Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Stopping floating garbage before it gets to the ocean – the smart way
The Municipality of Aarhus (Denmark) has managed to collect over 100,000 items of waste from the city’s stream flowing into the sea over the past 20 months. This was made possible thanks to a unique robot arm device, which collects the flotsam and then deposits it in containers.
The device, called SeaProtectorOne, has done such a good job that the local authorities would like to rent it until February 2027. That application, designed by All in On Green, has the potential to solve the plastic pollution caused by river-based cities in Europe.
The robot consists of a tower mounted on land, from which extends a collecting barrier equipped with a conveyor belt and a filter unit. The barrier automatically follows the water level so that the filter unit constantly filters the water for foreign objects.
This happens in an area from the water surface and 30 centimetres below it. Experience shows that most waste floats at this depth.
SeaProtectorOne has integrated sensors that detect when the robot needs to be emptied of waste. When emptying, the filter unit is raised, and all the waste is deposited into a waste bin via a conveyor belt.
The robot is also equipped with thermal cameras that detect whether sailors, surfers or swimmers are approaching. In such cases, the robot barrier goes up and creates free passage. It can be powered either by built-in solar cells or by connecting it to the main grid.
Each year, plastic waste equivalent to the weight of 57,000 blue whales is thrown into the world's oceans. At least 90% of that plastic waste, floating around the oceans, ends up in the sea via river systems, according to the Environmental Science journal.
“In the sea, waste is quickly dispersed and difficult to collect. Whereas the current in a river makes it possible to systematically filter waste in a limited area without disturbing fish and birds,” points out Peter Grønkjær, professor of marine biology at Aarhus University.
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass
Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape
The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU, national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality.
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region
Despite its church-y name, the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital