Munich to become “smart city” – current urban development

For the Bavarian capital of Munich, the concept of a “smart city” is an important topic. By taking on the project, the city will be addressing the challenges of the future. In autumn of 2015, Munich – along with Vienna and Lyon – was selected to receive funding through the “Smarter Together” EU program. The project will see the Munich districts of Neuaubing-Westkreuz and Freiham taking on a pioneering role in Europe.

We have compiled the most important aspects of the smart city concept in Munich for you here.

Smart city

The term “smart city” describes an urban development concept devised to meet the challenges of the future. It combines urban planing with both technology and research as well as the social and economic realms. The three pillars of sustainability – economic, environmental and social – are often expanded to include technology as the basis of a smart city. The sharing economy and civic involvement are also important components of a smart city.

The EU project “Smarter Together”

The EU project “Smarter Together” focuses on quality of life of residents by testing new technologies and implementing sustainable solutions for forward-looking urban planning concepts as well as climate protection and mobility, which other districts would ultimately also benefit from.

The EU aid program will provide €6.85m in funding for innovative and sustainable concepts. Additional financing will come from the financial and research sectors, bringing the overall funding to a total of around €20m for projects in the districts of Neuaubing-Westkreuz and Freiham. “Smart Together” will run for a total of five years, with projects being implemented between 2016 and 2018, followed by a monitoring and evaluation phase.

Among the projects planned for both districts are the development of low-energy quarters with renewable district heating and utilities as well as the renovation of 42,000 square meters of housing. To reduce energy consumption, investments will also be made in smart home technologies which collect data on parameters such as humidity and temperature and provide useful energy-saving tips. The expansion of integrated infrastructure with smart data management platforms and smart services will also be funded, and additional sustainable mobility solutions will be realized in the quarter.

Some of the solutions planned are already being tested in the districts of Neuaubing-Westkreuz and Freiham.

Projects in Neuaubing-Westkreuz and Freiham

Neuaubing-Westkreuz covers an area of around 350 hectares and is home to around 30,000 residents. In Freiham, a new district is currently being developed that will cover an area of around 350 hectares as well as provide 20,000 people with housing and 7,500 with employment.

The first four e-mobility stations in Neuaubing-Westkreuz and Freiham were already opened in July 2018, with an additional four stations set to follow. Furthermore, mobility concepts like MVG bicycles and e-bicycles, as well as e-carsharing from STATTAUTO München, will also be introduced. The services available at e-mobility stations can be found on the new München SmartCity app. As an additional innovative concept, there is now a centrally located pick-up and drop-off point for packages, including room-temperature, refrigerated and freezer compartments for more temperature-sensitive goods. Another pick-up and drop-off point is set to open by the end of 2018. Intelligent light posts, which collect information from the environment about things like weather and traffic and adjust their brightness accordingly, have also already been installed.

Those interested in the details of the EU’s “Smarter Together” project and its key aspects of mobility, energy, data use and co-design can visit the Neuaubing-Westkreuz district laboratory. Here you can work alongside experts from the industrial and research sectors to develop concrete solutions for the challenges urban living presents. There will be plenty of opportunities for people of all ages to get involved, such as workshops in which everyday concepts for meeting the demands of the area’s residents will be developed.

DEMOS is currently realizing the projects “GLEISHARFE süd” in Neuaubing, as well as “NEUE VIELFALT FREIHAM” in neighboring Freiham as participating districts of the “Smarter Together” project.

Your DEMOS Team

Sources: Landeshauptstadt München, muenchen.de, Wikipedia