Zurich University of Applied Sciences visits Amsterdam Smart City

On the 5th of July, during Demoday #28, we zoomed in on one of the pressing challenges facing the energy transition: grid congestion, and more specifically, how to keep the people who maintain the grid moving efficiently.

Grid congestion is a serious and growing concern for grid operator Alliander. It is therefore essential to speed up the grid reinforcement as much as possible. Alliander’s Operation 2.0 team is exploring innovative ways to work smarter, faster, and more flexibly to keep pace with these developments.

Their efforts focus on three tracks:

• Alleviating staff shortages by training office employees to occasionally support fieldwork.
• Exploring technologies like advanced ground radar to get better insights into underground assets.
• Improving the logistics of supplying mechanics to ensure they have the right tools, in the right place, at the right time.

This last track was the main focus of our work session.

Inefficient supply of mechanics

Logistics experiences show that mechanics collect materials inefficiently when supplying their vans and jobs, resulting in stock corrections, less control over stock, unnecessary work for logistics staff, and valuable mechanic hours being lost, which leads to less execution work. A few key problems stood out:

• Supplies are scanned inconsistently, so the system doesn’t reflect what is actually in stock.
• Every van is different, with a custom layout that suits the preferences of its mechanic.
• The work itself is unpredictable, which makes standardised restocking difficult.
• With a transition to smaller electric vans, space is becoming even more limited.

A simple optimisation of the process is not enough, especially without considering the human element. For many mechanics, a visit to the supply centre is more than just logistics. It is a moment of connection, a short break from the road, or simply a chance for a good coffee.

Ideas from the network

In groups of four, we brainstormed creative ideas to improve the supply of Alliander vans while keeping the needs and routines of mechanics in mind.

Some highlights:

• Peer-to-peer van inspiration: Let mechanics share the layout of their vans with colleagues. They can exchange best practices and take pride in an efficient setup. Adding a bit of gamification might boost motivation even more.
• A mobile supply service: A supply van could drive around to restock mechanic vans, reducing the need to visit the supply centre. However, this might remove the social element of taking a break with colleagues.
• Smarter routing: Track the location of mechanics only in relation to nearby grid faults. This way, the closest available mechanic can respond without feeling like their movements are constantly being monitored.
• Package-based resupply: Inspired by delivery service Picnic, mechanics could exchange complete “supply packages” instead of picking out materials individually. Collaborating with wholesale suppliers could reveal more useful insights.
• Automatic stock tracking: Tag all materials with RFID chips and use sensors installed in the door of the van to register what is removed from the van. This eliminates the need for manual scanning and reduces the chance of mistakes.

Do you have a bright idea to improve how mechanics work? Let us know in the comments or send a message to Noor at noor@amsterdaminchange.com.
A big thank you to Thomas Hoekstra and Iris van der Zanden from Alliander for bringing this challenge to the network, and to Chantal Inia from Royal HaskoningDHV for moderating the session.

In de hoop dat technologie ons uit de klimaatcrisis redt, worden er miljoenen geïnvesteerd in technologieën op het gebied van kunstmatige intelligentie. Tegelijkertijd genereert de hele IT-industrie nu al 900 Megaton aan CO2 per jaar. Dat is zeven keer zoveel als de uitstoot van heel Nederland in 2023. Technologische innovatie en een gezond ecosysteem lijken niet samen te gaan. Kunnen technologie en natuur samenwerken bij het redden van onze planeet?
Kunstenaar Sunjoo Lee experimenteert in haar project ‘Electric Garden’ met een elektriciteitsproducerende tuin. Zolang het ecosysteem in haar tuin bloeit, kan elektriciteit worden opgewekt. Tijdens deze Waag Open in juli maken we een eigen Electric Garden in de Waag. In een boeiende workshop neemt Sunjoo je mee in de wereld van regeneratieve technologie en leer je hoe de natuur als duurzame energiebron kan fungeren. 

