Funchal

European region

Southern Europe

City size

Small

Pilot objective

Test IoT-enabled monitoring of loading/unloading areas to improve parking management and enforcement and support more efficient freight operations.

Solutions Tested in Real Life Demonstration

KER9

Dynamic Management of Pick-up / Drop-off Points

Pilot Focus

Introduce IoT-enabled parking monitoring to collect real-time occupancy data from loading/unloading bays, support parking management and enforcement, and improve freight logistics operations around the Municipal Market area.

What worked

What worked during the demonstration?

The pilot helped identify critical connectivity limitations before full-scale deployment, providing valuable insights for future implementations.
The experience encouraged the exploration of local partners and alternative technical solutions that could better fit the local context.
Technical empowerment of local stakeholders through direct involvement in deployment activities.
Collaboration with local companies that already had relationships with communication operators and experience with similar solutions.
The implementation process demonstrated the value of adapting the technical approach when the original connectivity configuration proved unsuitable, rather than treating the initial technical design as fixed.

Challenges

What were the challenges and barriers?

Lack of reliable IoT/NB-IoT communication coverage prevented the sensors from transmitting data.
Communication reliability issues meant that collected data could not be considered trustworthy.
Limited on-site technical support during deployment created difficulties in troubleshooting and resolving technical issues.
The mobility division lacked sufficient technical expertise to independently solve deployment problems.
Dependence on communication network providers and local infrastructure constrained implementation.

Factors to assess for replication & required adaptations

Technical Connectivity & Data Reliability

The sensor-based solution depends on reliable network connectivity and data transmission. In Funchal, limited or unstable IoT/network coverage at the target area created challenges for monitoring and data reliability.

High replicability

Assess IoT/LoRaWAN or other communication coverage and data reliability at the intended deployment location before installation.

On-site Technical Support

External or local technical assistance was therefore important during deployment.

High replicability

Identify potential local technical partners before implementation.

Stakeholder Ecosystem

Stronger coordination with local stakeholders could improve local deployment.

Medium replicability

Map potential local stakeholders and technical providers before launching the pilot. Foster collaboration with local stakeholders and strengthen municipal capacity to manage IT-related solutions.

Technical Flexibility & Contingency Planning

The original technical configuration could not provide sufficiently reliable data transmission, requiring alternative technical options and local solutions to be explored.

High replicability

Define alternative connectivity, sensor and data-collection options before deployment so that implementation can continue if the preferred technical configuration proves unsuitable.

Key lessons learned

Main takeaways from implementation

Sensor-based logistics solutions require communication infrastructure to be assessed before installation.
Technical solutions should be properly planned before implementation, with solution providers taking an active role in adapting deployments to local conditions.
Strong collaboration between municipalities, developers, and local partners is a strong enabler for successful deployment.

Recommendations

Action-oriented advice for future adopters

Verify communication coverage and data reliability before installing sensor-based loading-zone solutions.
Secure access to local technical expertise through procurement processes, technology partners, or universities.
Engage relevant stakeholders early and ensure that identified local needs justify the deployment before pursuing ITS-centric solutions.
Assess whether existing local sensor or communications infrastructure can be reused before deploying new equipment, particularly where local providers already operate proven systems.