Join Thinkz & Bable Real-Time City Map IoT service Contest!
An Opportunity to Transform Your City with Real-Time IoT Data
Experience the Power of Real-Time presence: Get your city’s map animated in real time.
Choose Thinkz Real-Time services: The winner will have the opportunity to select one real-time service from our extensive list of available offerings.
IoT Integration on Thinkz Real-Time Map: We will integrate the city’s IoT data into our real-time map, bringing the chosen service to life.
Free Access for Citizens: The city’s inhabitants will enjoy free access to a dynamic, real-time map of the chosen service, fostering a smarter and more connected community.
Thinkz & Bable Contest – Smart City Real Time Map
Top Trends Shaping the Future of Smart Cities in 2025
As we look toward 2025, the future of smart cities is being reshaped by cutting-edge technologies such as AI and IoT. Smart city trends for 2025 will not only focus on the digitalisation of urban environments, but on creating more efficient, sustainable, and responsive cities that improve the quality of life for their citizens. Integrating AI and IoT will be pivotal in transforming how cities operate, optimising resources, and enhancing sustainability.
Liat Eyan, VP R&D at Thinkz, Predictions for 2025
“As we move towards 2025, I believe AI and IoT will be the driving forces behind transforming cities into smarter, more sustainable environments. Real-time data, validated through AI-powered solutions, will be pivotal in enabling cities to make faster, more accurate decisions. The integration of smart mobility systems and eco-friendly technologies will be essential to improving urban efficiency and reducing environmental impact. Moreover, the growing importance of data security and privacy will lead to more robust frameworks for handling urban data. At Thinkz, we are committed to supporting cities in harnessing these technologies to create a more connected and sustainable future.”
In this article, we explore the major trends that will define smart cities in 2025, offering a glimpse of what’s to come for urban spaces around the world.
1st TREND – The Rise of AIoT: Transforming Cities Through Connected Intelligence
AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) will be one of the most defining smart cities trends in 2025. With the rise of interconnected IoT devices, cities will generate vast amounts of data, and AI will process this data in real-time, enabling more informed decision-making. Traffic management systems will leverage AI to adjust traffic lights and optimise urban flow, while air quality monitoring systems will use AI to identify pollution levels and recommend actions to mitigate environmental risks.
For example, traffic management systems will use AI to process data from sensors and cameras, predicting traffic patterns and dynamically adjusting traffic light timings. Similarly, air quality monitoring systems will help cities respond to environmental concerns by detecting pollution levels and suggesting real-time actions to improve air quality.
Key Benefit: AIoT will enable cities to act on real-time data, making them more responsive, efficient, and sustainable.
2nd TREND – The Rise of AIoT: Transforming Cities Through Connected Intelligence
By 2025, predictive analytics powered by AI will be indispensable in urban planning. This technology will enable cities to forecast traffic congestion, energy demand, and environmental hazards, ensuring proactive measures can be taken to prevent disruptions. Cities like London are already using AI-based predictive models for better traffic flow management, adjusting transport services and policies based on predictive insights.
For example, cities like London are already using predictive models to manage traffic congestion. By analysing real-time data, AI can forecast which areas will experience high congestion, allowing authorities to reroute traffic or adjust public transport schedules to minimise disruption.
Key Benefit: Predictive analytics allows cities to plan ahead, optimising resources and preventing issues before they arise.
3rd TREND – Digital Twins: A Virtual Model for Smarter Planning
Digital Twins—virtual replicas of physical urban environments—will become essential tools for urban management in 2025. By integrating real-time data from IoT sensors, Digital Twins allow city planners to simulate and analyse different scenarios before implementing physical changes. Cities like Aachen in Germany are already exploring Digital Twin technology to improve traffic flow and integrate renewable energy systems.
Cities like Aachen in Germany are already implementing Digital Twin technology. By creating a virtual model of the city, officials can test different urban development scenarios, such as changes to traffic flow or the introduction of renewable energy sources, before making any physical changes.
Key Benefit: Digital Twins enable smarter planning, simulating urban scenarios for better decision-making and optimising resource allocation.
4th TREND – Sustainable Solutions: A Priority for Eco-Friendly Cities
Sustainability will remain a top priority for cities in 2025. IoT-enabled solutions will help cities manage energy, water, and waste more efficiently. Smart grids that integrate renewable energy sources and manage energy distribution will become the norm. For example, Amsterdam already uses smart grids to monitor energy consumption, balancing demand and optimising resource usage across the city.
