ICSS at the Smart City Expo: Shaping Smart, Secure, and Resilient Cities

Cities today face shifting safety challenges influenced by global developments such as increased urbanisation, a growing digital divide, cybercrime, and the impacts of climate change. To meet these challenges, innovative solutions are needed to keep cities secure, livable, and resilient. At the upcoming Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona from November 5-7, the Impact Coalitie Safety & Security (ICSS) will share insights, network, and learn alongside other cities as these critical topics are discussed.

As part of the event's agenda, ICSS will host a workshop on urban safety during the Business Day ‘From Piloting Innovation to Boosting Commercialisation’ on November 4, showcasing how technology is increasingly used to address modern security challenges and steps toward scaling up and implementation. Topics ranging from drone detection and smart image recognition to crowd control, responsible use & citizen involvement with AI applications, and ethical hacking will be discussed, emphasising the need for proactive measures to address emerging threats while balancing risks and opportunities. The aim is to collaboratively define concrete actions with the participating cities and their partners.

At the Smart City Expo (5-7 November, Barcelona) the ICSS will have a stand on the Dutch Pavilion (Pavilion 3, Level 0, Street D, Stand 21) to engage with the visitors of this world-leading smart city event. As cities become "smarter" through the integration of sensors and data-driven technology, it’s now possible to monitor and enhance public safety like never before. These systems collect and analyse large amounts of real-time data, allowing for proactive responses to safety threats. However, these technological advances also raise significant ethical questions surrounding privacy, autonomy, and control over technology.

Grounded in the HSD Smart Secure Resilient Cities programme, the Impact Coalition Smart Safety & Security (ICSS) is dedicated to addressing urban safety challenges through technology, always upholding societal values, privacy, and ethics. At the Smart City Expo, ICSS will share lessons learned, present case studies, and engage in networking and knowledge exchange with other cities to support safer, more resilient urban futures. 

Impact Coalition Safety & Security: a collaboration between municipalities, police, knowledge institutions, companies, VNG, and HSD Office. Want to know more about ICSS, this meeting, or other ICSS activities? Visit: Veilige Smart Cities.

Photo: iStock/monkeybusinessimages