The municipality of Eersel embraces IoT with policy and common sense

On March 6, 2018, a cluster meeting of the Building Automation sector took place at FHI. This sector organizes approximately eight of these types of cluster meetings every year with user associations, which is comparable to activities of other FHI branches.

Paul Petersen Director of FHI

Among the fifty attendees, approximately twenty users were attracted to the theme of the Internet of Things. IoT is a very broad theme that also receives explicit attention in the Industrial Electronics and Industrial Automation sectors. It was extremely refreshing for the audience to hear Jeroen Weekers from the Municipality of Eersel. Eersel's approach is also becoming published online. This municipality is almost completely cabled with fiber optic, focuses on data-driven actions and also wants to use this in transparency to citizens. The municipality of Eersel is close to Eindhoven, which is why many high-tech professionals settle there. The municipality wants to maintain the quality of service at a good level. Innovation is therefore an important part of the policy.

Thresholds and limitations

The barriers and limitations that other Dutch municipalities will experience emerged during the question round. Who owns the data? Is it possible to properly assess the technical choices? How is cyber security arranged? What information can be shared quickly and effectively with citizens? All questions that Jeroen was able to answer well. And... he showed the public that he is not a Don Quixote who wants to single-handedly manage innovation in the municipality. If sensors are used to improve parking, the budget of the responsible colleague is used for this. The employees of the Municipality of Eersel are involved in projects in terms of content, finance and organisation. After the IoT cluster meeting, those present thought this was an example of how to seize IoT opportunities: just do it together with policy and common sense.