The 10 most promising smart city solution providers 2020

Effortless Living
Digital Ecosystem
for Smart Cities
+
Laurent Bouillot
CEO
SMART CITY
Solution Providers, 2021
The 10 Most Promising
SIRADEL
Connecting the
Physical, Digital and
Virtual Worlds
Connected World
Improving the
Quality of Human Life
VOL 02 ISSUE 01 2021
| |

Delivering a
Better Quality
of Life
ith technologies advancing at a rapid pace, their
Wimpact is more evident in the world’s cities.
Like our homes are stocked with intelligent
devices, our cities too are being smart with technologies
such as smart metering, wireless sensor networks, open
platforms, high-speed broadband, cloud computing, etc.
The human’s way of living has changed tremendously.
The urban sectors including transport, energy, waste, water,
and buildings are being reshaped and easing the life of
people.
Harnessing the power of some pioneering technologies such
as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Big Data,
Machine Learning, etc., the smartification of cities is at its
peak. The research performed by Mordor Intelligence
indicates that the smart cities market is expected to reach a
value of USD 1,447.87 billion by 2024. These figures talk
about the speed at which the market is growing.
Contributing to this rapid evolution of smart cities are many
exceptional companies, who are walking an extra mile to
make this world a smarter and better place to dwell. With an
intent to admire these change makers, Insights Success has
compiled a list of “The 10 Most Promising Smart City
Solution Providers, 2021”, which are reshaping the world
with their cutting-edge solutions.
Featuring on the cover of this edition is Siradel, a leading
company connecting the physical, digital and virtual
worlds. The digital representation of any physical object or
system has become possible with the use of digital twin
technology. Originally focused in the manufacturing sector,
digital twin technology has expanded to include large
objects such as buildings, and even cities, and has the
potential to extend even further. In addition, digital twins
Editor’s Desk

are merging with advanced technologies such as
artificial intelligence, Internet of Things and data
analytics to offer holistic ecosystem views now and
into the future.
Siradel is a company known for its 3D digital twins
of cities and its large portfolio of smart city solutions
that help in building smarter, more collaborative,
resilient and sustainable cities and territories. By
creating 3D digital twins using its world-class
geodata production capabilities, aggregating geo-
referenced data, cross-correlating data, running
simulations to envision future scenarios and
visualizing any and all of the above in 3D, Siradel
offers a unique capability in connecting the physical,
digital and virtual worlds.
Let’s unveil more alike and inspiring stories of such
extraordinary companies and spread the word about
their contribution in making this world a better place.
Lastly, you might come across the articles written by
our in-house editorial team and CXO standpoints of
some of the leading industry experts to have the
know-how about the industry. Make sure to scroll
through them, while flipping through the pages.
Let’s start Reading!
hitesh@insightssuccess.com
Hitesh Dhamani

CONTENTS 10
COVER STORY
SIRADEL
Connecting the
Virtual Worlds

Listing CXO
Article
Leader’s
Viewpoint
Without Trucks,
America Stops
Metro Quest
Award-winning Survey
Platform for Online
Public Engagement
22 18
30 34
26
Connected World
Improving The Quality Of Human Life
Risk &
Insurance
Important Facts
About Insurance
And Car Accidents
Nordsense
Revolutionizing Waste
Management with Iot
Sensor Technology and
Data-Driven Insights
38
Effortless Living
Digital Ecosystem for Smart Cities

sales@insightssuccess.com
February, 2021
Editor-in-Chief
Senior Sales Manager Business Development Manager
Marketing Manager
Technical Head
Technical Specialist Digital Marketing Manager
Research Analyst
Database Management Technology Consultant
Sumita Sarkar
Managing Editor
Anish Miller
Executive Editor
Hitesh Dhamani
Assistant Editors
Jenny Fernandes
Visualizer
David King
Art & Design Director
Asha Bange
Associate Designer
Kartik Balapurkar
Kshitij S Peter Collins
John Matthew
Sales Executives
David, Martin, Sagar, Sanket
Business Development Executives
Steve, Joe, Aidan, Binay
Jacob Smile
Aditya Marry D'Souza
SME-SMO Executive
Amol Wadekar Frank Adams
Circulation Manager
Robert Brown Stella Andrew David Stokes
Kushagra Gupta
Co-designer
Copyright © 2021 Insights Success, All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights Success.
Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success.
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We are also available on :
Sourabh More

