Resources
The Resources Database contains relevant Smart Villages resources (including analytical reports, case studies, strategies, webpages, presentations, etc.) identified and collected in the framework of the Smart Rural 21 project (2020-2022) and later in the framework of Smart Rural 27 project (2021-2023). Many of the resources were directly developed in the framework of the Smart Rural projects (for instance smart village strategies or presentations made at events), whereas others are external resources identified to be relevant for Smart Villages. The database is continuously being enhanced until the end of the Smart Rural 27 project, and users can search by country, type of policy, type of organisation, type of resource or free keyword search.
Ministry of Regional Development of Czechia
(
11/11/2022
–
11/11/2022
)
During the Czech Presidency of the EU, an international conference on innovation was organised in Jesenik region. It focused on ways of overcoming social, economic, demographic and geographical exclusion through technological and social innovations. Key topics of the conference were: Smart Villages, Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, Innovations, strategic and evidence-based approach to regional development using tools such as Territorial Impact Assessment and Rural Proofing.
Language : Czech, English
During the Czech Presidency of the EU, an international conference on innovation was organised in Jesenik region. It focused on ways of overcoming social, economic, demographic and geographical exclusion through technological and social innovations. Key topics of the conference were: Smart Villages, Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, Innovations, strategic and evidence-based approach to regional development using tools such as Territorial Impact Assessment and Rural Proofing.
Language : Czech, English
(
25/10/2022
)
A comprehensive newspaper article about Alsunga, the Latvian Smart Rural 21 selected village, and its participation in the project’s final conference, 17-18 October 2022 in Sopot (Poland), together with other Latvian communities was published in the Kurzemnieks regional newspaper.
Language : Latvian
Type of resource : Article
A comprehensive newspaper article about Alsunga, the Latvian Smart Rural 21 selected village, and its participation in the project’s final conference, 17-18 October 2022 in Sopot (Poland), together with other Latvian communities was published in the Kurzemnieks regional newspaper.
Language : Latvian
Type of resource : Article
Fritz Pichler
, Rainer Rosegger
, Mirella Bärnthaler
-
Municipality of Stanz
, SCAN
, Caliber Consult GmbH
(
06/09/2022
)
Stanz im Mürztal, one of the Smart Rural 21 project selected vil-lages, was chosen to receive additional expert support for the full implementation of its smart village strategy. Its project scope was to define the role of blockchain for leveraging the output of renew-able energy resources and to combine technical and social inno-vation. The project goal was to define possible cases for the use of a local digital currency based on renewable energy. As a first step, a renewable energy community was implemented in Stanz. Citizen engagement and an intense participation process provided the ideal basis for the token economic analysis. The Smart Café showcased the results of the Stanz feasibility study.
Language : English
Type of resource : Video
Stanz im Mürztal, one of the Smart Rural 21 project selected vil-lages, was chosen to receive additional expert support for the full implementation of its smart village strategy. Its project scope was to define the role of blockchain for leveraging the output of renew-able energy resources and to combine technical and social inno-vation. The project goal was to define possible cases for the use of a local digital currency based on renewable energy. As a first step, a renewable energy community was implemented in Stanz. Citizen engagement and an intense participation process provided the ideal basis for the token economic analysis. The Smart Café showcased the results of the Stanz feasibility study.
Language : English
Type of resource : Video
Aleksandar Lukic
-
University of Zagreb
, Local Action Group “Prigorje-Zagorje
(
19/05/2022
–
20/05/2022
)
A presentation by Aleksandar Lukić, PhD, at the fourth edition of the event “LET US PROVE THAT WE CAN”, organised by the European Future of Young in Rural Areas (EFYRA) project, led by the ‘Prigorje-Zagorje’ Local Action Group
Language : Croatian
Type of resource : Presentation
A presentation by Aleksandar Lukić, PhD, at the fourth edition of the event “LET US PROVE THAT WE CAN”, organised by the European Future of Young in Rural Areas (EFYRA) project, led by the ‘Prigorje-Zagorje’ Local Action Group
Language : Croatian
Type of resource : Presentation
Spanish National Rural Network (Red Rural Nacional)
(
2022
)
A comprehensive overview of Smart Village developments at Europe-an and Spanish levels, including a presentation of the Smart Rural 21 project, its selected Spanish village, Ansó, as well as other active Span-ish communities.
