Climate-neutral and Smart Cities

This journal article details the Apollon platform, a citizen science methodology for urban environmental monitoring that leverages mobile crowd sensing (MCS) and ICT technologies. It demonstrates how scalable citizen science initiatives can be achieved through the integration of low-cost sensors, mobile devices, and cloud computing, enabling widespread participation and real-time data collection. The platform's architecture supports both opportunistic and participatory sensing, making it adaptable to diverse urban contexts and capable of engaging large communities in environmental monitoring efforts.

This toolkit provides a comprehensive guide to scaling citizen science through participatory environmental monitoring. The toolkit emphasises the use of open-source software and hardware, digital maker practices, and community-led sensing strategies to empower citizens in addressing local environmental challenges. By outlining structured processes for community building, data collection, and action, it offers scalable methodologies adaptable to diverse social and geographical contexts.

This resource analyses constraints and opportunities for scaling up Urban Living Lab experiments, offering valuable insights for citizen science. It identifies barriers such as limited social inclusion, fragmented institutional frameworks, and underutilized learning potential, and provides strategies to overcome these challenges. By addressing these issues, the resource supports the broader adoption of citizen science practices in urban contexts, promoting inclusive and sustainable innovations.

This toolkit is a practical resource that supports the scaling of citizen science in climate-neutral and smart cities by helping project leaders manage stakeholder dynamics, build trust, and improve participation within Citizen Observatories. By addressing issues such as conflicting expectations, governance complexity, and data uptake, the toolkit strengthens collaboration and increases the potential for citizen-generated data to influence urban policy and climate action.

The MOSAIC Cookbook provides a structured, hands-on methodology for engaging citizens and stakeholders in co-creation processes that align with the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. By offering practical tools for ideation, prototyping, and local adaptation, tested in cities like Gothenburg and Milan, it supports participatory innovations within urban governance frameworks and smart city strategies.

This journal article analyses 83 EU-funded projects to identify key design principles, engagement strategies, and digital tools that foster behavioral change and policy impact in urban settings. By offering insights into co-creation methods, the Quadruple Helix model, and scalable citizen engagement frameworks, it serves as a practical guide for embedding citizen science into sustainable city development and urban governance.