For example, Amsterdam uses smart grids to monitor and optimise energy use throughout the city. By integrating renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, IoT-enabled smart grids help ensure a steady, sustainable energy supply. Similarly, Thinkz‘s real-time data solutions help cities optimise energy usage, manage pollution levels, and reduce waste.
Key Benefit: Sustainable technologies will reduce the environmental footprint of cities, making them more efficient and eco-friendly.
5th TREND – Intelligent Waste Management: Making Cities Cleaner and More Efficient
The future of waste management in smart cities will rely on IoT sensors to monitor waste levels and optimise collection routes. Smart waste systems like those already deployed in Paris will provide real-time data to reduce unnecessary truck trips, cut down on fuel consumption, and lower emissions, making cities cleaner and more efficient.
For example, Paris has deployed smart bins that use sensors to track fill levels. The data from these sensors is used to optimise the collection schedule, ensuring that bins are emptied at the right time, reducing truck traffic and lowering emissions.
See the example of Thinkz UseCase Nicosia
Key Benefit: Intelligent waste management systems can save cities money, reduce pollution, and make urban environments cleaner and more efficient.
6th TREND – AI-Driven Disaster Prevention and Response
Disaster prevention and response will see a significant transformation in 2025, as AI and IoT technologies enable cities to better predict and mitigate the effects of natural disasters. By integrating real-time data from sensors placed in key locations, AI systems will be able to predict disasters like floods, earthquakes, or wildfires and provide early warnings to help reduce damage.
Example: In Valencia, Spain, IoT sensors monitor rainfall and river levels, and AI models use this data to predict flood events. The system provides early warnings that allow city officials to deploy flood barriers and evacuate areas at risk. As climate change increases the frequency and severity of such events, AI-driven disaster response will become essential to protecting urban populations.
Key Benefit: AI-driven disaster prevention will enable cities to take immediate action, reducing damage and saving lives in the event of natural disasters.
7th TREND – Smart Mobility and Transport Management
The future of urban mobility will be redefined by smart technologies in 2025. Cities will implement AI-powered traffic management systems, smart public transport that adapts to real-time data, and connected vehicles to reduce congestion and make commuting more efficient.
In Copenhagen, smart traffic systems use real-time data to adjust traffic light timings based on current traffic conditions. Thinkz’s solutions for real-time traffic management could help cities like Copenhagen further optimise traffic flow and reduce congestion, enhancing urban mobility for both citizens and visitors.
Key Benefit: Smart mobility will streamline urban transport, making it more sustainable, efficient, and responsive to the needs of residents.
8th TREND – Smart Grids and Energy Efficiency
Smart grids will continue to evolve, helping cities manage energy distribution more effectively. These IoT-enabled systems monitor energy consumption in real-time, adjusting energy flow based on demand and incorporating renewable energy sources.
For example, California uses a smart grid system to manage energy consumption. The grid adjusts energy flow based on demand, reducing consumption during peak hours and ensuring that renewable energy is utilised efficiently.
Key Benefit: Smart grids will improve the efficiency of energy distribution, reduce carbon emissions, and support the integration of renewable energy sources.
9th TREND – AI-Powered Citizen and Tourist Engagement
AI will also revolutionise how cities engage with their citizens and tourists. By using real-time data and AI algorithms, cities will be able to deliver personalised services and provide timely updates on local events, attractions, and services, improving the overall urban experience.
Example: In San Sebastián, Thinkz’s real-time data platform provides live updates on tourist attractions, parking availability, and public transport schedules. This system enhances both the citizen and tourist experience by offering intuitive, accessible information and helping to reduce congestion and improve mobility.
San Sebastián Platform: Access to the LIVE VERSION
Key Benefit: AI-powered citizen and tourist engagement will make cities more user-friendly and accessible, enriching the urban experience for both residents and visitors.
BONUS Partner Insights – Expert Views on Smart Cities Trends for 2025
Find out more about the 2025 trends for smart cities from the viewpoints and expertise of our partners.
BONUS by Libelium: IoT, Digital Twins, AI Services, and Data Spaces in Smart Cities Trends for 2025
“In 2025, IoT will be a cornerstone of smart cities, powering data-driven decision-making across various urban sectors. Libelium envisions a future where interconnected sensors, Digital Twins, and AI services work in synergy to provide a holistic understanding of city dynamics. These technologies will enable comprehensive environmental monitoring, from tracking air quality to managing waste more effectively, helping cities achieve ambitious sustainability targets and boost operational efficiency.
The expansion of smart city infrastructure will see IoT sensors integrated with Digital Twins, creating virtual replicas of urban environments. These Digital Twins will allow cities to simulate, predict, and optimise processes such as traffic management, parking solutions, and energy distribution. Combined with AI services, this will enable real-time analysis of complex datasets, empowering urban centres to make proactive, informed decisions.
