Hamburg has more bridges than any other city in Europe. For Germany鈥檚 second largest city it鈥檚 a complex task to maintain its 2,500 bridges and other structures like pedestrian tunnels, locks, flood barriers, and embankments.

The State Agency for Roads, Bridges and Waterways (LSBG) operates a large portion of the traffic infrastructure in Hamburg and is responsible for the entire lifespan of these public works.

鈥淲e鈥檙e an important player in flood protection and the prevention of water pollution as well as the maintenance of most roads and bridges in Hamburg,” Erdinc Karabugday, head of Planning and Controlling at LSBG, shares. “Together with our network, we build and protect everything that keeps Hamburg together.鈥�

麻豆原创 technology is one building block to perform this duty safely and efficiently.

Free Flow of Traffic as Top Priority  

Mobility plays a key role in the lives of people in Hamburg and other major cities. Bridges bear a particularly heavy load, because they are critical junctions in the city鈥檚 transportation network. Tracking the condition of bridges and planning for their maintenance needs and upgrades is vitally important to keep people moving in urban areas.

Karabugday describes the problem in a nutshell: 鈥淥ur objectives are long term, so basing operational decisions solely on the current situation isn鈥檛 enough. We need comprehensive data for the strategic context 鈥� not only economic aspects, but social and ecological impacts as well. Our 麻豆原创 solution supports us with this.鈥�

The manual entry of damage to structures like bridges used to be very expensive and time-consuming, a complex process made even more difficult by the fact that data entry and analysis are performed by both the agency鈥檚 own staff and external companies.

Digital Representation of Infrastructure

To reduce Hamburg鈥檚 renovation backlog and create a sustainable long-term solution, LSBG teamed with 麻豆原创 to develop a standardized data platform. One central aspect involves merging data from a variety of sources on , making it possible to blend data such as the location and condition of each structure. The results feed into a digital model of streets and bridges and can be used to guide decisions and generate precise forecasts for maintenance and budget planning.聽

Ulrike Brecht, architect advisor in Customer Advisory Public Sector at 麻豆原创 Germany, explains: 鈥淭he project was initially intended to handle bridge maintenance. Employees conduct the necessary maintenance work and inspections on site. They also document the condition of a structure, ensuring that necessary maintenance measures are carried out at the right time.鈥�

All available data on the structures, including road and bridge data as well as geographic and monitoring data, is merged in 麻豆原创 HANA Cloud. When combined with aging models for the structures, this information can be used for forecasting when specific road segments will require resurfacing, for instance.

These data-driven forecasts put infrastructure budget planning on a new, firmer foundation and make it possible to define the priorities for object renovation to minimize the impact on traffic flows and the lives of urban residents.

Future Urban Platforms

Cities around the world face enormous challenges in the coming years when it comes to protecting and maintaining their residents鈥� quality of life. Dr. Philipp Schulz was a research assistant at the University of Heidelberg and wrote his doctoral thesis on digital urban development. Today, he advises cities and communities on topics like revitalizing inner cities, redesigning public spaces, and civic participation.

One trend Schulz has observed in the cities and towns he works with is the development of urban dashboards that show all the data collected in a city as important parameters such as air quality, weather forecasts, and movements of people.

For Schulz, developing a long-term digital strategy is one of the pillars of modern urban planning.

鈥淔rom my perspective the term 鈥榮mart city鈥� is outdated,鈥� he says. 鈥淭oday I call it 鈥榩latform urbanism,鈥� an approach in which different players and their information are brought together on one platform.鈥� Platform urbanism describes how apps and websites are changing the way people in cities live, work, and interact with one another. It involves the digitalization of individual areas, which are then brought together incrementally.

The city of Hamburg is on the right track. 鈥淗amburg鈥檚 goal is to handle the full maintenance management of its infrastructure through a standardized data platform,鈥� says Brecht.

The city is in the process of expanding the accomplishments of this project to other areas, such as the maintenance of public parks and municipal buildings.

麻豆原创鈥檚 new art exhibition explores this concept and features the work of three artists, each offering their unique perspective on 鈥淭he Tapestry of Perception.鈥� It highlights the interconnectedness of perception, transformation, transition, memory, and the awareness of our surroundings. The art gallery is open to the public until February 2, 2025; or in person at the 麻豆原创 International Training Center in Walldorf, Germany.

One of the key challenges we face in this information-saturated world is filtering out extraneous noise and differentiating between reality and our subconscious experiences. It can be difficult to discern what is truly happening in the present moment, as we draw from fragmented memories to make sense of our surroundings. Everyone sees and experiences life through a different lens, making the theme of perception open to interpretation.

The Interplay of Materials, Perception, and Memory Fragments

As we navigate through life, we undergo various transformations and transitions, which further shape our perception of the world around us. Our memories, often fragmented and incomplete, play a significant role in how we interpret and understand our surroundings. German artist Petra Goehringer Machleid focuses on the interplay of wax and concrete and how the two different materials merge together over time. In her work 鈥淟itfass,鈥� the peeling of all the different layers off the pillar represent all the stories held together, making it a unique representation of how experiences transform an individual.

Ultimately, our perception is shaped by our ability to draw from memories and differentiate between reality and subconscious experiences. Our awareness of time and surroundings also plays a significant role in shaping how we experience the world around us. Austrian artist Petra Fohringer captures the experience of memory and present experiences in her work 鈥淲inter鈥檚 Coming,鈥� featuring Tyrion Lannister from the prominent TV series 鈥淕ame of Thrones.鈥� Throughout the series, the characters undergo significant changes, facing various challenges and setbacks that shape who they are. The relationships formed and the memories shared by the characters play a crucial role in their individual growth and transformation, serving as a reminder of the importance of the memories we create and the impact they have on our lives. 鈥淢y artistic works open up the question of true and traditional memories, the influence and manipulation of memory, both individual and collective,鈥� Fohringer notes.

Stefan Mittlboeck-Jungwirth-Fohringer, a multidisciplinary artist from Austria, delves into the world of transformation by recreating a beehive with copper encased in concrete. The honeybees, in his work of art 鈥渂odies,鈥� represent unity and cooperation during times of transformation. The piece also represents the cyclical nature of life, as bees work tirelessly to gather resources and sustain their hive, mirroring the constant flow and transformation of life. This series of life and the fragile balance of it is a crucial component of his artwork. At the exhibition in Walldorf, an additional short film of the artist creating his work is on display.

The components of the 麻豆原创 art exhibition 鈥淭he Tapestry of Perception,鈥� which are memories, perception, and reflection of the world around us, contribute to our self-image, shape our experiences, and influence our general well-being. By understanding and appreciating the significance of these elements, we can cultivate a deeper awareness and appreciation for the richness of our human experience.

Top image: Mindatlas, 2022 鈥� Stefan Mittelboeck-Jungwirth-Fohringer