Florence’s smart trams are helping to shape how Europe’s cities will work in the future

The tram system in Florence is being used as a testing ground for smart transport solutions of the future. Smart trams have taken to the streets of Florence as part of an experiment to improve mobility and sustainability in the Italian city. The trams are part of the EU-funded ELASTIC project, which is working on systems that would provide improved real-time location information and hazard detection. Three trams have been fitted with sensors including cameras, inertial measurement units (IMUs) – which measure the speed and orientation of a vehicle – and LIDAR, which measures proximity to a given object. Three tram stops in the city have also been fitted with data collection, communication and computing devices to ensure the flow of accurate data. The project aims to give an early indication of how the smart cities of the future could function, with sustainability and pollution reduction at their heart. The trial is looking to improve safety for pedestrians using sensors.ELASTIC/Barcelona Supercomputing Center For Eduardo Quiñones, coordinator of ELASTIC and senior researcher at the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre, the goal is to offer future city dwellers an alternative to private self-driving vehicles. "Busy urban spaces are in need of innovative transport […]

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