Hackathon in Casablanca: A New Urban Vision with a "Technological" Dimension
Express TV: Mustafa Filali
Today, the city of Casablanca launched the "Hackathon" under the slogan "Casa Smart Move: Smart Mobility for Citizens," organized at the "LaStartupStation" space by Casablanca Events Animation, as part of the "Smart Cities Morocco Roadshow 2025" under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
Over 36 hours of intensive work, developers, urban planners, innovators, and project holders will collaborate to design tangible solutions aimed at reimagining urban mobility in Casablanca. The goal is to envision a more fluid, inclusive, and sustainable city by leveraging technology for the benefit of citizens’ well-being.
During the hackathon, participants discussed a series of recommendations aimed at improving urban mobility quality through the use of technology and advanced urban planning.
Speakers emphasized the need to accelerate the adoption of modern technology to enhance public transportation, stressing the importance of ensuring citizen safety during this digital transformation. They called for collaborative solutions between traditional taxi drivers and youth working through smart transportation apps to avoid community clashes and ensure a climate of cooperation and integration in this vital sector.
Additionally, participants urged a rethinking of city planning to ensure that Moroccan citizens spend no more than 15 minutes commuting within Casablanca for their daily needs, whether professional or personal. They highlighted the importance of enhancing infrastructure by increasing the number of hospitals, parking facilities, and other public amenities in various neighborhoods.
The speakers also raised concerns about the rising number of private cars annually in the economic capital, considering that one effective solution to this phenomenon would be for officials and political elites to set an example by using alternative modes of transportation such as bicycles and electric vehicles, similar to practices in major Western cities.
In this context, the concept of carpooling was discussed as an innovative solution to reduce poor driving behaviors on the streets of Casablanca, while also fostering trust and cooperation among citizens, contributing to a safer and more respectful urban environment.
The conference concluded with a call to young architects to contribute to developing an effective and inclusive urban model for Casablanca by adopting "urban planning" methodologies and drawing inspiration from advanced experiences that share similarities with Morocco, while ensuring adaptation to the local context and leveraging technological advancements provided by those models.