Language : Spanish
Type of resource : Article
A comprehensive overview of Smart Village developments at Europe-an and Spanish levels, including a presentation of the Smart Rural 21 project, its selected Spanish village, Ansó, as well as other active Span-ish communities.
Language : Spanish
Type of resource : Article
Landesentwicklung Steiermark
(
2022
)
The factsheet overviews Styria’s approach to Smart Villages. This is a further development of the factsheet published by the Federal Minis-try for Agriculture, Regions and Tourism with one of the differences being a stronger focus on municipal center development.
Language : German
The factsheet overviews Styria’s approach to Smart Villages. This is a further development of the factsheet published by the Federal Minis-try for Agriculture, Regions and Tourism with one of the differences being a stronger focus on municipal center development.
Language : German
ADRETS
(
05/2018
–
2021
)
The Smart Villages project, funded by the European Union’s Alpine Space programme, ran between May 2018 and May 2021. Its objective was to transpose the ‘Smart City’ ap-proach to the rural environment by reflecting on the contri-butions of technical, digital and social innovation in the new ways of using rural space and the ‘village’. The webpage con-tains a Smart Villages resource database collected by the project.
Language : French
The Smart Villages project, funded by the European Union’s Alpine Space programme, ran between May 2018 and May 2021. Its objective was to transpose the ‘Smart City’ ap-proach to the rural environment by reflecting on the contri-butions of technical, digital and social innovation in the new ways of using rural space and the ‘village’. The webpage con-tains a Smart Villages resource database collected by the project.
Language : French
Ruralitic Forum
(
06/2016
)
The Smart Villages Manifesto intends to unite those who no longer want to be content with deploring the situation of the countryside or seeking those responsible for its difficulties, but now want to build on their own scale and together, solutions for the future. It can be signed by any local elected representative and any citizen who recognises themselves in its principles and wishes to promote them.
Language : French
Type of resource : Document
The Smart Villages Manifesto intends to unite those who no longer want to be content with deploring the situation of the countryside or seeking those responsible for its difficulties, but now want to build on their own scale and together, solutions for the future. It can be signed by any local elected representative and any citizen who recognises themselves in its principles and wishes to promote them.
Language : French
Type of resource : Document
(
05/2022
)
Language : English
Type of resource : Document
Language : English
Type of resource : Document
Marek Kurinec
(
2019
–
Ongoing
)
A smart data monitoring system (digital tracing system) encourages waste separation and incentivises recycling by reducing waste-collection fees. Stickers with unique QR codes are used for recycling bags, whilst waste bins are fitted with an electronic chip, which is scanned by refuse collectors using a smart watch during waste collection. In this way, the municipal office keeps track of the amount of waste produced by every household and business entity, and the level of recycling and offers scaled reductions on local waste management bills per person according to the proportion of household waste recycled.
A smart data monitoring system (digital tracing system) encourages waste separation and incentivises recycling by reducing waste-collection fees. Stickers with unique QR codes are used for recycling bags, whilst waste bins are fitted with an electronic chip, which is scanned by refuse collectors using a smart watch during waste collection. In this way, the municipal office keeps track of the amount of waste produced by every household and business entity, and the level of recycling and offers scaled reductions on local waste management bills per person according to the proportion of household waste recycled.
