Local Solutions for Global Challenges - Insights from Istanbul and Madrid

In a world undergoing rapid urbanisation, developing more sustainable and smarter cities has become a pressing global challenge. However, just as every city’s historical, social and economic background is unique, so is their ability to innovate and improve. To better understand the way cities can tackle the same issues in different ways, BABLE Smart Cities and Red Espa?ola de Ciudades Inteligentes (RECI) (The Spanish Network of Smart Cities) have partnered in a series of interviews that pair Spanish cities with international cities to foster new cooperation opportunities and knowledge sharing between the countries and cities. You can listen to the full interviews on Smart in the City – The BABLE Podcast .?

This time, travel with us to Istanbul, Türkiye and Madrid, Spain for the fourth and last of these interviews with Fernando de Pablo Martín , General Director of the Digital Office of Ayuntamiento de Madrid , and Erol ?zgüner , CIO of ?stanbul Büyük?ehir Belediyesi .

Shaping Madrid's Future: A Focus on Digital Inclusion

Madrid 's recent organisational overhaul, the creation of its Digital Office, marked a fundamental shift in the city's administrative landscape. Fernando de Pablo Martin emphasised the importance of digital transformation and Madrid's Digital Capital Strategy as not merely a technological endeavour but a profound organizational and cultural challenge:

"It's a brand new office, and you know what it is to create a new administrative unit in the public administration. It's a very hard process, you need to create a structure, provide the equipment, find the right people." - Fernando de Pablo Martin

Cities, like complex organisms, evolve over time, influenced by a myriad of factors. However, a strategic plan serves as a guiding force, offering a structured framework to channel the city's growth and development. It signifies a conscious effort to shape not only the physical infrastructure but also the socio-economic and technological dimensions of the city.

Madrid's strategy, backed by more than 75 projects and an investment of around 1000 million euros from 2023 to 2027, strategically positions the city as a competitive and intelligent city. Aligned with European Union goals and national strategies, Madrid's approach is a flexible, adaptive, and transparent roadmap for a digitally inclusive future.

"[Madrid's Digital Capital Strategy] is not a beautiful paper in PDF. Strategies must be flexible, adaptative, open to change and with transparency and participation of the people." - Fernando de Pablo Martin

Fernando also emphasised the vital role of listening to citizens and companies in shaping the city's future:

"Listen to the citizen and to the companies because they are really putting the focus on what they need, not what you think they need." - Fernando de Pablo Martin

This approach extends beyond conventional strategies, as illustrated by Madrid's proactive response to the challenge of elderly loneliness., a concern exacerbated by the city recently earning the distinction of having the highest life expectancy in Europe .

In addressing this issue, Madrid has devised a multifaceted technological solution. The city aims to connect over half a million residents aged 65 and above, with approximately 20% facing challenges related to unwanted loneliness. Leveraging a network of 18,000 volunteers, Madrid seeks not only to establish connections between these volunteers and the elderly but also to utilise technology not just as a means of social interaction but also as a tool to empower the elderly.

The city's approach here is to enhance the autonomy of older citizens by providing tailored support based on individual needs and preferences, recognizing that not everyone may be equally adept but ensuring support for those willing to embrace it.

Istanbul's Technological Initiatives for a Connected Tomorrow

Erol ?zgüner unveiled Istanbul 's approach to urban governance by emphasising the pivotal role of technology in shaping the city's future. Not merely content with adopting existing technological solutions, Istanbul is carving its own path, generating bespoke innovations to tackle the challenges of the modern urban landscape.

By harnessing the power of a digital twin scenario, the city aims to consolidate a myriad of technical solutions into a unified platform. This includes diverse components such as GIS works, satellite imagery, LiDAR photos, and environmental solutions, all converging into a three-dimensional digital representation of Istanbul.

"This Digital Twin scenario includes almost all of our solutions in one platform. For example, we have so many technical solutions about the environment: this will be a module of the Digital Twin" - Erol ?zgüner

Istanbul envisions a comprehensive integration, incorporating data from IoT platforms, including information from smart meters for energy, water, and gas. This holistic digital representation allows real-time monitoring, management, and the creation of alternative solutions when challenges arise, all augmented by the prowess of artificial intelligence.

