How can cross-border data sharing improve local transport decisions?

Interview conducted by Kalina Tsvetanova

How can municipalities understand traffic across their road networks when physical sensors only cover certain locations? The OmniFlow pilot, part of the European DS4SSCC-DEP project, explores how sharing existing data can help close this gap. Bringing together Jelgava (Latvia) and Šiauliai (Lithuania), the pilot combines anonymised mobile network data with existing road sensor data to support better transport planning without installing extensive new monitoring infrastructure.

At its core, OmniFlow addresses a challenge shared by many municipalities: mobility data is often fragmented, collected periodically, or limited to roads where physical traffic counters are already installed. While traffic surveys and road sensors provide valuable information, they do not always offer a continuous picture of movement across the wider network. Combining information held by different organisations can also require considerable manual effort, making it harder to use data effectively in everyday planning.

OmniFlow introduces a mobility data space: a secure environment where municipalities, telecom operators, and technology providers can share and use data under agreed rules. By connecting existing sources, the pilot aims to give public authorities a more complete understanding of mobility patterns while protecting privacy and defining clear responsibilities for data access and use.

The main service being developed is a virtual traffic sensor, integrated into the WeAreDots Fits Traffic platform. Through a web-based interface, municipal users will be able to place a virtual sensor on a map and receive estimated vehicle counts for locations where no physical traffic counter exists. Anonymised mobile network operator data, processed through Telcofy’s CityOS platform, will be combined with existing road sensor data to generate these estimates.

This approach could extend mobility monitoring to areas that are currently difficult or costly to cover, including rural roads. For municipalities, access to more continuous information could support decisions about traffic management, public transport services, infrastructure investments, and road maintenance. It could also strengthen sustainable urban mobility planning by helping authorities understand where and how people travel.

The pilot is currently in the development and integration stage. Its technical architecture, governance frameworks, data-sharing arrangements, and validation methods have been defined, while software development and system integration are underway. Real-world testing will be an important next step in assessing the service’s reliability and practical value for municipal users.

Although validation is still ahead, the collaboration has already produced useful foundations. Municipalities, telecom operators, and technology providers have established a shared vision for mobility data use and clarified key legal, technical, and governance requirements. According to the interview, the partnership has also confirmed the feasibility of combining anonymised mobile network data with road traffic data to support future mobility intelligence services.

One of the pilot’s central lessons is that a data space requires more than technical infrastructure. Successful collaboration depends on a shared purpose, clear roles, and agreement on how data will be shared and used. Engaging stakeholders early helps align expectations and identify potential challenges before technical implementation begins.

For other cities considering a similar approach, OmniFlow recommends starting with a concrete problem. Whether the objective is to understand congestion, improve public transport, or prioritise infrastructure investment, defining the need helps identify which data and partners are required. Organisational coordination, legal expertise, and technical capacity then provide the foundations for trusted data sharing.

Looking ahead, OmniFlow aims to support a transition from fragmented and infrequent mobility information towards continuous, evidence-based decision-making. Its cross-border collaboration also offers an opportunity to develop an approach that other cities and communities could adopt. Before scaling, however, the pilot highlights the need to demonstrate reliable performance, consistent data quality, stakeholder acceptance, and a sustainable operational model.

“Building a data space is as much about governance and partnerships as it is about technology.” This lesson from OmniFlow reflects the wider value of data spaces for smart communities: connecting organisations and their data around practical needs. By making better use of existing information, the pilot aims to help municipalities plan transport services and infrastructure that respond more closely to the communities they serve.

Curious to learn more about the pilots? Explore the DS4SSCC website.

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