Technology 6 – Open platform concept for mobility services

Number of projects Total value Max Dev.

Phase

Transport

modes Relevant roadmaps

5 €37,633,507 Validation SMO

This technology relates to an integrated open data mobility platform, which gathers information from all transport modes and provides information to the user. The platform can include multimodal travel options and will provide a consolidated database of mobility services in real time. This will allow the user to enter a desired origin and destination; with a range of real-time journey options provided.

This technology can also provide information about a wide range of issues, including public bicycles, parking, car sharing, traffic congestion, air pollution levels and alternative travel modes; it is generally associated with the delivery of sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs). The end-user is able to make informed decisions on their journeys based on factors such as travel time, cost and environmental footprint.

The technology falls under the wider theme of mobility-as-a-service (MaaS), which aims to shift away from personally owned modes of transport and towards mobility provided as a service.

3.6.1 Development of technology to date and current status

The open platform concept for mobility services can cover a variety of applications. Projects researching this technology have focused on developing models and algorithms for planning journeys in real-time; and incorporating user preferences and traffic data obtained from public sources into a smartphone application. Also investigated within the projects is the development of an open, standardised, data-driven user-centric platform for mobility. This platform aims to allow for collaboration between transport modes and cities and the testing of ‘Internet of Everything’ (IoE) services.

Partners for projects focusing on this technology are largely public sector, with public transport operators and city councils the main players. This technology is largely at the research and proof-of-concept stage, with the highest project aiming to achieve TRL 5.

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3.6.2 Potential application of technology

This technology will reach the end-user via a smartphone application. As smartphone uptake was around 62% in Western Europe and 44% in Central and Eastern Europe in 201732_{, this technology could deliver significant} benefits quickly. Data will be transferred real-time to the end-user and they will be able to make informed decisions about their travel.

3.6.3 Potential impact of technology

The main aim of this technology is to make travelling using a range of modes easier by facilitating the use of the mode, or modes, that are most appropriate for a particular journey. This in turn will bring the benefits from increased public transport use and decreased personal-car use. This can include benefits such as reduced road congestion, improved air quality and reduced CO2 emissions. End-users can also be informed of the cheapest travel option, hence saving money for the user.

If active travel is encouraged through the mobility platform (e.g. public bicycles), then public health benefits could also be seen through increased exercise. Additional public health benefits could include the reduction in harmful air pollutants (NOx and PM).

3.6.4 Alignment of technology with EU transport policy

The open platform concept for mobility services technology will help towards the policy goal to establish the framework for a European multimodal transport information, management and payment system. By reducing road congestion and increasing public transport share or increasing active travel, this technology will also help to move closer to zero fatalities in road transport by 2050.

This technology will help achieve the European Green Deal objective of developing smart systems for MaaS and help to achieve multimodality. The technology has the ability to support SUMPs, which are in-line with EU policy on improving air quality, reducing congestion and reducing CO2 emissions from transport. The Low Emissions Mobility Strategy {COM(2016) 501} also underlines the important role of shared mobility schemes, such as bike, car-sharing and car-pooling, to reduce congestion and pollution as part of a sustainable urban mobility planning.

3.6.5 Market drivers and readiness for technology

If the technology is considered to be under the wider MaaS theme, then there is a considerable market demand for this technology. The global market size for MaaS in 2018 was $42.3 billion, with a predicted market size by 2026 of $372.1 billion33_{. Whilst the technology open platform concept for mobility services} will not be the only technology within the wider MaaS bracket, it could see a similar market growth.

Due to the reliance on ‘big data’ for this technology to really see benefits, the need for a widespread roll-out of 5G could be a barrier to the market deployment of the technology; although it is expected that a 5G network will be developed in the future. There will also be a need to develop relevant policies to ensure the safety and security of the data being used. Standards will need to be defined and their application made mandatory. However, this may not always be the case given that the majority of the data is public sector, and so the mandatory element may not be as relevant in order to implement the open platform concept in cities. This technology will also be impacted by the overall smartphone uptake in Europe. By 2021, it is predicted that around 522 million Europeans will own a smartphone32_{, representing around 70% of the total population.} There is a potential risk that this technology will not be accessible for everyone; with the remaining 30% of non-smartphone users not able to benefit from this technology.

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In document New and Emerging Transport Technologies and Trends in European Research and Innovation Projects: An assessment based on the Transport Research and Innovation Monitoring and Information System (TRIMIS) (Page 31-33)