Kranj will become the first smart city in Slovenia thanks to digital technologies

Local Slovenian companies collaborate in a pilot project that will pave the way for the smart future of Kranj. The solutions implemented through the project Smart Mlaka (Pametna Mlaka in Slovenian) in line with the guidelines of the municipality will establish Kranj as a smart city. The project is intended to enable the collection, display and analysis of data from smart meters (for electricity, gas, water), smart sensors for the environmental and traffic indicators in Mlaka through mobile applications for individual areas and given time intervals. Smart Mlaka is the first project of its kind in the country and is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year.

It will cover public lighting and its carbon footprint. To lower consumption and lighting pollution, the system will be turned on when there are people in the streets with a possibility to adjust the power. As any unusual change can be detected, the authorities will more easily identify accidents or other events.

Authorities in the city of almost 40 000 citizens will use the information from the Mlaka pri Kranju neighborhood for a model intended to be applied in entire Kranj. The goal is to use digital solutions to raise the quality of life of the citizens.

The system in the Kranj district combines smart solutions from rodent control through security to carbon dioxide emissions. Citizens in the Kranj suburb are about to get access to air pollution information from the smart system together with notifications about potential hazards and adverse weather conditions. The traffic data will be used for planning with regard to safety. As traffic signals can also be managed, in emergencies it will be easier for first responders to reach locations.

Real-time consumption indicators for water, electricity and gas make it possible for households and utilities to immediately react to leaks and protect people and property. Sensors will count the number of cyclists to determine mobility trends. Smart shafts will be designed to register when they are open and detect rodents.

The head of Komunala Kranj, Matjaz Bercon, acknowledged that 34% of water is lost due to leaks in the water supply system. Now the company will operate two main meters and 485 users will have their own devices, so any leaks will be detected almost instantly. Previously households had a maximum of six readings per year, so it took months to repair burst pipes. Bercon also announced the introduction of resource-saving measures in waste management.