Lake District Smart Park

Academics have laid down proposals to transform Wordsworth’s beloved Lake District into a mobile-friendly 'smart park.'

21:56 15 February 2018

The goal is to use innovative technologies to better protect it as well as keep pace with future visitor expectations.

 

They said that smartphones could be used to alert park rangers about damaged footpaths while bins can be fitted with sensors to warn council officials when they are full. This can help cut carbon emissions from unnecessary collections.  

 

Professor Edward Truch, from Lancaster University’s Management School, which carried out the study for the Lake District National Park Authority, said: “A smart park could open up opportunities for new types of visitor attractions, which protect rather than spoil some of the world’s most treasured landscapes.”

 

He added: “Some areas of the world are already drastically cutting traffic pollution by introducing ‘smart’ car parking systems, for example, directing individual motorists to available parking spaces. ”Research suggests there will be exponential growth in the number of worldwide devices connected to the internet over coming years, growing from 4.9bn in 2015 to around 25bn in 2025. “National parks need to act now and seriously consider these innovative technologies to better protect the environment and keep pace with future visitor expectations.“