Polish city is first to use Ethereum blockchain for emergency services. Olsztyn, Poland is allegedly the first city in the world to leverage on Ethereum’s blockchain to assist in the provision of emergency services.
Olsztyn completed a successful trial run of SmartKey, which is a bridging technology connecting blockchain with physical assets, to aid in police, fire and ambulance services.
SmartKey will reportedly allow rescue teams to perform their jobs more efficiently by connecting a smart contract to Teltonika smart devices that are used by local rescue teams. With this connection, emergency crews will be able to enter any building in the city without having to track down a keyholder or wait for permission.
Gustaw Marek Brzezin, the marshall of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship in which Olsztyn is located, said “The need for our rescue services to perform their duties without obstruction is a delicate one. The use of blockchain and SmartKey technology seems to be like the perfect solution, giving reassurance to building owners and inhabitants, but also freedom for our emergency services.”
SmartKey believes blockchain technology can lay the groundwork for the development of smart cities. The definition of smart city vary. However, essentially, it refers to any urban area that leverages emerging technologies and sensors to collect data, which can then be used to manage assets, resources and services more efficiently. As a paradigm, smart cities feed into other theories about sustainability and economic development.
[image: Freestock]
