Athens Municipality Adopts Smart Technology Solutions for a Clean, Accessible City

Photo source: Visit Greece / Y Skoulas

The Municipality of Athens has joined forces with digital business agency ATCOM and Microsoft for the development of “Project Athena” an innovative technology program aimed at improving the quality of life in the Greek capital.

Already in operation, the project aims to successfully meet two long-standing demands of Athens’ residents and visitors for the improvement of cleanliness and accessibility.

The “Project Athena” is using ATCOM’s “UrbanIntelligence” solution and Microsoft’s technologies for the installation of sensors on Athens’ urban network, with the aim to collect data on street and air cleanliness, accessibility of pedestrians and people with disabilities, noise pollution, air temperature and humidity.

The Athens Municipality has placed sensors at Kotzia square.

The project is operating on a pilot scheme at Kotzia square, located across the Athens City Hall, and in the neighborhood of Kolonaki.

More specifically, the municipality has installed a total of 10 sensors in garbage bins to measure their fill-levels; at pedestrian crossings to detect any possible obstacles; at the Athens City Hall; and in various individual parts of these areas.

The data collected are analyzed by a specially designed management platform, accessible by the Athens Municipality.

The project will enable cleaning authorities to make smart decisions and design waste collection routes effectively and on time.

Furthermore, the use of sensors on street crossings will ensure accessibility to special ramps and notify authorities in case parked vehicles obstruct access.

The sensors installed in Kolonaki, Athens.

“These sensors ‘measure’ the quality of life in the city. They monitor the everyday habits of residents and visitors, and offer direct and credible data,” Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis said.

“This data provide us with the possibility to intervene and offer solutions… become more effective and precise in the changes we make in the city,” he added.