Innovation challenges

By placing sensors at key roads and junctions, we can measure real-time travel patterns, including cyclist volumes and speeds, to enhance sustainable travel schemes and improve active travel infrastructure across Sunderland.

Battery powered sensors can be deployed across the city to measure dust levels at different sites.

By deploying smart noise sensors, we can measure sound levels in outdoor environments across Sunderland.

Soon, we’ll be exploring ways to utilise smart cycleway technologies, to improve the experience of cyclists in our city.

Get ready to witness the future of live sports and esports events, right here in Sunderland.

Our team is by leveraging technology to create safer, healthier, and more efficient housing solutions.

The Sunderland Pavilion is set to transform Keel Square into a vibrant, technologically advanced public space.

Our team is exploring an advanced CCTV strategy to keep you safe in our smart city.

We’re piloting sensors that can measure the water height either side of a trash screen in a culvert to see if it needs cleaning.

Smart gulley sensors can keep families and homes safe in extreme weather conditions.

Sunderland’s advanced mobility shuttle trial will pilot an autonomous zero-emission shuttle between the University of Sunderland City Campus, Sunderland Interchange and Sunderland Royal Hospital, helping design a more sustainable and accessible future for urban mobility.

We’re keeping council owned properties safe with flush valves and temperature probes.

Our digital twin proof of concept provided valuable insights into Sunderland’s transport and environmental conditions, enhancing decision-making.

Community Digital Health Hubs will help bridge the digital divide, enabling residents to develop essential digital skills.

Sunderland's vision for improved digital accessibility led to the creation of a free, superfast, and reliable outdoor Wi-Fi network.

This project is not only environmentally responsible but also financially advantageous: the carbon reduction potential for 14 buildings is >1,000 tonnes per annum, with cost savings of around £40k per year through energy reduction efforts.

A new pilot of smart sensors within lifebuoy holders is keeping you safer by the sea.

Our smart traffic sensors collect important data on traffic flow across Sunderland.

Using air quality sensors, we’re building an interactive map of air quality data across our smart city.

The Sunderland Smart City team has introduced assistive technologies in people’s homes to manage people’s care, health and wellbeing.

Solar-powered rainfall sensors connected to our LoRaWAN network enable real-time reporting on rainfall.

We’re making Sunderland a place to both work smarter and play smarter, with new smart playparks.

We’re working to support Sunderland’s aspiring entrepreneurs, with a programme to support the ambition to create 500 new technology startups underway.

Our programme to increase awareness of digital careers and opportunities is underway with Sunderland Software City, supporting the growth of Sunderland’s digital economy.

Our Sunderland-based startup accelerator helps young businesses bring ideas to life, boosting Sunderland’s digital economy.

Our 5G CAL pilot has successfully developed the UK’s first zero emissions automated logistics vehicle.

The brand-new Sunderland App offers a window into activity across Sunderland, enabling residents and visitors to be fully connected in our smart city.

With improved data on bin fill levels our environmental services team can implement more effective scheduling for the emptying of bins, saving time and fuel.