In recent days, the Smart Communities Conference, organized by the Smart Communities Tech National Cluster, in which the Fondazione per la Ricerca e l’Innovazione participates as an entity of the Tuscany Region, was held.

The 2026 national edition, held online, brought together companies, public administrations, and research and innovation stakeholders to discuss technologies, data, and services for territories, with presentations from speakers and open working tables on topics such as AI for mobility, air quality, smart mobility, innovation in small municipalities, sustainability technologies, and smart longevity.

The Fondazione per la Ricerca e l’Innovazione contributed by leading a workshop at the working table “Innovation in Small Municipalities”, together with the Smart Communities Tech National Cluster team. During the session, FRI shared experiences and best practices developed within the ongoing European project “TOURISMO” and presented use cases and scenarios developed through active data monitoring in the Florence pilot.

By using sensors such as Wi-Fi sniffers and thermal cameras installed at strategic points in the historic city center, in collaboration with the Comune di Firenze, it is possible to acquire information or images in compliance with GDPR, NIS2 regulations, and the AI Act. These data are then processed through algorithms into numerical or percentage values, providing insights into people flows in the area by day or hour.

The workshop discussions explored possible scenarios and additional insights that can be derived from these and other types of data, investigating the needs of small municipalities and gathering contributions and suggestions from the many SMEs present regarding practical use cases.