Ongoing pilots

Pilots are an agile way to further develop the functionality of the city in a real environment. They help collect user feedback from different stakeholders as well as gain an understanding of the functionality and impacts of new services and technologies. Pilots provide the City of Helsinki with experiences of new solutions of the future, which facilitates planning and decision-making. In turn, businesses get to see how the solutions they provide work in real life and how these solutions should be developed further based on the needs of users.

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You can find our pilots that are currently underway in Helsinki below.

Light Rail Safety Pilot in Viikki

Forum Virium’s ELABORATOR project, in collaboration with the city, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, and InnoTrafik Oy, launched a year-long pilot experiment on May 9, 2025, to test a new type of warning system at the Viikki light rail crossing. The purpose of the system is to warn pedestrians and cyclists of approaching trams.

The pilot will be implemented at the roundabout of Viikintie, Koetilantie, and Viikinkaari, where the new warning system will activate as trams approach. The system will warn pedestrians and cyclists with spoken audio signals in three languages and by flashing a yellow warning light. In addition, text traffic signs warning of the tram and informing about the experiment will be installed at the intersection. The warning system also provides information to the BlindSquare mobile application, which many visually impaired people use for independent movement.

Give feedback on the pilot here!

• For more information, please contact Project Manager Noora Reittu: noora.reittu@forumvirium.fi.
• The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.

Forum Virium Helsinki is enhancing traffic counting with new technologies

Forum Virium Helsinki is experimenting with new methods for measuring traffic. These experiments support the planning of Helsinki’s transport system and aim to improve traffic safety. The technologies used respect the privacy of citizens, as they only collect anonymized data from road users.

Telraam edge-AI cameras count traffic volumes, identify different road user types (pedestrians, cars, cyclists, trucks, etc.), and measure vehicle speeds. Data is processed within the device; no images or video are stored. Traffic volume data is sent online to the telraam.net map. This equipment enables affordable and frequent counts, partially replacing manual counting work.

Meanwhile, movable LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors create a precise, three-dimensional image of the street space using light pulses, accurately measuring individual pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. Because LiDAR produces observations in a three-dimensional space, the data can identify near-miss situations between vehicles and cyclists, and also recognize vehicle dimensions and how they utilize the street space.

For more information on the traffic counting experiments, please contact Technical Specialist Jukka Alander: jukka.alander@forumvirium.fi.

Nature Helpers

Luontoapurit (Nature Helpers) is a gamified and community-based nature adventure for children and youth aged 7–15. The goal is to strengthen connection to nature, promote physical activity, and develop social and teamwork skills.

Blokgarden will organize the nature adventure every Wednesday from May 14 to June 25, 2025. The meeting point is the Malminkartano Community Garden, and the adventures will take place around the Malminkartano area. Each week, participants will complete specially designed tasks that have been set up in advance in the area, such as “build a shelter” or “assemble a tent.”

The tasks are created using the GooseChase app, which allows for diverse and interactive challenges. The phone’s role is purely to guide the groups through the challenges. Blokgarden will plan and build the area’s challenges in advance, including hidden caches and task checkpoints. In the future, the games are intended to be developed for independent participation as well. The project is organized by Blokgarden and is part of the KauKo – Urban Environments as Platforms for Wellbeing Innovations project which is funded by the European union.

The pilot is part of the KauKo – Urban Environments as Platforms for Wellbeing Innovations project which get funding from European Union.

ClickBounce: Physical Play Meets Digital Interaction

ClickBounce combines physical movement with digital fun — using a simple setup of a projector, camera, and mini-computer to create a fully interactive wall-based gaming experience. Children throw soft balls at projected images, and the camera tracks the hit, turning it into a virtual click. This playful interface allows them to pop balloons, answer quiz questions, or play games, simply by moving and aiming.

The goal is to promote physical activity and learning through technology that’s intuitive, engaging, and easy to set up in classrooms, hobby halls, or even outdoors. ClickBounce encourages inclusive and joyful participation, where kids get to move, learn, and laugh. 

This solution was created by NinjaLABO as a part of the KauKo – Urban Environment as Innovation Platform for Wellbeing project partially funded by the European Union.

Flexible Transport Solution for Seniors

Einbus Oy is launching a pilot project in Malmi to improve seniors’ opportunities to participate in social activities by providing a flexible, needs-based transport solution. The service operates on a demand-responsive model, meaning that bus routes and schedules adapt to users’ needs through an AI-based system.

During the pilot, data will be collected on the service’s functionality, occupancy rates, and user experiences. Based on the results, the potential to expand the service to new areas and target groups will be assessed. At the same time, better ways will be developed to address the specific needs of seniors in public transportation. For the City of Helsinki, the trial offers valuable insights into how demand-responsive transport can complement existing services and promote sustainable mobility.

