On January 08, 2025, Canal Sur’s Enred program featured a special segment on the AI-powered vandalism detection system developed by Innovasur for the city of Granada. I had the honor of appearing alongside my colleague Jonathan González to explain how this cutting-edge system was built and deployed.
This project marks a significant milestone: Granada became the first Spanish city to implement an early detection system for vandalism using Deep Learning, one of the most advanced artificial intelligence techniques available today.
🎥 Watch the full segment
The complete feature is available on Canal Sur’s official YouTube channel:
🤖 How the system works
The technology we developed leverages real-time video analytics and computer vision to detect chromatic changes on building facades and urban surfaces. When a change is detected, the system immediately sends an alert to the mobile devices of the Policía Local patrol operating in the area, providing:
- Exact geolocation of the graffiti
- Precise timestamp of when it occurred
- Early warning capabilities for suspicious behaviors like loitering or suspicious activity near urban infrastructure
This enables law enforcement to respond quickly and potentially catch perpetrators in the act.
🏛️ A groundbreaking initiative for Granada
The Mayor of Granada, Marifrán Carazo, announced the implementation of this system as part of the city’s commitment to tackling vandalism through innovation and technology. She emphasized that Granada is setting an example across Spain by incorporating cutting-edge technology to improve resource management and address urban needs with greater efficiency and effectiveness.
The City Council, through a collaboration agreement with Innovasur, entrusted our team with the development, deployment, and installation of this AI-based detection system.
Vito Epíscopo, Councilor for Human Resources, Organization, Smart City, Digitalization and Innovation, highlighted that:
“Granada becomes an example of a city throughout Spain in the incorporation of new technology and innovation to improve resource management and respond to the city’s needs with greater efficiency and effectiveness.”
🛠️ Technical implementation
Our system integrates seamlessly with Granada’s existing smart city infrastructure, analyzing video feeds from strategically positioned cameras across the city. The AI models we developed can:
- Detect color changes on facades in real-time
- Distinguish between legitimate urban activity and vandalism
- Filter false positives to minimize unnecessary alerts
- Operate 24/7 with high accuracy
During the public presentation on Calle Profesor José Cazorla, we conducted a live demonstration where a graffiti artist created a test painting. The system successfully detected the change and immediately transmitted the information to the police tablets and central command, showcasing the technology’s effectiveness.
💡 Impact and enforcement
This technological solution is part of a comprehensive strategy that includes:
Strengthened sanctions:
- Very serious infractions (graffiti exceeding €200 in cleaning costs, or containing xenophobic, sexist, or racist expressions): Up to €3,000
- Serious infractions: Up to €2,000
- Graffiti on heritage sites (BIC - Bien de Interés Cultural): Up to €250,000 for serious cases
Enhanced cleaning operations:
- Special cleaning team with 35 operators
- 109 facades and walls already cleaned
- Ongoing interventions across emblematic locations, including Granada’s iconic viewpoints
🌍 A model for smart, safe cities
As stated by Juan José Prieto, CEO of Innovasur:
“Granada takes a qualitative leap in the development of a safe and well-maintained urban environment thanks to the incorporation of cutting-edge technologies that preserve the integrity of buildings and protect public spaces.”
This project demonstrates how AI and smart city technologies can be applied not just for efficiency, but for civic well-being and urban preservation.
🎯 Our role in the project
During the Canal Sur feature, Jonathan and I walked viewers through:
- The architecture of the AI detection system
- How we trained the deep learning models
- The integration with existing city infrastructure
- Real-world performance and accuracy metrics
- The future potential of AI in urban management
It was an incredible opportunity to showcase the work we do at Innovasur and to demonstrate how technology can address real societal challenges.
📺 Program: Enred – Canal Sur.
📅 Air Date: January 08, 2025.
🎤 Featuring: Juan Isern Ghosn & Jonathan González (Innovasur).
🏙️ Topic: AI-Based Vandalism Detection System in Granada.
🎥 Watch: YouTube Link.
This feature represents not just a technological achievement, but a collaborative effort between Innovasur, the City of Granada, and the commitment to building safer, smarter, and more sustainable cities through innovation.
📸 Image credits: Canal Sur / Innovasur
