Cisco launches new cloud service to enable smart cities take action in real-time

Cisco has announced an interesting cloud service feature to enable leaders and smart cities to take action in real-time using their cities’ data collected from sensors, cameras, and other devices.

Unveiled at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2016, Cisco said information collected from real-time data will help city departments and agencies to make operations more efficient, reduce costs and respond quicker to emergencies.

Once the data is collected from the third party connected systems and objects, the information can then be fed to multiple department applications, providing greater context to the core datasets generated by the various departments such as street lighting, parking, traffic flow, environmental sensing, waste management, safety and security, and other city services.

For example, traffic-agencies can use third-party applications and an open API from Cisco's Smart+Connected Digital Platform to see data collected both in and outside their agency.

Munish Khetrapal, managing director of Cisco’s smart cities & IoT division said, "As a company, we’re a big believer that technology can make a lot of change in the urbanization space. Over the last three to four years, what’s been happening is that there have been a lot of devices being connected, and also there has been a lot of data being generated.

“The value of data has already been proven in cities, but we’re now seeing amplified value in real-time data.” he added.

Cisco has been working on the platform in stealth mode for three years. Cities using the platform include Kansas City in Mo.; Schenectady in N.Y.; Adelaide in Australia; Bucharest in Hungary; Dubrovnik in Croatia; Bangalore and Jaipur in India; and Trancing in Slovakia.