NGSI-LD data backbone-AS-A-SERVICE (NDBAAS)
(real-time context enablement service)
TURN YOUR DATA INTO REAL-TIME CONTEXT WITH NGSI-LD
ONE system AT A TIME
A practical NGSI-LD backbone that standardises live and historical data - so apps and integrations stop reinventing the same mapping work.
Why Cities Struggle With Data Today
Cities already generate huge amounts of data - from open datasets, sensors, utilities, and public services. But:
- Data is usually published in raw CSVs or Excel files without machine-readable semantics.
- External developers must spend too much time cleaning and transforming data before they can build apps.
- Each new project requires intensive back-and-forth communication between city IT teams and vendors.
- Data silos exist: traffic, energy, water, environment, GIS - all managed separately, not shared across departments.
- Data comes from too many sources (IoT, CSV, ERP exports, APIs) with inconsistent structures.
- Every integration invents its own JSON, naming, units, and timestamps.
- Without a standard context model, datasets do not connect (energy + building + mobility remain separate worlds).
- Teams waste time mapping and re-mapping instead of building applications.
Result: high integration cost, fragile solutions, and vendor-specific data silos.
What Is a NGSI-LD DATA BACKBONE (and Why It Matters)
A NGSI-LD data backbone is a standardised “context layer” that stores and serves real-time entities (assets, sensors, meters, rooms, vehicles) through one open API.
It ensures that:
- Data is structured as linked entities (JSON-LD, NGSI-LD) instead of random payloads.
- All systems use the same language (Smart Data Models, consistent attributes, timestamps, units).
- Applications integrate faster because the interface stays stable even when sources change.
- You can scale from one use case to many without rebuilding integrations.
An MVP NGSI-LD for a city should include:
- A NGSI-LD Context Broker (real-time context API).
- Connectors/ingestion pipelines (streams + batch imports).
- Smart Data Model mapping (so “meaning” is consistent).
- Security gateway (auth + API protection) where needed.
- Monitoring and evidence logs (so ops can sleep at night).
Components of aN NGSI-LD DATA BACKBONE (FIWARE-based)
Based on FIWARE and our FIWAREBox solutions, a working data space includes:
- Context Broker (NGSI-LD) - the “brain” for real-time context and queries.
- Smart Data Models mapping - standard formats for energy, buildings, mobility, water, environment, industry.
- Metadata Catalog (DCAT-AP, CKAN) - making datasets discoverable and harvestable by EU/national portals.
- Security gateway - OAuth2/OIDC, API access control, reverse proxy.
- Connectors & Harvesters - periodic imports (CSV, Excel, APIs) and real-time streams (sensors, MQTT, OPC-UA,..).
- Time-series Storage - storage for historical data queries and analytics.
- Dashboards & developer tools - easy-to-use UI for debugging, exploration, and operations.
- Evidence Logs - who changed what and when (audit trail).
- Validation and normalization (units, shapes, timestamps) - so partners cannot create a local dialect.
- Temporal rules (observedAt, late data handling, retention) - so history is predictable.
How We Help DECISION MAKERS AND INTEGRATORS
For decision makers, we provide a low-risk path to interoperability:
- Start with one system (one dataset if you must).
- Reduce integration cost for every next project.
- Avoid vendor lock-in by using an open standard API (NGSI-LD).
For IT teams and integrators, we provide a ready-to-use backbone:
- No need to build a context platform from scratch.
- Standard models, connectors, and repeatable onboarding.
- Secure, documented, and maintainable.
THE PROBLEM
ORGANIZATIONS (SMBS, MUNICIPALITIES, INDUSTRIES) ALREADY GENERATE TONS OF DATA (OPEN DATA PORTALS, SENSORS, SIMULATORS, EXCEL SHEETS, ERP EXPORTS
DATA IS SCATTERED, UNSTRUCTURED, AND NOT INTEROPERABLE
BUILDING INTEROPERABLE APPS REQUIRES A STABLE CONTEXT API (NGSI-LD) - WHICH MOST TEAMS END UP REINVENTING IN EVERY PROJECT
TRADITIONAL SOLUTIONS (MES, ERP, SMART CITY PLATFORMS) ARE TOO EXPENSIVE AND COMPLEX FOR STARTING SMALL
OUR SOLUTION
We provide a NGSI-LD Data Backbone that:
INGESTS YOUR DATA FROM ANY SOURCE (CSV, EXCEL, JSON, APIS, SENSORS)
MODELS & TRANSFORMS IT INTO JSON-LD USING SMART DATA MODELS
PUBLISHES IT INTO YOUR OWN DATA SPACE NODE WITH AN NGSI-LD API
INDEXES METADATA IN CKAN / DCAT-AP FOR DISCOVERY
ADDS VALIDATION AND NORMALIZATION SO INTEGRATIONS STAY CLEAN
PROVIDES ONBOARDING PATTERNS SO PARTNERS INTEGRATE FASTER
who is for?
