Löffingen - Südlicher Oberrhein
The city of Löffingen counts 7672 inhabitants (2019) and is situated in the Black Forest area in Löffingen can be reached from Freiburg im Breisgau in about 50 km. The city has a dispersed settlement structure and consists of the high-altitude health resort Dittishausen and other five city areas namely Bachheim, Göschweiler,ReiselfingenSeppenhofen , and Unadingen. The area of the municipality is 8,803 ha, of which approx. 3,900 ha is forest and agricultural land. In Löffingen, a so-called FTTC network was laid, in which fibre optic cables were laid up to the existing street distributors. Households located directly on the main lines can be connected directly to the fibre optic network on request, via a so-called FTTB connection (fibre to the building) or FTTH connection (fibre to the home).
Löffingen was the pilot municipality of RVSO in the Interreg-V project SmartVillages. Within the framework of this project, several “smart” projects have already been implemented and a digital strategy has been drafted. That is why Löffingen, as an LTA, is a role model for the FTA Elzach and Winden im Elztal.
Main focus
Connectivity & Accessibility (connecting people electronically and promoting accessibility to Public Services)
Challenges addressed
Serving as a role model for successful digitization process, sharing of knowledge and best practices.
Pilot solutions
Löffingen serves for the FTAs Elzach und Winden im Elztal as an example of a successful digitisation process. An exchange between the FTAs and Löffingen is to take place in the project.Baden-Württemberg/Germany. Löffingen can be reached from Freiburg im Breisgau in about 50 km.
Elzach - Südlicher Oberrhein
The city of Elzach counts 7332 inhabitants and is situated in the Elz- valley which is part of the Black Forest area in Baden-Württemberg. Elzach can be reached from Freiburg im Breisgau in about 30 km or by train via the Breisgau S-Bahn. The city has a dispersed settlement structure and consist of five city areas namely Elzach, Katzenmoos, Oberprechtal, Prechtal and Yach. While the northern side of the Elz-valley rises steeply, the southern side is much flatter. In the year 2018 around 2144 people commuted out and 1300 commuted in the city of Elzach. Tourism has gained in importance in the Elz Valley in the recent years. Elzach is awarded as a “climatic health resort” and offers sports and leisure activities e. g. a network of hiking and mountain bike trails. Elzach has over 80 clubs from the fields of music, art, sport, and culture. Voluntary commitment is strong and has a long tradition. Elzach has a comprehensive school (school center) and two primary schools.
Main focus
Connectivity & Accessibility (connect people electronically and promote accessibility of Public Services)
Challenges addressed
- Improvement of communication between the city administration and citizens; communication and networking between citizens;
- Digital applications for young people;
- Digital applications (e. g. Informative videos) to raise the standard of living of older people.
Platform for exchange (e. g exchange of orchard fruit);
- Digital applications (e.g. sensor technology for smart control of e.g. irrigation, level measurement);
- Integration and assistance for new citizens through the provision of digital easily accessible information;
- Digital help for family carers;
- Promotion of the local economy through co-working and innovation workplace.
Pilot solutions
1) Citizen App: A citizens’ app will be developed to serve as a simple and user-friendly medium for communication between the city administration and citizens. Citizens will be able to use the app to submit enquiries or applications to the administration, e.g. via a digital registration for kindergarten and school places or a deficiency report. Conversely, the citizens’ app will make it easier for the city administration to inform its citizens in a short, digital way.
2) Mobile youth work and services, aiming to provide young people with flexible services. This includes digital offers combined with physical spaces. In this way, young people are reached via digital channels and at the same time “non-virtual” meeting places are created.
3) Video tutorials/messages, primary aimed for older people to provide them with information that can increase their quality of life. “Elzach TV” can show good examples and tell stories about how change can be possible in old age (e.g. in the area of housing or mobility).
4) Digital “New Citizen Journey”: Many people who are new to Elzach would like to get to know their new place of residence better. With the help of an app and/or QR codes, a digital guided tour with information for new citizens through Elzach will be offered. 4) Digital management for family carers: Family carers face the challenge of managing the care of their carers easily and efficiently. Digital tools will be used to provide a management service for these carers.
