What Smart City Expo tells us about sustainability efforts in Europe

Sustainability is at the core of the urban mobility discussion. And for good reason. The exponential growth of urban populations has led to increased congestion and rising pollution levels that present one of the biggest challenges to global sustainability efforts.

But governments are aware of the issue and almost all European cities are working hard to achieve carbon neutrality. Technology is helping to drive these endeavours.

The Smart City Expo provided tangible insights into how cities across the world are using data and technology to galvanize sustainability strategies as they work towards specific goals in the near future.

The Norwegian municipality using the cloud to build a sustainable future

The municipality of Lillestrøm in Norway offers a compelling example of how cloud-based solutions and IoT technology can be used to make a real difference.

Concerned about providing a sustainable environment for its 87,500 citizens and maintaining its natural assets, Lillestrøm overhauled its legacy data infrastructure, instead opting to implement a software as a service (SaaS) solution built on Microsoft Azure that manages and aggregates real-time data from Azure IoT sensors. Lillestrøm uses this platform to remotely monitor and predict which pipes or pumps need replacing before sending workers on site, helping to reduce water loss substantially.

The new platform helps to target engineering efforts with greater accuracy so the municipality can make smarter decisions and better prioritize issues. It has both improved the safety and well-being of citizens, as well as meaning the municipality can now contribute to the United Nations Sustainable City Program (UNSSP).

Using technology to drive sustainability goals

Sustainability is central to Microsoft’s mission. Our ongoing efforts to be carbon negative by 2030 position us perfectly to support other organizations to achieve their own sustainability objectives.

To learn more about how we’re helping public sector organizations across Europe to become more sustainable and resilient with cloud-based technology, download our latest eBook below.