European researchers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve city planning, making cities safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable. The most recent project titled AMIGOS is using AI technologies to study traffic and mobility behaviors of individuals, making life more convenient in different European cities.

Smart Cities in Action

A good example of this transformation is Las Rozas, Spain. At the Las Matas train station, intelligent cameras based on AI, produced by the Austrian Institute of Technology, monitor traffic and pedestrians. The cameras are able to process a lot of data quickly, providing city planners with valuable information to redesign public spaces well.

The EU's Cities Mission supports 112 European cities in becoming climate-neutral and smart by 2030. AMIGOS contributes to this mission by utilizing AI to study data for solving city issues and enhancing safety. In order to support these efforts, urban mobility solutions are being considered to simplify transportation and reduce traffic.

Enhancing Safety and Mobility

Las Rozas faces a large challenge since its city design is complex, with highways, railway stations, and areas where pedestrians can walk all combined. AI surveillance systems assist in identifying hazardous spots where pedestrians tend to walk away from crosswalks. Through the use of real-time data and public feedback, city authorities are making significant safety upgrades, such as improved sidewalks, more visible road markings, and additional parking spots for bikes and e-scooters. These improvements assist in urban mobility solutions within the city, making it easier and safer for all.

More European cities are employing AI

Other European cities are using AI in urban planning, as Las Rozas is. ELABORATOR, which is headed by Dr. Angelos Amditis of the National Technical University of Athens, is implementing intelligent cameras in cities like Copenhagen and Issy-les-Moulineaux to track traffic patterns and avoid accidents. Traffic signs in France that are AI-powered change real time to offer safer routes for cyclists and pedestrians.

 Next-generation AI-based urban solutions

The AMIGOS initiative collaborates with ten cities, such as Hamburg, Reykjavik, and Bologna, as well as five twin cities that wish to implement these technology solutions. Similarly, ELABORATOR has cities like Milan, Helsinki, and Zaragoza, influencing urban development in the future in Europe. Such collaboration shows the role of urban mobility solutions in modern urban planning.

 Balancing AI and Privacy

As cities are being transformed by AI, privacy and data protection issues are still highly relevant. Researchers ensure that AI applications are aligned with ethics and are not so reliant on large technology corporations. Rather, cities prefer to own and utilize their data for smart and sustainable development.

Community-Led City Building

One of the most important elements of using AI in urban planning is public participation. By using the feedback of citizens and AI monitoring, planners make sure that urban developments cater to real people. This is in line with the EU's overall goal in the European Green Deal, which is to speed up digital and environmental changes in European cities.