DATEN:RAUM:FREIBURG – Rethinking data for smarter cities

The City of Freiburg im Breisgau – DATEN:RAUM:FREIBURG – Rethinking data for smarter cities.

Linking data, unlocking potential, and taking urban development to the next level. The smart city model project DATEN:RAUM:FREIBURG links and analyses data from a wide range of sources to provide a foundation for innovative applications. The goal is to establish a robust data infrastructure that turns mobility, population, climate, and environmental data into actionable insights. Bechtle led the consortium and, using an agile project approach and extensive expertise, delivered two concrete use cases—live traffic data and a digital marketing platform—to demonstrate how a smart city works today. For everyone. For Freiburg.

Project details.

Services

Cloud

Industry

Public sector

Company size

> 1,500 employees

Challenge.

To support better decision-making, modern public administration, and regional innovation, the City of Freiburg has decided to make its data publicly accessible. To this end, information from a wide range of sources is brought together on a centralised platform called DATEN:RAUM:FREIBURG (D:R:F). This includes everything from data on mobility and air quality to social indicators and traffic conditions all in one place. The aim is create a digital infrastructure as the foundation to build applications—a smart city model that serves as a blueprint for other cities and municipalities. Two initial use cases demonstrate the platform’s potential: Firstly, a digital twin of the city simulates the impact of events such as road closures, heavy rainfall, or construction projects. Secondly, a ‘super search’ function acts as a ‘data butler’ for the city’s residents.

DATEN:RAUM:FREIBURG is a modern, data-driven approach to urban development, which is transparent, easy to understand, and focused on the common good. It helps us respond better to challenges posed by climate change, mobility and social justice, Having the right data in the right format enables us to make even better, more informed decisions.

Martin W. W. Horn, Mayor of the City of Freiburg

Solution.

Leading a consortium of three partners—Daten-Kompetenzzentrum Städte und Regionen (DKSR) GmbH (urban data platform and live traffic data), Immovativ GmbH (digital marketing platform), and virtualcitysystems GmbH (visualisation)—Bechtle managed the project with agility and flexibility throughout. The project was based on the Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), tailored to the three implementation phases and underpinned by clearly defined milestones. with the result being rapid development with maximum transparency and complete flexibility. Interdisciplinary sprints produced two minimum viable products (MVPs): a digital marketing platform and a data-driven mobility monitor using live data from radar, video, and traffic counters. These are hosted in the Open Telekom Cloud, visualised in a 3D model of the city, and analysed using Grafana, Elasticsearch, and Vert.X. All data flows into an open urban data platform compliant with DIN SPEC 91357. The two prototypes reveal insights that were previously hidden: traffic flows, average speeds, and potential development areas. This forms the basis for the gradual creation of a digital twin, enabling real-time analysis to support sustainable urban planning. Using MoSCoW (Must/Should/Could/Won’t) prioritisation, Jira boards, DSDM roles, and a Scrum framework for agile development, Bechtle coordinated the entire project, actively involving the City’s specialist departments to ensure quality. The project team worked hand in hand to create a smart city model that enables all stakeholders to make intelligent use of the city’s data—and that can serve as a template for other municipalities.

Business benefits.

Well-founded decisions thanks to linked data and visualisations as a basis for strategic urban development.
Digital twins simulate traffic, climate, and construction scenarios in real time.
Secure data processing ensures data protection and sovereignty through hosting in German data centres.
A central platform brings together information from a wide range of sources.
Intuitive use enables people without technical expertise to access the information they need.
A scalable model makes the technology and expertise available to other municipalities.
Transparency at every level makes complex issues easier to understand.
An open architecture provides the foundation for new applications and services.