MSP Smart Living Lab (L.Lab)

Smart Living Lab in Maun Science, which will act as a model for the development and adoption of smart sustainable solutions for Batswana. 25 pilot Smart Homes and Smart Living Units located in the Maun Science and Research Park.  The L.Lab is a model habitat that can be adopted across Africa that uses innovative digital solutions to improve citizens’ quality of life, improve the efficiency and operations of their community, while ensuring that the needs of the present and future generations with respect to economic, social and environmental aspects are met.

The L.Lab model homes will provide the following integrated solutions developed with and tested by the community for further improvement in sectors : Energy, Agriculture, Mobility, Waste, Water and Health.

Challenge Proposed Solution Foreseen Benefits for Smart Habitats
Energy Smart renewable energy solutions based on a Solar Powered Smart Grid
  • Reduced costs for citizens
  • Clean energy
  • Environmental protection
Agriculture Smart Farm solutions
  • Sustainable food production and consumption for citizens
  • Enhanced food security for the health of the citizens
Mobility Smart mobility solutions
  • Integrated multimodal transportation for the convenience of the citizens
    Construction Smart Green Buildings
    • Faster construction of buildings for citizens
      Waste Smart Waste Management & Recycling solutions
      • Efficient waste collection and management
      • Cost and time saving
      • Environmental protection through reuse and recycling
      Water Smart Water Management & Harvesting
      • Access to clean water
      • Sustainable water supply for citizens
      Health Air Quality Monitoring through smart sensors
      • Healthier citizens

        Challenges

        Botswana is faced with various challenges impacting on citizens’ quality of life and the environment. Botswana has a vulnerable semi-arid ecosystem leading to vulnerable communities with regards to food insecurity and unstable livelihoods as well as leading to unsustainable agroecological systems, crop failure and unproductive rangelands

        • Much of Africa is slow in the adoption of emerging technologies and has failed to realise first-mover advantage benefits in most technological advancements.

        • Botswana is currently failing to meet local electricity consumption demands due to high dependence on the importation of electricity from other countries to offset its product shortfalls.

        • The country is also struggling with waste management due to lack of effective implementation of national waste policy, fragmented tasks and overlapping mandates among relevant institutions, lack of clear guidelines on the responsibilities of the waste generators and public authorities and on the associated economic incentives

        Other challenges impacting on Botswana related to climate change include:

        • Low food production due to reduced yields of maize and sorghum of between 10 and 35% in Botswana between ~1985 and ~2050

        • Reduced water availability and water quality impacting economic development, food security, health and sanitation

        • Reduced livestock production

        • Increased damage to infrastructure including roads and buildings

        • A decline in nature-based tourism due to ecosystem degradation, changes in weather patterns, and shifts in wildlife and

        • Rural-urban migration leading to increased pressure on resources in urban areas.