German smart city company Ekin has started its first smart city pilot project in the USA, serving the city of Coral Gables in Florida.

Ekin specialises in smart city technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The AI-powered Ekin Spotter poles give public sector agencies and law enforcement providers data analysis capabilities to improve city planning, traffic and enforcement, public safety, environmental protection, wifi access, and more.

Coral Gables’ smart city pole is the first of its kind implemented in the USA. The city’s pilot project includes installation of the Ekin Spotter on the west median of Alhambra Circle and Ponce in downtown Coral Gables. The technology was specifically engineered to meet Coral Gables’ smart city goals, as well as Florida building codes with wind load requirements, the city’s engineering standards (ASCE 7-10), and telecommunications and sensor technology and interoperability requirements.

The Ekin Spotter has received global innovation and design awards, including USA CES 2021 and German IF Design. The patented technology offers an all-in-one avant-gardist design backed by aerospace engineering and science of material principles.

The AI-powered technology consolidated into the city’s pilot project includes public free wifi, CCTV, traffic and safety sensors (vehicles, pedestrian, multimodal, speed, red-light, public safety, situational awareness), environmental sensors (air quality, noise, weather), computer vision, and AI IoT edge analytics and alerts.

“We are proud to be a leading city in innovation and technology,” said Peter Iglesias, Coral Gables city manager. “This smart pole with safety cameras, public wifi, traffic and environmental sensors will assist emergency management in creating a safer community for residents, business owners and visitors. We are always looking for opportunities to be a leader in cutting-edge technologies.”

The Ekin Spotter is providing live video and real-time analytics to the Community Intelligence Center (CIC) and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The Spotter has also been integrated to the city’s Urban Analytics artificial intelligence platform, which provides sensor data and actionable information to citizens and city employees on the smart city hub platform.

“A bonus aspect to this smart pole is its sleek design which was created specifically for Coral Gables to withstand hurricane winds in compliance with Florida codes,” said Iglesias. “With no external wiring, boxes or attachments, the city can increase its smart technologies while remaining aesthetically pleasing using durable aluminium.”

Ekin’s smart city technology uses AI and high-resolution video sensors to turn everyday cities into smart cities, including the analysis of traffic patterns and rush hour congestion points to improve traffic flow and prevent accidents. Smart city environmental analysis inputs include air quality, temperature, humidity and carbon monoxide. Video monitoring includes multi-modal traffic analysis, parking management, red light enforcement and speed detection. Its compact design allows for easy placement within the cityscape.

“We are proud to partner with the city of Coral Gables on our first US smart city pilot programme featuring the Ekin Spotter,” said Akif Ekin, founder and chairman of Ekin. “Our commitment to flexible design helped ensure that we met the city’s needs, including withstanding hurricane force winds and fitting within the aesthetics of the city centre. Together, we are helping make Coral Gables a safer, more enjoyable place to live, with a focus on environmental impacts, traffic improvements and public safety. Ekin’s flexible smart city solutions make it easier for officials to understand their cities and create impactful policies that promote safety and well-being for all residents.”

As shown by Coral Gables’ hurricane-proof design, Ekin’s modular design provides local governments with the ability to customise each device and collect and analyse the data needed to make informed policy changes to promote a safer, healthier living environment. The Ekin Spotter is a self-contained unit that requires no additional hardware or infrastructure.

Using Ekin’s proprietary Red Eagle operating system, municipalities can centrally manage all the data collected by Ekin’s products citywide.

Since its inception in 1998, Ekin has been developing software, hardware and design with an innovative approach to smart city management. It provides quantitative data and equipment to governments and the private sector based on AI technology, with a focus on traffic management, public safety and smart city living. Its technology is used in cities, airports, shopping malls, campuses and by law enforcement all over the world.

Founded in 1925, Coral Gables is a city of more than 50,000 residents centrally located in the greater Miami area. This was Florida’s first planned community and was designed to be an international city based on the basic principles of the City Beautiful Movement, which includes lush green avenues winding through residential neighbourhoods, wide pavements and civic landmarks.

Today, it is home to more than 20 consulates and foreign government offices and more than 100 multinational corporations. It serves as a major employment centre with almost as many people working as residing in the city. The economy is a mixture of local and international businesses and home to the nationally ranked University of Miami, the city’s largest employer.