Building crisis-proof cities with smart utility management
The COVID-19 pandemic took people by surprise in many ways, including in the management of essential services. Public authorities were faced with disruptions resulting from lockdowns: electricity and water consumption surged, household waste increased and digital networks were overloaded. How can cities be better prepared to manage basic utilities under future extreme conditions? The eUMaP(opens in new window) project has provided the answer: a digital open platform designed to monitor, plan and balance essential utilities during crises. Undertaken with the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions(opens in new window) programme, the project brought together nine partners from five countries and built on four pilot studies.
A unified view of urban infrastructure
The eUMaP platform integrates multiple technologies to support cities in managing their utilities more efficiently. It incorporates building information modelling (BIM), geographic information systems (GIS), internet of things (IoT) sensors and AI tools. “By merging real-time data with spatial and building information, the platform allows users to visualise and predict energy, water, waste and telecommunication needs,” explains Alessio Di Iorio, eUMaP project coordinator. Unlike conventional urban management tools that focus on one service at a time, the platform connects data from different sources and presents it in an interactive interface accessible to both technical experts and decision-makers. While BIM data describes the physical characteristics and systems of each building, GIS and Earth observation data provides spatial context such as infrastructure layout and population density. Meanwhile, IoT sensors offer live readings on energy and water consumption, waste collection and network activity. There are also simulation and monitoring datasets that modelled utility behaviour during lockdown conditions, as well as behavioural and demographic information. “Together, these layers create a dynamic digital environment for analysing, testing and predicting how urban utilities perform under stress,” says Di Iorio.
Real-world trials
The project carried out pilot studies to test its platform under different urban conditions and data realities. In Greece, the case study focused on residential buildings, while in Italy it covered a hospital complex of 41 buildings. The pilot in Cyprus examined residential units using solar water heating systems, while the case in Lithuania involved multi-flat housing catering to different social groups. Each pilot used locally available information, ranging from live sensor readings to historical and modelled datasets. This proved the platform’s ability to accommodate and analyse heterogeneous data sources. “Across all pilots, eUMaP proved that combining spatial, building and real-time information enhances situational awareness and supports more effective coordination of utilities during crises,” says Di Iorio. Through integrated data analysis, the project confirmed that increased time spent at home raises and destabilises utility consumption patterns. “Energy and water use became more irregular, while waste generation and communication loads rose noticeably,” he adds.
Towards smarter crisis management
The eUMaP project’s platform is set to continue evolving with further testing and integration of new data. In the short term, the aim is to support fast decision-making during emergencies. In the long term, the ambition is to contribute to more resilient, sustainable and well-prepared urban systems across Europe. “By promoting awareness and fostering collaboration among municipalities, utilities and research organisations, eUMaP aims to make data-driven management a shared European standard,” concludes Di Iorio.