Connecting traffic and environmental data for better city decisions

“Digitalisation has a growing impact on everyday life of citizens and quality of public services.”

This shared understanding lies at the core of the UrbanMind pilot, implemented by the cities of Kranj (Slovenia) and Pula (Croatia) together with partners 3fs and Riko.

UrbanMind explores how data spaces can support digital twins and help cities better understand and manage urban systems such as mobility and environmental quality. The goal is clear: “to move from reactive decision-making to more informed, proactive planning that directly benefits citizens.”

The two cities approach this from different starting points. In Kranj, UrbanMind builds on the Smart Mlaka initiative, where a digital twin for traffic congestion and air quality has already been developed. In Pula, the focus is on creating a shared digital environment, supported by newly installed traffic cameras and mobile air-quality sensors on public transport buses, enabling continuous monitoring across the city. This is particularly relevant in a context shaped by seasonal changes and high visitor numbers.

At its core, UrbanMind addresses a familiar challenge: data exists, but it is often fragmented and difficult to use effectively. The pilot responds by creating “a shared digital environment where a city can safely collect, combine, and use data from different sources.” Instead of keeping data in separate systems, it is brought together “in a structured and secure way,” allowing, for example, traffic and air quality data to be analysed together.

As in the other pilots, governance and trust are essential. “Strict rules ensure that data is protected, used responsibly, and shared only when appropriate.” This makes data not only more accessible, but also more reliable and useful for decision-making.

The journey from idea to implementation required both technical and organisational work. It took around nine months to develop an initial version of the pilot and eighteen months to reach full deployment. Along the way, teams worked on system architecture, governance, and use case definition, while also developing a custom interface to ensure the system is practical for everyday use.

Before UrbanMind, data sharing was often limited. It was “mostly based on one-off agreements and non-standard approaches,” with different organisations managing data independently. In Pula, for example, data was typically shared only for specific projects, making real-time analysis and interoperability difficult. The pilot now introduces a more continuous and structured approach to connecting data across domains.

Concrete use cases are already in place. Sensors, including mobile ones on buses, collect air quality data across different neighbourhoods, providing a more dynamic picture than fixed stations. At the same time, traffic cameras track vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles, helping the city better understand movement patterns and congestion.

Early results are already emerging. The pilot has enabled “the consolidation of data and IoT infrastructure into a more unified system,” while also revealing unexpected insights, such as traffic in areas officially closed to vehicles. In Pula, this has led to “a clearer and more unified view of its traffic and environmental data,” improving analysis and understanding of real conditions.These developments support broader city strategies by strengthening digital infrastructure and enabling more transparent and reliable public services. 

Looking ahead, the pilot is expected to “significantly improve how cities plan and operate,” with decisions increasingly based on real data. Over time, the system can expand to new domains, from urban planning to public services, making it easier to develop and deploy digital solutions.

Scaling depends on both performance and value. “A pilot is ready to scale when the system works well with real data and when that data clearly supports better decisions.” Once this is achieved, the approach can be extended to new stakeholders, domains, and cities.

One key lesson stands out for them: “the value of collaboration”. Building data-driven solutions requires strong connections between cities, partners, and stakeholders. As the pilot shows, “trust and cooperation are just as important as technology” in creating successful and sustainable urban data ecosystems.

Curious to learn more about the Pilot? Read here and visit their website

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