Madrid Plugs Into The Smart City Way of Thinking

As one of the most populous cities in Europe, Madrid is a city soaked in culture, progress and history. But with that history, it brings with it a lot of the logistical challenges that come with it. As a largely populated area, it has to deal with millions entering and leaving it and all the demands of 21st-century life.

They’re concerns that have not gone unchallenged, as the city has become one of the many planned smart cities. With innovative changes to the way people live in the cities of the 21st century. It’s hard not to get excited about such a bold, technologically exciting prospect of the smart city.

MiNT and Madrid: Europe’s newest smart city

Planning began in 2017, with an environmental services management project signed with INSA. More importantly, INSA’s IBM Smarter Cities Technology specifically for city services and promises incredible change. This project involved €14.7 million in funding and dramatic changes to communication and services to its people.

The project has been titled Intelligent Madrid (MiNT) and is taking full advantage of big data and analytics to streamline the city. This is especially true for its unique pedestrian services like predictive smart technology. It has the potential to track traffic delays and cancellations, saving people time and, too often, road rage form queues.

People have their head in the clouds

The most ambitious of all is its plan to harness the capabilities of cloud computing software. This interconnected system would allow for everyone to store and access their data quickly and safely. Over the last decade, the process of digitalisation has accelerated with 25bn people actively using digital devices.

This use of cloud computing would include pedestrians uploading information and data wherever they are. It also makes the possibility of shared mobility to take greater shape. The project is fast serving as a rallying call to other cities in Europe and the world, according to Marta Martinez. The general director of IBM Spain, Portugal, Greece and Israel expressed a desire to see cities turning smarter worldwide.

“This project could serve as an example for other European capitals, which would have the ability to follow the model of Madrid, the first to adopt a global integration of its public services.”