Two companies have announced a joint offering of integrated solutions designed for cities coping with rising populations and the accompanying growing demand for services, as well as their need to stay globally competitive. 

GLOBE-Net, November 29, 2011 - To meet the needs of cities across the world, Schneider Electric and its recently acquired IT solutions provider Telvent, have launched a joint SmartCity offering that provides cities with access to an integrated suite of solutions to improve the efficiency and sustainability of urban infrastructure.

The cost of building, improving or maintaining infrastructure to keep up with growing demand is one of the most significant challenge facing cities today.

Globally, urbanization is occurring at an increasingly quick pace and it is estimated that the urban population will rise from 50 percent of the world population today to more than 70 percent by 2050. Local governments need solutions that improve the efficiency and sustainability of city systems that are affordable, easy to deploy and manage, and can cover all of their needs.

"Bringing together the expertise of Schneider Electric and Telvent gives us the unique capability to deliver custom solutions that meet the specific needs of each city," said Philippe Delorme, Executive Vice-President of Schneider Electric.

"Our innovative SmartCity offering, integrated for performance and delivered in a collaborative model is a game changer for existing and new cities facing challenging infrastructure needs."

SmartCity -  SmartCity is a unique offering that combines Schneider Electric and Telvent proven solutions for managing critical infrastructure, including:

Smart Grid -  As much as 15 percent of power can be lost in transmission due to inefficiencies in local power grids. Smart Grid solutions help cities to manage growing demand for electricity and integrate renewable energy sources while improving customer service through improved network efficiency and reduced energy consumption and emissions.

Smart Mobility -  Each year, drivers in cities around the world waste billions of gallons of fuel sitting in traffic. Smart Mobility improves resident mobility by providing cities with better information and improved interoperability as well as integration of electric vehicles.

Solutions offer better management of multi-modal transit networks and fewer disruptions to service. Cities also will experience reduced traffic congestion, increased public transit use and lower emissions by providing residents with easier travel across modes of transport.

Smart Water -  Up to 35 percent of water is lost due to leaks and inefficient distribution networks, yet worldwide more than 1 billion people face water shortages. Smart Water solutions provide tools to help cities manage water networks more efficiently and offer them greater resiliency against hazards. Cities benefit from reduced water losses and outages and improved customer service.

Smart Public Services -  The demands on city services are increasing, and Smart Public Services offer helps cities to efficiently manage public safety, street lighting, healthcare and government administration.

Cities will experience improved information sharing between agencies, fewer disruptions to public services and increased control over city systems. Improved public services lead to higher quality of life for citizens, increasing the attractiveness of the city for jobs and talent

Smart Buildings and Homes -  In Europe, nearly €300 billion in energy costs are lost each year due to inefficient buildings. Smart Buildings and Homes tools, including energy and environmental monitoring and visualization, helps cities optimize resource consumption for office buildings, datacenters, industrial facilities, hospitals, universities and residential homes, resulting in reduced emissions and energy consumption and improved resident engagement. Our solutions connect buildings to the electric network and to each other, enabling the smart grid.

According to Telvent's Chairman and CEO, Ignacio Gonzalez, "SmartCity is a unified solution from Schneider Electric and Telvent bringing together our unmatched expertise in improving infrastructure for cities worldwide, ranging from mature cities in developed countries to hypergrowth cities in emerging regions."

"The result for our customers is greater efficiency at all levels of the city and improved quality of life for their residents, leading to more livable and sustainable cities,"

For more information about SmartCity visit www.telvent.com/smartcities