Dublin installs smart benches

Several places in the area are already benefitting from the intelligent devices

It is no secret that Dublin makes great efforts to prove itself worthy of its Smart city status – be it with specialized mobile applications, innovative mobility solutions or even an entire smart district. Not only are the city and the region doing a great job in this domain, but one could say they are advancing at full speed. Lately, the region has been introducing new intelligent solutions to common urban challenges, namely – smart benches. Having been placed on the streets and in the parks over the course of the first half of the year, they can be seen from Balbriggan to the Docklands and considerably improving the experience of both locals and visitors.

The smart benches are equipped with phone charging ports, supply WIFI and have digital advertising space. Moreover, depending on the model, they offer a variety of digital services to the citizens and the local authorities. What is more, the benches are solar powered which makes them sustainable. For example, those in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council provide electric sockets for charging e-bikes as well as bike repair tools.

Photo by Fintan Clarke

Another functionality of the benches is data collection – non-personal data, relative to temperature, humidity, energy consumption is collected and stored in the inside of the tool. The former can later be used by the authority for analysis.

Find more smart ideas from Dublin on smartdublin.ie