Making the Smart City visible: LEGO® model for the Kiel Region in Plön
ModulAREbricks developed a LEGO®-based smart city model of the town of Plön for the KielRegion. The aim was to not only explain digital solutions and municipal use cases theoretically, but to make them spatially visible and tangible.
The model showcases key elements of the town of Plön and connects well-known landmarks with concrete smart city applications. This creates a vivid demonstrator that combines both the townscape and digital infrastructure in a single model.
What was implemented?
The model depicted, among other things, Plön Castle, the water tower, a mobility hub, residential buildings, a small train station with a railway line, three ponds, as well as streets and green spaces. The combination of realistic urban visualization and concrete digital applications was particularly important.
Use Case: Water Level and Warning System
In the three ponds shown, a use case for water level monitoring was implemented. RFID chips can be used to simulate or detect the water level. This demonstrates how digital systems can be used to monitor water levels and trigger a warning system when critical values are reached.
This use case illustrates a topic that is otherwise difficult to see: water levels, data points and early warning systems become spatially comprehensible through the model.
Use Case: mobility station
Infrared sensors have been integrated into the mobility station to display the status and battery level of e-bikes and e-cars. The model thus demonstrates how modern mobility services can be intelligently managed and communicated within a city.
The mobility station combines topics such as sustainable mobility, charging infrastructure, availability and digital status information in a tangible scene.
Added value of the model
The Plön Smart City model demonstrates how digital solutions can be presented clearly in a municipal context. Instead of merely explaining abstract systems, the model makes them visible: visitors can see where a use case takes place, what infrastructure is involved, and how digital information plays a role in the cityscape.
This makes the model particularly suitable for project presentations, citizen communication, educational formats and smart city events.
