Urban Foresight
Improving lives, promoting sustainability and creating new economic opportunities.
UK’s leading place-based innovation consultancy working with ambitious organisations around the world on projects to improve lives, protect the environment, and boost local economies.
Urban Foresight was established in 2011 as the world’s first dedicated smart city consultancy. A mission-driven business that thinks deeply about the opportunities to transform services and solve societal challenges.
Their multi-disciplinary team works across different sectors and is skilled at translating ideas into action. They provide technical and commercial support to help clients develop new technologies and services for cities.
This includes writing award-winning reports, providing evidence-based insights and delivering investment-ready strategies.
Projects
Digital assistants support adults to keep active at home
During Covid-19 restrictions, adults with additional support needs were spending much of their time indoors and becoming inactive.
Rapid deployment of in-home connectivity for digitally excluded citizens
Newcastle City Council Reablement Service supports adults who have experienced a life change to live independently in their own homes.
Single source of intelligence on land ownership
Newcastle City Council hosts over 600 datasets on land asset ownership and responsibility.
Routing algorithms to optimise parking beats
Newcastle City Council’s parking service needed to secure operational savings of £2.5m over the next three financial years.
Data analytics to improve council tax collection rates
From 2020 onwards, Newcastle City Council’s services will be almost entirely dependent on the funding provided by Council Tax and business rates.
Digital prescribing for falls prevention in reablement services
NCC’s Reablement service supports adults who have experienced a life change to improve their ability or confidence to live independently in their own home.
Low vibration and low carbon grounds maintenance equipment
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) can arise from prolonged use of combustion engine powered hand tools such as lawnmowers, leaf blowers, strimmers and hedge trimmers.
Visualisation of parking data
Newcastle City Council’s parking team needed to evaluate technology solutions to offer a “cashless” service
Citywide rollout of cashless parking payment services
The Council needed to determine the most effective combination of cashless solutions for off-street and on-street parking locations.
E-scooter trial to reduce congestion and improve air quality
To reduce congestion, 250 scooters will be available for hire in locations across the city.
Smart parking sensors at Newcastle Helix
Parking sensors and re-designation of parking bays around the Helix will generate additional revenue and improve parking availability throughout the area.
Preparing for the digital switchover of telecare services
By 2025, analogue telephone services will be switched off as the UK’s telecom infrastructure is upgraded to digital connectivity.
Paperless parking permits
Newcastle's solution to improve service efficiency and customer service for approximately 35,000 residential and commercial parking permits.
ANPR cameras mounted on e-bikes for parking enforcement
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology enables officers to cover beats more efficiently.
Electrifying the Council’s fleet
Newcastle City Council needed to finalise plans for a six-year fleet renewal programme.
Mobile data integration for efficient parking enforcement
Newcastle City Council trialled new ticket machines, allowing motorists to pay by card for car parking sessions at two city-centre, multi-storey car parks.
Smart sensors manage public bins and waste collection
Newcastle's award-winning smart bins use ultra-sounds sensors to monitor fill levels.
Make Place open source survey tool
A versatile tool used by researchers in community-based projects to map issues, opportunities, resources and points of interest.
Virtual taxi rank concept to reduce congestion
With fewer taxi parking spaces and the creation of a Clean Air Zone, the virtual taxi rank is an innovative alternative using new technologies.
Blog
Protecting local digital services from cybersecurity threats
You’ve likely heard the term “cyber threat” in the media, but what exactly are these cyber threats?
