Barcelona, 6 November 2024 – The Smart City Leaders Challenge Awards, hosted at the French Pavilion during the Smart City Expo World Congress, brought together visionary cities committed to leveraging real-time data for sustainable urban transformation. In partnership with BABLE Smart Cities, Thinkz had the honour of unveiling the winners and showcasing cutting-edge solutions designed to redefine urban life.

Bicycles – Regular & electric options

Electric Charging – All brands supported

Parking – Private/public, street & underground

Recycling Bins – Location & fill levels

Bathing Spots – Pools, beaches, and more

Cultural & Heritage Sites – Queue times, opening hours, VR tours, ticketing, etc.

Air Quality & Routing – Walking, cycling, and scooter paths

Crowdedness – Real-time density insights

Bike Flow & Vehicle Traffic – Current flow and congestion

Attendees also had the opportunity to hear from our partner Libelium represented by Jesus Estrada, which presented its groundbreaking IRIS 360 IoT Platform for seamless IoT integration and the Smart Tourism Package, co-developed with Thinkz, to elevate tourism experiences through real-time insights.

Represented by Félix Fuentes from the municipality, Vila Real was awarded six months of access to Thinkz’s Real-Time Eco-Friendly Mobility & Air Quality Mapping & Routing solution.

This initiative leverages the city’s existing IoT infrastructure, such as bus ETA data, air quality sensors, and crowdedness metrics, to deliver a unified real-time map that:

• Follows the arrival of the bus transportation in real-time.
• Provides optimal routes for pedestrians, cyclists, and e-scooters based on air quality levels.
• Displays real-time street occupancy data to help citizens avoid or join crowded areas during shopping or events.
• Includes accessibility information for people with reduced mobility.

The platform also features static information about key cultural landmarks like Arciprestal San Jaime, enhancing both citizen and tourist experiences.

Looking ahead, Vila Real envisions expanding the use case to include tailored routes for large events, like football matches, and real-time visibility into open restaurants, ensuring seamless urban mobility and enriched city life.

The vibrant capital of Gran Canaria, represented by Cesar Garcia de Sagulpa, earned six months of access to Thinkz’s real-time platform to unify and amplify its ongoing urban projects. The solution addresses the city’s need for a connected mobility framework by:

• Displaying real-time parking availability, reducing the average 12-minute search time for a spot and cutting CO2 emissions.
• Providing real-time updates on EV charging station availability, including location, charging speed, and tariffs.
• Offering unified visibility of shared mobility options, such as bicycles and scooters, from all providers.

The iconic Las Canteras Beach will also feature prominently, with real-time data on temperature, crowd levels, water quality, and even jellyfish presence if the city have the data.

Tourists and residents will gain access to a unified app that integrates information on public transport, tourist attractions, and public facilities like toilets.

Looking ahead, the platform can seamlessly scale to include additional features such as events, commerce, or port management, further enriching the urban experience for residents and visitors.