CLASS Project publishes novel software architecture

A new-generation software architecture, delivered by the European project CLASS, is revolutionising the interaction of smart cities with their vehicles and citizens in real time. To do so, the CLASS software architecture facilitates the way programmers develop, deploy and execute complex big data-analytics over a heterogeneous edge and cloud ecosystem aiming at collecting, storing, analysing and processing vast amounts of data, in order to transform it into valuable knowledge for the public sector, private companies and citizens.

Current trends towards the use of big data technologies in the context of smart cities suggest the need of novel software ecosystems upon which advanced mobility functionalities can be developed. “Can you imagine a city where data is shared between the city and cars to allow for smart traffic management and advanced driver assistance systems? This is the contribution of CLASS project that facilitates development of complex big-data analytics capable of enhancing the interaction between vehicles and citizens in urban areas in real-time”, says Eduardo Quiñones, CLASS coordinator and senior researcher at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC).

“In the real-life urban laboratory of the Modena Automotive Smart Area (MASA), CLASS has tested out the most innovative smart-city technologies, paving the way towards a truly responsive urban area which improves the quality of life for all citizens”, said Luca Chiantore, Manager of the department of smart city, demographic services and participation of the Modena City Council. The advanced analytics on the data collected from a network of interconnected cameras located in the MASA and from two fully sensorised Maserati cars have demonstrated the CLASS innovative potential in traffic management and advanced driver-assistance systems. As Mara Tonietti, Innovation Specialist at Maserati, pointed out, “CLASS has combined the proud Italian tradition of high-end cars with the needs of modern smart cities, enhancing the capabilities of connected vehicles”.

Read the full article here.