Obiettivo
EQUAL's general objective is to create and validate integrated modular and inter-operable telematic systems for the management of different services in medium-size and highly developed urban contexts, in order to improve the quality of life of citizens.
EQUAL will supply common tools for different kinds of local services, namely:
- public information services (information about public offices' hours, the forms to be used in local public offices, school and pre-school services, etc.)
- urban management applications, focusing on traffic management related to air pollution monitoring and forecasting and information to citizens about traffic and public transport.
- public transaction services, for a smoother on-line handling of complex procedures involving administrations and citizens, including the validation of multi-functional smart cards
- cultural services, such as virtual access to museums and libraries, for which EQUAL has planned a close technical co-operation with other international initiatives, such as G8 working groups.
One of the most remarkable working methods adopted by EQUAL is the enhancement of the 'best practice approach', based on the creation of 'Centres of Excellence' for specific applications and the consequent transfer of know-how and technologies (e.g. software components) to other sites.
A high degree of inter-operability is obtained thanks to common guidelines for advanced system architectures and friendly users interfaces, which facilitate the exploitation of common technologies for a wide range of applications and the integration of other future services.
Major Validation Sites
Leicester, UK
Metz, FR
Brescia, IT
Linz, AT
Bilbao, ES
Ronneby, SE
Bornholm, DK
Users
City Administrations, Municipal Service Providers, Telecom Operators, ICT industries, Local service providers, System Integrators, ICT Research Centres.
Approach
Common System Architecture, Common Application Program Interfaces, Common Users Interfaces, LAN, WAN, GIS, Internet servers, High definition terminals, mobile RDS and SWIFT servers, Multi-purpose Smart Cards.
Expected Benefits
New public services access, easier and more friendly access to different services, possibility to have access to many services through only one access point, possibility to perform on-line transaction with local Administrations, higher quality of public services, cost savings in terms of travel time and stress: improvement of quality of life.
Definition of users driven integrated applications, creation and upgrading of software products, improvement of system integration capabilities, exploitation of the growing market of public services, participation in European standardisation activities.
Contribution to creation of Information Society, inter-operability of tools among different European Cities, common European approaches and methodologies, transfer of know-how from one site to another through EQUAL's Centres of Excellence.
Major characteristics of the present digital site
Medium urban size, actual availability of on-line public services, 'manageable dimension of urban problems', high commitment from sites (they all participate as full contractors), good general infrastructure, available advanced telematic networks and tools, high diffusion of ICT tools among the population, presence in all Sites of advanced ICT research centres.
Cross-sectorial integration aspects
Focus on inter-operability of applications, integration of applications in different fields: transport, environment, administration and libraries, integration of applications and services by means of common system architectures, common users interfaces, common networks servers.
Campo scientifico
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- social sciencessociologygovernancepublic services
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringair pollution engineering
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollution
- social sciencessocial geographytransportpublic transport
Argomento(i)
Invito a presentare proposte
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00156 Roma
Italia