Silvia Pennisi

Smart city and public lighting

The smart city is increasingly becoming a concept of reference for what concerns the planning and the spatial development of cities. The concept of smart city cannot be easily standardized. It is based on a multi-service and multi-sectorial planning regarding various urban functions (energy, mobility, waste, etc.) and places them under a common denominator: the use of advanced technologies for minimizing resources consumption and simultaneously increase the quality of life of the citizens. This paper aims to give an overview on the concept of smart city and outline what, at present, are the main intervention areas considered at European level. Then the paper focuses on the public lighting that is among the sectors most affected by “smart actions” by the Public Administrations. The work concludes with a proposal for a retrofit of the public lighting system in a small town in Sicily (Italy).

Sustainable Regeneration of Brownfields

Our cities are really rich of building ensembles now deserted which were, in the recent past, sources of job and productivity for the community. They are generally inside the urban fabric or in the suburbs and they are often not particularly taken into consideration because they haven’t architectonic characteristics which could justify a restoration. Due to their big extension, the planning approach turns to be diffucult. Besides, these areas, if adequately restored, could become an important economic and cultural resource and a possibility of experimentation of new sustainable technologies. All this heritage requires a planning approach based on conservation and valorization of all the cultural, historical, technological and environmental aspects.