// CITY_ASSESSMENT
How smart is Cardiff?
Cardiff, United Kingdom, scores 74.9% against the UN ISO-aligned smart city framework in 2026 — ranked #46 of 388 cities assessed, with every finding traceable to a public source.
Smart score
74.9%
Rank
#46 / 388
Criteria present
52 / 86
Evidence coverage
89.5%
Cardiff's smart city score by area
6 present · 6 partial · 0 absent · 3 not assessed
9 present · 2 partial · 0 absent · 1 not assessed
12 present · 0 partial · 0 absent · 1 not assessed
4 present · 6 partial · 0 absent · 1 not assessed
10 present · 2 partial · 0 absent · 1 not assessed
7 present · 1 partial · 0 absent
4 present · 8 partial · 0 absent · 2 not assessed
Where Cardiff is strong
- ▸Urban Data Platform & Digital Twin
- ▸Public Transport & Real-Time Information
- ▸Air Quality & Monitoring
- ▸Climate Action & Emissions
- ▸Green Space & Biodiversity
Where the gaps are
- ▸Climate Adaptation & Heat
- ▸Open Data & Transparency
- ▸Digital Government Services
- ▸Governance & Smart-City Operating Model
Evidence highlights
Open Data & Transparency · Official open data portal
Cardiff Council operates a data sharing platform at ishare.cardiff.gov.uk, and Cardiff, as part of Wales, is served by DataMapWales, a public sector data platform providing a data catalogue for members of the public to browse and download spatial data.
https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Your-Council/Data-protection-and-freedom-of-information/Open-data/Pages/default.aspxConnectivity & ICT Infrastructure · Public Wi-Fi network
The UK government invested in transforming thirty public buildings in Cardiff into free Wi-Fi hotspots.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-to-bring-free-wi-fi-to-public-buildings-across-cardiffUrban Data Platform & Digital Twin · Live city data dashboard
The Cardiff Harbour Authority continuously monitors chemical water quality parameters, such as dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature, and pH, from nine locations in Cardiff Bay, with readings taken every 15 minutes and viewable on the Hydrosphere website.
https://www.cardiffharbour.com/environmental-monitoringUrban Data Platform & Digital Twin · Integrated urban data platform
DataMapWales functions as a shared data platform for public sector data across Wales, providing a resource for public authorities, which would include departments within Cardiff.
https://datamap.gov.wales/Funding Cardiff can bid for
120 open calls — grants, tenders and innovation competitions Cardiff is eligible for, including UK-wide schemes any place can apply to. Every entry links to its source.
- NationalgrantCloses 15 Sept 2026Help The Homeless Grant Scheme
Help the Homeless
up to £5kApply → - NationalcompetitionCloses 16 Sept 2026Accelerating adoption of quantum enabled sensing and PNT
Innovate UK
up to £14.3m24 month projectEnds 30 Nov 2028 - NationalgrantCloses 16 Sept 2026Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2: Energy Efficiency
Innovate UK, Department for Transport (DfT)
- NationalgrantCloses 16 Sept 2026Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2: Electric Power
Innovate UK, Department for Transport
- Nationalinnovation-callCloses 16 Sept 2026Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure Two (ZEVI 2): Alternative Fuels
Innovate UK, Department for Transport
- Nationalinnovation-callCloses 16 Sept 2026Quantum computing applications for large scale impact: CR&D
Innovate UK
up to £13m - NationalgrantCloses 16 Sept 2026Healthy Heart Grants 2026
Heart Research UK
- NationalgrantCloses 17 Sept 2026Researcher Challenges Grants 2026
British Council
- NationalgrantCloses 18 Sept 2026Coastal Communities Fund Grant Scheme 2026
Moray Council
£10k–£50kApply → - NationalgrantCloses 18 Sept 2026Lowland Peat Water Implementation Grant
Environment Agency
- NationalgrantCloses 18 Sept 2026Second Year Of Moray Coastal Community Fund Opens For Bids
Moray Council
£10k–£50kApply → - NationalgrantCloses 18 Sept 2026Moray Council’s Coastal Community Fund
Moray Council
£10k–£50k
Showing 12 of 120 — see them all in the explorer.
About this assessment
Cardiff was assessed against the 86 criteria of the UN ISO-aligned smart city framework on 2026-09-03 by AI agents gathering evidence from official public sources. Each criterion is marked present, partial or absent, and every finding links to where it was found. Scores refresh continuously as cities publish new evidence.