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Recap: ICSS at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2024 in Barcelona

  • 13 november 2024

Last week (November 4-7), the Impact Coalition Safety & Security (ICSS) attended the Smart City Expo World Congress 2024 in Barcelona to share experiences and network with partners and other countries on the future of urban safety. As cities worldwide face increasingly complex safety challenges, such as urbanization, the digital divide, cybercrime, and climate change, innovative solutions to safeguard urban security are more crucial than ever.

Valuable Discussions and a Hands-On Workshop on Urban Safety

During Business Day, ICSS hosted the workshop “From Piloting Innovation to Boosting Commercialisation,” which explored the role of technology in addressing modern safety challenges. Topics such as drone detection, smart image recognition, crowd control, responsible AI usage, and ethical hacking were central to the discussion. The workshop was well-attended, providing a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and defining practical steps to make cities safer and more resilient.

Inspiring Tour of Innovative Safety Technologies

Led by Susanne Brok and Mark Ruijsendaal, an ICSS delegation participated in an inspiring tour of leading exhibitors, including CrowdScan, Microsoft, and Mapli. These showcased smart solutions for urban safety, focusing on crowd management, geodata, and cybersecurity.

Presentation on Criminology and the Role of Technology in Policing

Susanne Brok also spoke about criminological research and the impact of technology on policing, with a specific focus on balancing safety and privacy. In the Netherlands, privacy is essential, and ICSS emphasized the importance of targeted, smart data applications. By deploying sensors, a single officer can leverage technology to be “present” in multiple locations simultaneously, enabling more efficient use of limited resources.

Concrete Results and Follow-Up Agreements

ICSS reflects on successful participation, resulting in promising new collaborations and follow-up agreements with international cities and companies. Innovative technologies, shared insights, and concrete steps were discussed—working together toward the future of smart and safe cities.