Data

Better services and a smarter city with data

We help the City of Helsinki leverage data and digitalisation to make better decisions and offer smoother services to its residents. We ensure that data is easily accessible and supports the City’s data-driven management.

In our projects, we develop methods for forecasting city operations, target services more precisely, and utilise automation and robotics. We focus on current themes such as the responsible use and security of artificial intelligence. We promote new models for data sharing, including data ecosystems and data spaces, and use data to support the City’s climate goals and transition to a circular economy.

For the City

We provide the City’s experts with new data sources and practical tools to solve real-world challenges.

For example, we develop methods for using satellite data in urban planning and help the city adapt to climate change by measuring the urban heat island effect with sensors.

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For Companies

We offer companies a unique opportunity to use Helsinki as a testbed, utilising its physical streets and buildings as well as the city as a digital environment.

We are constantly seeking new expertise and connecting companies with real users and challenges. Pilots and innovation competitions are effective ways to develop new solutions and learn together with the city.

Apply for a pilot

For RDI Actors

For research, development, and innovation (RDI) actors, collaboration with us opens a path to international networks and genuine urban environment challenges.

We offer concrete ways to bridge research and practice: we enable access to city data, apply theoretical models to practical design work, and validate computational results with on-site measurements.

Propose a collaboration

Solutions for a sustainable and resilient city

Cities are key to solving the great challenges of our time. Global phenomena like climate change and resource scarcity demand new ways of operating and concrete solutions. Forum Virium Helsinki tackles these complex challenges and accelerates sustainable development through data-driven pilots and extensive collaboration.

We solve challenges related to phenomena including:

Adapting to the impacts of climate change

Climate change increases extreme weather events in cities, such as heatwaves, stormwater flooding, and slippery winter conditions. Forum Virium Helsinki helps the City, companies, and residents prepare for these changing conditions.

We combine data, predictive models, and expertise from various fields to create tools that help anticipate risks and design sustainable solutions. This supports, for example, the planning of green infrastructure and stormwater management and helps to target measures in a timely manner.

Transition to a circular economy

We accelerate Helsinki’s transition towards a circular economy using data and digitalisation. We pilot and share practices that enhance material circulation and reduce waste. For example, we develop AI-based tools for public procurement and create new recycling solutions for challenging materials.

Development themes

Collaboration and interoperability

Effective use of data is central to a city’s development, vitality, and functional services.

Forum Virium Helsinki promotes the accessibility and interoperability of public and private data sources and a fair data economy by supporting data ecosystems and leveraging the latest data-sharing technologies, like data spaces.

Utilising artificial intelligence

We utilise artificial intelligence (AI) in versatile ways to enhance city operations and create new services.

We develop AI solutions for tasks like streamlining traffic, improving data quality, and optimising energy consumption in properties. Our goal is to make city operations smarter and more predictive.

Energy optimisation for properties

We support Helsinki’s climate goals by developing data-driven solutions to reduce energy consumption in buildings. We ensure that property consumption data is available for optimisation systems and pilot smart control systems. This way, we help reduce emissions and save on energy costs in the existing building stock.

Smart solutions for the energy efficiency of public buildings

Robotics

We promote the safe and smooth use of robotics in the city, for example, in care services and urban environment maintenance.

We ensure that robots receive the data they need and help design urban spaces to be suitable for them. Through our pilots, we create practices for how autonomous devices can best operate alongside people.

Developing and testing new robotics solutions in an urban environment

MyData

Forum Virium Helsinki promotes the MyData principles, which give people control over their own data. We apply this human-centric and transparent approach, for example, in smart mobility data sharing, where we develop reliable ways to share information based on user consent and fair rules.

Secure sharing of data from vehicles

Satellite data

Free satellite data offered by the EU is a powerful yet underutilised tool. It can be used to anticipate and manage the impacts of climate change, such as heatwaves and floods, as well as for planning urban green spaces. We are promoting the use of satellite data to help cities become more sustainable and resilient.