Bristol is Open

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Bristol is Open (BiO) is an IoT testbed targeting the development of the infrastructure that will enable a connected city.
What are the main aims and objectives?

The BiO program is a pioneering smart city initiative that aims to transform Bristol into the world's first open, programmable city. Its primary objectives are to leverage cutting-edge digital technologies and data-driven solutions to address urban challenges and improve the quality of life for Bristol's residents and visitors. The program focuses on creating a robust digital infrastructure, including high-speed fiber broadband and wireless networks, to support innovative smart services. BiO serves as a secure testbed for companies and researchers to experiment with smart city technologies, tackling issues such as traffic congestion, waste management, air quality, energy consumption, and assisted living for the elderly. By opening up city datasets and developing a unique City Operating System, the program encourages the creation of innovative services and fosters collaboration between academia, businesses, and local government. Ultimately, Bristol is Open seeks to position the city as a leader in smart city development, driving economic growth, sustainability, and digital inclusion.

How does the program work?

BiO operates as an innovative smart city initiative, functioning as a joint venture between the University of Bristol and Bristol City Council. The program has several key features:

  1. Infrastructure and Connectivity: At the heart of BiO is a high-speed 30 Gigabit per second fiber broadband network that forms the backbone of the city's digital infrastructure. This network utilizes disused cable ducting owned by the city and is complemented by a wireless mesh network created using 1,500 lampposts across Bristol's city center. This setup provides a "canopy of connectivity" and allows for the testing of experimental wireless technologies like 5G.
  2. City Operating System (CityOS): A unique software-defined network, developed by the University of Bristol's high-performance networks lab, serves as the brain of the operation. This CityOS manages and processes the vast amounts of data collected from various sensors and IoT devices across the city. It's designed to be open-source, allowing developers to test their ideas more easily.
  3. Data Collection and Sensors: The program has deployed numerous sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices throughout the city. These collect data on various urban aspects such as traffic flows, energy usage, air quality, and health trends. Approximately 1,500 RFID-equipped lampposts serve as data collection points.
  4. Open Data Repository: BiO has created an open data repository for public use, currently housing about 200 anonymized datasets. This wealth of information is accessible to innovators, researchers, and businesses to develop new services and solutions for urban challenges.
  5. Research and Development Testbed: The entire city essentially functions as a secure testbed for smart city experiments and pilots. Companies, academic institutions, and other partners can use this environment to test their technological solutions in a live network setting.
  6. Collaborative Approach: BiO works with various partners, including tech companies like NEC and Nokia, as well as local and international government bodies. This collaborative model helps in bringing diverse expertise and resources to the project.
  7. Practical Applications: The program enables the development of innovative solutions for urban issues. For instance, it allows for equipping ambulances with the ability to connect to traffic management systems for easier passage during emergencies. Another example is the concept of smart rubbish bins that can communicate with refuse collection trucks when they're full.
  8. Visualization and Analysis: The project utilizes advanced visualization tools, including repurposing the city's planetarium as a 'data dome'. This allows for the 3D visualization of complex datasets, aiding both academic research and practical urban planning.
What is the overall cost?

The overall cost of the program is not known, however, the Integrated Operations Centre which is part of the smart city initiative was scheduled to cost £8.3 million over 2 years. 

How was it implemented?

The Bristol is Open (BiO) program was created as a result of a collaborative effort between the University of Bristol and Bristol City Council. The initiative was born out of a shared vision to transform Bristol into a smart city and create a living laboratory for urban innovation.

The program's inception can be traced back to the early 2010s when Bristol City Council and the University of Bristol recognized the potential of digital technologies to address urban challenges and improve the quality of life for citizens. They saw an opportunity to leverage Bristol's existing assets, including its strong tech sector, academic expertise, and progressive local government, to create a unique smart city testbed.

In 2014, Bristol is Open was officially launched as a joint venture between the University of Bristol and Bristol City Council. The program was designed to be a public-private partnership, bringing together academia, industry, and local government to create an open, programmable city infrastructure.

The creation of BiO involved several key steps:

  1. Infrastructure Development: The program utilized existing city-owned assets, such as disused cable ducting, to create a high-speed fiber network. This was complemented by the installation of wireless nodes on lampposts and other city structures to create a comprehensive digital network.
  2. Partnerships: BiO established partnerships with technology companies, including NEC and Nokia, to provide expertise and resources for the project. These collaborations were crucial in developing the necessary hardware and software solutions.
  3. Funding: The program secured funding from various sources, including the UK government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport, as well as private sector investments. This financial support was essential for the initial setup and ongoing operations of the project.
  4. Development of the City Operating System: The University of Bristol's high-performance networks lab played a crucial role in developing the software-defined network that would serve as the brain of the smart city infrastructure.
  5. Data Policies: The program established policies for data collection, usage, and sharing, ensuring that the initiative would be both innovative and respectful of privacy concerns.
  6. Community Engagement: From its inception, BiO emphasized the importance of community involvement. The program engaged with local businesses, community organizations, and citizens to ensure that the smart city initiatives would address real needs and concerns of Bristol's residents.
What impact has been measured?

Bristol has been recognized as a leader in smart city development, winning multiple awards:

  • Named Britain's smartest city in the UK Smart Cities Index by Huawei and Navigant Consulting in 2017
  • Awarded Smart City Innovator of the Year by TM Forum's Digital World Awards

However, no detailed assessments of the impact of BiO have been published to date. 

Notes + Additional Context

About IoT Testbeds:

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a name given to the rapidly-growing world of web-connected devices that integrate physical objects with information networks. A convergence of multiple trends – including embedded systems, real-time analytics, machine learning, sensors and automation – IoT is widely seen as holding immense promise. It is certainly an area of interest for many startups, although they are often hampered by difficulties in obtaining access to data or existing infrastructure. Some cities have therefore undertaken initiatives to help entrepreneurs test their technologies in ‘live’ environments.

Read more about this type of policy instrument in Nesta's "Digital Entrepreneurship: An ‘Idea Bank’ for Local Policymakers."

CURATED BY

Simona Bielli

Research Programme Coordinator – Digital Startups
Nesta
United Kingdom