Brief
Company Name
Laurent Bouillot
Chief Executive Officer
Siradel
siradel.com
Siradel provides the Digital Twin of territories and advanced
network planning tools for the design of smarter wireless
networks and the building of sustainable cities.
Donnel Baird
Founder
Blocpower
blocpower.io
BlocPower is a Brooklyn-based energy technology startup
rapidly greening American cities. Since its founding in 2012,
the company has completed energy projects in nearly 1,000
buildings and delivers results ahead of schedule and under
budget.
ShotSpotter
shotspotter.com
Ralph Clark
President/CEO
ShotSpotter (NASDAQ: SSTI) is a leader in precision policing
solutions that enable law enforcement to more effectively
respond to, investigate and deter crime.
MetroQuest Software
metroquest.com
Dave Biggs
Chief Engagement
Officer
MetroQuest is market leading Public Engagement software
that’s optimized for actionable results.
Michael Schuch
Chief Operating Officer
SWARCO
swarco.com
SWARCO’s leading idea is to improve quality of life by
making the travel experience safer, quicker, more convenient
and environmentally sound.
StrataGen
strategen.com
Janice Lin
Founder & CEO
Strategen is a professional services company that specializes in
market development for decarbonized energy systems.
Cubic
cubic.com
Bradley Feldmann
CEO
Cubic Corporation is the parent company of three major
businesses, Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) and Cubic
Mission & Performance Solutions (CMPS).
Lightguard System
lightguardsystems.com
Michael Harrison
President/CEO
At LightGuard Systems®, Inc., our mission is to reduce
pedestrian accident injuries caused by distracted drivers and in
limited visibility conditions with our Smart Crosswalk™.
Telensa
telensa.com
Brent Hudson
CEO
Telensa delivers a proven business case, with technology that
has been tried and tested for over a decade.
Nordsense
nordsense.com
Nordsense is on a mission to redefine the waste management
industry with smart sensors and data.
Anders Engdal
CEO
Featured Person

SIRADEL
Connecting the
Virtual Worlds
COVER STORY
With our tools, it is more about
the city versus
're-discovering'
it.
're-inventing'
“

The digital representation of any physical object or
system has become possible with the use of digital
twin technology. Originally focused in the
manufacturing sector, digital twin technology has expanded
to include large objects such as buildings, and even cities,
and has the potential to extend even further. In addition,
digital twins are merging with advanced technologies such
as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things and data
analytics to offer holistic ecosystem views now and into the
future.
Siradel is a company known for its 3D digital twins of
cities and its large portfolio of smart city solutions that help
in building smarter, more collaborative, resilient and
sustainable cities and territories. By creating 3D digital
twins using its world-class geodata production capabilities,
aggregating geo-referenced data, cross-correlating data,
running simulations to envision future scenarios and
visualizing any and all of the above in 3D, Siradel offers a
unique capability in connecting the physical, digital and
virtual worlds.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between
Insights Success and Siradel CEO Laurent Bouillot:
What led to the inception of Siradel?
In 1994, when Laurent finished his thesis on the theme of
wave propagation at Insa (National Institute of Applied
Science), in Rennes, France, he quickly set out on a solo
adventure. At the time, he had only one thing in mind: to
start his own business. Laurent and his wife, Marielle,
founded Siradel – Si for simulation, ra for radar and del for
electromagnetic diffraction – an engineering company
working in the fields of radar and radio communications.
Initially, the company was focused around military
applications, however, Laurent envisioned large potential in
the civilian, mobile communications world and pivoted the
company in that direction. In addition to software solutions
focused on radio propagation and planning, Siradel
produces high-quality digital maps and, over the last
decade, has applied its expertise to provide concrete,
efficient solutions to address and solve city and
municipality operational, sustainability and resiliency

“ are a common database, constantly
Digital Twins
evolving that allows seeing the city as it is today and
how it could be tomorrow.”
issues. With its success across the above domains, Siradel
was acquired by the ENGIE Group (a global, leading
sustainable energy provider (160,000 people, $65B USD))
in 2016. Today, Siradel is present in 60 countries with 250
customers across telecom operators, OEMs,
R&D/engineering firms, municipalities and territories.
Describe Siradel's advanced smart city solutions which
enhance the living experience of its customers.
Siradel's offer encompasses a large portfolio of Smart City
solutions to help build smarter sustainable territories
including 3D Digital Twins and collaborative Smart City
platforms.
Aggregating all the territory's data (geo referenced data,
urban sensors, socio-economic databases, buildings,
environmental or climatic data) in a single, interactive and
evolutive referential, Digital Twins allow all stakeholders,
including elected representatives or citizens, to better
understand and transform their territory. Allowing the
collaboration of all stakeholders in a cross-entity/transversal
way, Siradel 3D Digital Twins are a unique tool to visualize
the city as an entire ecosystem and to anticipate and manage
crisis situations with resilience.
Coupled with the Siradel Smart City Explorer platform
which offers advanced simulation and visualization
capabilities, the Digital Twin becomes a powerful tool to
assist cities in their operation and development by allowing
better:
Ÿ Understanding of a territory via a comprehensive and
transversal vision of all its challenges
Ÿ Assessment of the impact of future transformations by
simulating and comparing different scenarios
Ÿ Decision-making between all the projects' stakeholders
to optimize planning and pool resources
Ÿ Communication and promotion of the territory and its
transformation projects using 3D visualization.

