Embracing Innovation for Safer Urban Living: Introducing the DUTUS Tool

In the digital age, cities worldwide are becoming smarter, weaving technology into the very fabric of urban life to enhance safety, efficiency, and quality of life. Amidst this transformation, a groundbreaking paper spearheaded by Francisco J. Castro-Toledo, CEO of IcARUS’s partner Plus Ethics, and Ana B. Gómez-Bellvís from Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Spain, shines a light on the intersection of technology and urban security.

Their latest publication, stemming from the IcARUS project, addresses a crucial question: How can we ensure that the deployment of innovative technologies like drones, CCTV, and predictive algorithms in our cities respects our democratic values and civil liberties? The answer lies in the creation of the Democratic Use of Innovative Technologies for Urban Security (DUTUS) tool.

The DUTUS tool is a pioneering open-source tool designed to help local security authorities make informed decisions about technology use. It guides them through a comprehensive self-assessment process, ensuring that technological applications in urban security are legal, ethical, and socially positive. This tool stands at the intersection of technology and democracy, offering a structured methodology for evaluating the ethical, legal, and social implications of security technologies.

This development is timely, as cities continue to grow, and the integration of technology into urban infrastructure becomes increasingly complex. The DUTUS tool offers a way to navigate these complexities, ensuring that technological advancements contribute to safe, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments.

At its core, the DUTUS tool advocates for a balanced approach to urban security, promoting the idea that technological interventions should not only be effective but also align with our collective ethical standards and legal frameworks. By doing so, it paves the way for a future where cities are not just smart but also respectful of the rights and freedoms of their inhabitants.

As we move forward, the DUTUS tool serves as a beacon for urban authorities worldwide, encouraging a thoughtful and democratic use of technology in our quest for safer cities. It’s a reminder that in the smart cities of tomorrow, technology and humanity can coexist in harmony, ensuring security while upholding the values we hold dear.

Access the pre-print at the following link HERE.

Rethinking Urban Security: IcARUS at Efus’ Security, Democracy, and Cities conference

The 8th edition of Efus’ Security, Democracy & Cities Conference took place in March in Brussels, Belgium. Over three days, the conference served as a platform for discussing urban security and crime prevention challenges faced by European cities and regions. The IcARUS project played a pivotal role in this dynamic gathering.

Highlights of IcARUS’ involvement

Representatives from the six partner cities – Lisbon, Nice, Riga, Rotterdam, Stuttgart, and Turin – took centre stage to pitch their developed tools. These tools, forged through collaborative efforts and innovative thinking, promised novel approaches to address contemporary urban security challenges.

IcARUS partners contributed their expertise to various thematic sessions, enriching the conference with diverse perspectives and insights.

• Daniel Trottier addressed Communication, transparency, fake news, and social media.
• Daniel Gatica-Perez delved into Technology and AI’s role in urban security.

Monica Diniz, Head of Prevention, Security and International Relations, City of Lisbon, presented on Cities and local police forces, Collective youth violence and urban gangs.

For more than three years, the IcARUS project has been experimenting with a design thinking methodology to involve key players in the definition, development and demonstration of tools adapted to end-user needs. This experimentation has enabled partners to identify the advantages and limitations of this methodology in the field of urban security, and to propose an updated methodology better adapted to local security challenges.

Conducted by IcARUS partners, Massimo Fattori (Erasmus University), Maud Ridoux and Violette Simeon (Makesense), the session on “How to apply an innovative approach to solve urban security challenges” offered participants the opportunity to carry out a practical exercise using the IcARUS methodology on the theme of “the challenge of recidivism” with hands-on exercises.

In addition, members of the IcARUS Expert Advisory Board (EAB) and the Consultative Committee of Cities (CCC) shared their invaluable insights and experiences:

• Patrick Charlier (UNIA) focused on preventing discriminatory violence.
• Werner Vanherle (Mechelen) presented its local prevention model and showcased effective strategies implemented at the grassroots level.

The IcARUS project’s participation underscored its commitment to fostering collaboration, innovation and knowledge exchange among stakeholders invested in enhancing urban security. By showcasing practical tools, engaging in insightful discussions, and promoting its collaborative problem-solving methodology, IcARUS continues to be at the forefront of rethinking crime prevention strategies.

The IcARUS podcast series

The conference was also the occasion to record three podcasts with the IcARUS partners, offering in-depth insights into pressing urban security issues and innovative solutions.

Learning from the Past: 30 Years of Crime Prevention and Urban Security

Joined by André Vervooren, Director, City of Rotterdam and Adam Crawford, Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice at the University of York, this podcast explored the evolution of crime over the past three decades. The conversation emphasised the need to rethink security strategies in light of changing societal contexts and highlighted the IcARUS project’s comprehensive review of urban security developments, encapsulating key trends, lessons learned and knowledge gaps.

Key Learnings with regards to Innovation
Featuring Monica Diniz, Head of Prevention, Security, and International Relations at the City of Lisbon, and Andrew Wootton, Professor of Human-Centred Design Innovation at the University of Salford, this podcast delved into the innovative approaches promoted by the IcARUS project. The conversation highlighted the crucial role of innovation, not just in terms of technology but also in social adaptations, to address contemporary urban security challenges effectively. This was illustrated by the Jovem Design Lisboa (JDL), a design-oriented approach to engage young people in community safety, developed in the framework of IcARUS.

Advancing Urban Security with the support of Technology
Staņislavs Šeiko from the Riga Municipal Police and Ravinithesh Annapureddy from the Idiap Research Institute led a discussion on leveraging technology to enhance urban security. They explored technological solutions and citizen engagement in co-creating security solutions, in particular the Par drošu Rīgu! (For a safe Riga) tool which provides an evidence-based approach to modifying and adapting district/neighbourhood policing tactics by analysing quantitative and qualitative data together.

Additional podcasts on the prevention of radicalisation leading to violent extremism, organised crime and more will be released in the coming months! Stay tuned for their publication!

For more details on the conference, please visit Efus’ website.

Save the date: IcARUS final conference in Liège, Belgium

Mark your calendars! We are excited to announce the IcARUS Final Conference, marking the biggest milestone of the European Project IcARUS. This event will be held in conjunction with the General Assembly of EFUS (coordinator of the project IcARUS) in the vibrant city of Liège. It’s an opportunity not to be missed by those involved and interested in the forefront of innovation and security.

Dates & Schedule:

• 25th June: (efus members only) Start the day with the Efus General Assembly

• 25th June: First day of the IcARUS Final Conference (14:00-18:00)
• 26th June: The IcARUS Final Conference continues, offering a full day of insightful discussions and networking opportunities (9:00-15:00)

Simultaneous translation EN-FR will be provided for both days of the IcARUS conference

Location: City Hall of Liège, 2, Place du Marché, 4000, Liège, Belgique

Registrations are open!

Final agenda available (see below)

Let’s come together to celebrate the achievements of the IcARUS Project and look forward to the future of innovation and security in Europe.

See you in Liège!