5)Exchange platform for orchards: In the orchard season, some meadow owners do not have time to harvest their fruit, or they might want to trade their abundance of plums for a few kilos of apples. This will be possible with the help of a digital platform. The platform can be used to organise the exchange and picking of fruit. This platform will be also linked to tourist offers. 6) Sensor technology for street greenery: Urban trees and street greenery need to be watered regularly to ensure that they are supplied with sufficient water, especially during periods of low rainfall and in times of climate change. With the help of sensors installed on the trees or green strips, irrigation will be controlled according to need.
7) Co-working space: Working from a distance, so-called remote work, has increased in recent years. Instead of commuting, people also work at home. In addition, co-working spaces are gaining in importance. A co-working space will be established in Elzach, for example on the upper floor of the Ladhof. A booking app will be used to facilitate administration.
Winden im Eltzal - Südlicher Oberrhein
The municipality of Winden im Elztal counts 2846 inhabitants and is situated in the Elz- valley which is part of the Black Forest area in Baden-Württemberg/Germany. Winden im Elztal can be reached from Freiburg im Breisgau in about 30 km or by train via the Breisgau S-Bahn. The municipality has a dispersed settlement structure and consist of two city parts namely Oberwinden und Niederwinden. While the northern side of the Elz-valley rises steeply, the southern side is much flatter. Most of the working population in Winden commutes to work in the surrounding towns and municipalities. Tourism has gained in importance in the Elz Vallay in recent years. Winden im Elztal is awarded as a “climatic health resort “and offers sports and leisure activities e. g. a network of hiking and mountain bike trails Winden has around 37 clubs from the fields of music, art, sport, and culture. Elzach has a primary school.
Main focus
Connectivity & Accessibility (connecting people electronically and promoting accessibility to Public Services)
Challenges addressed
- Promotion of the local economy through the promotion of co-working and innovation workplace;
- Promotion of cultural offer through a community meeting space for citizens; Improvement of communication between the city administration and citizens as well as communication and networks between citizens;
- Improving knowledge and promoting digital skills, especially for older people;
- Integration and assistance for new citizens through the provision of digital easily accessible information;
- Expansion of the mobility offer through sharing options.
Pilot solutions
1) Multifunctional meeting place / civic center: like a “hub” and aiming to increase the quality of life in different areas, a meeting place for citizens can serve various functions. It will host co-working and commercial activities, cultural events such as cinemas and dance evenings, it may be used as a place for learning and exchange. The goal is to create a physical place that also has interfaces to the digital world. The term “hub” represents this nodal function of different areas of life and formats.
2) Neighborhood platform: the platform/app will enable to disseminate regional information quickly and easily, such as information on cultural offers or requests and offers around neighborhood help (childcare, etc.).
3) Training opportunities (on digital media): People who have not grown up with digital media may need support to learn how to use them. This can be done through courses and open consultations.
4) Digital services offered by the administration: the services offered by the administration as well as the application process are mostly carried out in writing or through appointments in the town hall. To simplify these processes, the services will be digitalized.
5) Digital offers for new citizens: People who move to Winden are looking for links to local networks and contacts. They may need help with administrative tasks, especially if they are immigrating from another country. Mentors can be helpful in this regard, for example by supporting them with administrative tasks. They can also be provided with information on getting to know the place and making contacts.
6) Car sharing stations (possibly with app): There are already car sharing stations in Elzach. The aim is to make the car-sharing service accessible to windmills in the Elztal. Car-sharing can improve the quality of mobility in rural areas. People can make occasional journeys without owning their own car.
7) Ride-sharing app: A ride-sharing app was already tested in the municipality some time ago but was discontinued due to a lack of users. The idea is to test such a ride-sharing app again in a second attempt. Here, drivers and potential carpoolers can network and form carpools. The offer can be particularly interesting for people whose mobility is limited due to a lack of a driving license (e.g. young people, older people).