How are the company's data management, 3D
modelling, and simulation and visualization solutions
more advanced comparatively to the other companies'
solutions?
Siradel's solutions unique character comes from the fact that
it doesn't only sell a product or software, but that it provides
its customers with a complete solution from 3D Digital
Twin production to data collection and exploitation in an
operational Smart City platform. Relying on its transversal
approach, Siradel's Smart City Explorer (SCE) platform
helps city stakeholders to visualize, aggregate, customize,
share and bring significantly more value to their data. Also,
developed around a plugin-based architecture, the SCE
platform allows 3rd-party simulation software and other
computational tools to be integrated and used in an
interactive way. Therefore, a large range of urban
challenges such as lighting, resiliency, energy, carbon
emission reduction, solar potential, security, 5G and small
cell deployments, multi-modal mobility, well-being,
sustainability and many more topics can be addressed in a
single, unique powerful tool, accessible to all.
Give a detailed description of the featured person's
influence over the company and the industry.
As CEO of the Siradel, Laurent Bouillot has led the
company since its inception, leading and directing all
organizational domains. His current, main focus is
formulating and positioning the company strategy as well as
continuing to drive the company to be at the forefront of
innovation.
At an industry level, Laurent’s leadership has influenced
many city/territory/municipality leaders over the past
decade with advanced solutions, efficient methodologies,
KPI establishment and cost-effective projects for addressing
urban transformation, sustainability and resiliency.
He is an authority on Digital Twin creation aspects and has
and continues to articulate the value that transversal
solutions offer to the industry. He is often invited to speak
at smart city conferences.
An example of Laurent’s recent influence is in Siradel’s
success with Angers Loire Metrople where Siradel is
producing the territory’s 3D Digital Twin and guiding the
adoption of essential project objectives, defined by Laurent
as:
Ÿ Study different urban transformation scenarios by
simulating the impact of the installation of new
infrastructures on energy consumption, pollution or
mobility
Ÿ Support decisions of elected representatives, allow co-
construction between citizens, public services and
elected representatives and facilitate communication
Ÿ Create a data management platform to optimize the
Metropole’s performance.
Describe, in detail, about the values that drive the
company.
From the start of the company, innovation and customer
centricity have been key values that have driven the
company's direction and success. To that extent, Laurent
has always promoted the use of creative, innovative
solutions to help customers meet their objectives and to
solve current and future challenges whether it be for
reduced carbon emissions, cost-reduced operations or
unique, new solutions. The concept of transversality is also
a key value as this aspect enables envisioning an ecosystem
of solutions and data utilization across a customer's
jurisdiction.
How are Siradel's solutions contributing in the
advancement of the global smart city planning and
management industry?
Siradel solutions have, and continue, to demonstrate to the
global smart city industry the importance of accurate digital
twins, key KPI establishment and the efficient use of and
standardization of techniques for data management across a
city or territory. As noted previously, Siradel continues to
promote innovation and the incorporation of artificial
intelligence into its solutions enabling development of new
cost-effective solutions for the smart city industry.
Additionally, the numerous, global smart city references
Photo credit:
Region lle-de-France

that Siradel already has in place, provide the industry with
important examples of replicable solutions for other cities
to emulate and follow.
What technologies is the company leveraging to make its
solutions resourceful?
Using data coming from a variety of sources such as aerial
imagery, satellite and aerial/terrestrial LiDAR and advanced
AI-based GIS production techniques, Siradel is able to
deliver highly accurate, realistic digital models of cities and
territories inclusive of buildings, urban furniture, roads,
vegetation and more with precision up to a few centimeters.
By aggregating geo-referenced datasets in a single
repository with the city maps, the company creates Digital
City Twins. With the use of Siradel's Smart City Explorer
platform, Siradel uses self-created or integrated 3rd-party
tools and aggregated data sets to simulate numerous
scenarios for intelligent decision-making. Furthermore,
these simulation results can be visualized in 3D and
communicated to any stakeholder via various media
including PC, web, tablet, AR and VR.
What are the company's future aspirations? What
strategies is it undertaking to achieve those goals?
The world is constantly evolving and Siradel continues to
innovate and adapt its solutions for new city and territory
requirements. Most recently, with the advent of the
COVID-19 situation, Siradel rapidly adapted its platform to
assist with associated pandemic crisis management. In the
space of 2 weeks, Siradel co-developed 2 specific
applications with the Paris Region and 50+ private and
public partners to insure suppliers and healthcare workers
were able to immediately communicate about precious
inventories and to insure that more than 400 hundred
organizations could provide needed services to citizens and
businesses. These services were built on top of Europe's
largest smart city platform in the Paris Region where
Siradel provides the 3D Digital Twin and its Smart City
Explorer solution covering 12 million inhabitants and 2.5M
buildings and incorporating more than 10,000 datasets.
Looking forward, Siradel continues to work closely with
cities to assist them in their digital transformation and rapid
deployment of new solutions adapted to their specific
characteristics and challenges. One such example is the
opening of Siradel's Smart City Lab in the South of France
to collaborate with the cities and universities of the Region
on innovative smart territory projects related to the impacts
of climate change (floods, heat islands, sea level, etc.). And
certainly, with new use cases related to new 5G wireless
networks, green mobility, access to nature, resiliency and
sustainability, Siradel will continue to innovate and enable
delivery of the next generation of smart city services.