(
03/2022
)
Language : Bulgarian
Type of resource : Document
Language : Bulgarian
Type of resource : Document
Aikaterini Kasimati
(
01/01/2019
–
01/06/2021
)
One of the newer developments in digital technology is the increasing use of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, in agriculture. Drones are remote-controlled flying machines without a human pilot on board. Drones come in different types, including vertical-take-off and landing (VTOL), multi-rotor drones – particularly quadcopter & octocopter drones with four and eight rotors respectively. These fly more like a helicopter, with the ability to change direction in all directions, but can be more noisy. Other types are fixed wing drones which need to be launched and fly more like an airplane or glider, are less noisy but turn more slowly. Different types of drone are better adapted to certain tasks more than others (see below). Drones can be fitted with cameras, sensors and even spraying equipment according to their intended use. They have enormous potential in agriculture to support evidence-based planning and spatial data collection. Drones have two fundamental categories of application in agriculture. They can be an “eye-in-the-sky”, providing optical observation and recording of a territory including crop growth, weeds, presence of standing water and livestock monitoring etc. They can also be a “hand-in-the-sky” with potential applications including spraying (e.g. of fertilisers or weed-killers) and goods delivery across the territory. The specific type of drone and attached equipment needed depends on the intended use:
One of the newer developments in digital technology is the increasing use of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, in agriculture. Drones are remote-controlled flying machines without a human pilot on board. Drones come in different types, including vertical-take-off and landing (VTOL), multi-rotor drones – particularly quadcopter & octocopter drones with four and eight rotors respectively. These fly more like a helicopter, with the ability to change direction in all directions, but can be more noisy. Other types are fixed wing drones which need to be launched and fly more like an airplane or glider, are less noisy but turn more slowly. Different types of drone are better adapted to certain tasks more than others (see below). Drones can be fitted with cameras, sensors and even spraying equipment according to their intended use. They have enormous potential in agriculture to support evidence-based planning and spatial data collection. Drones have two fundamental categories of application in agriculture. They can be an “eye-in-the-sky”, providing optical observation and recording of a territory including crop growth, weeds, presence of standing water and livestock monitoring etc. They can also be a “hand-in-the-sky” with potential applications including spraying (e.g. of fertilisers or weed-killers) and goods delivery across the territory. The specific type of drone and attached equipment needed depends on the intended use:
- Crop monitoring: 1) Multi-rotor drone 2) Thermal camera – thermal imagery 3) RGB camera – RGB imagery 4) Hyperspectral camera – hyperspectral imagery (of selected spectra for specific disease) 5) Lidar sensor – point cloud data 6) IoT weather station – environmental and soil data.
- Drone spraying: 1) Meteorological IoT stations – weather data during sprayings 2) Spraying drone and spraying components (i.e., various nozzle types, computer vision systems) – spray drift, deposition and coverage, and canopy penetration samples 3) Conventional ground sprayer – reference data for common practices.
- Livestock monitoring: 1) Multi-purpose drones with RGB and thermal cameras – georeferenced RGB and thermal imagery; 2) GPS collars – ground-truth data of the animal locations; 3) Aptimiz sensor – labour time recordings of different farm tasks.
- Forestry and biodiversity monitoring: 1) Fixed-wing drone with high autonomy; 2) Multispectral and thermal cameras – georeferenced drone imagery; 3) On-board edge device, for data pre-processing and communication handling; 4) Satellite imagery – Sentinel-2 data.
- Rural logistics: 1) Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), quadcopter and octocopter drones; 2) Photogrammetry equipment for georeferenced 3D model and navigation; 3) Meteorological stations for each of the points of interest – environmental data; 4) Server for the DD-FMS hosting; 5) Custom-made cargo systems.
Tanya Hulshof-Verheij
(
2020
–
Ongoing
)
The creation of a sustainable village foundation is a network approach that works to empower citizens to adopt sustainable lifestyles. The foundation provides a formal legal structure which brings together local people to coordinate efforts to exchange knowledge and expertise, inspire and facilitate cooperation and encourage action around key themes of sustainability, including energy transition, biodiversity, climate adaptation and circularity. The focus of the Foundation is not on large-scale investment projects, but encouraging local people to take action at their own scale. This means the focus is on topics such as encouraging local people to insulate their homes, install rainwater collection barrels or improve biodiversity in their own gardens. It also means engaging local companies in efforts to reduce energy and water consumption or recover re-usable materials. Key tools used by a sustainable village foundation include a dedicated website and YouTube channel. These are important for communicating about sustainability issues, raising understanding and awareness of the types of small-scale actions that can be taken by local people and encouraging them to get involved. The Foundation can support a local sustainability week, which gives a key focus to local action on sustainability. This provides an important moment not only to encourage local people to take action, but also to share and raise awareness of the different local actions that are being undertaken in the area, building a community of engaged actors. The strength of this initiative is that it targets ‘ordinary citizens’ in an approachable way based on the idea that everyone has a responsibility and if everyone contributes a little, we can achieve a lot together. The aim is to make people aware, inspire and encourage them to take real steps towards a sustainable future and increase social cohesion through encouraging a bottom-up movement. People are thus intrinsically motivated to become more sustainable.
