268 | SMART MOBILITY
Cities of the future
Creating a smart city is a massive challenge for any urban manager. But some trailblazers have already set a path that can be followed for easier implementation Words | Lukas Duffek, Cross Zlín, Czech Republic
With more than 20 years of experience in developing traffic devices, Cross Zlín defines its smart city project as two distinct procedures. First is the production of traffic technology hardware such as road traffic stations, traffic light controllers, weigh-in-motion systems, parking systems and traffic counters. Second, there is the development of a software platform for integration and interoperability between on-field technology and end users, which is the main endeavor of the Incinity software branch of the company.
Changing city operations As it lacks an official definition, it can sometimes be difficult to understand exactly what makes a smart city, so Cross Zlín’s Invipo platform defines it in the simplest terms so that the ordinary users can understand it easily. A smart city is one that uses modern technologies and their data to create
Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2018
services that contribute to the efficient operation and control of the city, while increasing operational awareness. Or, to put it another way, a smart city is a city that transforms data into information that helps citizens live better lives in their urban environment.
For every municipal area, the method of smart city technology implementation remains similar, regardless of the size of the area. First, on-field hardware must be delivered. The technology must be integrated with existing local data sources