kimberly Khoury
Paving her Way in Sustainability Development
&
&
The
20
BUSINESSWOMEN
to Watch, 2020
SUCCESSFUL
Most

WITHOUT TRUCKS,
STOPS
AMERICA
18 | February 2021 www.insightssuccess.com
Ellen Voie

he most relevant trend is due to the pandemic.
TIt has highlighted the importance of the
trucking industry and the entire supply chain.
The average citizen is now recognizing the
relationship that tractor trailer on the highway has to
the toilet paper and cleaning supplies on the grocery
store shelf. Despite their size, big rigs and the industry
has been mostly invisible as they quietly deliver good
across the nation.
This has also shown how the trucking industry still
has jobs and that these jobs are vital to the economy
and transcend both a pandemic and economic
downturn. There is a critical need for professional
drivers every day of the year. Without trucks, America
stops.
The trucking industry has always been an early
adopter of technology. First, drivers use
communication products such as cell phones, internet
and in the past, beepers and toll free numbers, to stay
in touch with their families. Carriers use technology to
track the driver and the load to more accurately be
able to let a customer know when to expect a
shipment.
Technology has also allowed us to create a safer
environment for all of us. The use of anti-rollover
devises, collision warning products, theft protection,
keyless door entry and cameras to give greater vision
around the truck all lead to a safer driver, truck and
highway.
19
|
February 2021
www.insightssuccess.com
Leader’s Viewpoint

Award-winning Survey Platform for Online Public Engagement
Successful startups are founded by people who are
truly passionate about what they do. One such startup
is MetroQuest. A digital public engagement pioneer,
MetroQuest is changing the expectations of the public for
an easy and convenient online option for providing input.
An interview conducted between Insights Success and Dave
Biggs - Chief Engagement Officer sheds light on how
MetroQuest has made it’s way to become North America's
award-winning online public engagement solution for urban
and transportation planning.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Give us a brief overview of MetroQuest, its vision, and
its journey since inception.
Since the first meeting in 1993 as grad students at the
University of British Columbia, Mike Walsh and I have
been obsessing about community engagement technology.
In 1997, we founded Envision Sustainability Tools, a
software firm devoted to providing the most effective online
public engagement solution for urban and transportation
planning.
In the early days, our team ran public meetings and set up
polling keypads connected to custom software. As the
Internet grew in popularity, we were the first to develop a
web-based public engagement software that broadens
community outreach, marking the birth of MetroQuest’s
current SaaS offering.
Today, our team serves DOTs, MPOs, local planning and
transportation organizations across North America. We’re
dedicated to perfecting the art and science of great public
engagement and helping public entities deliver delightful
public engagement experiences online so they can obtain
actionable input and make important planning decisions
that truly reflect the needs of the communities they serve.
Please list the popular solutions that make your
company standout from the competition.
MetroQuest is the only online public engagement software
that is designed to optimize community input and gathers
important data that help plans get approved faster. Our
delightful surveys are designed to engage thousands of
residents across a broad demographic, educate the public
about important planning choices and tradeoffs, and collect
quantifiable and actionable input to give decision-makers
the confidence they need to make critical investment and
planning decisions.
Our software supplies a variety of screen templates that
agencies and firms can use to build customized, interactive
online surveys. Planners can gather public input on visual
preferences, scenarios, tradeoffs, priorities, or budgeting to
meet their unique project needs. Features such as the Map
Marker or Budget Allocation Screens have built-in
gamification and education that allows the end-user to
intuitively learn about complicated elements of planning
and apply their input in an informed and organized way.
MetroQuest makes online public engagement fast, fun,
educational, and interactive to ensure diverse participation
and collect survey results that are actionable. Our software
can also support multiple languages and is compatible with
any device—laptops, tablets, smartphones, and kiosks.
As a business leader, what is your opinion on the impact
of the current pandemic on Computer Software &
Public Engagement software in general?
COVID-19 is having a significant impact on the public
engagement landscape. I believe that events in 2020 created
a perfect storm for public engagement and pushed planning
to new heights. Agencies and firms were forced to establish
new protocols for effective community engagement in our
new normal, without public meetings.
The 10 Most Promising Smart City Solution Providers, 2021

