Our Stories and Projects

IT infrastructure in the Smart City

Good urban planning with an infrastructure that is oriented and develops according to the needs of its citizens – this is not an invention of modern times. In the distant past, individual houses grew together to form settlements. These became cities, which gradually acquired paved roads and the first infrastructure networks for supplying water and electricity and for disposing of wastewater and refuse.

Educational tools

Learning, communicating, expanding one’s horizons. Lifelong learning – today, and especially in the fast-paced times of digitization, little argument is needed for this. Learning can offer new perspectives, be fun, and even protect. No fewer than four Smart City Darmstadt projects contribute to education – each in its own unique way.

Story: Digital for Everyone

Digital for All – How we make it easier for citizens with low media literacy to access the digital world and realize more participation through new media. “Participation is a word that has many meanings,” Thomas (all names changed) reads from an online “dictionary for easy language” and continues: “One also says: to take part in something. Andreas looks up briefly from his tablet, “Oh, I see. That’s what we’re doing here,” and is once again engrossed in his screen.

Story: Environment

Climate change is a reality and human involvement in it is beyond question. For a more climate-friendly life in our city, Darmstadt has developed a climate protection concept that bundles a variety of projects and measures and is continuously being developed. The city’s climate report, which was developed in the course of this, shows summer heat islands as well as cold air areas that provide relief. It enables urban planning under aspects of climate protection and climate adaptation.

Story: House of Digital Media Education

The internet and media have become an inseparable part of our everyday lives. If we can gain a better understanding of how the media world works and how it affects us, we can be more confident engaging with it. With this in mind, the team from Hesse’s Institute for Media Education and Communication (MuK) is offering free workshops, training courses and lectures as part of Smart City’s House of Media Education project.

Story: Mobility

As the red arrow on the display shows, it will be at least 40 seconds until the traffic lights at the corner of Bismarckstraße and the B3 turn green. Drivers can confidently let their gaze wander into the surroundings, knowing that an acoustic signal will draw their attention back to the road. When the tone sounds, the display starts a countdown: seven, six, five, four, three, two, one second to green. The traffic lights change

Story: Energy

Light on, light off – just as needed. When coming from the north, you may notice 17 street lights lined up like pearls on a string. These lights are the subject of a joint project involving ENTEGA AG, e-netz Südhessen GmbH & Co KG, LUXSTREAM GmbH and Tridonic GmbH & Co KG. The almost 300-metre-long route is only open to pedestrians and farm traffic.