Programma

Over Electric Garden

Electric Garden verkent op creatieve wijze de mogelijke samenwerking tussen natuurlijke ecosystemen en digitale systemen. De tuin produceert elektriciteit via het metabolisme van anaerobe bacteriën die in natte grond leven, met behulp van een technologie die Microbial Fuel Cells wordt genoemd. Elke container werkt als een batterij en is uitgerust met elektroden die de elektronen oogsten die door de bacteriën worden uitgezonden. De planten en insecten in de tuin voeden de bacteriën. Zolang het ecosysteem bloeit, kan elektriciteit worden opgewekt.

Over Sunjoo Lee

Sunjoo Lee is een interdisciplinair kunstenaar. Haar werk bevindt zich op het snijvlak van kunst, technologie en ecologie. Ze is gevestigd in Nederland en Zuid-Korea en is gefascineerd door het gebruik van elektronica en digitale hulpmiddelen die het menselijk belang overstijgen. In haar werk verkent ze onderwerpen als meer dan menselijke filosofie, emergentie, biomimicry, toekomstige vormen van symbiose en permacomputing.

Waag Open

Elke eerste donderdagavond van de maand opent Waag haar deuren! Kom langs om te discussiëren en te doen. Want we gaan niet alleen in discussie over maatschappelijke thema's en de toekomst – je leert daarnaast ook altijd iets praktisch. Iets dat je altijd al hebt willen uitproberen, zoals de 3D-printer in het FabLab, of juist iets dat je nooit had verwacht, zoals uitpluizen hoe DNA in elkaar zit in ons biotech-lab. Waag Open vindt plaats in de maakplaatsen op de eerste en tweede verdieping van het historische Waaggebouw op de Nieuwmarkt. 

Toegankelijkheid

Mocht je krap bij kas zitten en wel graag aan dit evenement willen deelnemen, neem dan contact op met sanna [@] waag [punt] org. 

At the 28th Knowledge and Demo Day on July 5, the ‘Digital’ workshop focused on the Transformation Canvas: a powerful tool for translating complex societal challenges into actionable strategies for change. Ocean Conijn from the Digital Society School guided participants through the framework, using the question of how data can support healthier eating habits among students as a real-world case study.

What is the Transformation Canvas?

The Transformation Canvas helps teams and organisations break down societal or systemic issues into five essential components:

1. Situation – What is the current context?
2. Transformation – What does the desired change look like?
3. Outcome – What are the best- and worst-case scenarios?
4. Change – What shift do we want to see (from – to)?
5. Research Question – What is the central question?

This structure provided a clear framework during the session, where participants worked on a self-selected case study.

From Supermarket Data to Behavioural Change

The session began with a participant's question: supermarkets hold valuable data on purchasing behaviour but don’t share it due to commercial interests. How can we shift this mindset?

As the discussion progressed, the focus shifted from “What do we want to know?” to a more fundamental question: “Why do we want to know it?” Students often eat unhealthy when they are at school. The central challenge became: how do we break this pattern using both data and behavioural insights?

What Did We See?

Current Situation:
• Supermarkets hold crucial data on eating behaviour.
• Municipalities want to use this data to shape health policies.
• But there are concerns around privacy, ownership, and commercial interests.

Desired Transformation:
• Not just access to data, but a shared sense of urgency among all stakeholders.
• Healthy eating becomes a natural part of daily life (for students and companies).
Scenarios: From Worst to Best Case

Worst case:
• No access to usable data
• Increasing resistance from businesses
• Poor representation among participants
• Data turns out to be unreliable or incomplete

Best case:
• Open and secure data sharing
• Real behavioural change among students
• Supermarkets adapt their product offerings
• Companies take the initiative in the food transition

From Idea to Action: Creative Solutions

Participants were challenged to imagine solutions they could start building tomorrow. Some ideas included:
• “Snack Rehab Clinic” – A playful but serious intervention where individuals gain awareness of their eating behaviour and voluntarily share data to break habits.
• Collaboration with supermarkets like Albert Heijn via the Bonus app – By using personal purchase data, users could be ‘nudged’ toward healthier choices, with transparency and rewards at the core.

There wasn’t enough time during the workshop to complete the entire canvas, but participants got a preview of how the tool works in practice. Are you curious about the Transformation Canvas or interested in using it in your own work? Send us a message, and we’ll connect you with Ocean from the Digital Society School.