In the third episode of ShareCast, we talk about the interplay between data and urban development. We take a look at what the term “smart city” means and discuss the potential and challenges that smart city concepts bring with them.
City data is of interest and value to citizens in terms of sovereignty, but also to administrations and in terms of economic aspects. The connection between data and city management therefore holds great potential – including in the areas of ecology, social coexistence, and participation. Projects such as Darmstadt’s data platform, the “Darmstadt im Herzen” app, and “Gieß den Kiez” are examples of how citizens can gain more knowledge about their city or how city data can be used to help make their city smarter. At the same time, however, the city is not a “data lucky bag” from which all stakeholders can derive unlimited benefits. Rather, it is important to search specifically for viable ideas, consider opportunities for participation, and design new offerings carefully, in a user-friendly and secure manner. The collection, storage, and communication of city data also involves a great deal of effort, because processes must be organized, secured, and continuously developed. This requires appropriate security measures and IT skills—many requirements that are not always easy to meet and which we will also adress in this episode.
ShareCast Episode 3 – Smart City: Data Overload? 12 August 2025
Guests
Benjamin Seibel earned his doctorate in Darmstadt and Harvard in the media history of e-government and is head of CityLAB Berlin, a public innovation lab at the interface of administration, science, business, and civil society that makes practical use of the potential of digitalization for public welfare-oriented urban development.
Klaus Michael Ahrend is an honorary professor at Darmstadt Business School and a member of the board of HEAG Holding AG, a company based in Darmstadt that performs key municipal tasks for the South Hesse region.
More information
Digital talk (episode 11) on “Smart urban development – what are municipal companies doing?” with Klaus-Michael Ahrend from HEAG Holding AG, November 2, 2021, available here.
DW Shift: ”Smart City: How do you live in a Smart City? | Future Smart City Projects | Surveillance or Utopia?”, available here.
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