Furthermore, Erol's emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a disruptive force underscores Istanbul's commitment to staying at the forefront of technological evolution. He warned against neglecting the pivotal role of AI, considering it not as a mere supporter but as a transformative enabler:

"AI is a disruptive technology. So if someone doesn't consider AI from now on, it means that plan is missing something. From now on, everybody should listen a little bit more to the technology guys than before, really. [...] Technology is not a supporter anymore. Technology is an enabler and drives all decision-making systems." - Erol ?zgüner

The digital transformation in Istanbul is more than a technological shift; it's a strategic response to the changing dynamics of urban life. Erol's insights reveal a city that not only listens to the needs of its citizens but actively positions technology as a key player in shaping the future.

Challenges and Solutions: Cybersecurity, Interoperability and Crisis Management

Madrid, like any dynamic metropolis, faces an array of challenges that span mobility, waste management, energy transition, urban design, and carbon reduction. However, delving into the technical realm, Fernando de Pablo Martín identified two pivotal challenges that transcend specific urban issues: cybersecurity and interoperability.

"Cybersecurity is a main topic for us. We maintain a lot of personal information and critical infrastructure. So we are talking about the rights of the people when we are thinking about cybersecurity." - Fernando de Pablo Martin

The omnipresence of cyber threats looms large over modern cities. Madrid's proactive stance on cybersecurity reflects a commitment to safeguarding not only the city's data but, fundamentally, the rights and privacy of its citizens. In a post-COVID era, where teleworking, cloud services, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are integral to urban functionality, the scope of cybersecurity extends far beyond traditional computing systems.

Interoperability emerges as the second critical challenge, underscoring the importance of seamless collaboration between different information systems. The existence of data silos within organizations and across different sectors impedes effective communication and coordination.

Fernando highlighted the need to simplify interactions within the administration for the benefit of the people. Madrid's commitment to interoperability extends beyond its borders, recognizing the necessity of standardized practices not only within the city but also in collaboration with the European Union and other nations:

"Interoperability is key because when we are talking about data, we're talking about collaboration and coordination." - Fernando de Pablo Martin

For Istanbul, emergency management, particularly earthquake preparedness, takes centre stage as the most pressing challenge. Erol's detailed account outlines the multifaceted approach Istanbul has taken, integrating technology, manpower, equipment, and coordination among various stakeholders. The city's focus on information dissemination in the aftermath of an earthquake exemplifies how technological solutions, including an extensive camera network, fibre optic networks, satellite images, and data centres, can mitigate the impact of a crisis and save lives.

"As soon as possible, if an earthquake happens, we need to immediately communicate what happened, in which region, in which subregion, which districts were the most affected, how many buildings collapsed, etc. Estimation is very important. [...] Because when an earthquake happens, everybody wants to go somewhere, everybody wants to call each other, and it is chaos. If we give the right information to the citizens, this chaos is a 100 times decreased, perhaps 200 times." - Erol ?zgüner

Data-Driven Decision Making: A Cornerstone of Urban Governance

In the epoch of digital transformation, cities are harnessing the power of data to steer their future trajectories. Erol ?zgüner emphasised the urgency of considering AI in strategic planning, especially post-COVID, where technology has rapidly become an enabler for decision-making systems.

He underscored the political and strategic significance of basing decisions on data, making them immune to manipulation:

From now on, not only mayors but also all public authorities or managers, even prime ministers, and presidents, should make their own decisions based on data. [...] If you can make a decision based on data, no one can say anything about it. So to manage our city based on data is very important. - Erol ?zgüner

Fernando de Pablo Martin echoed the sentiment of his Istanbul counterpart, underlining Madrid's commitment to a data-driven organizational paradigm:

"We need to be an organisation based on data. We need to take decisions based on data and not on intuition." - Fernando de Pablo Martin

As we conclude our journey through the digital landscapes of Istanbul and Madrid, the diverse approaches to shared global challenges become apparent. Madrid, with its Digital Capital Strategy, positions technology not as an isolated endeavour but as an integral part of the city's organisational and cultural fabric, with an emphasis on flexibility, adaptability, transparency, and citizen participation. Istanbul positions technology not just as a supporter but as a transformative enabler, driving all decision-making systems. The city's proactive stance on challenges like earthquake preparedness reveals a holistic approach that intertwines technology, coordination, and citizen well-being.

The challenges faced by these cities reflect universal urban concerns. However, the solutions crafted are as diverse as the cities themselves, a testament to the richness that arises when cities chart their unique paths.

Listen to the podcast episode #56 Istanbul & Madrid: Empowering Cities through Data and Digital Innovation: