The increasing complexity of urban mobility demands technological solutions capable of integrating, interpreting, and managing large volumes of data. In this context, comprehensive mobility platforms are emerging as a strategic tool for advancing toward smart city models.
These platforms enable the centralization of information, monitoring, and coordination of multiple urban systems—traffic, public transportation, parking, environmental control, video surveillance, signaling, or low-emission zone management. Their goal is to provide a cross-cutting and coherent view of what is happening in the city, facilitating evidence-based decision-making and anticipating critical situations through predictive analysis.
This technological integration not only optimizes daily operations but also enables an analytical layer that drives the strategic planning of urban mobility. Initiatives such as the SIMUSET integrated platform project and its implementation in Toledo demonstrate how these tools effectively address the challenges of sustainable mobility.
MODULAR AND SCALABLE ARCHITECTURE
One of the keys to the success of these platforms is their modular design, interoperability, and scalability. These features allow for progressive deployment, adapting to the specific needs of each municipality—from medium-sized cities to large metropolitan areas—as well as evolving in line with each city’s future requirements.
True interoperability with other equipment and systems already deployed in the city—such as traffic lights, sensors, cameras, public transport platforms, or environmental systems—is essential. This integration ensures unified and efficient management of urban services.
The platform’s structure aligns with the UNE 178104:2017 standard for Integrated Management Systems for Smart Cities and is organized into several functional layers:
- Data acquisition layer: Collects information from multiple sources (sensors, ITS systems, cameras, external platforms), ensuring its transformation, validation, and real-time availability.
- Knowledge layer: Concentrates analytical capabilities through massive data processing, advanced analytics, and machine learning, generating key indicators for decision-making.
- Interoperability layer: Acts as a bridge between systems via secure APIs, facilitating data exchange and integration with other urban platforms.
- Service layer: Enables user interfaces, dashboards, and visual tools that allow mobility operations to be monitored and analyzed from various user profiles (managers, operators, technical staff).
- Support layer: Ensures critical aspects such as cybersecurity, access control, traceability, and continuous performance monitoring.
- Open data layer: Enables the secure publication of data to third parties, promoting transparency, innovation, and the development of new urban services.
REAL-TIME VISUALIZATION AND INTELLIGENT RESPONSE
One of the major advancements offered by these platforms is their ability to visualize and analyze the state of urban mobility in real time. This continuous monitoring is supported by Business Intelligence (BI) tools that represent data through dynamic maps, charts, tables, dashboards, and alert systems.
However, their value lies not only in displaying information but in transforming it into operational and actionable knowledge. Through automated rules and predefined workflows, the platform can activate response protocols for traffic incidents, adverse weather conditions, large-scale events, or congestion peaks.
For example, if an abnormal accumulation of vehicles is detected at a critical point, the system can send alerts to traffic managers, adjust traffic light cycles, prioritize bus passage, or suggest alternative routes via variable message signs.
Additionally, historical data analysis allows for the detection of trends, anticipation of demand, and evaluation of the impact of urban policies, such as the reorganization of transport lines, implementation of Low Emission Zones, or restrictions on private vehicle traffic in certain areas.
INTEGRATED PLATFORMS: A STRATEGIC FOUNDATION FOR URBAN MOBILITY
Integrated platforms serving urban mobility represent a natural and necessary evolution in how cities manage their infrastructure and services. Their ability to integrate heterogeneous systems, operate in real time, automate responses, and support strategic analysis makes them fundamental pillars of any smart urban agenda.
Beyond their technological dimension, these platforms offer an opportunity to rethink mobility from a global perspective—focused on efficiency, sustainability, and citizen well-being. Through coordinated, data-driven management supported by analytical tools, municipalities can make faster, better-informed decisions with a greater positive impact on the city.
