Detailed description of project  

MARCO (sMart pAths for gReener sChoOls) is a nine-month socio-technical experimentation in Pilsen designed to reduce peak-hour traffic congestion and improve air quality around primary schools by shifting commuting habits from private cars to sustainable modes like walking and cycling. The solution integrates real-time datasets from city-installed traffic and environmental sensors into a gamified mobile and web platform, providing students, parents, and teachers with interactive dashboards that visualize the direct link between mobility choices and CO2 or noise levels. Through a blend of story-driven “eco-missions,” community-generated safe route maps, and classroom-integrated data literacy modules, MARCO aims to engage over 100 citizens in two pilot schools. By the end of the 9-month period, the project will achieve TRL 9, delivering a proven framework that combines behavioral nudges with evidence-based policy feedback to help municipal planners optimize school-zone infrastructure and promote a healthier, climate-conscious urban environment.  

Type and scope of work provided  

• IoT & Data Integration: Establishing secure pipelines to ingest real-time traffic, noise, and air quality (CO2, NOx, PM) data from the city’s Open Data portal into Power BI dashboards.  

• Software Development: Launching a bilingual (Czech/English) platform with mobile and web interfaces featuring gamified mission engines and narrative-driven “eco-challenges.”  

• Community-Sourced Mapping: Developing a Safe Routes module that combines sensor data with crowdsourced user feedback to visualize child-safe, low-emission commuting paths.  

• Social Engineering: Facilitating co-design workshops and classroom-based “mobility reflections” to engage at least 100 students, parents, and teachers.  

• Behavioral Monitoring: Implementing daily commute logging and perception-based surveys to track shifts in modal splits and safety awareness.  

• Policy Analytics: Generating evidence-based recommendations and heatmaps to support municipal decisions on infrastructure, such as bike racks or street closures.  

MARCO is funded through cascading funds in the scope of the project CLIMABOROUGH, which is co-funded by the European Union and CINEA. CLIMABOROUGH has the ambition to bridge the gap between design and implementation of urban innovations, particularly in the face of climatic change and its consequential needs for adaptation and mitigation.