Vinnytsia Received a Climate Sensor from Münster: Launch of Joint Collection of Urban Climate Data

A delegation from Vinnytsia visited its partner city Münster for an expert exchange on Smart City, digital services, the Internet of Things, and IT security. In particular, Münster shared its successful experience of how its solutions work in practice — from the organisation of a city data platform and climate dashboard to examples of the application of the Internet of Things (IoT) in public spaces. The participants sought not only to discuss approaches, but also to move on to joint, comparable data and projects that are gradually forming practical cooperation between our communities.

It was for these reasons that the partner city gave Vinnytsia a climate sensor similar to those operating in the Münster network. The sensor is designed to continuously measure air temperature and, depending on the configuration, other environmental indicators in normal urban conditions. A protective screen with spiral ventilation creates a stable air flow around the probe, reflects direct sunlight, protects against dirt and cuts off precipitation, so that it is the air temperature that is recorded, not the temperature of heated surfaces.

This is the first sensor in Vinnytsia to operate using LoRaWAN technology, an energy-efficient and long-range network for the Internet of Things, and at the same time a step towards the development of a local IoT ecosystem. This approach will allow urban environmental indicators to be collected with minimal energy consumption and stable data transmission.

This climate device will be the first element in the ‘shared measurement field’: readings from the Vinnytsia sensor will also be displayed on Münster's climate dashboard, making the data from the two cities comparable and opening up opportunities for joint research. Comparable measurements will help to jointly study the urban microclimate: temperature dynamics, the ‘heat island’ effect, the impact of green areas and surface materials. The collected data can be used for further analytical projects in both cities and the development of urban services that work with climate indicators.

'Münster is a true partner and friend to Vinnytsia. Consistent support, necessary humanitarian and social assistance, joint educational, cultural, youth and other initiatives are extremely valuable to the Vinnytsia community. We hope that the new line of practical cooperation in the field of Smart City will also become a long-term useful joint initiative in our partnership. We would like to thank the city of Münster, Smart City Münster, Stadtwerke Münster, Münster Climate Unit: Climate Adaptation, Surveying and Cadastral Office, and Büro Internationales - Stadt Münster for their support and partnership in developing Smart City for the benefit of communities,' says Dina Chernenko, Head of the Informatisation Division of the Information Technology Department of Vinnytsia City Council.