Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, has become the first UK city to introduce Pulse Smart Hubs, a network of life-saving tech innovations.
Councillor Deirdre Hargey, Lord Mayor of Belfast, teamed with London-based smart city solutions firm Urban Innovation Company to launch the network; initially consisting of 25 Pulse Smart Hubs, with planning applications pending for another 30 throughout the city. The first 15 hubs went live on 14 February, with the other 10 to be installed and switched on in the next few weeks.
Patrick Fisher, founder and CEO of Urban Innovation Company, said: “We have been working closely with local stakeholders to ensure the Pulse Smart Hub network supports Belfast City Council’s strategic vision for smart cities and that the benefits to the city and its residents are truly maximised and available free to all. In the age of the smart city, street furniture must do more to earn its place on the High Street. At no cost to the public or taxpayer, the Pulse Smart Hub is the smartest of smart furniture. A network of beautifully designed and engineered hubs that provide next generation connectivity, share information, track the environment, and ultimately, save lives.”
The hubs, installed as part of the Smart Belfast programme, will be funded through digital advertising, meaning they will not draw on public funds; and comprise a range of free service functions, to include:
- A defibrillator which can be used by anyone, even without formal training;
- Sensors monitoring air quality around the city;
- A 999 button connected directly to the emergency services;
- A touchscreen interface allowing users to access maps, services, facilities and information for visitors about Belfast events;
- Free local and national calls, mobile phone charging and capacity for data offloading; and
- Free public wifi in Belfast city centre.
Councillor Hargey said: “As well as the impressive public health and safety features they will offer, the Pulse Smart Hubs will put Belfast on the map as a truly modern 21st century city that focuses on meeting the needs of its citizens and visitors. They are a symbol of the agencies and key stakeholders working together for the benefit of our city. This initiative supports our Smart Belfast framework which harnesses innovation, technology and data science to build on the city’s growing strengths in the digital sector, and, unveil great products for the future.”