Dave Biggs,
Chief Engagement Ofﬁcer
MetroQuest Software
23
|
February 2021

I think this shift helped unveil to many that there are key
advantages that digital tools have over traditional methods
to public engagement. This provided the public engagement
industry with a unique opportunity to shine a light on online
tools and how their software can be leveraged to achieve
exceptional results, during COVID-19 and beyond. Based
on the success that agencies are now having with
MetroQuest and the changing expectations of the public for
an easy and convenient online option for providing input,
it’s likely that online engagement is here to stay.
What is your opinion on the necessity for businesses to
align their offerings with newer technological
developments, especially when it comes to SaaS and
data processes?
Today’s progression of technology is remarkable, but the
rate at which it’s evolving can be daunting for any business.
Advancements and trends change day-to-day so it’s
unlikely that any business can align their offering with the
latest and greatest technological development. It’s also
unwise to chase the new shiny technology without a solid
business case.
MetroQuest has remained a leader by keeping the goals of
customers top of mind with regard to technology
improvements. If new technology will help our customers
you can rest assured that we’ll be all over it. We are a very
results-driven organization and that focus has served us
extremely well and we have happy and loyal clients to show
for it.
In your opinion, what could be the future of Software
Planning post the COVID-19 pandemic? And how are
you strategizing MetroQuest operations for that future?
The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a dramatic shift in
public engagement. To maintain the momentum of public
projects and achieve the mandates of community
engagement, agencies and firms were forced to adopt online
tools and methods to achieve safe and effective community
engagement virtually. Some have achieved outstanding
community engagement results by developing expertise and
utilizing the tools best suited for public engagement on a
wider scale. As agencies have been forced to rapidly adapt
to online community engagement, they quickly discover
that we are the leader in this space.
We have spoken to many of our customers and industry
contacts, and the majority agree that these changes were
long overdue and virtual public engagement is here to stay.
The online tools and strategies that many have recently
adopted allow for greater reach into communities,
bypassing some of the typical barriers to engagement that
planners and public engagement professionals often face.
This includes reaching hard-to-reach or traditionally
underrepresented communities, through utilizing online
engagement opportunities such as MetroQuest surveys,
virtual townhall meetings or recordings, and even leaning
on community groups to reach deeper into targeted
demographics.
For MetroQuest, this both changes a lot, and very little. We
expect to see increased interest in our offering as more
agencies begin their online engagement journeys. We are
having wider-reaching conversations as the industry,
together, explores how widespread virtual public
participation will impact civic engagement, and how we
approach designing our cities moving forward.
How do you envision sustaining your company’s
competency in a cutthroat and volatile world of
business? Where do you see your company in the next
five years?
Sustainable competitive advantage is key to any business’
success. We’ve built genuine relationships with our
customers and facilitate ongoing conversations with them to
develop a strong understanding of what is needed from a
planning point of view and how community engagement is
evolving.
Our development team is always analyzing our software
and looking for ways to improve it. We’ve developed
several iterations to our classic, award-winning survey
solution to match what our customers are telling us and to
stay relevant in the industry.
We care deeply about our customer’s success and have an
incredible support team that stands by our customers every
step of their online engagement journey. With one-on-one
onboarding, unlimited email support and survey
consultation calls, and 24/7 access to our support website
and training videos, our customers can expect the best
customer service and highest level of support in the
industry.
We also have an excellent, high performing team that is
built on open and honest communication, mutual support,
and collaboration, making us more efficient, creative, and
competitive. Every team member plays a vital role in our
business and we place high importance on fostering strong
leadership and team building to help sustain our company’s
competency.
Choose a business idea
that actually excites
and motivates you.
“
“

IMPROVING
THE QUALITY OF
HUMAN LIFE

E-Goverment
The utilization of digital technologies, particularly the
internet, can make administrative and government functions
more efficient and potentially transparent.
Internet governance can be considered as a major
breakthrough in making the system work democratically. In
addition, e-democracy also brings together all the tools of
“digital democracy”, including deliberative practices and
styles of I-voting. It allows the transition from democracy
during which political participation takes shape and ends
with political elections, to a participatory democracy
capable of engaging citizens. An accurate application of the
types of E-government can contribute to implement and
promote kinds of digital democracy.
Urban Planning
The other key area which smart technologies can enhance is
Urban planning, as it can boost the well-being of people
and their communities for present and future generations. It
majorly involves understanding the urban phenomenon, so
as to optimize its use and achieve sustainable development,
through public and personal management. Besides, it can
also be said that smart cities can majorly contribute to
improving transport, passenger flows, and road traffic. This
way the goal of mobility can be achieved.
Pollution Control
The planning of an intelligent city puts the well-being of its
citizens in the middle. This can be achieved by defending
ideas to boost water management, increasing the quantity of
In the world where we have surrounded ourselves with all the smart devices, the
smar fica on of ci es is the new entrant. A dras c transforma on has occurred
within the infrastructure of the world's ci es.
Technology is con nually advancing and bringing a paradigm shi in human lives. Its
impact is more evident in the world's ci es. Like our homes are stocked with
intelligent devices, our ci es too are being smart with technologies such as smart
metering, wireless sensor networks, open pla orms, high-speed broadband, cloud
compu ng, etc.
Earlier, with the rapid increase in urbaniza on, ci es were complex to live in. The
advent of the concept of smart ci es has changed the scenario and is con nuing to
do so. In fact, the research performed by United Na ons predicts that by 2050, 64.1
percent of the developing world and 85 percent of the developed world, will be
urbanized.
It is quite evident how smartphones have brought the en re world to our finger ps.
Similarly, a smart city brings state-of-the-art technologies to advance the
infrastructure, proper governance, digi za on, and quality of life for the inhabitants.
Let's have a look at in what areas can smart ci es bring change and create an
impact on the lives of people.
CONNECTED WORLD
27
|
February 2021

