From heatwaves to flooding: How digitalisation is making local authorities more resilient
Heat, heavy rain and other extreme weather events are posing challenges for towns and regions. These events from SCCON show how AI, GeoAI and digital twins make local authorities more resilient.
Cities are increasingly affected by flooding. Image: Pexels
The next heatwave in Europe is on the horizon. Extreme weather events such as heat, heavy rain or flooding are increasingly presenting cities and regions with new challenges. What is needed are forward-looking strategies, resilient infrastructure and digital solutions that help to act more quickly and with greater certainty. How can local authorities harness the opportunities offered by digitalisation to become more resilient? What best practices already exist?
These and many other questions have already been discussed in depth on the stages of the Smart Country Convention. We have compiled the most interesting presentations for you on our blog.
The videos of our panels and keynotes are in German language.
GeoAI and Digital Twins
On the Forum Stage at the Smart Country Convention 2025, Sebastian Pache (Esri Deutschland GmbH), Dr Beate Ginzel (City of Leipzig), Mirko Mühlpfort (City of Leipzig) and Sascha Tegtmeyer (State Agency for Geoinformation and Surveying) demonstrated how geodata can help create smart cities and regions.
Resilient local authorities
Whether it’s severe weather, power cuts or wildfires – local authorities are increasingly faced with complex crisis scenarios. But how can districts, cities and municipalities use digital technologies to act more quickly, coordinate more effectively and better protect their residents? The German Association of Districts will discuss these questions in a panel discussion at #SCCON25.
AI-powered real-time microclimate model
Last year, Smart City Mannheim unveiled its state-of-the-art, AI-powered real-time microclimate model – a pioneering project that sets new standards in urban climate analysis. Over 500 measurement points provide a sound basis for decision-making to support forward-looking and climate-resilient urban planning. The model not only enables us to identify critical stress points, such as urban heat islands, at an early stage, but also opens up new perspectives on tackling the challenges of climate change.
ADUCAT – Data Hub for Urban Climate Adaptation and Socio-Ecological Transformation
ADUCAT combines satellite data with AI and machine learning to develop data-driven solutions for urban challenges. Key areas of focus include infrastructure safety, green space monitoring and high-resolution temperature forecasts. Anchored in the Vienna Digital Agenda and the Smart Climate City Strategy, the project will demonstrate at #SCCON25 how innovative technologies can be directly integrated into planning and decision-making for resilient, sustainable cities.
Managing the environment efficiently
Alexander Balas (Managing Director, Berlin Recycling GmbH), Annette Brunsmeier (Fsas Technologies – a Fujitsu company), Rafal Hofmann (Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy, Baden-Württemberg) and Prof. Dr Tim Tiedemann (HAW Hamburg) discussed on the Forum Stage at #SCCON25 how AI can be used as a tool for environmental projects by cities, federal states and public authorities.