Víctor Marinas

Road safety is a global priority. Cities worldwide seek innovative ways to protect pedestrians, who are the most vulnerable road users. Pedestrians account for a significant portion of total road traffic fatalities globally, highlighting their vulnerability in traffic environments. In this context, smart pedestrian crossings represent a cutting-edge solution to reduce accidents and improve safety on streets. What are smart pedestrian crossings? Smart pedestrian crossings are crosswalks equipped with advanced technology designed to enhance pedestrian visibility and safety. Unlike traditional pedestrian crossings, which rely solely on static signage and driver responsibility, smart crossings use sensors, LED lights, cameras, and communication systems to alert drivers to pedestrian presence and adjust to surrounding conditions. Smart pedestrian crossings play a key role in road safety, offering technological solutions that protect pedestrians' lives. How smart pedestrian crossings work Smart pedestrian crossings operate on motion sensors that detect pedestrians approaching the crossing. When a pedestrian nears the crosswalk, lights embedded in the pavement and on vertical signs are activated to warn drivers to slow down and give way. Some systems can also emit sound signals or send alerts to vehicles connected to intelligent traffic networks. Moreover, some models of smart crossings are equipped with technology that adapts to weather conditions or time of day, increasing the intensity of lights in low-visibility situations, such as fog or nighttime. This ensures that the crossing is always visible to drivers, enhancing safety in various conditions. IoT connectivity is a critical aspect of smart pedestrian crossings, enabling data transmission between devices and a central platform. Benefits of smart pedestrian crossings Improved visibility: LED lights significantly enhance pedestrian crossing visibility, especially in low-light conditions, reducing the likelihood of accidents. Driver awareness: The activation of lights and signals increases driver attention, helping to prevent collisions. Reduced Pedestrian Accidents: These systems have proven effective in reducing pedestrian accidents, particularly in urban areas with high traffic density. Energy Efficiency: Despite their advanced technology, many smart pedestrian crossings are designed to be energy-efficient, using technologies like solar panels to power their systems. Challenges in implementing smart pedestrian crossings Although smart pedestrian crossings represent a significant advancement in road safety, their widespread implementation faces several challenges. Initial installation and maintenance costs can be high, limiting their adoption in cities with tight budgets. Additionally, the effectiveness of these systems depends on raising awareness and educating both drivers and pedestrians about their proper use. This also includes installing communication networks that enable real-time data exchange and integration within Smart City platforms. IoT connectivity is essential for smart pedestrian crossings to function efficiently, as it allows seamless data transmission between devices and the central system. In the future these systems will be integrated with connected and autonomous vehicle technologies, creating a traffic ecosystem that enhances road safety. In the future these systems are expected to be further integrated with autonomous vehicle and network technologies, creating a fully connected traffic ecosystem that optimizes road safety. The evolution of smart pedestrian crossings could also include AI-driven systems that predict dangerous behaviors and act preventively. ⚠️ According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.24 million people die in traffic accidents worldwide every year, with more than one-fifth (22%) of those fatalities being pedestrians. Conclusion Smart pedestrian crossings are a key innovation in improving road safety, offering technological solutions that protect pedestrians. As cities continue to grow and traffic increases, the adoption of these technologies will become essential in reducing accidents and creating safer, more sustainable urban environments. Beyond safety, these technologies optimize traffic flow and provide valuable data for urban management. With the integration of IoT and AI, these systems can anticipate and respond to dangerous situations before they occur, raising safety standards even further. Education and awareness of all road users regarding the proper use of these technologies will be vital to their success. As technologies advance and are more widely adopted, we can expect an urban environment where high-tech solutions not only improve convenience, but also save lives. Smart pedestrian crossings represent a crucial step toward creating smarter, safer, and more resilient cities. Connectivity & IoT What a smart beach looks like June 26, 2024