As part of the pilot, practical transport services will be provided, which can be booked in advance and are designed to be as effortless as possible for seniors. Bookings can be made not only through the online store but also via email and SMS, and rides can be paid for online or on the day of transport.

The pilot supports the development of new types of mobility services and provides valuable learning experiences for both users and organizers.

The project is organized by Einbus and is part of the KauKo – Urban Environments as Platforms for Wellbeing Innovations project.

Malminkartano’s Lähirähinä

Lähirähinä encourages local physical activity in Malminkartano. In this pilot project, residents and other locals organize activities for each other. The aim is to create community-driven and physically engaging events in collaboration with local actives, associations, and sports professionals, starting in April 2025. These may include try-out events for different sports, casual games on outdoor fields, playful activities, guided sports sessions, or combinations of exercise and relaxed socializing. The residents themselves decide what it becomes — the activities will take shape based on their interests.

As part of the pilot, the “Lähirähinä Maltsu Challenge” will also be launched, offering residents weekly challenges for ten weeks. Lähirähinä events are generally free and do not require registration. 

The initiative is led by Navico Oy, and the pilot is part of the KauKo – Urban Environments as Platforms for Wellbeing Innovations project. Learn more about Lähirähinä and the Malminkartano pilot at: www.lahirahina.fi. 

A New Skate and Scooter Spot

A set of three skate obstacles will be installed in the von Glan Park in Malminkartano, Helsinki, offering fun for both seasoned skaters and beginners alike. The spot is perfect for practicing at your own pace and hanging out with other skaters.

The opening of the spot will be celebrated with free skate schools organized by the Skeittipaku (Skate Van). The skate school will be held on three Saturdays, and all the necessary gear for trying out skating will be provided. At the spot, you’ll also find QR codes linking to three animated tutorials for basic tricks, helping you get started even on your own.

The skate spot is more than just a place for tricks — it’s a community hub where creative movement, fun, and new friendships come together. The spot will be available for a few months. 

The project is carried out by SpottiSkate as part of the KauKo – Urban Environments as Platforms for Wellbeing Innovations project.

Thermal measurements on Mäkelänkatu

Forum Virium Helsinki will carry out thermal measurements in the Mäkelänkatu area in 2024–2025. The pilot will run at least until the end of 2025.

Thermal sensors are installed on light poles, trees and the facades of some buildings. The devices are powered by batteries and transmit thermal data every 10 minutes. The measurements are used to determine how cutting down trees for street works affects the temperatures in the area. The review will look at temperatures in summertime in 2024 and 2025. The project is commissioned by the Climate Unit of the City of Helsinki Urban Environment Division.

• For more information, please contact Technical Specialist Jukka Alander: jukka.alander@forumvirium.fi

Past pilots

Kaisantunneli tunnel and FlowCube traffic sensor

Effective management of city traffic depends on accurate real-time data that enables a rapid and effective response to changing traffic situations. Traditional counting methods, such as traffic radars, are unable to provide reliable data on cyclists and pedestrians. The FlowCube is a new type of traffic sensor, covering all forms of mobility, that offers more accurate data on city traffic to support better decision-making and planning.

The Kaisantunneli tunnel, opened in spring 2024, was chosen as the testing area for the pilot. The initial objective of the counter in the tunnel is to measure the number of users and speeds. The two FlowCube traffic sensors placed in the Kaisantunneli tunnel are part of a broader pilot, comprising four devices, that is aimed at studying the travel times of pedestrians and cyclists in the city centre area. The purpose of this pilot by Forum Virium is to assess the accuracy of counting and travel times, as well as the suitability of the devices for winter conditions in Helsinki.

• The pilot will run from May 2024 to May 2025.
• The pilot is being carried out by Forum Virium’s Mobility Lab Helsinki project and Technolution.
• For more information, please contact Project Coordinator Jussi Knuuttila, jussi.knuuttila@forumvirium.fi

Please note! The FlowCube neither identifies individuals nor uses facial recognition. The device also does not record personal data, making it compliant with the European data protection regulations. Watch the video below to see how the FlowCube’s identification method works.

Description of the FlowCube identification method

A Journey Through Malmi’s Urban Stories

A Journey Through Malmi’s Urban Stories was a pilot project where elderly residents of Malmi acted as experience experts of their own living environment. The project collected their memories, experiences, and wishes regarding the Malmi urban area through city walks and interviews, which were later interpreted using methods of playback theatre. The aim was to strengthen interaction between residents and urban planners and to develop new participatory planning methods.

The pilot included city walks and a “Story Tent” event, where actors from Q-teatteri interpreted the collected stories into performances. At the same time, discussions were held on how residents’ memories and stories could be utilized in urban development and the collection of citizen-based knowledge.

The pilot was co-developed by Et May, Lundén Architecture Company, Q-teatteri, and Asiantuntijat n+1 as part of the KauKo – Urban Environments as Platforms for Wellbeing Innovations project.