- SMBs → who need a pragmatic data backbone before “data space” ambitions.
- Municipalities / Smart Cities → who want interoperability across departments and projects.
- Industry → who want a unified context layer for utilities, assets, maintenance, and production data.
- Consultants & system integrators → who want a reusable standard backbone for client projects.
low risk
Start with one system or one dataset.
scalable
Add more sources and domains without redesign.
compliant
NGSI-LD + Smart Data Models, FIWARE-aligned.
Future proof
Upgrade-ready to Data Space and Gaia-X alignment later.
technical highlights
- FIWAREBox NGSI-LD backbone stack (Keycloak, Scorpio Context Broker, PostgreSQL, node-RED, PEP-Proxy, Grafana, Loki).
- NGSI-LD / JSON-LD as the standard interface for all apps and integrations.
- Smart Data Models mapping (smartdatamodels.org).
- DCAT-AP catalogs for metadata discovery.
- Time-series persistence for history and temporal queries.
- Built-in monitoring and alerting.
- Validation/normalization rules and onboarding patterns (optional tier).
Our process in fIVE easy steps
1
SIGN UP
Choose your dataspace plan and set up participating organizations
2
ONBOARD DATA
Connect metadata catalogs, datasets, and real-time streams
3
DEFINE GOVERNANCE
Set access policies, usage rights, and compliance rules
4
SHARE & COLLABORATE
Use context brokers, APIs, and dashboards across partners
5
SCALE UP
Add more organizations, domains, and services as the dataspace grows
PRICING
STARTER
1.200€
per month, billed annually
or
1.440€
- Shared hosted FIWAREBox instance
- Up to 5 datasets
- 1 organization
- Unlimited groups
- Identity & Access management
Authentication (OAuth2 / OIDC)
Role-based authorization per dataset / API
per month, billed monthly
Public or private datasets
Multiple users with role based access control
Security & Gateway layer
Reverse proxy (Nginx)
HTTPS termination & Certificate management
API access control (PEP Proxy)
Data services
5 datasets conversion & publication
→
JSON-LD + Smart Data Model mapping
Periodic & Automatic harvesting from different sources
OR
real-time connector
(e.g. sensors, MQTT, OPC-UA)
Context Broker (NGSI-LD)
+
Time-series database
NGSI-LD API endpoint
- Metadata & Catalog
DCAT-AP metadata catalog entry User interface
Metadata and data DataGrid
with
filtering, sorting, grouping, importing, exporting
(CSV, XLS, JSON, JSON-LD)
- Searchable metadata and data portal
(Extended Metadata Browser - EMB
+
Extended Data Browser - EDB)
- Monitoring & Alerting
E-mail support (Business hours)
PROFESSIONAL
3.000€
per month, billed annually
or
3.600€
per month, billed monthly
- All features from STARTER
- Dedicated hosted FIWAREBox instance
plus
4CPU, 32GB, 100GB SSD
- Up to 20 datasets
- Unlimited organizations
- Identity & Access management
Integration with Keycloak (internal / external)
- Data services
20 datasets conversion & publication
→
JSON-LD + Smart Data Model mapping
Simulators
Rule engine
Custom scripts (node-RED)
API access to metadata and data
- Standard connectors
(CSV, Excel, API import)
ENTERPRISE
from 7.500€
per month, billed annually
or
from 9.000€
per month, billed monthlyAll features from PROFESSIONAL
plus
Dedicated FIWAREBox instance
(hosted or self hosted)
from 8CPU, 64GB, 200GB SSD
Multi-organization Data Space
Custom governance & Compliance
(EU Data Act, Gaia-X ready)
Unlimited datasets
(limited by storage capacity)
Data services
50 datasets conversion & publication
→
JSON-LD + Smart Data Model mapping
Data Pipelines with custom scripts
Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration - natural language dataset search and automation with internal LLM
Validation/Normalization
- Maps
- Dashboards
- Custom domain
- Custom integrations
- White label, Custom branding, Portal customization
- High-Availability
- Support
SLA 24/7
GIVE US YOUR DATASETS TODAY – TOMORROW IT’S A JSON-LD DATA SPACE SERVICE
Transform your organization with our powerful tools.
NOT CONVINCED YET?
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT NGSI-LD and DATA SPACES
We unpack the buzzword ‘dataspace’ in plain language - what problems it solves and why it matters for you and the digital economy.
NEED JUST A DATA CATALOG
A lightweight data catalog with datasets and metadata together - easy to start, simple to use, built to grow. Start small and upgrade to full Data Space when ready.