting isolated solutions of individual municipalities cannot be a
  
• The aim of implementing the Gaia-X Use Case is therefore also to integrate the cities of Hamburg, Darmstadt, Wolfsburg, Ulm and Paderborn as well as the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region, which are currently already working independently on the implementation of a Smart City data platform.

What added value does the "Gaia-X project" offer?

• Gaia-Xenables the dissolution of data silos currently existing in a municipality. A uniform data and cloud platform offers the possibility of interaction between different participants (e.g. offices, private companies, associations and companies) within a municipality.
  
• Through integration, Gaia-X allows data to be exchanged across municipal boundaries with other municipalities. This creates potential for the utilisation of the data assets, as optimisations can be carried out across several municipalities, thus enabling service providers to offer their solutions efficiently in several municipalities.
  
• Gaia-X enables synergy effects and increases potential in the digitisation of municipalities. Municipalities can focus on the actual offerings and services, whose availability is directly reflected in the benefits for citizens and are therefore fundamental to the success of a Smart City. At the same time, the establishment of Gaia-X provides local authorities with a particularly high level of security and strengthens their digital sovereignty.
  
• Gaia-X can contribute to facilitating the use of private, commercial and public data from different sources and in the interaction between local authority actors, civil society, business and municipal IT service providers.

Use Case Team

• Michael Pfefferle and Jens Mühlner – Bitkom e.V.
  
• Alexander Handschuh – Deutscher Städte- und Gemeindebund
  
• Frauke Janßen – Deutscher Städtetag
  
• Christian Stuffrein – Deutscher Landkreistag
  
• Gerald Swarat and Steffen Heß – Fraunhofer IESE