A milestone for municipal digitization – This 'operating system' now makes German municipalities more efficient! – Image: Xpert.Digital
No surveillance, just efficiency: Save millions, reduce CO2 – The innovative system that already inspires 25 cities
Smart Cities on the Rise: 25 Cities in Record Time – The Operating System That’s Changing Germany
The Cologne Startup Datmatters records remarkable success with its new type of operating system for smart cities. Within a few weeks after the official performance, 25 German cities have already implemented the technology that optimized urban infrastructures through innovative sensors and AI-supported analysis. The rapid distribution of the system indicates a fundamental change in municipal administration, in which data -based decision -making becomes the new standard.
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The development of Datamatters: From the university spin-off to a smart city pioneer
The story of Datamatters begins at RWTH Aachen, where Dr. Daniel Trauth founded the company and later moved to Cologne. Originally launched in 2018 under the name Senseering GmbH and renamed Datamatters in 2024, the company specializes in the practical application of artificial intelligence in real economy. The founder travels a deliberately down -to -earth approach: "We work in the real economy and are a real company that grows with satisfied customers without venture capital instead of being rich in the speculation poker," explains Dr. Truth.
Unlike many AI startups that focus on generative AI for text, image, and video generation, dataMatters focuses on connecting AI with real-world infrastructure – from smart cities to smart factories and smart buildings. This focus has earned the company numerous awards, including the RWTH Spin-off Award 2019. Dr. Trauth now even advises the United Nations on smart city concepts as co-chair of the "Real-World AI Forum" at the global think tank Diplomatic Council.
Urbanos: The digital operating system for modern cities
At the beginning of May 2025, dataMatters introduced urbanOS, which it claims is the world's first dedicated operating system for smart cities. Similar to a computer or smartphone operating system, urbanOS organizes digital processes, but is specifically designed for the "smartization" of urban infrastructures – from traffic management to waste management and energy supply to public safety.
Technical architecture and functionality
The system is based on a multi-layer model with five interlocking levels:
- Sensors: A network of sensors records real -time data for various urban aspects
- Connectivity: The data collected is transmitted to a municipal data space
- AI analysis: The data is evaluated by artificial intelligence and forecasts are created
- Visualization: The so -called Urbancockpit represents analyzes and forecasts for decision -makers
- Automation: Optimized services for citizenship and administration are implemented
A unique feature is the integrated app store, through which municipal utilities and private companies can offer their services. This modular structure makes urbanOS highly scalable and suitable for cities of all sizes – from small municipalities and medium-sized towns to megacities.
Areas of application and examples of success
The system offers a wide range of possible uses, whereby the municipal committees can freely decide in which areas they want to start. The most popular applications include:
Intelligent waste management
A prime example of practical use is smart garbage cans, which are equipped with level sensors. These transmit data to a central point where the logistics of waste disposal is optimized. As a result, the costs of around 20 percent and the CO2 footprint were reduced by around 30 percent in pilot projects. For this application, the company even had an animated explanatory film developed in PixelArt style that clearly shows the complex technology.
Optimized public transport
By cameras in buses and trains can be precisely recorded how many seats and standing rooms are on which lines at what times. Based on this, the AI can develop recommendations to optimize public transport and also take into account events such as city festivals, football games or cultural events. "The citizens are experiencing that buses and trains drive to the right frequency, and the urban operator benefits from the more precise personnel deployment and cost optimization," explains Dr. Truth.
Other areas of application
The spectrum ranges from parking space management to monitoring environmental parameters such as air quality, fine dust and CO2 to early warning systems for anomalies such as extreme weather or pipe breaks. In Dormagen, for example, sensors on street lamps capture pollution and pedestrian traffic, which supports urban planning and environmental protection.
The Urbanos pilot program: easy entry for municipalities
A special advantage of the system lies in its inexpensive implementation model. Municipalities only have to install the sensors on site and have it put into operation. The data space, the AI logic and the urbancockpit can be made available by data matters, which means that the necessary initial investments are kept low.
As part of a nine -month pilot program, interested municipalities receive 50 ready -to -use sensors, access to the data space and the artificial intelligence of urbanos as well as an urban -adapted urbancockpit with dashboards for different areas of application. "Most inquiries are surprised at how straightforward and inexpensive a test project can be started," reports Dr. Truth.
Current implementations
Since the beginning of June 2025, 25 cities in Germany have been connected to the “digital community center” via sensors. Named Aachen, Auweiler, Bad Honnef, Coesfeld, Dormagen, Dülmen, Essen, Euskirchen, Frechen, Grevenbroich, Heiligenstedt, Hürth, Krefeld, Leverkusen, Lüdinghausen, Mönchen-Gladbach, Munich, Nürnberg, Siegen, Singen, Solingen, St. Augustin, Widdersdorf and Willich. According to international reports, the system is already piloted in cities in Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
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Data protection and security in the urban context
In an age of increasing digitalization, data protection plays a central role. "Municipalities want a smart city – but not a surveillance city," emphasizes Dr. Trauth. The company therefore attaches great importance to adhering to strict data protection and security standards. No personal data is collected, and all operations are carried out exclusively in data centers located in Germany.
Future perspectives and global importance
Rapid urbanization poses major challenges worldwide. According to the United Nations estimates, around 60 percent of the world's population will live in metropolitan areas in 2030. The problems associated with the associated infrastructures and artificial intelligence will only be mastered.
With the global smart city market, which is expected to achieve a volume of $ 4 trillion by 2030, Datamatters strategically positions itself in a promising sector. In particular, the markets for smart buildings ($ 100 billion), smart factories ($ 300 billion) and smart cities ($ 600 billion) offer enormous growth potential.
The digital transformation of urban space
The Urbanos system from Datmatters marks significant progress in the digital transformation of cities. By combining sensors, data analysis and artificial intelligence, municipal processes are made more efficient, more sustainable and more citizen -friendly.
"Many decision-makers only make it clear in the test operation what enormous advantages it offers if they not only get the current state, which is impressive enough, but also AI-based forecasts, which will happen in the city in the next few weeks and months," explains Dr. Truth. This transparency and foresight enables municipalities to proactively act instead of reactive and to optimally use their resources.
With the constant expansion of the connected cities and the continuous further development of technology, Urbanos could make a significant contribution to coping with urban challenges and set the standard for future smart city solutions.
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