The AMBULATE-CM project, led by Carlos III University of Madrid, received 1,055,000 euros in funding from the Community of Madrid through its Department of Education and Research, with co-financing from the European REACT-EU / ERDF funds. This initiative arose in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of designing a new paradigm for ambulance service management that is more agile, sustainable, and dynamic, thereby achieving optimal coordination among citizens, transport fleets, and receiving healthcare facilities. From a technical perspective, the project was based on the development of mathematical models and advanced artificial intelligence algorithms for dynamic fleet allocation and real-time routing. The system simultaneously integrates critical variables such as patient severity, morbidity, the immediate availability of hospital beds, and the dynamics of emergency vehicles, thereby maximizing road safety during transport while minimizing response times.

The social and operational impact of AMBULATE-CM lies in its ability to transform the management of health crises by drastically reducing wait times—a critical factor in situations where every minute counts in saving lives. By digitizing and automating decision-making, the project alleviates overcrowding in healthcare facilities, optimizes the use of public resources, and ensures that critically ill patients are referred to the most appropriate hospital with immediately available beds. In addition, its intelligent routing algorithms not only streamline transfers but also improve road safety for healthcare workers and reduce the carbon footprint of emergency fleets, laying the technological foundation for the smart cities of the future.