Pilot city
What is a pilot city?
Pilot cities are the city-wide expansion of pilot projects. In this way, pilot cities are field experiments for testing various forms of social, economic and technical development in an urban context. Like conventional pilot projects, pilot cities are used to test the profitability and the market potential of different products, solutions and services before their general establishment. With the aid of short-term experiments pilot cities enable people to learn how large-scale projects might work in practice. Besides, pilot cities are learning processes, which means steadily monitoring and adjustment is crucial for development and improvement.
Methods of operation of pilot cities
In order to have a useful outcome of pilot city projects, a well-elaborated strategy is important.
- Analysis and first assessment of the local context: Initially a city profile is created. Besides gathering information with the aid of desk analysis, it is also important to visit relevant facilities, stakeholders and the government and to introduce them to the issue. Moreover, before starting the experiment, the current state must be elevated and documented. In the initial stage, also the citizens need to be informed about what it means to participate in a pilot city project.
- Design of the work programme: After the elevation of the current state, a programme for improving the city’s performance in the defined area is worked out.
- Implementation of the work programme: In this experimental stage steadily monitoring of upcoming challenges and achievements is crucial – not only for immediate adjustment, but also for long-term benefit. Moreover, for successful and efficient implementation of a pilot city project, regular exchange between the different stakeholders is important.
- Final Assessment: At the end of the implementation phase there is a final assessment, where all results are evaluated in order to use them for further development. Usually, the outcome is presented in a final conference. The lessons learned are not only helpful for the progress of the pilot city, but it is also particularly important for the development of the examined area in the urban context in general.
- Communication: If the pilot city experiment has a successful outcome, the implemented projects will be disseminated in the initial pilot city as well as in other cities.