The creation of a sustainable village foundation is a network approach that works to empower citizens to adopt sustainable lifestyles. The foundation provides a formal legal structure which brings together local people to coordinate efforts to exchange knowledge and expertise, inspire and facilitate cooperation and encourage action around key themes of sustainability, including energy transition, biodiversity, climate adaptation and circularity. The focus of the Foundation is not on large-scale investment projects, but encouraging local people to take action at their own scale. This means the focus is on topics such as encouraging local people to insulate their homes, install rainwater collection barrels or improve biodiversity in their own gardens. It also means engaging local companies in efforts to reduce energy and water consumption or recover re-usable materials. Key tools used by a sustainable village foundation include a dedicated website and YouTube channel. These are important for communicating about sustainability issues, raising understanding and awareness of the types of small-scale actions that can be taken by local people and encouraging them to get involved. The Foundation can support a local sustainability week, which gives a key focus to local action on sustainability. This provides an important moment not only to encourage local people to take action, but also to share and raise awareness of the different local actions that are being undertaken in the area, building a community of engaged actors. The strength of this initiative is that it targets ‘ordinary citizens’ in an approachable way based on the idea that everyone has a responsibility and if everyone contributes a little, we can achieve a lot together. The aim is to make people aware, inspire and encourage them to take real steps towards a sustainable future and increase social cohesion through encouraging a bottom-up movement. People are thus intrinsically motivated to become more sustainable.
Volker Vieregg
(
2013
–
Ongoing
)
The regional sustainability shop promotes a sustainable local economy through a dual approach, namely by matching supply and demand for sustainable local goods and services as well as by raising awareness of sustainable living on the part of local consumers. Local suppliers from surrounding villages can rent – at a low price – shelf space in the shop for presenting and selling their goods. The products range from food to clothing to art and other artisanal products offered by local producers. The proceeds from the sales are passed on 100% to the local producers. The shop is operated by volunteers which keep costs down and enables revenue from sales to be passed directly to the local producers. The voluntary operation of the regional store is also linked to a programme of events to reach local consumers. This combination is intended to stimulate local economic cycles and sustainable consumption on both the supply and demand sides. As a central place for the sale of local products and the organisation of events, the regional store takes on the role of a hub for local production and consumption in a rural region.
The regional sustainability shop promotes a sustainable local economy through a dual approach, namely by matching supply and demand for sustainable local goods and services as well as by raising awareness of sustainable living on the part of local consumers. Local suppliers from surrounding villages can rent – at a low price – shelf space in the shop for presenting and selling their goods. The products range from food to clothing to art and other artisanal products offered by local producers. The proceeds from the sales are passed on 100% to the local producers. The shop is operated by volunteers which keep costs down and enables revenue from sales to be passed directly to the local producers. The voluntary operation of the regional store is also linked to a programme of events to reach local consumers. This combination is intended to stimulate local economic cycles and sustainable consumption on both the supply and demand sides. As a central place for the sale of local products and the organisation of events, the regional store takes on the role of a hub for local production and consumption in a rural region.
Toms Treimanis
(
01/03/2017
–
30/04/2019
)
The green railways initiative renovates and adapts disused railway lines to make them usable by the general public as hiking and cycling routes. This includes work to ensure that the ground is clear of obstacles, including physical objects (e.g. leftover railway infrastructure) or overgrowing vegetation to ensure it is passable by people walking, cycling or – in winter – cross-country skiing. It also involves the installation of wooden bridges and railings, as well as route markings along the path to make the former tracks suitable and safe for non-motorised traffic of different kinds. The basic infrastructure of the routes is complemented by the creation of recreation areas and installation of rest benches and improvement of former railway infrastructure facilities along the path to provide areas to rest and enjoy. The solution also includes the installation of pedestrian and bicycle meters, which count the number of railway visitors.
The green railways initiative renovates and adapts disused railway lines to make them usable by the general public as hiking and cycling routes. This includes work to ensure that the ground is clear of obstacles, including physical objects (e.g. leftover railway infrastructure) or overgrowing vegetation to ensure it is passable by people walking, cycling or – in winter – cross-country skiing. It also involves the installation of wooden bridges and railings, as well as route markings along the path to make the former tracks suitable and safe for non-motorised traffic of different kinds. The basic infrastructure of the routes is complemented by the creation of recreation areas and installation of rest benches and improvement of former railway infrastructure facilities along the path to provide areas to rest and enjoy. The solution also includes the installation of pedestrian and bicycle meters, which count the number of railway visitors.
