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  3. RDF description Mind the gap: The AURORAL ecosystem for the digital transformation of smart communities and rural areas

Mind the gap: The AURORAL ecosystem for the digital transformation of smart communities and rural areas

Authors
  1. Oihane Gómez-Carmona
  2. David Buján Carballal
  3. Diego Casado-Mansilla
  4. Diego López-de-Ipiña
  5. Juan Cano-Benito
  6. Andrea Cimmino
  7. María Poveda-Villalón
  8. Raúl García-Castro
  9. Jorge Almela-Miralles
  10. Dimitris Apostolidis
  11. Anastasios Drosou
  12. Dimitrios Tzovaras
  13. Martin Wagner
  14. María Guadalupe-Rodriguez
  15. Diego Salinas
  16. David Esteller
  17. Martí Riera-Rovira
  18. Arnau González
  19. Jaime Clavijo-Ágreda
  20. Alberto Díez-Frias
  21. María Del Carmen Bocanegra-Yáñez
  22. Rui Pedro-Henriques
  23. Elsa Ferreira-Nunes
  24. Marian Lux
  25. Nikol Bujalkova

 ≈ 5.9 MB

Abstract

Rural areas play a crucial role in addressing challenges related to climate change, food provision, biomass, and energy. At the same time, digital solutions have proven essential in improving safety, quality of life, and resil­ ience in daily life. However, the lower population density and the lack of digital infrastructure in such rural areas make it difficult to develop technology-driven private businesses and public services. This can negatively impact socio-economic indicators and hinder the development of new services to cover peoples’ needs. For this reason, in this document, we seek to provide a stronger focus on rural regions in digitalization efforts and create new opportunities for rural communities. For that, we analyze the barriers and needs of the rural environment and present AURORAL, a digital service platform designed to meet the needs and contexts of rural areas. This ecosystem, comprising sustainable and multi-interoperable apps and services, can help communities succeed in innovation and smart transformation, providing the necessary infrastructure to facilitate long-lasting social, environmental, and economic benefits by prioritizing openness, interoperability, and decentralization. On the principle that the full potential of these technologies can only be realized when they are integrated into societal and economic activity and organization, AURORAL aims to promote economic growth and digitalization in the rural domain and contribute to bridging the digital divide between rural and urban areas.