open spaces that may be lived in, collecting waste in an
exceedingly more organized way, limiting the consumption
of fossil fuels to a minimum, and aiming to eliminate non-
recyclable plastic.
Energy efficiency
Some well-planned smart city projects can help in
maintaining efficiency within the generation, distribution,
and consumption of energy. These projects can ensure a
sustainable environment by investing in systems that
optimize energy consumption, within the creation of green
spaces, within the promotion of electrical cars and
renewable energy, creating a positive impact on people's
health and therefore the economy of the population.
Waste Management
The major issue that can be addressed by smart cities is
waste management. Harnessing the power of some evolving
technologies can tremendously change the way waste in the
cities is managed. For instance, placing sensors inside
garbage bins can ease the waste management process as it
can help take pictures of the contents, analyze them and
then optimize trash collection routes.
Future Ahead
By incorporating the potential of some pioneering
technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of
Things, Big Data, Machine Learning, etc., we can safely
assert that the smartification of cities is at its peak.
The research performed by Mordor Intelligence indicates
that the smart cities market is expected to reach a value of
USD 1,447.87 billion by 2024. These figures talk about the
speed at which the market is growing. The future of smart
cities from here looks promising.

NO
Revolutionizing W
Anders Engdal
CEO
Nordsense

ORDSENSE
Waste Management with Iot Sensor Technology and Data-Driven Insights
With a mission to redefine the waste sector by providing data to make waste collection
more efficient, Nordsense was incepted. The Silicon Valley funded start-up is based
in Copenhagen, Denmark and currently operates in Europe, Israel, and the USA.
With over 25 years in the IT industry, CEO, Anders Engdal wants to turn the entire industry on
its head, address the inefficiency issues and lack of sustainability within traditional waste
management, and create software that gives a competitive edge to waste handlers.
In an interview with Insights Success, Anders sheds light on how Nordsense is making the
world’s waste collection greener, cleaner and smarter.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
What challenges has Nordsense faced since its beginnings in 2015?
The main challenge Nordsense has faced is going from the infancy stage of technology to an
enterprise solution – and building an organization around that. Back in 2015 when we first
started, several cities wanted to be part of the smart city trend but didn’t fully understand what
that would entail. The challenge is getting them to understand that this technology isn’t a gadget
– it’s a scalable solution with far-reaching, transformative potential.
Being an experienced business leader, what is your opinion regarding the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic on the renewables and environment industry? And how has
Nordsense managed to overcome this significant challenge?
We expect to emerge stronger than ever after COVID-19. The pandemic has shed light on our
need for real-time data and the ability to react fast to changing behavior and patterns. COVID-19
has acted as a kind of tipping point for many waste authorities to take action and acquire smarter
solutions that allow for real-time response. For example, with all of the lockdowns, there were
huge changes in waste patterns, with residential waste generally overtaking street and
commercial waste. These changes can be easily navigated and taken care of with the Nordsense
solution. Plus, digitizing collection routes and waste processes in general during this uncertain
time secures services against absenteeism, due to quarantine or illness, as new drivers and
sanitation workers can get started immediately thanks to the technology.
What truth does everyone need to know about smart waste with IoT, Big Data, and
Machine Learning?
It isn’t so much about the complexity of technology, how IoT works, or the intricacies of
The 10 Most Promising Smart City Solution Providers, 2021
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Machine Learning. It’s more about what the data can do for
you and which worthwhile problems technology can help
you solve. Ultimately, smart waste management fueled by
IoT provides you with transparency – transparency around
your own business processes and your customers’ or
citizens’ needs. And this empowers you to approach your
waste efforts in a data-driven way, enabling better and
smarter decision-making.
What is your opinion on advancements for waste
management and smart waste in terms of improving
offerings with newer technological developments,
especially when it comes in building a positive
environmental impact?
Technology and data have a responsibility to disrupt the
status quo and contribute to societal improvements.
Advancements in the waste management sector are by no
means an exception. The world needs to make bold moves
towards a circular economy and that entails a radical
transformation of how we deal with waste. Data provide us
with an understanding of what kind of waste people are
throwing away and how much of that waste can be turned
into a reusable resource. We need to become more
sustainable and efficient in our waste operations and data
gathered from smart waste technology are just one tool that
can help us on this journey. Data really are the key to
turning waste into a resource.
In what ways has Nordsense contributed to the
community? If given a chance, what changes would you
bring about in the climate sector in terms of waste
management processes?
Nordsense has helped cities and municipalities across the
globe take steps to become greener, cleaner, and smarter
with their waste management. We’re proud to be working
with local waste authorities in two leading C40 cities –
cities which are noted for taking ambitious climate action.
Our most recent work includes helping a major Californian
city reduce overflowing waste by 80%, empowering a large
UK waste authority to monitor and improve their food
waste recycling initiatives, and enabling a Danish
municipality to adapt their waste services and make
significant cost savings in the face of COVID-19
lockdowns.
Where are you focusing your energy now, and where do
you hope to make an impact next? What do you think
could be the next big change in the waste management
and environment industry?
At Nordsense, we are focused on turning waste into a
resource and kickstarting a digitalization and transparency
transformation across the industry. The next big change in
waste management is all about going digital and building a
data hub – and most likely, the universal adoption of smart
waste containers will play a part in that. There is no
denying now that we live in a highly unpredictable world,
where we need to be able to adapt and react fast to changing
circumstances. This requires access to real-time data about
our operations – something that sensor technology can
provide. I truly believe an IoT powered waste sector is the
future, because it enables us to become more efficient and
agile, make data-driven decisions, and positively impact the
sustainability and circular economy agenda.
Do you have any advice for up-and-coming business
leaders aspiring to make an environmental impact on
the world?
Establish your company around the goal of making a
positive environmental impact, rather than only concerning
yourself with driving profit. If you truly want to make a
change in the environment sector and make an impact as an
organization, your company must be based around the
higher purpose of making the world a better place. In fact,
this should come before your corporate revenue goals,
because you aren’t just building a company – you are also
trying to do something good for the environment. Keep
your environmental purpose in mind and the financial
benefits will follow.
www.nordsense.com

