Ses Salines launches smart sensors to measure beach occupancy in real time

The Government of the Balearic Islands has deployed an innovative system of smart sensors on Ses Salines beach that will allow real-time monitoring of occupancy, optimize resources, enhance the experience of visitors to the island, and protect a unique natural environment. The initiative is part of the “Smart Balearic Territory,” the Government’s roadmap for applying technology in service of citizen well-being and sustainability.

The project, promoted by the Balearic Agency for Digitalization, Cybersecurity, and Telecommunications (IB Digital), turns Ses Salines into a pioneering testing ground for intelligent coastal management. Considered one of Ibiza’s most iconic and busiest beaches, its environmental value and tourist appeal make it a strategic location for testing technologies that reconcile high visitor numbers with preservation.

The new sensors function as a “digital ear”: they anonymously detect signals emitted by mobile phones when searching for Wi-Fi networks, without connecting to devices or storing personal data. This information, processed in aggregate, allows authorities to calculate how many people are on the beach, how they move, and which are the peak hours of attendance.

This technology strictly complies with all data protection regulations and, thanks to its non-intrusive nature, can operate 24/7. This enables better management of visitor flows, improves safety, facilitates resource planning, and provides a more comfortable experience for both residents and tourists.

"The Smart Balearic Territory is our commitment to applying technology to territorial management with a clear goal: improving the lives of our citizens and the experience of visitors, while protecting our natural spaces," explained Miquel Cardona, manager of IB Digital. "That Ses Salines is the site of this pilot is no coincidence: it is one of the most emblematic and heavily visited areas of Ibiza, and an ideal place to demonstrate that tourism and sustainability can go hand in hand. This pilot is another step toward data-driven tourism management, allowing us to anticipate problems and make better decisions," Cardona added.

The initiative at Ses Salines is an example of institutional collaboration. The Government’s sensors complement those already installed by the Ibiza Island Council following the Red.es call for the development of Smart Tourist Destinations. The goal is to test how both technologies can be combined to maximize the accuracy of real-time occupancy measurements.

"This project demonstrates that collaboration between administrations works," said Javier Torres, Island Director of New Technologies at the Ibiza Island Council. "By combining efforts and technologies, we achieve more precise measurements of beach occupancy and can better manage both tourist pressure and resources. It’s an example of how innovation directly impacts citizens’ quality of life and enhances Ibiza’s image as a destination," he explained.

The collected data will be cross-referenced with historical mobile phone statistics to calibrate both systems and increase the reliability of estimates, providing an accurate snapshot of occupancy and improving the management of one of the island’s most important natural spaces.

If the results confirm the system’s effectiveness, the Government and the Ibiza Island Council plan to extend this technology to other beaches and natural areas on the island. In this way, the Smart Balearic Territory will continue to advance as a pioneering model in Spain, demonstrating that innovation, sustainability, and cooperation are key to the future of the Balearic Islands.