Barcelona to become global refrence model for urban development

Barcelona city authorities are set to launch a number of strategic initiatives, in order to make the city a global reference model for urban development.

For this the authorities have tied up with Cisco for the creation of the Barcelona Institute of Technology for the Habitat (BIT for the Habitat); a new City Protocol; and the development of new technology solutions for next generation of city services.

With the setting up of Barcelona Institute of Technology for the Habitat (BIT for the Habitat), the Barcelona city council plans to set up a new foundation to foster innovation in new urban services, through new forms of collaboration with private firms.

It will also invite public and private partners for the promotion of these projects, and activities in the city of Barcelona and abroad, and encouraging research, development, consulting and education on a global basis in areas related to smart city development.

The City Protocol will also develop a new protocol, as a blueprint to define what a smart city should be in terms of key processes and indicators. It will be a city certification system, which will enable the measurement of city efficiency and quality through indicators that assess structural, functional, sustainability and social criteria, with the aim of defining projects, processes and policies that increases progress in urban habitats in the short, medium and long term.

Regarding the next-generation city services, the American network infrastructure company will work with Barcelona city council, and a variety of global and local partners to develop and test new city services through field pilots in Barcelona.

The initial focus of city services will float around on developing seven pilots, and a city control room over a common service delivery platform and network architecture.

''With their 2020 vision, the city of Barcelona is seizing this opportunity to use technology to drive economic and social transformation and become a model for the world. I commend Barcelona for their initiative and am proud to have Cisco as a key partner in this effort,'' said John Chambers, chairman and CEO, Cisco.

''Our collaboration with Cisco, its partners and third parties will allow us to enhance citizens' quality of life and reduce the cost of government operations while revitalizing our whole community and creating long-term economic growth through high-tech innovation and entrepreneurship,'' said Xavier Trias, mayor, Barcelona.