On November 9, 2022, the "Smart City Bonn meets Geo" workshop series came to an end with a fourth and, for the time being, final meeting at Makerspace Bonn. Geo-IT experts had exchanged ideas in a total of four workshops spread over a year as part of an initiative by geobusiness region bonn. With a high degree of freedom in terms of content and initially in online format due to contact restrictions, the aim of the workshop series was to identify projects together on a voluntary basis that would benefit urban society. The concept worked.
GeoMINT@School
The region's geo-IT scene from companies, administration, science and education worked together from the initial idea to the project. Two approaches led to concrete results.
The "Young talent" project group developed a great deal of momentum of its own. Like many STEM subjects and IT companies, the geoinformation sector is suffering from a major shortage of young talent. At the same time, the focus of the subject of geography/geography remains on an established, but not very future-oriented, education of pupils. The approach of the subject "Geography Physics", which focuses on the implementation of remote sensing and GIS in school lessons, is different. Dr. Christina Müller, who developed the subject and took part in the workshop series, teaches the subject herself at Siegburg secondary school. A four-member steering team developed the "GeoMINT@School" initiative within the project group. On November 25, the group will hold its first workshop at Makerspace Bonn. The aim is to work out joint steps for the initiative. Registrations are still possible. Information on the content and procedure can be found here.
Geo solutions for Bonn
A second project developed from the topics of environment and transport. The last workshop meeting was used to concretize the concept ideas developed in the first three meetings. The participants agreed to set up data from companies, administration and research on the basis of an Esri platform in accordance with the open data strategy. The aim is to jointly set up a dashboard with various application examples for Bonn that demonstrates the diverse expertise of those involved. The specific design of the solution will be determined in a further meeting of the Environment and Transport Group. The group is aiming for a kick-off date in January 2023. The geobusiness region bonn will provide information about this.
Active participation possible
Both project groups emphasized the importance of the workshop series, which was initiated by the Bonn Economic Development Agency together with the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the CDO of the City of Bonn, Friedrich Fuß. Peter Pröpper from Makerspace Bonn provided the inspiring location for the meetings and is also helping to move the projects forward himself.
The participants of the fourth workshop equally emphasized that the meeting of actors with different professional backgrounds had already provided strong new impetus. The participants wished for the format to be continued and for further support from the City of Bonn.
"The "Smart City Bonn meets Geo" workshop series was a complete success and we look forward to continuing it next year," said Dr. Ulrich Ziegenhagen, Deputy Head of Bonn Economic Development. Friedrich Fuß, CDO of the City of Bonn, was enthusiastic about the industry's creative drive. "This drive is inspiring and creates new things. It also spurs on all of us who are responsible for the digitalization of the city of Bonn." Anyone interested is welcome to take part in the next event in 2023.