September 20, 2021
When thinking about digitization in rural Germany, the first thing that comes to mind, at least for me, is the WDR test in December 2020 “Horse versus Internet”: A photographer has to transfer 4.5 GB from Schmallenberg-Oberkirchen in the Hochsauerland district to the print shop about 10 kilometers away* and does the test: Is data transmission faster via the Internet – or by horse? In fact, the four-legged mail is hours faster than the data transfer, as the fiber optic cable has not been connected for months.
Similar challenges for urban and rural areas
At this point, we could actually stop writing. After all, how are smart country applications supposed to work in rural areas if there is not even a basic network supply? But let’s assume that the new German government will push ahead with the long-promised network expansion across the board. Then rural areas must also be given the opportunity to use data sensibly and strategically in the interests of the common good and sustainability. After all, rural areas in particular are facing enormous challenges. They are severely affected by the extreme weather events associated with the climate crisis: Extreme heat and droughts are destroying harvests and endangering agricultural businesses; forest fires and flooding are causing immense damage. High nitrate levels in groundwater put a strain on the health of the population, as do high levels of traffic and noise pollution from cars, tractors and trucks, with public transport infrastructure completely lacking in many cases.
Opportunities through sensible use of data
However, in areas that have received little attention to date, such as agriculture, the sensible use of data offers considerable opportunities to conserve resources and therefore also the climate: Sensors are used to record air, water, soil, plant and weather data, for example, which can then be meaningfully networked in a platform. The farmer benefits because he/she receives a message about when fertilization makes sense in which area – and when and where fertilization should not be applied under any circumstances because the coming rain would wash the nitrate out of already saturated soil. Diseases in crops can be monitored at an early stage through the sensible use of data, so that herbicides only need to be used in a targeted and controlled manner. And disaster prevention – from floods to forest fires – can also be achieved using sensors with the appropriate data infrastructure with significantly fewer resources, especially when it comes to less accessible landscapes.
Think differently, use technology, empower administration
Individuals and municipalities would therefore benefit considerably from digitalization designed in this way, a sustainable, smart development of rural areas. But how do we get there?
- Changing the mindset: We need to move away from the idea of “cities here — and then nothing for a long time — and then rural areas.” Instead, we need to see regions as a whole. Take mobility, for example: it doesn’t stop at the city limits, which is why the mobility transition towards sustainable, smart solutions must also take the surrounding area into account. And the technological requirements and solutions for urban and rural areas are also transferable: For example, BREEZE, a Hamburg-based start-up that specializes in the production of air sensors for measuring air pollution in the city, now also has its sensors in use in national parks to quickly detect forest fires.
- Uniform technology standards: We need uniform technological standards and requirements that ensure transferability and scalability, create synergy effects and reduce costs. We need uniform standards – preferably open source – so that every city, region and municipality does not have to reinvent the wheel, but can simply transfer data-based solutions that have already been found. This offers protection against vendor lock-in, so that the decision-making power remains with the municipalities at all times. And accordingly, the openness of the system ensures trust in the technology on the part of local authorities and citizens.
- Empowerment: We also need institutions and personnel in smaller municipalities, districts and administrative communities who want to handle data competently and creatively. Digitalization is still often seen as a necessary evil rather than a real help. The aim here is to empower administrative staff with appropriate training, but also to bring them into direct contact with other cities and municipalities who can provide specific advice and support. DKSR and the Fraunhofer Morgenstadt Initiative are successfully testing this format with the Urban Data Community, for example.