With a unified approach, Cisco’s ‘Platform of Platforms’ is making the smart cities of tomorrow a reality – today
The concept of a smart city has been, for many years, just that: a concept. It’s easy to ruminate on the possibilities of what could be achieved with new technologies in a city context when given the space to let your mind run wild.
How can transport data be used for future city infrastructure planning? Could healthcare organisations (and their patients) benefit from real-time air quality data? Are there smarter energy systems that could make buildings better places to work in – and kinder to the environment too?
But the majority of smart city projects undertaken to date have had to face up to much more banal challenges. Typically, these revolve around solutions being restricted to single verticals – such as healthcare, travel, or energy – rather than being able to span these sectors to match the way that people actually interact with the services in their city.
Historically, the issue has stemmed from a siloed approach to data collection and processing. That is, that data gathered from a healthcare use case, for instance, won’t be available to those people working on new transport solutions.
A unified approach to data sharing
Cisco has taken a different approach. Over the past couple of years, Cisco has been leading the CityVerve smart city demonstrator project in Manchester, UK, which embodies this different, unified approach.
In CityVerve, transport use cases combined with healthcare, and environmental data can be used to inform transport and health in turn. And at the heart of the project was their Platform of Platforms.
This Platform acts as a unifying layer that sits on top of existing data hubs throughout a city and provides a secured single access point to the data being produced. It enables the intelligent collection, interpretation and use of data pulled from all over the city.
That can include anything from transport data, to energy, healthcare, crime, street furniture – the possibilities are pretty much limitless. Data can be collated from a diverse range of sources and then, crucially, be presented in a consistent format to developers, local authorities, or anyone interested in understanding the city through its data.
The benefit of this consistent, uniform format is that it provides a clearer picture of the city’s data as a whole – rather than having to analyse all the various datasets individually. In this way, the platform allows developers to consider the relationship between, for instance, travel data and healthcare data and then build solutions in accordance with those findings.
The result is a platform on which an almost infinite number of applications can be built as a city’s requirements evolve. It’s scalable too, so can be easily applied to cities of all shapes, sizes, ages and locations. It’s also a standalone platform that will enable a new commercialisation model to define the way that cities produce data and services in the future – driven and empowered by a more unified approach.
Enabling new innovations
Perhaps most significantly, though, it allows developers to combine datasets and innovate in entirely new ways. Just as mobile operating systems on phones created ‘smart’ phones and a whole host of new app-based solutions for everything from communication to transport planning, Cisco’s Platform of Platforms provides the same innovation opportunities but for ideas that can be applied on a citywide scale.
What could be discovered – and acted upon – by combining crime occurrence data with street lamp usage, for instance? Could looking at data from bike share schemes illustrate new ways to map out cycle lanes? And could the findings from that inform those working to improve air quality in the city?
That’s what has been achieved with CityVerve, which officially came to an end in June. All learnings from the project will be taken forward to help other cities around the world to become better connected.
The Platform of Platforms is designed on principles of collaboration and transparency, and the desire to bring a more unified approach to problem-solving – with a greater collective benefit in mind. That might sound idealistic, but with the Platform of Platforms we’re proving that it’s possible too. This is the future we’re creating today.