We optimize waste operations by monitoring
container levels, tracking collection routes,
applying advanced data analytics, and providing
in-depth data insights – all to help make waste
collection more data-driven, efcient, and
sustainable.
“
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IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT
INSURANCE AND
CAR ACCIDENTS
Unfortunately, car accidents happen all too often. Even when minor, they are scary. The most important thing
is that everyone involved is okay. But beyond that, there's concern about damage to the vehicle or vehicles.
For both personal injury and property damage, good insurance coverage is essential. This is when you would
benefit greatly by looking at Root car insurance reviews.
For optimal protection at the most affordable rate, consider the things mentioned below:
1. Multi-Coverage
When looking at what different insurance providers offer,
try to go with one that covers more than just your
automobile. If you piecemeal coverage, you'll pay much
higher premiums. So, you want a provider that can bundle
policies to include your car, home, business, recreational
vehicles, and so on.
2. Applicable Discounts
Sure, you want the best protection possible in the event of a
car accident, whether it is your fault or another driver's
fault. But at the same time, you don't want to spend more
than you have to. This is where discounts come into play.
When talking to an insurer, make sure they apply
everything they can to lower the cost of your premium. For
instance, most insurance companies give discounts to
people with excellent driving records, those who own a car
with an anti-theft system, and individuals who bundle
policies.
3. Teen Drivers
You'll pay more for car insurance if you have a teenage
driver since, statistically, teens have more accidents than
adult drivers do. However, many insurance companies offer
unique rate reductions. Here are two examples of how this
works. First, you have a teen driver who carries a B average
or higher in school. Second, your teenager ranks within the
top 20 percent of his or her class. Even more exciting, these
discounts stay in effect until your child turns 25.

4. Liability versus Full Coverage
With liability insurance, the policy covers the other party in
a car accident. In other words, if you hit a vehicle, which
results in the driver sustaining injuries and their automobile
totaled, liability insurance covers the costs. With full-
coverage, you and the other party, as well as both vehicles,
have coverage related to a car accident. Although you'll pay
more for full coverage, it is generally worth it. Remember,
liability insurance is more about the other party than it is
about you. Also, if you have a loan on your automobile, you
have to maintain full coverage. On the other hand, if you
drive an old, beat-up car, then liability would probably
make more sense.
5. Change Deductibles
Here's a great way to lower your premium but without
compromising on protection. Simply increase your current
deductible. For example, if you have a $500 deductible, you
could bump it up to $1,000. That way, you save money yet
have the same coverage. Now, if you were in a car accident,
Risk & Insurance
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February 2021

