Solingen's Municipal Services Automate Bulk Material Monitoring with LiDAR and 5G
In Solingen, “smart city” is more than just a buzzword – it’s a clearly defined goal. As one of Germany’s federally funded smart city model municipalities, Solingen is actively pursuing a forward-looking digital strategy that encompasses a range of innovative projects. As part of this initiative, COCUS AG, a provider of digital solutions, deployed a private 5G campus network at the site of Technische Betriebe Solingen (TBS), the city’s public works department. This infrastructure now supports an automated inventory monitoring system powered by LiDAR technology, helping TBS streamline logistics and improve inventory accuracy.
Accurate inventory data is essential for effective logistics and timely restocking but until recently, TBS relied on manual inspections and tape measurements to track material levels across 15 outdoor storage bays used for various bulk materials. This process was time-consuming, prone to errors, and offered limited scalability.
TBS explored a range of alternative technologies, including drones and camera systems, but ultimately found them lacking in terms of automation, long-term reliability, and scalability. The goal was to implement a smart, future-ready solution that would not only improve bulk material inventory management but also serve as a model for other municipal digital transformation projects.
TBS selected LiDAR sensors from Blickfeld, which were integrated with 5G-enabled cameras into the existing 5G campus network provided by COCUS. A total of five LiDAR sensors, each protected by weatherproof covers, monitor the 15 adjacent outdoor bunkers alongside the cameras, capturing detailed volume measurements in real time.
A key advantage of the Blickfeld sensors is their edge computing capability. By processing 3D LiDAR data into volume metrics directly on the device, data transmission is minimized and no external computing hardware is required – greatly reducing system complexity.
The volume data is transmitted via the 5G network to a custom application platform. There, the information is displayed in a unified dashboard that overlays live video feeds with real-time fill level data for each storage bay. The system can also trigger automatic notifications when specific material thresholds are reached, enabling proactive and efficient replenishment.
In addition, the COCUS software logs and visualizes historical LiDAR data, making it easy to analyze inventory trends, material usage, and volume changes over time. These insights support smarter decision-making and more effective logistics planning.
The impact was clear soon after deployment. Automated volume tracking, real-time visualization, and historical analysis gave TBS an intuitive and reliable overview of their bulk material stock. Manual processes were reduced significantly, boosting operational efficiency and providing a tangible example of how digitalization can deliver real-world benefits for municipal operations.
Designed with modularity and scalability in mind, the system can easily be expanded to additional locations, materials, or functionalities. It already serves as a reference point for other municipalities and public service providers across Germany—offering substantial potential for broader smart city applications.