Data spaces will play a pivotal role in fostering collaboration across stakeholders, ensuring seamless and secure data exchange between public and private entities. By leveraging open standards and interoperable platforms, cities can unlock the full potential of IoT and AI technologies to enhance public services and improve the quality of life for citizens and visitors alike.
Libelium’s innovative IoT solutions, coupled with its commitment to enabling Digital Twins and data spaces, will continue to drive the evolution of smarter, more sustainable, and efficient urban environments in 2025 and beyond.”
BONUS by Monotch – Smart Mobility Trend for 2025: Real-Time, Data-Driven Traffic Optimisation
In 2025, the future of smart mobility will be defined by real-time, data-driven traffic management. With the increasing integration of AI and IoT, cities will rely on platforms like Traffic Live Exchange (TLEX®) to optimise urban mobility. Monotch’s TLEX® platform will lead this transformation, enabling cities to manage traffic flow, enhance safety, and provide live updates to road users in real-time by connecting all different stakeholders in this platform
As mobility becomes more connected, shared transport solutions such as e-scooters, bikes, and electric vehicles will seamlessly integrate into traffic systems. TLEX® will make this possible, breaking down data silos between different transportation modes, and facilitating AI-powered solutions to ensure smoother, more sustainable urban travel.
By 2025, real-time data from TLEX® will empower cities to make faster, smarter decisions, reduce congestion, improve traffic efficiency, and contribute to greener, more sustainable urban environments.“
BONUS by Dinycon: Urban Management Trends for 2025
“Urban management will evolve with a focus on AI-powered analytics to streamline city operations and decision-making processes. One example is Dinycon´s innovative implementation of virtual sensors, which unlike traditional whole deployments of physical sensors, leverage historical and real-time data, integrated through advanced AI algorithms, to generate accurate models of urban dynamics. This approach reduces costs by 35–45%, enhances data coverage through the generation of unlimited count points, and delivers comprehensive heat maps for better decision-making.
High-quality data from IoT deployments, powered by advanced AI, will play a pivotal role in enabling preventive maintenance for urban management systems. By ensuring the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of sensor data, Dinycon´s AI can identify anomalies, detect patterns, and predict potential failures in city infrastructure before they occur. This proactive approach minimizes downtime, reduces maintenance costs, and extends the lifespan of assets. Enhanced data quality also allows for precise forecasting and resource allocation, ensuring city operations remain efficient and resilient while improving public services and infrastructure reliability.
We trust AI-driven analytics and data quality algorithms will enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve city livability with smarter, more sustainable, and resilient urban environments for 2025 and beyond.“
Conclusion: The Future of Smart Cities in 2025
The next few years will see AI and IoT continue to revolutionise urban living. From predictive analytics and smart mobility to intelligent waste management and eco-friendly urban solutions, these technologies will enable cities to become more sustainable, efficient, and resilient. By 2025, smart cities will be powered by real-time data, AI-driven insights, and integrated IoT systems, creating environments where innovation enhances the quality of life for everyone.
Thinkz’s real-time, AI-powered IoT solutions are designed to help cities embrace these trends, offering insights that drive urban innovation and improve the quality of life. Let’s work together to create smarter, more sustainable cities of the future.
Want to see how Thinkz’s IoT solutions can transform your city?
Contact us today to schedule a demo and explore how we can help you build a smarter, more sustainable urban future.
Thinkz we did
Use cases that are already leveraging
the Power of Real-Time Data
REAL-TIME Digital Twin Mobility – Helsinki city
Revolutionizing Helsinki’s Snow Plow System with Digital Twin Technology
Insights:
The residents and transportation services in the snowy city of Helsinki require up-to-date information on which roads have been cleared of snow in real-time. This information is crucial in helping them plan their journeys more safely and efficiently, whether it be choosing their route or determining if public transportation is an option.
Problem:
Residents of snowy cities require real-time updates on which roads have been cleared of snow to plan their journeys more safely and efficiently.
Solutions:
Real-time snowplow mapping uses intelligent technologies and mapping software to track and display snowplow locations and progress. By harnessing the power of IoTs on the city’s snow plows and other connected devices, the collected data can be transformed into real-time information and displayed on a live map.
The solution also includes multiple layers of information, connecting the snow-cleared route map to the city’s public and private transportation systems. The revolutionary pattern pending LDV technology by Thinkz ensures the accuracy of the data by connecting and verifying multiple sources of IoT data in real-time.
