The use of drone patrols to track illegal dumping is one of a number of ideas being tested as part of the Smart Dublin challenge.

A total of €600,000 in funding is available for technological solutions to illegal dumping as well as flood risk and wayfinding as part of joint initiative between Dublin City Council and Enterprise Ireland.

One company Skytango proposes using drones to provide live drone footage for garda prosecutions while another company Analytic Engines maps dumping hotspots in Dublin along with other indicators such as the percentage of rental residents in the area.

As part of the brief the companies have to deal with data protection issues. 

Other companies are proposing sensors to detect blocked gullies and another has a navigation app for wheelchair users.

In January successful companies will be selected to avail of between €25,000 and €50,000 in funding.