According to Eurostat statistics, today 75% of the European population lives in cities. A figure destined to grow also worldwide. According to UN reports, 70% of the global population will live in cities by 2050.

These cities of the future will therefore be increasingly large and populous, and will have to face multiple challenges, such as energy efficiency, digitization, accessibility and environmental sustainability. This context includes the concept of Smart City, a broad definition that includes many aspects that characterize the cities of the future. But which ones exactly?

Definition of Smart City: what is meant by smart city

To understand what is meant by Smart City, it is useful to start from the definition given by Wikipedia: “A smart city is the set of urban planning strategies aimed at optimizing and innovating public services to relate infrastructures cities with the human, intellectual and social capital of those who live in them through the use of new technologies “.

According to the definition of the European Union instead: “a smart city is a place where traditional networks and services are made more efficient with the use of digital solutions for the benefit of its inhabitants and businesses. A smart city goes beyond the use of digital technologies for a better use of resources and fewer emissions. It means smarter urban transport networks, improved water supply and waste disposal systems, and more efficient ways to light and heat buildings. It also means a more interactive and responsive city administration, safer public spaces and better meeting the needs of an aging population.”

A “smart” city is therefore a highly digitalized city, which uses new technologies to efficiently manage transport and mobility, public lighting, urban safety, environmental monitoring, waste management, building maintenance. public services, the optimization of communication and information systems of public utility.

Key features and benefits of a smart city

Among the main characteristics of a smart city we find:

• Participation and communication: providing updated and correct information is essential to allow citizens to interact, dialogue and actively participate in the life of the city and in the decisions of the local administration. In this sense, interactive maps, totems, and dashboards make it possible to bridge the gap between public administration and citizens, increasing the level of trust and involvement.
• More security: in a smart city, safety is a very important aspect. From this point of view, the use of innovative technologies and integrated safety systems makes it possible to achieve results that were absolutely unimaginable until a few years ago.
• Greater efficiency: smart cities are able to collect and monitor data useful for solving any type of problem or malfunction in real time.
• Transport and mobility: for a city to be efficient, more livable and intelligent, it is necessary to move towards solutions that streamline traffic and reduce pollution (smart mobility, e-mobility).
• Integrated services for the citizen: all aspects related to health, tourism, mobility and identification and management systems fall into this sphere.
• Greater environmental protection: the integrated use of renewable sources and the use of advanced technologies makes it possible to manage urban traffic more efficiently and reduce waste, limiting CO2 emissions with a positive impact on the ecological footprint and consumption.
• Time saving and work optimization: a smart city reduces the time spent interacting with the public administration and the health system, makes moving from one point of the city to another more fluid and quicker and facilitates the search for parking. In short, a smart city saves precious time and, thanks to the automation of processes, the need for manual work decreases, pushing the use of human resources towards more strategic initiatives.

The importance of Outdoor digital totems in Smart Cities

In this context, it is clear that digital tools such as Totems will play an increasingly central role within the cities of the future. This is because digital totems, with their different types and uses, function like real computers intended for public use.

In addition to purely commercial purposes, they are useful for providing citizens with information relating to public life, such as the convening of municipal councils, news on street cleaning or waste collection, and so on. Not only that: they are often used to provide useful information on the opening and closing hours of offices, or to report malfunctions and breakdowns. Some Totem Outdoor models offer the possibility to insert credit cards or cash and print tickets, season tickets, and useful documentation. Others, called Wayfinding, are interactive kiosks designed to help users find their way around, and are often found inside subway or train stations.

Our models of Outdoor Totems Made in Italy

We from Fida srl have been producing Totems for Outdoor use for over 25 years. Our product lines are essentially two: EKS Full Outdoor Digital Totem of the Exentia Line, designed to work effectively even with direct sunlight, and WKO of the Wave Outdoor line (no direct sunlight), that is designed to work in open places. but indoors, away from direct sunlight.

Exentia EKS Full-Outdoor is the ideal totem for Digital Signage applications. Created to meet the requirements of use in open places, it is visible even in direct sunlight on the screen and has the most recent and sophisticated technology that guarantees the liquid crystal maximum functional performance even in high temperature conditions (up to + 50 °C ), typical of southern exposure.

Available with IP55 protection, without internal air conditioner (HB Version) and IP65, with air conditioner (HBC Version), Exentia EKS is available in 46 ″ and 55 ”sizes, single or double sided. The 4 + 4 mm anti-vandal front glass with IR filter, 4G connectivity and a sophisticated diagnostic system make it particularly suitable for installation in historical-cultural settlements, in urban centers or in tourist places of sea and mountains, where the information must always be guaranteed, be it informative, interactive or advertising. The device guarantees high performance and low consumption 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Wave WKO is a multimedia totem with 24/7 operation, especially suitable for environments such as shopping malls, airports, railway stations, tourist areas and other environments that require protection against rain, dust and vandalism.

The aluminum structure avoids the formation of rust and limits the weight of the totem. WKO is available in both single-sided and double-sided versions, n 4 sizes from 55 to 100 inches, with or without touchscreen, and is equipped with our propriety DVP diagnostic system designed entirely by FIDA, capable of collecting all diagnostic data through the protocol SNMP standard.

Contact us for a more accurate quote.