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The “advertising pillar 4.0” was inaugurated in Darmstadt as an energy self-sufficient warning system. Developed by the LOEWE center emergenCITY, TU Darmstadt and Ströer, it is designed to provide information in the event of a crisis, even if conventional means of communication such as mobile communications or the internet fail. The digital extension of existing advertising pillars uses LED displays to show warning messages and was praised as a pioneering project by the Hessian Minister of Science Timon Gremmels and the Hessian Digital Minister Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus.

The column is powered by a combination of photovoltaics and a methanol fuel cell, allowing it to function for up to 72 hours without an external power supply. Thanks to its connection to the warning system of the Federal Office of Civil Protection, it can transmit important messages in real time. Scientific studies and technical tests will now show how the system is perceived by citizens and how effectively it works in practice

The project is an important step towards resilient crisis communication, as critical infrastructures are increasingly at risk from natural disasters or other crises. In the long term, the advertising pillar 4.0 could be rolled out nationwide to better prepare cities and municipalities for emergencies. The participants emphasize the social responsibility to use modern technologies for civil protection and to further develop existing infrastructures in a meaningful way.