The south of Gran Canaria is about to take a qualitative leap forward in citizen security management. Located in the El Tablero sports complex, the new Emergency Control Center (ECC) is in its final testing phase and is shaping up to be one of the most significant milestones of the Maspalomas Smart Destination project, awarded by Red.es to the Ayesa-imesAPI joint venture as part of the National Smart Territories Plan.
Smart emergency control centers in European cities such as Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Barcelona, and Helsinki have shown very positive results in citizen safety management and operational efficiency. In Amsterdam, the integration of sensors, cameras, and real-time data analysis has reduced emergency response times by 20 to 30%. Furthermore, traffic management has been improved to facilitate priority access for emergency vehicles, and collaboration between firefighters, police, and medical services has been optimized, reducing errors and redundancies.
In Copenhagen, the control center has been able to anticipate risk situations, especially related to flooding and adverse weather events, thanks to continuous monitoring and predictive analytics. This has enabled a faster and more coordinated response, also facilitated by the use of drones and connected cameras that provide accurate, real-time assessments of incidents. As a result, local studies show an increase of up to 15% in the population's sense of security.
With a total investment of €5,7 million, 63% financed by European ERDF funds and the remaining 37% by the City Council, the project consolidates the municipality's position as a national and international benchmark in digital transformation and smart management of tourist destinations. The CCE has been conceived as a true "digital brain" for emergency management, centralizing the coordination of fire and civil protection teams in a single physical space. This integration will reduce response times and improve operational efficiency in critical situations.
European cities such as Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Barcelona, and Helsinki have developed similar control systems, integrating advanced technology to improve safety and efficiency in urban emergency management. These cities have opted for intelligent control centers that utilize video surveillance systems, IoT sensors, real-time analytics, and integrated platforms to provide agile and coordinated responses to any contingency.
Among its main technological assets, the Maspalomas CCE stands out for its supervision room with an eight-monitor video wall, dual-screen computer workstations, headsets, multipoint video conferencing, call automation, and real-time incident monitoring. The system connects with drones, cameras, traffic sensors, weather stations, and biometric access technology, allowing for a comprehensive and early view of potential contingencies.
In addition, 18 tablets and 18 ruggedized mobile phones for extreme environments have been purchased, as well as 61 digital radios to provide emergency vehicles with advanced connectivity in any situation. The center is part of a broader strategy that includes the installation of more than 60 video surveillance cameras in urban and coastal areas, with functions such as beach capacity control and traffic management. The platform also connects with sensors, a municipal Wi-Fi network, digitalized tourist offices, a tourism app, and smart lighting systems.
Ayesa is leading the integration of the 25 technological components that comprise the project, highlighting the implementation of NEC's Smart City CCOC platform, a Citizen-Tourist data model, a content manager, a mobile app, and the hyperconverged infrastructure that will host all digital solutions. For Maspalomas, this Emergency Control Center not only represents a radical improvement in service coordination but is also a key element in consolidating the municipality as a smart tourist destination. In the words of the council, "this infrastructure is the first step toward a more resilient, connected, and sustainable urban model, in which the safety and experience of citizens and visitors are at the center."