Offaly County Council
(
02/2020
–
03/2021
)
This smart solution involves the use of remote monitoring sensors to ensure appropriate use of different categories of parking space across the community, including loading bays, spaces for wheelchair users and electric vehicle charging points. The sensors are placed by the relevant parking spaces which identify whether a vehicle is parked in the spot. Implementation of the solution requires supporting ‘Internet of Things’ technologies, including not only the sensors themselves but low-power wide-area (LoRaWAN) gateways to enable the transfer of data. Once collected, the data can be used in coordination with different service providers, including traffic wardens, authorities overseeing the allocation of disabled parking authorisations and electricity suppliers to ensure that all spaces are being used appropriately. For example, traffic wardens can check whether a vehicle has been parked too long in a spot, is in a loading bay that it should not be in or is parking illegally in a space reserved for wheelchair users. Cooperation with electricity suppliers can confirm if a vehicle parked in an electric vehicle charging point is really using the space for its intended purpose. The solution facilitates improved management of parking spaces in the community to the benefit of all – especially wheelchair users and small businesses who rely on access to their designated spaces. It also shows the successful use of IoT technologies which once demonstrated can also be applied to other local services, including waste and water management.
This smart solution involves the use of remote monitoring sensors to ensure appropriate use of different categories of parking space across the community, including loading bays, spaces for wheelchair users and electric vehicle charging points. The sensors are placed by the relevant parking spaces which identify whether a vehicle is parked in the spot. Implementation of the solution requires supporting ‘Internet of Things’ technologies, including not only the sensors themselves but low-power wide-area (LoRaWAN) gateways to enable the transfer of data. Once collected, the data can be used in coordination with different service providers, including traffic wardens, authorities overseeing the allocation of disabled parking authorisations and electricity suppliers to ensure that all spaces are being used appropriately. For example, traffic wardens can check whether a vehicle has been parked too long in a spot, is in a loading bay that it should not be in or is parking illegally in a space reserved for wheelchair users. Cooperation with electricity suppliers can confirm if a vehicle parked in an electric vehicle charging point is really using the space for its intended purpose. The solution facilitates improved management of parking spaces in the community to the benefit of all – especially wheelchair users and small businesses who rely on access to their designated spaces. It also shows the successful use of IoT technologies which once demonstrated can also be applied to other local services, including waste and water management.
Jan Malmgren
(
03/2017
–
09/2018
)
The ‘digital village twin’ involves creating a detailed digital map of the village in three-dimensions (3D), which can then be visited, explored, modelled and tested for different possible future scenarios, such as creating new areas for housing or new infrastructure, changes in traffic flow, energy usage or water management. An important focus is to model different ways of progressing the village to be as sustainable and ideal a place to live for its villagers as possible. The model can be created from GIS data or based on detailed recordings and measurements taken from drone footage or sensors mounted on vehicles. Building on this overall model and to measure specific things over time at specific places, various sensors are then placed at different locations across the village, in order to collect readings and data which can be associated with the 3D model. For instance the passages of cars, bikes or walkers be measured in order to understand how village spaces and facilities are used at different times of the day. The modelling can help see if changes to the village will create unforeseen problems or possibilities. Using specific software, the 3D model can be used to test changes to the village. The model can be used for a wide range of purposes, but above all, it can be seen as an easy-to-understand communications platform for discussing different possible future changes to the village. The model can be used by the local authority, by researchers and private companies to test ideas and explore smart and more sustainable forms of village development. If the local authority is intending to build a new school or bus terminal for instance, several possible locations and designs can be modelled and used as a source for discussing the impact on the village as a whole. Other examples can be modelling energy production versus energy consumption at various times of the day, or how local mobility is organised. There are many possibilities, depending of what kind of output is requested. The model can be expanded over time if new information or new types of information is to be processed. In the future, it should also be possible to connect different digital twins from different places, in order to get reference data.
The ‘digital village twin’ involves creating a detailed digital map of the village in three-dimensions (3D), which can then be visited, explored, modelled and tested for different possible future scenarios, such as creating new areas for housing or new infrastructure, changes in traffic flow, energy usage or water management. An important focus is to model different ways of progressing the village to be as sustainable and ideal a place to live for its villagers as possible. The model can be created from GIS data or based on detailed recordings and measurements taken from drone footage or sensors mounted on vehicles. Building on this overall model and to measure specific things over time at specific places, various sensors are then placed at different locations across the village, in order to collect readings and data which can be associated with the 3D model. For instance the passages of cars, bikes or walkers be measured in order to understand how village spaces and facilities are used at different times of the day. The modelling can help see if changes to the village will create unforeseen problems or possibilities. Using specific software, the 3D model can be used to test changes to the village. The model can be used for a wide range of purposes, but above all, it can be seen as an easy-to-understand communications platform for discussing different possible future changes to the village. The model can be used by the local authority, by researchers and private companies to test ideas and explore smart and more sustainable forms of village development. If the local authority is intending to build a new school or bus terminal for instance, several possible locations and designs can be modelled and used as a source for discussing the impact on the village as a whole. Other examples can be modelling energy production versus energy consumption at various times of the day, or how local mobility is organised. There are many possibilities, depending of what kind of output is requested. The model can be expanded over time if new information or new types of information is to be processed. In the future, it should also be possible to connect different digital twins from different places, in order to get reference data.
