Interactive technologies for a smart city
The infrastructure supporting interactive communication technologies is an important source for understanding the type, frequency and characteristics of citizens’ activities. The EU-funded project URBANMOB (Modelling urban mobility in city-scale ubiquitous systems) developed services that better fulfil the needs of the city’s stakeholders. To do this, the team aggregated the diverse UPI data so all the information can be analysed centrally. URBANMOB then worked on designing pre-commercial functional prototypes for three areas: transport flows, pedestrian flows and social networks. The data sets were used for the first prototype to construct real-time transport models. They were used for the second to help provide services addressing the needs of individuals (pedestrians), identifying opportunities as well for local businesses. In the third case scenario, researchers developed a software application facilitating face-to-face interactions among Oulu citizens, utilising an online social networking approach. Research focused mainly on transport and pedestrian flows. Working to integrate and consolidate all available UPI data sources into a single data warehouse, the team collected wireless traces at various access points and also integrated traffic data administered by the City of Oulu and the Finnish Road Administration. Other results include establishment of the Community Imaging Group, various publications, and prototypes for transport flows and pedestrian flows. The project was integrated into the host university’s ongoing UrBan Interactions (UBI) research programme as part of the Center for Internet Excellence (CIE). A key project result was the establishment of a new research centre in the field. Results were communicated to regional commerce institutions and organisations. In parallel, the team approached regional redevelopment projects to help apply findings to real settings, as well as software companies to develop new types of urban digital services enabled by the new technology. Contributing to research excellence in the area of internet and information technology, URBANMOB supported local industry and citizen engagement. This new type of service sector has already begun contributing to the national market and supporting Oulu’s smart city vision.