Digital and Societal Transformation ideas-expertise-proces

Mauer park Berlin 2019 I was this w.e. in Berlin. for a rowing sightseeing tour, that went all the way from the Western part near Potsdam till the East and back. Before that a little stroll through Berlin and a must visit to the Mauer Park with creativity in action Ruderclub am Wannsee e.v. Berlin About 80 kilometers rowing in one w.e., a good exercise! The local rowing club had an agreement with the company Bayer as an employee benefit; hence the names of the rowing boat ASPIRIN :) I arrived on Friday and spotted some of the mobility sharing  equipment on the streets of Berlin.  It is interesting to see that compared to Brussels, it seems that there are some serious local players that have a pretty good market share, and that they did not have to stop. Cars Not on the picture: Drive Now with the cars, and 5 other providers of car sharing facilities. Parking in Berlin: I was not by car, but still was amazed by the number of mobile apps that provide a...

Today the CITIP center in Leuven celebrates irs 30rd anniversary.  As a former researcher I was asked to contribute to the lustrum book published. So I sat down this summer in the CITIP offices to write down an inspirational essay, based on my own frustration as advisor in the Brussels Government and based on the links between  technology and law. Here is my contribution also to be found in the lustrum book published.  Enjoy Do we need machine readable laws? I magine we would get rid of the foundation of the Napoleon Code and move to a 21 st century Code, where speed limit legislation could look like this: c lass: kilometers per hour (Variable): value_type = int default_value = 0 entity = car label = “The speed of the car” The state of digital transformation: a pile of legislation The state of digital transformation of the legislative process: ground zero What happens when legislation needs to be implemented? When AI ‘does’ the job Legislation machine re...

The three political party negociators agreed on a common governmental declaration, that - at the time of writing - still needs approval by the different political parties. A quick scan on the document reveals following elements: On Smart City: - continuation of Smart Flanders as basis and possible increase of program by VLAIO - Antwerp as city of things living lab - Open Data - on environment belief that smart technology will help air quality E-gov: - continuation of Vlaanderen Radikaal Digitaal program (e-gov data exchange mainly) - a digital first principle - some projects like MAGDA put in the picture as important Mobility: - focus on intermodality and the increase of mobipoints - quick electric chargers - belief in flying drones everywhere and in self-driving cars - ITS intelligent road infrastructure Digital transformation: - 1 plan for digital transformation and AI for Flanders - focus on AI for Flanders, cybersecurity Striking elements  - The Flemish...

(original post on www.fietsknooppunt.brussels)    I was visiting the trade faire Bike Brussels on 23rd of September. The number of electric powered vehicles on wheels (one wheel, two wheels, cargo,…) were really impressive in the offering and it was possible to really try out all of them. Regarding the bike routes t he exhibit of the province of Vlaams Brabant made clear what the power is of the fietsknoopnetwork system: - A clear map of the possibilities; - A clear and standard signage; - A clear suggestion of routes with separate leaflet (here leaflet of geuzeroute - visiting beer heritage !) The contrast with the Brussels regional offering was striking and a sign that the Brussels policy makers have not yet embraced recreational bike as a priority: - two different exhibit booths, one from Brussel mobiliteit with the Bike for Brussels logo; and the other from Visit. Brussels with the be bike be Brussels log...

I attended this years edition of Smart City Wallonia in Marche, with conferences, a start-up zone, demos etc. Here my highlights:: In general it seems to me that the first Smart Region call of Digital Wallonia earlier this year has not only created financed projects, but also has made the Smart city landscape more readable in terms of actors: Agence du Numérique, as inspirer and ‘mentor’ Most intercommunale like BEP and IDELUX taking a pro-active role in their communes, other less present The Union des villes et des communes taking a more active role than in the past The Governmental declaration of last week has furthermore confirmed the Smart city actions for the next years, which is a positive factor for everyone to work more in depth. The technology has matured and technology deployment with a ‘positive’ business case for cities in terms of mobility, inner-city atraction, energy are to say available ‘of the shelf’ from established as well as from start-up pla...

It is the mid of mobility week.  I came back from a visit in Bordeaux and of course I cannot stop looking at the city and the Smart parts of it like  new modes of transport, humanity, etc. Here is a selection of pictures and a small explanation related to the mobility aspects Skate zen near the cathedral - hour limitations It seems that skate boarding in the city center is now regulated.  Skating is now only allowed 18 hours per week, on Wednesday and Saturday from 11- 20H  in this zone at least in front of the cathedral The name is Skate ZEN.  Zen for the visitors?  And interestingly for a French town, it is also written in English. Bluecub at charging station (cité du vin) Bluecub is an initiative of the Bolloré group, and has a fleet of 200 electric cars that can be used in Bordeaux and Arcachon area.  The cars, once parked at the station are charged. Bluecub - rental of electric cars Next is the CITIZ cooperative...