Smart City Expo World Congress 2024

---

"VisionAIry Catalonia: looking after people"

The Computer Vision Center coordinated the main demonstration at the Generalitat de Catalunya’s pavilion in this years edition of the Smart City Expo World Congress.

From November 5 to 7, the Fira de Barcelona hosted the Smart City Expo World Congress, the world’s premier event for smart cities. This congress features both conference and exhibition spaces, where individuals and organizations involved in local governance will present innovative solutions in public policy and urban management technologies.

CVC participated in this year’s congress, coordinating the main demonstration at the Generalitat de Catalunya pavilion. Under the theme "VisionAIry Catalonia: looking after people" the Catalonia stand invited attendees to explore how computer vision and AI can enhance daily life, address global and local challenges, and contribute to well-being.

A Visionary Catalonia Focused on People

Led by the Department of Business and Labor, the Catalonia stand (D50) occupied over 600 square meters in Hall 3 of the exhibition center. The CVC was responsible for this year’s main demonstration, which through six audiovisual pieces, showcased six innovative scenarios—CVC-developed case studies across various sectors in Catalonia. These examples illustrate the transformative power of computer vision, a technology that processes and interprets images to mimic human perception while optimizing processes and deriving insights from vast datasets.

Over the 3 days, more than 2.000 people visited the stand to discover how computer vision and AI can improve our lives in areas such as:

• Enviroment: Smart biodiversity management. We use drone-captured thermal imaging to detect native wildlife in remote areas, enhancing biodiversity monitoring and conservation efficiency.
• Mobility: Autonomous driving in rural and remote areas, connecting isolated areas lacking public transport.
• Culture: Preservation of historical and cultural heritage. Using computer vision for historical document analysis, enabling interpretation, transcription, and data linking.
• Waste management: Smart waste management. AI system using cameras on cleaning vehicles to detect waste outside bins and send real-time alerts for more efficient waste management.
• Health: Medical diagnostic support systems. AI system designed to assist doctors in planning and guiding bronchoscopic interventions, aiding early lung cancer diagnosis.
• Security: Drowning prevention in aquatic environments. Safety detection system to identify high-risk situations at beaches, sending automated alerts to lifeguards to enhance rescue efforts.

These case studies, driven by the CVC and supported by the Generalitat, have involved collaborations with several public and private entities across diverse fields, including Agents Rurals, i2CAT Foundation, SEAT, Volkswagen, the Center for Demographic Studies, the Department of Culture, the Network of Regional Archives, Bellvitge Hospital, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Josep Carreras Institute, Aporta, Barcelona City Council, TEB, Link, Urbasser, TT Ambiental, ACCIÓ, the Catalan Waste Agency, and Proactiva.

During the congress, staff from the CVC participated in the 'Agora' public space from the Catalonia Government to showcase projects.

• Coen Antens presented AI-driven automatic audits for public spaces.
• Adrià Molina explored computer vision in historical heritage and culture
• Eduard Otero Saura presented ONESHOT, an AI solution that reduces time and costs in lung cancer diagnosis.

Coordinated by ACCIÓ, our stand welcomed several visitors from delegations representing companies and government agencies from Japan, Malaysia, France, the UK, Italy, Mexico, Uruguay, Korea, and more.

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by and a special thanks to Generalitat de Catalunya for giving us this fantastic opportunity to showcase how computer vision can shape a present and future where technology serves the common good.