On Tuesday 18 February 2025, at the “D. Hatzis” Cultural Centre in Ioannina, the 1st public dialogue workshop was held for the pilot action EcoPulse, in the framework of the CLIMABOROUGH.
The event was attended by elected officials, administrative executives of the Municipality of Ioannina, representatives of civil society organisations, as well as citizens interested in innovative solutions in environmental management.
Η Ms Christina Kalogerou, responsible for the implementation of the project in the district of Ioannina, presented the project and its main dimensions, emphasizing the importance of the action in the context of the strategy of the city of Ioannina for the mission of 100 climate neutral and smart cities by 2030.
Mr Christos Bellos, representing the company Lime Technology, which implements the pilot action EcoPulse, analysed the technical characteristics of the solution and its functional applications. Presented the three main use cases of Ecopulse:
- Waste management: monitoring the completeness and condition of bins, quantitative data recording, and the possibility of future qualitative recording with emphasis on the brown bin network.
- Optimization of Transport Options: Using data to make travel more efficient and reduce the environmental footprint.
- Cultivation Methods: Monitoring environmental data to improve agricultural practices.
In addition, Mr. Bellos developed how to install the sensors' network in the pilot area, the process of data collection and processing, and the prospects for the development of the intervention. At the same time, he answered questions from the audience, clarifying the function and usefulness of the sensors and the accompanying applications.
Το EcoPulse provides access to data in real time, available to citizens through a mobile app. The data includes:
- Air pollution and water quality measurements in Lake Pamvotida
- Information on soil composition and meteorological data
Η The open and immediate availability of data and aggregated information is a key objective of the project, enhancing citizens' participation in environmental management and reducing their ecological footprint.
The event was addressed by several attendees, including the Deputy Mayor of Ioannina Mr. Aris Kasses, who highlighted the potential for the implementation of the EcoPulse to improve the daily management of the city.
During the workshop, the importance of active citizen participation was stressed both in the subsequent discussions to be organised and in the development and use of the applications, with the aim of creating a more sustainable city..
EcoPulse is funded by the European Project Climaborough (Horizon Europe) in which the Municipality of Ioannina participates and aims to bridge the gap between the design and implementation of urban innovations to address climate change. More information about the project is available on the website: www.climaborough.eu