you would have to pay the higher deductible before your
insurance would kick in, but if you're a good driver, you
shouldn't have to worry about causing accidents, right?
6. Credit Score
This one might surprise you. So, here's the deal. By
improving your credit score, your car insurance premium
will go down. Today, credit plays a critical role in all kinds
of things, including insurance. So, order a free copy of your
reports from all three reporting agencies to include
Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. This is crucial since
they don't necessarily rate the same accounts.
Remember…the higher your score goes, the less you'll
spend on car insurance.
7. Location Counts
This is another factor that a lot of people don't know about.
Where you live is yet another factor that determines how
much you pay for car insurance. So, if you're thinking about
moving, take this into account. As you can imagine, a house
or apartment in a high-crime area is going to negatively
impact your premium. Many insurance companies even
factor in the length of your commute to and from work.
8. Pay-as-You-Go Coverage
If you've never heard of this, you're not alone. This
particular kind of car insurance helps people with excellent
driving records and those who don't drive great distances.
What happens is the insurance provider installs a telemetric
device in your vehicle. As long as you stay within the
guidelines, the insurance provider will apply the discount.
9. Shop Around
The best advice for anyone who's looking for car insurance
is to shop around. Sit down with an agent and go over
various policies so that you can compare what each one of
them has to oﬀer. While doing that, keep all the information
provided in mind. If you're ever in a car accident, you want
peace of mind that you have outstanding coverage but at the
same time, the protection you can aﬀord.

This is also a very creative and unique start for any
entrepreneur who wishes to start his career in something
adventurous. There is definitely a part of the government
which plays a huge role in approving such a plan. But one
thing is sure the concept of a smart city will answer the
problems related to waste management, environmental
hazards, and many more. These issues are increasing and to
have a solution to these can be considered as a big
achievement for us as humans.
Urban Challenges
Today, there are ranging urban challenges such as lighting,
energy, carbon emissions, solar-cell deployments, and many
more. Installation of new energy tech solutions will not
solve energy- related problems but will curb the problems
of pollution. The biggest problem right now we are facing is
about carbon emissions, we have to come together and
focus on reducing our carbon footprints on the planet.
Environmental hazards like the waste sector are also the
headache of the urban city and the biggest problem to deal
with. Creating a way to answer these difficult issues will
turn the face of the urban city. Managing such complex
issues – the smart city is the key which will give the
Digital Ecosystem for
The expansion of population or you may call it
population outburst has expanded to a larger extent
in the cities. It has become difficult to cope up with
the requirements and challenges of such a large number of
populations, especially in cities. Hence, the need of the hour
is smart city solutions with the help of digital and
technological innovation.
Yes, developing a smart city is possible with the help of
technology. We can start this transformation from small
objects to big buildings and finally in the entire cities. With
the advancements of technologies like AI, IoT, Machine
Learning, and Robotics we can answer to all the
complicated questions related to the environment.
Concept of a smart city
Building smart cities require companies to have a good
knowledge of sustainable cities, towns, and buildings. With
the unique capabilities of the physical as well as the virtual
worlds this future scenario is very much possible. In fact,
there are already companies offering these services with
their valuable knowledge.

competitive edge to us. It’s more about what can we do the
smart city solution providers can do because we know with
technology, we can reach unbelievable heights.
As technology is not confined to anyone and is not limited,
we can make good use of it to create a beautiful future. By
connecting cities with AI and related techniques, urban
living can be changed. Not to forget, the pandemic
situation, and the havoc it brought into our lives. With the
help of these technological tools, we can build a hygienic
and safer standard of living with cost-effective solutions. In
such an emergency situation we should always have a
backup plan and smart city solution is the answer.
Ultimately, entering into the smart city should be the
approach for us as well as citizens. Because no matter how
good the technology is or the company is, it will be only be
considered good if it is for the betterment of human
mankind and the environment.
Positive long-term effect
Technology and smart city companies have a big
responsibility today to fight these environmental challenges.
We need to be more open-minded and give up the things
that harm the environment in any way. This is a change that
needs to be applied on a global scale. The government's
authorities and companies should work together in bringing
this ambitious change.
The next big thing or the next big change is a smart city and
everything related to it. There is no denying to it that
building a city full of smart solutions and adapting to it will
be truly a revolution. Believing in this change revolution
will have a positive long-term effect. If we are really
concerned about the environmental effects, smart city
providers will make this world a better place to live.
Conclusion
The next-generation will definitely feel the impacts if not
adapted to the smart city solutions now. Of course, it will
have its challenges as well, but to make way for new
generation we have to adapt to the rule of Survival of the
Fittest!
Effortless Living
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|
February 2021

The 10 most promising smart city solution providers 2020

The 10 most promising smart city solution providers 2020

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