Source: investinmanchester

Latest Jobs
-
- IAM Product/ Project Manager
- Belgium
- Upto €80,000 plus benefits
-
IAM product/project manager is need for this expanding service provider to help develop their IAM (CIAM) strategy roadmap. This role will have two main functions, to work between the front end digital team and the backend IAM development team to ensure that the current deployment of the solution runs smoothly and is fit for purpose, the Second function is to look at the business’ future digital offerings and to understand how the IAM/CIAM solution will develop with the new digital strategy, you will be looking at the future technology and the ensuring the IAM solution is fit for purpose. The business is an agile environment and you will require agile experience. This is a great opportunity to help shape a key product within the future digital strategy of this expanding service provider. We are looking for someone with both IAM and strong product management experience Project management experience would be beneficial. If you are interested speak to Robert Anderton on 0044 (0) 7957 493501 and he will be able to discuss the role in more details IAM product/project manager is needed for this expanding service provider to help develop their IAM (CIAM) strategy roadmap. This role will have two main functions, to work between the front end digital team and the backend IAM development team to ensure that the current deployment of the solution runs smoothly and is fit for purpose, the second function is to look at the business’ future digital offerings and to understand how the IAM/CIAM solution will develop with the new digital strategy, you will be looking at the future technology and the ensuring the IAM solution is fit for purpose. The business is an agile environment and you will require agile experience. This is a great opportunity to help shape a key product within the future digital strategy of this expanding service provider. We are looking for someone with both IAM and strong product management experience Project management experience would be beneficial. If you are interested then speak to Robert Anderton on 0044 (0) 7957 493501 and he will be able to discuss the role in more details
-
- Cyber Incident Manager, Proactive planning and management. SC
- London
- N/A
-
Cyber Incident Manager, Proactive planning and management. Cyber incident Manager needed to join a large and complex business to help them prepare for a cyber related incidents. SC clearance will be required. Current or the ability to achieve. This role does not require specific current hands on technical Incident response experience, but this background would give a distinct advantage. The role has two key functions: to help the business prepare for an event and to steer them through when / if that happens. The Cyber Incident response managers role will include, but not be limited to; working with internal stakeholders to develop a security incident management plan along with its and supporting policies. Developing plans and implementing strategies on how incidents are detected, reported, assessed and responded to. Engaging with leadership teams both internal and external, proactively mapping out this large business to identify and engage the various other stakeholders and their teams. Build out and document incident scenarios and their processes, ensure incident management procedures are updated, playbooks and key training etc. You should have experience working with both internal teams and external suppliers. The role will also focus on liaising with the various teams to ensure the security incident response plan is delivered effectively. CCIM, GCIH, CIPR (NCSC-Certified Cyber Incident Planning & Response) Looking to interview immediately.
-
- SOC Manager. SC Clearance. Immediate opportunity.
- Unknown
- N/A
-
Permanent SOC Manager. SC cleared / clearable, London / Birmingham. SOC Manager needed to replace a SOC contractor I placed into a client who is due to complete their assignment at the end of March. The ability to achieve SC clearance is essential. Looking for someone that is a blend of strategic stakeholder engagement with strong technical skills. The role will sit in a relatively new SOC environment. The position is to setup, implementation and management of resources to help with the initial and on-going stages of a new SOC. Experience engaging with and managing client stakeholder relationships as well as 3rd party relationships is critical. The role will involve; setting up, implementing and fine tuning the various initial stages of a SOC environment. Experience establishing and building out technical process / operational capability, managing of technical teams (analysts, engineers and architects, creation of policy / playbooks, fine turning is key. SPLUNK is the tooling of choice… Interviewing immediately. Set up a call with me today on https://calendly.com/chris-holt/arranged-call-with-chris-holt-soc-manager-role Direct contact details Chris.Holt@dclsearch.com or 07884666351
-
- Security engineer. Financial Services. UK. Permanent
- Unknown
- N/A
-
CH7863 Security engineer. End User . Financial Services Security Engineer needed to monitor and manage a security suite of tools within an End User environment. The Security Engiener will be responsible monitoring, configuring, fine tuning, incident management and generally improving the security tool capability. Specific experience with CyberArk, Tripwire Log Center and Tripwire Enterprise is highly desirable). Current experience with Vulnerability management and penetration testing is highly desirable. Specifically the ability to effectively manage 3rd party pen tests. You will be working within a specialist security team reporting to the CISO. Experience working within an end user environment within financial services is highly desirable. Flexible location. This is an exclusive role to DCL Search & Selection. To book a call please use my Calendy link https://calendly.com/chris-holt/arranged-call-with-chris-holt-soc-role-