Digital Twins technology allows the solution to connect other IoT devices in the city, providing data from multiple sources in real-time. This data is transformed into a single, verified information source through the revolutionary pattern pending LDV technology by Thinkz.
Real-Time Digital Twin Mobility – Helsinki City
Revolutionizing Helsinki’s Snow Plow System with Digital Twin Technology
Advantages:
Real-time snowplow mapping offers many benefits for the citizens :
Real-time road condition updates:
Enhances driver safety and informs route decisions.
Travel planning made easy:
Residents can plan trips and errands based on cleared roads.
Avoid uncleared roads:
Real-time mapping helps minimize travel time and reach destinations faster.
Informed route choices:
Reduces accident risk and improves overall road safety.
Current road status information:
Alleviates concerns and promotes peace of mind for residents.
Real-Time Air quality & Mobility – Westminster London City Hall
Dynamic Clean-Air Routing: Utilizing IoT for Sustainable Living & Urban Mobility
Insights:
Access to real-time air quality data is essential for citizens to make informed decisions about their daily activities, leading to a healthier and more sustainable environment for all.
Problem:
Isolation of IoT devices due to cyber protection and privacy concerns prevents citizens from accessing air quality information. The challenge is to create a global network of IoT devices to provide free access to real-time air quality data in urban areas.
Solutions:
Collaboration between IoT devices provides boundless possibilities for enhancing urban living. Our innovative technology assimilates data from a variety of IoT devices, including CO2 sensors, to offer citizens real-time maps detailing the quickest and cleanest walking or cycling routes to their destinations.
This GDPR-compliant solution also delivers crucial information such as travel duration, air pollution levels, and street capacity.
The revolutionary pattern pending LDV technology by Thinkz ensures the accuracy of the data by connecting and verifying multiple sources of IoT data in real-time.
We are not data aggregators: All your data stays within your system. Further, we don’t collect or store data from end users and IOT devices.
A Real-Time Air Quality & Mobility – London Westminster City Hall
Dynamic Clean-Air Routing: Utilizing IoT for Sustainable Living & Urban Mobility
Advantages:
Since DECEMBER 2022- Westminister’s citizens get access to cleaner air routes
Real-time air quality insights
enable informed decision-making for citizens’ daily activities, promoting healthier and more sustainable lifestyles.
Breaks the barriers of IoT device isolation
by harmonizing data from diverse IoT devices, including CO2 sensors and pedestal route.
Providing real-time maps
presenting the fastest and cleanest routes to citizens’ destinations.
Enhancing daily commuting experiences,
fostering more efficient and sustainable urban living.
Citizens can use Thinkz’s user-friendly real-time map to view all relevant air quality data on their route, empowering them to make informed decisions about their daily activities.
Real-Time Mobility – Tel Aviv
Dynamic Clean-Air Routing: Utilizing IoT for Sustainable Living & Urban Mobility
Insights:
Tel Aviv, known for its vibrant life and bustling streets, offers an extensive range of micromobility options. Despite this, these options are spread across numerous apps, creating a disjointed experience for residents who cannot access real-time, consolidated information
Problem:
How to provide city residents with comprehensive, real-time information on all available public transportation options?
This requires the integration of unused data from multiple IoT devices, each with different owners and protocols, and the establishment of a machine-learning Live data verification to ensure data accuracy.
Solutions:
Thinkz addresses this issue with a unified platform providing real-time insights into all available micromobility options, including scooters and electronic rentals. This easily navigable, interactive real-time map is accessible on both mobile and desktop interfaces. It includes real-time information on available e-scooters, e-bikes, and other relevant public transportation options.
Our GDPR-compliant solution delivers vital information such as the availability and battery level of e-scooters and e-bikes, helping users make informed choices.
With Thinkz’s groundbreaking LDV technology, we ensure data accuracy by connecting and verifying multiple real-time IoT data sources.
Your data security is our priority. We don’t aggregate data; all your data stays within your system. Additionally, we don’t collect or store data from end users and IoT devices.
Real-Time Mobility – Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv Residents Enjoy Improved Mobility with Mobility 360°
Advantages:
Since September 2022, Tel Aviv residents have been reaping the benefits of the Mobility 360° platform
Enhanced Convenience
Provides real-time information on the availability and location of e-scooters, e-bikes, and public transportation, simplifying planning and reducing search times.
Improved Mobility
With real-time updates on diverse transport modes, residents can make informed decisions to efficiently reach their destinations.
Sustainability Promotion
By providing real-time data on e-scooters and e-bikes, Thinkz’s platform promotes eco-friendly transportation.
