About this challenge
Spain
Challenge description
La Vall d’Uixó is working to consolidate its transition toward a smart city model, but faces a critical challenge: the absence of a unified urban data governance framework. The municipality has five IT technicians with experience in databases, servers, SQL, and Power BI, who currently manage the technical aspects of data. However, there is no formal organizational structure or dedicated staff for urban data management and analysis. The open data portal (CKAN) is in development, with nine datasets published and twenty identified as publishable, but technical issues remain unresolved (e.g., preview and automatic synchronization).
Responsibilities are fragmented among different actors: the external Data Protection Officer, the Transparency and Reuse Unit (URT), municipal service heads, and IT staff. None of these roles are formally designated as municipal data coordinators, which limits transversal collaboration. The currently under development city’s Innovation Plan highlights the need to establish a cross-cutting data team, but this has not yet been implemented.
Meanwhile, multiple vertical systems exist—air quality monitoring (regional stations and bus sensors), water quality (published in PDFs, but outdated), mobility (traffic cameras, bus GPS data), lighting (smart telecontrol with 77 UVAX units), and public space usage (Seeketing sensors). These systems operate independently, without integration into a common platform. Current efforts with the Diputación aim to connect water, lighting, and mobility data into SmartVillages, but governance remains decentralized.
The challenge is therefore to formalize a municipal data governance structure, designate a responsible coordinator, and integrate diverse data sources into a unified framework. This will enable transparency, evidence-based decision-making, and the effective deployment of smart city initiatives that improve sustainability, mobility, and quality of life for residents.
Responsibilities are fragmented among different actors: the external Data Protection Officer, the Transparency and Reuse Unit (URT), municipal service heads, and IT staff. None of these roles are formally designated as municipal data coordinators, which limits transversal collaboration. The currently under development city’s Innovation Plan highlights the need to establish a cross-cutting data team, but this has not yet been implemented.
Meanwhile, multiple vertical systems exist—air quality monitoring (regional stations and bus sensors), water quality (published in PDFs, but outdated), mobility (traffic cameras, bus GPS data), lighting (smart telecontrol with 77 UVAX units), and public space usage (Seeketing sensors). These systems operate independently, without integration into a common platform. Current efforts with the Diputación aim to connect water, lighting, and mobility data into SmartVillages, but governance remains decentralized.
The challenge is therefore to formalize a municipal data governance structure, designate a responsible coordinator, and integrate diverse data sources into a unified framework. This will enable transparency, evidence-based decision-making, and the effective deployment of smart city initiatives that improve sustainability, mobility, and quality of life for residents.
This city is looking for
La Vall d’Uixó would benefit from partnering with peer cities that have advanced expertise in urban data governance, integration of heterogeneous data sources, and smart city implementation strategies. Specifically, we are seeking knowledge in:
- Formal data governance structures: experience in defining clear roles, responsibilities, and transversal coordination mechanisms across municipal departments.
- Open data management: best practices for operating CKAN portals, ensuring data quality, automation of updates, and user-friendly visualization.
- Urban analytics and decision support: skills in applying advanced tools (e.g., Power BI, GIS, AI) to transform raw urban data into actionable insights for mobility, environment, and public services.
- Sensor integration and interoperability: expertise in connecting vertical systems (air quality, water, lighting, mobility, public space usage) into unified smart city platforms.
- Citizen engagement and transparency: strategies to make urban data accessible, understandable, and useful for residents, businesses, and researchers.
By learning from cities that have successfully institutionalized data governance and integrated smart city infrastructures, La Vall d’Uixó can accelerate its transition toward a cohesive, transparent, and evidence-based urban management model. This collaboration would strengthen our ability to leverage technology for sustainability, mobility, and improved quality of life.
- Formal data governance structures: experience in defining clear roles, responsibilities, and transversal coordination mechanisms across municipal departments.
- Open data management: best practices for operating CKAN portals, ensuring data quality, automation of updates, and user-friendly visualization.
- Urban analytics and decision support: skills in applying advanced tools (e.g., Power BI, GIS, AI) to transform raw urban data into actionable insights for mobility, environment, and public services.
- Sensor integration and interoperability: expertise in connecting vertical systems (air quality, water, lighting, mobility, public space usage) into unified smart city platforms.
- Citizen engagement and transparency: strategies to make urban data accessible, understandable, and useful for residents, businesses, and researchers.
By learning from cities that have successfully institutionalized data governance and integrated smart city infrastructures, La Vall d’Uixó can accelerate its transition toward a cohesive, transparent, and evidence-based urban management model. This collaboration would strengthen our ability to leverage technology for sustainability, mobility, and improved quality of life.
City size
Towns (< 50,000 inhabitants)
Author
Lucia Toledo
Spain
Innovation agent
Ayuntamiento de La Vall d'Uixó
