4 Reasons Surveillance Is Key to Safer, Smarter Cities

Modern cities are increasingly defined by their connectivity. Data and the technology that enables its intelligent use are now widely recognised as the essential ingredients for improving public services, advancing urban sustainability, and ultimately enhancing citizens' quality of life.

Surveillance solutions are an investment focus for those striving to build safer, smarter urban environments. Here are four reasons why.

1. Enables multi-stakeholder collaboration

Surveillance software is reshaping how essential city services work together. Organisations such as the police, transport, utilities providers, and emergency responders can now access live video feeds remotely, enabling faster, more coordinated responses to crimes, events and service disruptions.

Secure cloud-based solutions also enable fast, encrypted evidence sharing – eliminating delays from manual transfers and ensuring smooth inter-agency collaboration.

Shared data and footage visibility is especially valuable during large-scale events or emergencies, when acting on the same real-time data is critical.

2. Connects all kinds of data  

Integrating diverse systems, devices, and data types into a unified surveillance platform unlocks other smart city capabilities. Sensors and other devices can feed in air quality readings, traffic flow, audio anomalies, and even odour detection. In Barcelona, for example, sensors are used to identify smoke, smells, garbage, and pollution levels.

By combining AI-driven analysis with these data streams, cities can develop actionable insights and take immediate action. For instance, leveraging workflows and mobile solutions, sanitation teams could be dispatched in response to odour alerts for rapid waste clean-up.

3. Detects and acts on real-time risks

Whether identifying high-risk behaviour, recognising rapid crowd formation, or detecting vehicles travelling against traffic flow, AI-based analytics can identify anomalies that signal a potential problem. A significant advantage is improved public service provision.

Crowd density analysis, traffic flow monitoring, and facial recognition (used ethically and strictly for suspect tracking) are commonly used in public spaces to support safety and coordination. Especially when alerts are linked to automated workflows. Detection can immediately:

• Notify stakeholders across departments
• Trigger public communication and alert systems
• Track persons or objects across camera networks
• Interoperate with city systems, e.g. traffic lighting

4. Provides strategic insights

AI-powered metadata transforms hours of footage into structured, searchable content. This accelerates investigations and supports the creation of insightful reports that aid planning and crime prevention. Examples include:

• Identify high-risk areas through heatmaps of repeat offences or rule violations
• Monitor traffic and crowd patterns to inform infrastructure design and reduce congestion
• Evaluate emergency response efficiency and optimise lighting, signage, or access routes
• Recognise behavioural trends that inform the design of safer streets and public spaces

Additionally, reporting tools and workflows can streamline the capture and sharing of this data with planners and policymakers, linking frontline operations to strategic improvements.

1. Deloitte