Maria Rodrigues
(
2017
–
2020
)
The creation of a Village Protection Zone (VPZ) involves the establishment of a strip around the village of about 100-meters wide, in which highly flammable trees (pine, eucalyptus) are uprooted and replaced with autochthonous trees more resistant to fire, such as Chestnuts (Castanea sativa), Cork oaks (Quercus suber), European oaks (Quercus robur) and Cherry Trees (Prunus avium). The creation of the protection zone is combined with the preparation of new forest management models in the form of a Masterplan for the sustainable management and development of the forest and the structural regeneration of the landscape post-forest fires. This Masterplan is based on an agro-regenerative approaches and draws inspiration from the principles of permaculture design, key-line design, natural agriculture, holistic pastoralism and biodynamic agriculture.
The creation of a Village Protection Zone (VPZ) involves the establishment of a strip around the village of about 100-meters wide, in which highly flammable trees (pine, eucalyptus) are uprooted and replaced with autochthonous trees more resistant to fire, such as Chestnuts (Castanea sativa), Cork oaks (Quercus suber), European oaks (Quercus robur) and Cherry Trees (Prunus avium). The creation of the protection zone is combined with the preparation of new forest management models in the form of a Masterplan for the sustainable management and development of the forest and the structural regeneration of the landscape post-forest fires. This Masterplan is based on an agro-regenerative approaches and draws inspiration from the principles of permaculture design, key-line design, natural agriculture, holistic pastoralism and biodynamic agriculture.
Loizos Tofas
(
06/2018
–
06/2019
)
The solution involves the indoor growing of microgreens in a greenhouse using a combination of the latest technologies and hydroponic techniques – Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) together with the ‘expanding nursery’ technique – to control every aspect of the growing environment in order to use the fewest possible resources in terms of water, energy and fertilisers. Nutrient film technique (NFT) is a specific method of hydroponic growing (without soil or similar rooting medium), in which the plant roots are placed in a shallow stream of re-calculating solution that contains all the elements required for maximum productivity. In the NFT system, there are 2 main components: the grow tray (or channel) and the reservoir that contains water and nutrients. Expanding nursery technique requires a grow medium, grow trays and precise irrigation systems. The grow tray is placed at an angle (supported by a rack or on a bench) to let the water flow down towards the nutrient return pipe. The excess nutrient solution will flow out of this pipe and move into another channel or tube, where it is recirculated through the system again. The roots of the plants hang down to the bottom of the channel where they come into contact with the shallow film of the nutrient solution and absorb the nutrients from them. The thin film of the nutrient solution allows the plants to be watered but not entirely soaked. This thinness also allows the upper part of the roots to remain dry and have access to oxygen in the air. An automated irrigation system makes sure that the plants do not get thirsty and have all the nutrients they require to thrive whilst recycling the water provided. At the same time, the system uses light sensors and LEDs to provide the plants with artificial light only when natural sunlight is insufficient. Implementation of this solution requires construction of a greenhouse along with all the necessary technological equipment to manage the irrigation system and production cycle. This includes a reservoir to contain the nutrient solution, a nutrient pump, tubes to distribute water from the nutrient pump to the NFT growing tubes, a channel for the plants to grow in, net pots to contain plants and growing media to start seedlings in and a return system (tubing, channel) to guide the used nutrient solution back to the reservoir. The solution also requires construction of storage and packaging facilities, ready to supply the market with premium products. This solution uses these techniques to grow high quality micro leaves/microgreens, herbs and leafy vegetables. Microgreens are tiny vegetables, no more than 8 to 14 days old, having just developed their first leaves. They are very tender but have both intense and delicate flavour and they taste, not surprisingly, like a smaller version of what they will be when they grow up.
