Spanish traffic technology firm ACISA has launched a pilot program in Granada deploying artificial intelligence and edge computing to manage intersection priority for buses and emergency vehicles, marking a real-world test case for Europe’s push toward data sovereignty in urban mobility infrastructure.
The pilot operates under the SovereignEdge.EU/COGNIT initiative, a €6 million Horizon Europe project running from 2023 through 2025 that aims to shift data processing away from centralized cloud platforms dominated by non-European providers toward distributed edge infrastructure.
How The System Handles Priority Requests
ACISA‘s M-Hub traffic controller functions as a client within the COGNIT platform. When an authorized vehicle such as a bus or ambulance approaches an intersection and requests priority, the M-Hub processes the situation locally at the edge. For more complex scenarios requiring additional computational power, the controller connects to the COGNIT platform to run advanced models using a digital twin of the intersection, then receives real-time guidance on whether to grant or deny the priority request.
The approach handles vehicle-to-everything (V2X) data and video communications at the network edge rather than routing information to remote data centers. This localized processing reduces latency and bandwidth requirements while keeping data within European infrastructure—a central objective of the EU’s broader digital sovereignty strategy.
European Strategy Driving The Technology Shift
The COGNIT project addresses what its backers describe as a structural imbalance in cloud computing: approximately 80% of data currently passes through cloud systems controlled by large non-European companies. The European Commission anticipates a significant migration toward edge computing over the coming years, with projections suggesting 75% of European enterprises will integrate cloud-edge solutions by 2030.
The project develops what it terms an “AI-assisted Function as a Service” environment, enabling distributed applications to operate across what the consortium calls the “cloud-edge continuum.” Beyond mobility, the infrastructure supports applications in industrial IoT, energy management, and smart city operations.
OpenNebula Systems, a Madrid-based open source cloud and edge computing company, coordinates the COGNIT consortium. Other participants include Sweden’s Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), Germany’s SUSE, Belgium’s CETIC, and Spain’s Ikerlan technology center, among others.
Granada As A Testing Ground
Granada presents particular challenges for traffic management due to its historic urban layout, including the medieval Albaicín neighborhood with its narrow, winding streets. ACISA has an established presence in the city, having manufactured much of Granada’s traffic light equipment and traffic management software. The company also manages the city’s Integrated Mobility Management Centre.
The M-Hub platform is designed to support V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) and V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure) communications and positions Granada’s intersection infrastructure for future 5G and 6G connectivity. The edge computing approach allows the city to integrate third-party mobility solutions without routing all data through external cloud providers.
Vendor Background And Market Position
ACISA operates as the technology subsidiary of Aldesa Group, one of Spain’s largest construction conglomerates. Aldesa’s majority shareholder is China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), positioning ACISA within a broader international infrastructure network.
The company has developed solutions across renewable energy, mobility, energy efficiency, and security sectors for over 45 years, with operations spanning Spain, Mexico, Poland, Norway, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Uruguay, and Slovakia.
