Implementing MyCity in Wolverhampton

The challenge

Cities and local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that road infrastructure is efficient, inclusive for all road users, and contributes to reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality. In Wolverhampton, the City Council sought to streamline traffic management while responding to increasing environmental and mobility demands. Transport accounted for 27% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, highlighting the urgent need for smarter traffic and air quality management.

The council needed a system capable of managing and monitoring over 150 journey time and vehicle counting stations, while also addressing air quality management requirements. As the project evolved, additional assets such as Variable Message Signs (VMS), parking guidance systems, extra air quality data feeds, and more than 100 CCTV feeds needed to be integrated. A key challenge was consolidating diverse and legacy systems — including third-party data sources — into a single, reliable platform with clean APIs capable of handling large volumes of real-time data.

The process

SWARCO began working with the City of Wolverhampton Council in May 2019 under its Lighthouse Programme. The design team analyzed how the council used data and developed a wireframe solution to test operational viability. This iterative process ensured continuous user engagement and allowed refinements based on real operational needs.

Close collaboration with the client defined precise functional requirements. The MyCity platform was configured to allow personalized dashboards tailored to user roles, ensuring each stakeholder accessed only the necessary functions. As the project progressed, additional systems were incorporated, including 30 new full-matrix, full-colour SWARCO VMS units — bringing the total to approximately 70 VMS assets — alongside legacy signs, speed and hazard warning systems, AI-based vehicle classification cameras (covering 19 vehicle classes), ONVIF CCTV with PTZ functionality, and bespoke integrations such as radar-linked VMS and ANPR-connected displays.

All systems were aggregated via open APIs into SWARCO’s MyCity urban mobility management software. The project also required close coordination with third-party data suppliers to ensure consistent, high-quality data feeds capable of sustaining large data volumes.

The solution

The City of Wolverhampton now operates a secure, cloud-based, modular MyCity platform that centralizes traffic, air quality, CCTV, VMS, parking, and vehicle detection data into a single, web-based interface accessible from anywhere and across multiple devices. The system eliminates the need for traditional full-time control rooms and provides live map views with in-depth reporting derived from millions of data points.

Users can generate custom reports in less than a minute — a task that previously required days of manual data collation — ensuring faster decision-making, reduced human error, and seamless integration with other reporting systems. Real-time alerts, such as notifications when NO levels reach defined thresholds, enable immediate mitigation measures.

With automated reporting, live CCTV streaming, AI-driven vehicle classification, dynamic VMS management, and integrated air quality monitoring, Wolverhampton has gained enhanced visibility and control over its transport network. The platform supports more efficient incident response, improved communication, and proactive traffic and environmental management.

Designed for scalability, MyCity allows modules to be added or removed over time, ensuring the system evolves with the city’s needs. Through this implementation, Wolverhampton has established a smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable mobility management framework — meeting immediate operational requirements while preparing for future urban challenges.