Time Efficiency
Instant visibility of available transport modes reduces travel and waiting times.
Boosts Public Transport Usage
Real-time updates on public transportation schedules can motivate more residents to use these services, reducing congestion and carbon emissions.
Real-Time Mobility 360° – Barcelona
Streamlining Urban Transport for Barcelona’s Residents through Mobility 360°
Insights:
While the city of Barcelona offers an array of options for optimizing urban mobility, these solutions are scattered across multiple applications. This fragmentation prevents residents from having a centralized and comprehensive overview of real-time mobility solutions.
Problem:
How to create a unified platform that provides city residents with comprehensive, real-time information on all available mobility options.
Solutions:
Thinkz addresses this challenge by presenting a centralized, real-time view of various mobility options, including micro-mobility devices such as scooters and bikes, along with real-time information for drivers such as available parking spots and EV charging stations. This solution manifests in a multi-layered, interactive, real-time map that’s intuitive to use on both mobile and desktop interfaces.
Our GDPR-compliant solution also provides vital details such as scooter and bike battery levels, the availability of return spots, and the number of available parking spaces.
Live Data Verification (LDV): Thinkz’s innovative and patent-pending LDV technology ensures data accuracy by verifying and connecting multiple sources of IoT data in real-time.
At Thinkz, we prioritize your data security: we do not aggregate data, and all your data remains within your system. Furthermore, we do not collect or store data from end users or IoT devices.
Real-Time Mobility 360° – Barcelona
Streamlining Urban Transport for Barcelona’s Residents through Mobility 360°
Advantages:
Since September 2022, Barcelona’s residents have benefitted from the Mobility 360° platform:
Enhanced Convenience
Provides real-time information on the availability and location of e-scooters, e-bikes, and public transportation, simplifying planning and reducing search times.
Improved Mobility
With real-time updates on diverse transport modes, residents can make informed decisions to efficiently reach their destinations.
Sustainability Promotion
By providing real-time data on e-scooters and e-bikes, Thinkz’s platform promotes eco-friendly transportation.
Time Efficiency
Instant visibility of available transport modes reduces travel and waiting times.
Boosts Public Transport Usage
Real-time updates on public transportation schedules can motivate more residents to use these services, reducing congestion and carbon emissions.
Real-Time Mobility 360° – Berlin
Simplifying Urban Transport for Berlin and Its Surrounding Areas Through Mobility 360°
Insights:
Berlin, a bustling city with a diverse range of mobility solutions, faces a similar challenge to Barcelona. The myriad of car rental options available to residents and visitors alike are spread across various platforms, making it hard to get a holistic, real-time view of mobility choices.
Problem:
How to Develop a unified platform to provide real-time, comprehensive information on all available real-time transportation options and car rental options in the city.
Solutions:
Thinkz has stepped in to resolve this issue by offering a centralized, real-time view of car rental options available across Berlin. Our interactive, real-time map is accessible through both mobile and desktop interfaces and provides a multi-layered view of real-time mobility solutions including available rental cars, parking spaces, and EV charging stations.
Our solution adheres to GDPR guidelines, offering critical details such as the availability of rental cars, the number of return spots, and the number of available parking spaces.
With Thinkz’s patent-pending LDV technology, we ensure the accuracy of the data by connecting and verifying multiple IoT data sources in real time.
At Thinkz, data security is paramount. We are not data aggregators, all your data stays within your system. Plus, we don’t collect or store data from end users and IoT devices.
Real-Time Mobility 360° – Berlin
Simplifying Urban Transport for Berlin and Its Surrounding Areas Through Mobility 360°
Advantages:
Since September 2022, residents and visitors of Berlin and its surrounding areas have enjoyed the benefits of the Mobility 360° platform:
Enhanced Convenience
Provides real-time information on the availability and location of e-scooters, e-bikes, and public transportation, simplifying planning and reducing search times.
Improved Mobility
With real-time updates on diverse transport modes, residents can make informed decisions to efficiently reach their destinations.
Sustainability Promotion
By providing real-time data on e-scooters and e-bikes, Thinkz’s platform promotes eco-friendly transportation.
Time Efficiency
Instant visibility of available transport modes reduces travel and waiting times.
Boosts Public Transport Usage
Real-time updates on public transportation schedules can motivate more residents to use these services, reducing congestion and carbon emissions.
OUR BLOG
Smart City Solutions to Build Smarter Cities
Smart Cities and the Coming 5G Revolution
The Future of Sustainable Mobility – What You Need to Know
Examples of Smart Cities with Urban Sustainability
