A data integration approach for smart cities: The case of natal

Abstract

Making cities smarter is usually achieved through Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-intensive solutions, which can be employed to collect and analyze large amounts of information generated by several sources, such as sensor networks, traffic systems, and citizens' devices. However, integrating different technologies and information to build smart city applications and services remain a challenge as different sources of heterogeneous data need to be considered. These data can be also enriched with geospatial information, thereby generating cross-sector value-added information while contributing to better planning actions in the urban space. In this context, we introduce a data integration approach upon Smart Geo Layers, a geospatial-based data middleware aimed to unify data provided by several sources in smart city environments. Along with geo-graphical information regarding the city physical space, Smart Geo Layers provides aggregation, visualization, and data analysis functionalities. In this paper, we describe the Smart Geo Layers middleware, its implementation, and its application through an urban planning application within the smart city initiative of Natal, Brazil.