Recycling has evolved significantly in recent decades, from simple manual waste separation to sophisticated automated systems. Waste management is a growing problem for administrations and the environment. One of the most promising innovations in this area is the introduction of smart garbage cans. These devices are designed to optimize waste collection and processing by using advanced technologies such as sensors, Artificial Intelligence and IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity. What are Smart Containers Smart Containers are waste containers equipped with a variety of technologies to improve recycling efficiency. These garbage cans have different capabilities: Fill level monitoring: Volumetric sensors alert collection services when containers are almost full, optimizing collection routes. Detect the type of waste: Using sensors and cameras, they can identify whether the deposited materials are plastics, metals, glass, organic, etc. Access to containers: Users can access the container through their citizen card or smartphone, receive information about their contribution to recycling, tips on how to recycle correctly and notifications about the status of the nearest container. Automatic sorting: Some advanced containers have the ability to automatically separate waste, reducing the need for manual sorting. Benefits for cities, citizens, and the environment Smart containers, designed to optimize waste collection and management, have proven to be an innovative solution with numerous benefits. These benefits include reducing operating costs, improving waste collection efficiency, and promoting more sustainable recycling habits among the population. Smart Containers may look the same as conventional containers, but they have sensors and IoT connectivity. These devices, equipped with sensors and communication networks, can monitor the level of waste in real time, sending alerts to collection services when it needs to be emptied, avoiding unnecessary routes and reducing the emission of polluting gases.. Digitalization of urban services is key to creating more sustainable, cleaner, and inclusive smart cities. Challenges in implementing smart containers Despite its multiple benefits, the implementation of smart containers faces several challenges. One of the main obstacles is the initial investment, which includes not only the purchase of the different devices, but also the upgrade or creation of the technological infrastructure necessary for their operation. This includes the installation of communication networks that enable real-time data exchange and the integration of waste management systems. IoT connectivity is a key aspect for the operation of smart containers, as it enables data transmission between devices and the central platform. ✅ NB-IoT connectivity (Narrowband Internet of Things) is characterized by low power consumption and cost, wide coverage, and high reliability, making it ideal for IoT solutions in urban environments. Training personnel to handle and maintain this technology represents another important challenge, both in terms of time and resources. It is also necessary to influence citizens' habits and attitudes towards recycling. Users must deposit waste in the right containers, respect collection schedules and follow hygiene and safety rules in order for the smart containers to work optimally. This requires awareness-raising and environmental education, as well as the commitment of citizens. Smart containers improve waste management and promote greater environmental awareness among citizens. Conclusion Smart garbage cans represent a significant step towards a more efficient and sustainable recycling system. These devices, by integrating advanced technology with waste management practices, not only improve the efficiency of waste collection and sorting, but also promote greater citizen participation and awareness in recycling. They therefore emerge as an innovative and necessary solution for a cleaner and more sustainable future as cities grow and face environmental challenges. Connectivity & IoT What a smart beach looks like June 26, 2024 Imagen: Freepik.

The tourism sector is one of the cornerstones of the Spanish economy. Digital transformation is essential to attract increasingly hyper-connected tourists who are looking for stays with greater added value. That is why Smart Cities are revolutionizing our way of life and in turn are transforming the tourist experience as we move into the future, offering personalized, increasingly immersive, and sustainable experiences, such as the following: 1. Travel planning and booking Traditionally, planning a trip required consulting printed guidebooks and booking through physical travel agencies. Travelers today can organize their itineraries and make reservations from the comfort of their homes, using digital platforms. Apps and websites allow users to compare prices, read reviews and book accommodation and activities in a matter of minutes. 2. Augmented and Virtual Reality Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are beginning to have a significant impact on tourism. Museums and historical sites in Spain are using AR to provide interactive guided tours, allowing visitors to see virtual representations of how these places looked in the past. VR, on the other hand, allows potential tourists to experience destinations in an immersive way from their homes, which can influence their travel decision. 3. Opportunities for the tourism sector in Spain Digitalization offers several opportunities to improve the competitiveness of the tourism sector. Among the most outstanding include: Tailoring the traveler experience Artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics enable tourism companies to offer personalized experiences to their customers. Recommendation systems, for example, can suggest activities and destinations based on travelers' past preferences and behaviors. ✅ This not only improves customer satisfaction but can also increase revenue by cross-selling services. Improving sustainability Technology can also play an essential role in promoting more sustainable tourism. Digital platforms can inform travelers about sustainable practices and destinations that prioritize environmental conservation. Smart resource management solutions can also help cities and regions better manage the flow of tourists and minimize environmental impact. Operational efficiency Digitalization allows tourism companies to optimize their operations and reduce costs. The automation of administrative processes, the implementation of customer relationship management (CRM) systems and the use of Big Data technologies for strategic decision making are just a few examples of how technology can improve operational efficiency. Conclusion Digitalization is transforming the tourism sector, offering a wide range of opportunities to improve the traveler experience, increase operational efficiency, and promote more sustainable tourism. Digital platforms and solutions will enable all industry players to interact with tourists digitally and smartly. Promoting a better relationship between tourists and residents, as well as increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of tourism destinations through digital and smart solutions. To this end, we must have an appropriate strategy that combines technological innovation and training, so that Spain can consolidate its position as a world leader in digital tourism, offering unforgettable experiences to travelers from all over the world. Connectivity & IoT What a smart beach looks like June 26, 2024