Loading zone monitoring pilot

We are implementing a loading zone occupancy monitoring pilot using computer vision as part of the Horizon Europe -funded urban logistics development project, DISCO during March – April 2025. The monitoring period duration is 4-5 weeks.

The monitoring of loading zones is carried out by three companies: Ramboll Finland in collaboration with Delicode, Flow Analytics, and Technolution.

Camera and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) solutions will be installed at selected loading zones in the Helsinki city center. The data collected in the pilot will not be used for parking enforcement; rather, the experiment is solely focused on monitoring the occupancy rate of loading zones. Neither camera nor LIDAR footage will be transmitted; all data processing occurs on the device, and only occupancy-related information is forwarded. The solution is GDPR-compliant, as all data is processed on the device, and no identifiable information is transmitted.

• More information: Project Manager Matias Oikari, matias.oikari@forumvirium.fi.

A place for movement and leisure: Kesäranta

At Milja ry assisted living facility in Malmi, the summer never ends. The building’s new wellness space, which opened next to the gym on the ground floor, gives the feeling of a beach holiday to everyone visiting. The space is dedicated to relaxation. It features nature sounds, a swing you can sit in, and pebbles that stimulate your feet. The gym visitors also get to walk and cycle in summer scenery indoors. 

The pilot, under the name Kesäranta (‘Summer Beach’), will run at least until the end of February. It is implemented by the partners Tuntu, Di Interior and Medeka as a part of the KauKo – Urban Environment as Innovation Platform for Wellbeing project  partially funded by the European Union. 

‘Malmin lyhty’ light installation

The interactive lantern-like light installation encourages the residents of the Malmi neighbourhood to go outside and visit Malmitalo cultural centre. The installation designed for the cultural centre shifts and creates changing spaces that are equally suitable for yoga, flower arrangements and other leisure activities. 

“At our core, we are all connected by our shared humanity. Each light element symbolises an individual, reflecting different characters and stories. Together, this interconnected diversity forms an impressive and unique light installation that embodies the spirit of Malmi,” say the architects behind the installation: Feng Ye, Gülcan Ozan and Asli Ufacik from Lundén Architecture Company. 

The light installation is a surprising addition to the Malmitalo facilities, and it gives visitors an easy topic to talk about among themselves. The pilot is a part of the KauKo – Urban Environment as Innovation Platform for Wellbeing project partially funded by the European Union. 

A gamified walk

The gamified walking tour for seniors inspires participants to exercise together and enjoy their local scenery. The guided route aims to offer experiences for everyone and build team spirit for groups. Each point along the route features knowledge or an assignment. The information points share details about the sites’ history or local events, people or nature. At the assignment points, the participants solve puzzles or do physical exercises. The physical exercises for seniors were designed together with a physiotherapist. 

Participants can adjust the length of the route by skipping some points. The walk will also include places for taking a break.

The service is being developed under guidance from Forum Virium Helsinki and in cooperation with Syystie Service Centre, volunteers and seniors who participate in the walks. The pilot is a part of the KauKo – Urban Environment as Innovation Platform for Wellbeing project  partially funded by the European Union. 

Green pilots in Kalasatama area

This summer, three different pilots bring more greenery to Kalasatama and Suvilahti: a green tram stop, a temporary park built out of surplus plants and urban furniture that will bring a touch of wild nature into the city’s concrete jungle. The pilots are in place at least till the end of September 2024.

• For more information, please contact Forum Virium Helsinki’s Project Manager Mirka Råberg mirka.raberg@forumvirium.fi or Project Planner Santeri Kero santeri.kero@forumvirium.fi

Smart bicycle parking

The joint project by Forum Virium Helsinki and Business Helsinki, Mobility Lab Helsinki, has chosen two companies for pilot projects that will study and test new solutions for secure bicycle parking and storage in an urban space as well as new methods to produce bicycle parking and usage data. The pilots will be running from June to October 2024.

• The Norwegian Bikeloop AS is participatingin the pilot by providing a smart bicycle parking facility. The mobile and modular bicycle parking facility has eight spaces and is secure and accessible to users. Special groups have been taken into account in the design, the lights and the sound signals. You can book a bicycle parking space via the app for short or long-term parking. The modular structure also allows the parking facility’s structures to be changed in the middle of the pilot by creating extra space for cargo bikes, for example.Read more and test the parking facility!
• The aim of MarshallAI’s pilot project is to help the City understand, maintain and assess the demand for and future needs of bicycle parking services. The pilot will make use of computer vision and automated videos to allow anonymous real-time data to be collected on the use of bicycle parking facilities. The pilot will monitor the utilisation rate of bicycle parking facilities, bicycles parked at parking facilities for an extended period of time as well as the number of bicycle thefts or attempted thefts. 
• For more information, please contact Project Manager Jussi Knuuttila, jussi.knuuttila@forumvirium.fi

Photo: Vesa Laitinen

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