The solution involves the indoor growing of microgreens in a greenhouse using a combination of the latest technologies and hydroponic techniques – Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) together with the ‘expanding nursery’ technique – to control every aspect of the growing environment in order to use the fewest possible resources in terms of water, energy and fertilisers. Nutrient film technique (NFT) is a specific method of hydroponic growing (without soil or similar rooting medium), in which the plant roots are placed in a shallow stream of re-calculating solution that contains all the elements required for maximum productivity. In the NFT system, there are 2 main components: the grow tray (or channel) and the reservoir that contains water and nutrients. Expanding nursery technique requires a grow medium, grow trays and precise irrigation systems. The grow tray is placed at an angle (supported by a rack or on a bench) to let the water flow down towards the nutrient return pipe. The excess nutrient solution will flow out of this pipe and move into another channel or tube, where it is recirculated through the system again. The roots of the plants hang down to the bottom of the channel where they come into contact with the shallow film of the nutrient solution and absorb the nutrients from them. The thin film of the nutrient solution allows the plants to be watered but not entirely soaked. This thinness also allows the upper part of the roots to remain dry and have access to oxygen in the air. An automated irrigation system makes sure that the plants do not get thirsty and have all the nutrients they require to thrive whilst recycling the water provided. At the same time, the system uses light sensors and LEDs to provide the plants with artificial light only when natural sunlight is insufficient. Implementation of this solution requires construction of a greenhouse along with all the necessary technological equipment to manage the irrigation system and production cycle. This includes a reservoir to contain the nutrient solution, a nutrient pump, tubes to distribute water from the nutrient pump to the NFT growing tubes, a channel for the plants to grow in, net pots to contain plants and growing media to start seedlings in and a return system (tubing, channel) to guide the used nutrient solution back to the reservoir. The solution also requires construction of storage and packaging facilities, ready to supply the market with premium products. This solution uses these techniques to grow high quality micro leaves/microgreens, herbs and leafy vegetables. Microgreens are tiny vegetables, no more than 8 to 14 days old, having just developed their first leaves. They are very tender but have both intense and delicate flavour and they taste, not surprisingly, like a smaller version of what they will be when they grow up.
Kristiina Tammets
(
06/2021
–
08/2021
)
The green event plan is a solution for helping rural event organisers to deliver ‘greener’, more sustainable and environmentally friendly events. Individual green plans are developed for specific events covering several aspects of event organisation that impact on environmental performance. This includes:
The green event plan is a solution for helping rural event organisers to deliver ‘greener’, more sustainable and environmentally friendly events. Individual green plans are developed for specific events covering several aspects of event organisation that impact on environmental performance. This includes:
- Waste management (including food waste)
- Food & catering
- Materials and purchases
- Transport
- Energy and resources
- Communication before, during and after the event
- Organising committee (incl. volunteers)
(
12/2021
)
The Smart Village Strategy of Vuollerim has been developed in the context of the ‘Preparatory Action for Smart Rural Areas in the 21st Century’ project funded by the European Commission.
Language : Swedish
Type of resource : Document
The Smart Village Strategy of Vuollerim has been developed in the context of the ‘Preparatory Action for Smart Rural Areas in the 21st Century’ project funded by the European Commission.
Language : Swedish
Type of resource : Document
(
09/07/2018
)
A video with Slovakian subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Slovak
Type of resource : Video
A video with Slovakian subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Slovak
Type of resource : Video
(
09/07/2018
)
A video with Swedish subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Swedish
Type of resource : Video
A video with Swedish subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Swedish
Type of resource : Video
(
09/07/2018
)
A video with Slovenian subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Slovenian
Type of resource : Video
A video with Slovenian subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Slovenian
Type of resource : Video
(
09/07/2018
)
A video with Romanian subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Romanian
Type of resource : Video
A video with Romanian subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Romanian
Type of resource : Video
(
09/07/2018
)
A video with Portugese subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Portugese
Type of resource : Video
A video with Portugese subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Portugese
Type of resource : Video
(
09/07/2018
)
A video with Dutch subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : Dutch, English
Type of resource : Video
A video with Dutch subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : Dutch, English
Type of resource : Video
(
09/07/2018
)
A video with Latvian subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Latvian
Type of resource : Video
A video with Latvian subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Latvian
Type of resource : Video
(
09/07/2018
)
A video with Lithuanian subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Lithuanian
Type of resource : Video
A video with Lithuanian subtitles produced by the ENRD Contact Point summarising what a ‘smart village’ represents from different perspectives.
Language : English, Lithuanian
Type of resource : Video
