Kielce – Smart Solutions for Business
The city of Kielce has been implementing the ideas of a smart city and sustainable development for almost 10 years, by proposing smart solutions to the residents and entrepreneurs. For more than a decade, the Investor Assistance Centre has been operating in the city, which is a unit responsible for the first contact with entrepreneurs interested in the investment process in the Kielce Functional Area /KOF/.
By making the policy of economic promotion and attracting investors focused on preparing a comprehensive and customised offer based on spatial data system solutions available in the city, Kielce meets the increasing market requirements. Also next year, the Kielce Technology Park – a local innovation hub – is going to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its existence.
SMART SOLUTIONS IN THE CITY IDEA KIELCE
Integrated city management system based on the spatial information system is one of the key elements of the smart city idea in Kielce. The Internet Spatial Data Server (ISDP) is an IT system that allows for collecting, updating and sharing interactive maps and reports in a web browser environment. Its role is to link data from multiple databases for quick and secure viewing of a variety of information. Administrative Application Handling System (SOWA) is a system that supports a document workflow and information exchange within the organisation. Thanks to the possibility of defining document workflow paths among individual organisational units, the SOWA facilitates and advances the process of rendering decisions, and at the same time, allows for tracking the progress in handling a given case.
The next units strategic to handling investments and investors are being connected to the integrated city management system based on the spatial information system, and nowadays, the Urban Spatial Information System (MSIP) users cannot imagine working without it. And the residents expect the continuity in sharing information through it. The system is being prepared for new challenges in implementing the idea of a smart city and the emerging smart city strategy for Kielce. At the turn of 2015/2016, the project of Smart City Platform, based on the MSIP, was developed. It provides extended opportunities to share internal and external services, as well as use open data thanks to modern tools for direct communication. The Smart City Platform supports management and decision-making processes, integrates urban strategies and policies by providing effective access to up-todate spatial data and indicators for city development, urban services and life quality, as well as facilitates spatial data exchange. This project will provide an impeccable and transparent view of the economic and social situation in the city in an accessible and modern way.
Smart activities, that have been undertaken for years, have determined us to collect all directions for smart city development into one strategic document that will be created in the near future. Kielce is working on the Smart City Strategy.
Well-functioning system has been recently appreciated. The handling of investment process has been honoured by the World Bank whose economists point out how much may Kielce offer to other cities in the field of the handling of investment process for physical and legal persons. They also appreciated the level of computerisation, and especially the well-developed Urban Spatial Information System. Thanks to its tools, architects may prepare a building permit design much faster, just like more quickly may a planning application be considered by civil servants.
The process of handling investors in Kielce was also recognised in the ranking prepared by the Warsaw School of Economics – in 2016, the city of Kielce was awarded with the title of “Gmina na 5!”. Kielce was also among the finalists of the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, where GIS (Geographic Information System) was presented as one of the tools of the system for sustainable development of the city. A social participatory platform called Idea Kielce, being a portal of communication and cooperation between the authorities and residents of the city, may successfully compete with the best urban technological solutions. This is a base platform for a smart city functionality. It provides residents, entrepreneurs and investors with access to strategic data. A modern Geoportal follows the guidelines of the INSPIRE Directive and provides transparent access to key thematic layers. Participatory Budget, Express Yourself! Public Consultations, Sustainable City, Invest in Kielce – these are other modules of the Idea Kielce portal. Userfriendly map services presented in an attractive graphical form allow for viewing the situation in the city – from historical retro maps and 3D cities to environmental maps and investor’s profile. All social functions mentioned above enable the residents to participate actively and directly in public life, and provide investors with the opportunity to preview investment areas and investment offer of the city
COMPETITIVE WORKING AND LIVING CONDITIONS. NEXT INFRASTRUCTURAL INVESTMENTS
Let us begin with numbers – they are really impressive. In the previous EU perspective 2007-2013, over PLN 1 billion 200 million was spent on projects and tasks in the city, including PLN 573 million for improving road infrastructure and public transport. Nowadays, nearly PLN 300 million has been allocated for improving transport infrastructure and city sustainable mobility as part of two projects cofinanced from the European Regional Development Fund under OP Eastern Poland 2014-2020, Priority Axis 2 “Modern Transport Infrastructure”, Measure 2.1. “Sustainable Urban Transport”
Implemented now under the project “Development of public transport system in Kielce”, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) in Kielce is another convenience for the residents and entrepreneurs. This enormous investment covers 62 road intersections. Some of them will be modernised and expanded, and a number of modern control devices will be installed to improve traffic flow in the city. The traffic, which is not too big when compared with other agglomerations in the country, will be organised in such a way so as to improve the level of competitiveness of Kielce in this field. Under the same project, the characteristic main bus station will be changed into a modern communication centre, that will act as an element integrating the communication network of the region and Kielce public transport.
Under the project "Development of public transport infrastructure in Kielce" a modern hybrid bus will be purchased and another 30 stops in the city will be equipped with information boards. Assembly plates will greatly improve the quality of urban transport in real time when buses depart. The boards will also include additional information such as planned timetables, tours, etc. Tables will be provided with a voice system that will allow blind people to use the information on the screen.
Another PLN 23 million (with the EU support), the city is planning to allocate for the revitalisation of historic city centre – stage 3. The city is also planning to increase the supply for modern office space by meeting the market needs with the project called “Projekt Leśna” thanks to which a modern seven-storey high class office building will be constructed in the city centre. Kielce is changing for the residents and investors in a dynamic but responsible way, and according to the principles of functionality and due respect for the natural environment.
Work-life balance – this is what cities use to attract employers and employees. In Kielce, the offer of spending leisure time is extremely rich, especially for sport lovers. Thanks to exceptional natural conditions, Kielce is a real geological paradise. In addition, there is a very interesting and diversified cultural as well as sport and recreation offer. In the Kadzielnia open-air theatre, there are concerts organised by the nationwide radio and television stations.
Trade fairs and exhibitions organised by the pride of the region – Kielce Trade Fairs for years have been a mandatory point in entrepreneurs and scientists’ calendars, not only those from Poland, but also those from Europe, Asia, both Americas and Africa, as well as among the Kielce’s residents themselves. The Kielce Technology Park /KPT/, celebrating the 10th anniversary of existence next year, is increasingly gaining in importance as well. A fullyrevitalised, post-industrial and northern corner of Kielce, thanks to the dynamic development of the KPT, is now one of the hottest addresses in the city around which modern infrastructure is emerging, and young companies are seeking to locate their offices there. The quality of life in the city and the level of satisfaction of its residents is a subject which is undertaken by the city of Kielce on a regular basis. This year, we have started our development monitoring system according to the international standard ISO37120 – Sustainable Social Development – indicators of urban services and quality of life, developed by the World Council on City Data.
Increased city investment attractiveness, appreciated investment process, implemented smart solutions and international standards for monitoring life quality – these are the key achievements of Kielce in its way to become a smart city of the future.
