At a time when cities seek to reconcile urban growth, quality of life and ecological transition, soft mobility is becoming a strategic priority. But to transform urban space in a sustainable way, it is still necessary to rely on reliable data. That's where occupancy data comes in.

The Smart City, a testing ground for more fluid and responsible mobility

The concept of Smart City (smart city) is based on the use of digital technologies to improve infrastructure management, optimize public services and promote more sustainable urban planning. In terms of mobility, this means offering alternatives to the private car: walking, cycling, public transport, micro-mobility, etc.

But to effectively plan these new mobilities, cities need to understand How public spaces are actually used : at what times, by what types of users, and with what intensity. It is here that the occupancy data play a central role.

Occupancy data: a key lever for developing public space

Les occupancy data measure in real time the attendance of a place, pedestrian flows, time of presence or even congestion zones. Thanks to smart sensors and augmented vision technologies, it is now possible to:

• Analyze the routes most used by pedestrians and cyclists
• Identify busy schedules in streets, squares, or transport stops
• Optimizing urban planning based on the real use of the spaces
• Encouraging harmonious cohabitation between users (cyclists, pedestrians, drivers, etc.)

Chez Technis, we are already supporting several local authorities in this approach, by providing them with flow measurement and predictive analysis tools to inform planning decisions.

Customer case: Saint-Paul-de-Vence, combining attractiveness and soft mobility

Ranked among the most beautiful villages in France, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is facing a significant tourist influx, especially in high season. To maintain the quality of life of residents while improving the visitor experience, the municipality called on Videtics (now part of the Technis group).

Thanks to secure video analysis, the municipality can now:

• Precisely measure visitor flows in the alleys and in the car parks
• Identify peak hours and reorganize traffic accordingly
• Promote gentle paths, by making some areas more accessible on foot
• Preserving infrastructures by avoiding the overload of certain points of interest

This concrete case shows how the Occupancy data is becoming a tool for dialogue between tourist attractiveness and urban sustainability.

Read our comprehensive white paper on the subject.

Soft mobility: from data to action

Occupancy data is not an end in itself: it becomes truly powerful when it is translated into concrete actions :

• Creation of bike paths in the right places, in line with observed flows
• Temporary or permanent pedestrianization of some very busy streets
• Implementation of adapted urban furniture (rest areas, signage, bike arches)
• Adjusting the frequency of public transport according to actual attendance

So, the soft mobility is no longer a simple political orientation, but a Data-driven approach.

Ecological, social and economic benefits

Based on occupancy data, cities can:

• Reducing the carbon footprint associated with transport
• Reducing congestion and improving air quality
• Fostering inclusiveness (people with reduced mobility, children, seniors)
• Boosting the attractiveness of city centers, making them more accessible and enjoyable

In the long term, this approach favors a more resilient urban planning, capable of adapting to demographic, climatic and technological changes.

Conclusion: data as a driver of urban transition

La smart city is not just technology: it's a vision of the city more sustainable, more human, more fluid. By exploiting the occupancy data in an ethical and transparent manner, communities can rethinking mobility, rebalance public space and accelerate the transition to a soft mobility.

At Technis, we believe that every piece of data counts. And that each measured pedestrian flow is an opportunity to improve the city of tomorrow.