The Rise of Smart Mobility in Urban Areas
Traffic jams, long commutes, noise, and pollution have become major blights on urban life. As the global population grows and becomes increasingly urbanized, these problems are likely to escalate. Already, 56% of the world’s population live in cities, and by 2050, nearly seven in ten people will do so. Even cities without projected population growth grapple with transport volumes that put pressure on urban space and infrastructure.
By leveraging technology to manage existing transport infrastructure efficiently, cities can protect or build back neighborhoods to ensure they remain vibrant spaces. Several forward-thinking cities are looking at ways to ease road congestion, decrease emissions, and safeguard neighborhoods and green spaces—thereby improving quality of life. Hundreds of projects have been designed to enhance transport systems at the city level around the world, including developing public-transport infrastructure, digitizing transport-system processes, and expanding pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
For example, the city of Amsterdam, which made the strategic decision to reduce the use of private cars as far back as the 1970s, is now planning to implement mobility hubs that integrate different transport modes with shared mobility options such as electric bikes or scooters. And the city of Paris plans to add 180km of segregated bicycle lanes and triple the number of bike parking spots throughout the city.
Solving for urban mobility is a pressing challenge and a highly complex one, as it involves multiple transport modes—including road infrastructure and public transport networks—and a diverse set of stakeholders such as governments, municipalities, city councils, and service providers. Moreover, what works in one city may not work in another, as solutions are often city-specific and bespoke, making them difficult to replicate and scale.
Emerging Trends in Urban Mobility
Three major trends are shaping the urban mobility ecosystem:
- Growing Demand for Urban Passenger Transport: OECD projections indicate that total demand for urban passenger transport will more than double by 2050 compared to 2015.
- Shifts in Consumer Habits: Recent COVID-19-related changes in consumer habits have posed significant challenges on urban roads, specifically the increase in last-mile delivery vehicles as a consequence of the e-commerce boom.
- Disruptive Technologies: Shared mobility, electric, and autonomous vehicles have disrupted urban mobility, with the potential for significant impact on transportation infrastructure and traffic patterns.
As transport infrastructure capacity becomes more constrained and traffic volumes increase, stakeholders may have to prioritize road safety awareness and accident reduction. Additionally, as consumer preferences continue to influence delivery patterns, infrastructure may need to be adjusted to accommodate freight and single-parcel delivery options, such as electric vehicles, e-scooters, and e-bikes.
Leveraging Digital Technologies for Smart Mobility
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), urban congestion charging, and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms are among the most advanced systems and solutions currently in development to address the challenges of urban mobility.
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) refer to systems in which technologies are applied in the field of road transport—including infrastructure, vehicles, and users—and in traffic management and mobility management. ITS can play a significant role in improving road safety, reducing congestion, optimizing transport efficiency, enhancing mobility, and reducing energy use and environmental impacts.
Urban congestion charging mechanisms work thanks to digital cameras that are able to identify license plates and classify vehicles in urban areas. By surcharging or restricting private car access to congested areas—typically city centers—regulators aim to reduce traffic congestion and improve other recurring issues like air quality and noise pollution.
MaaS platforms combine urban transport modes and services—for example, public transport, shared mobility services, urban rail services, and parking facilities—by leveraging data and information to integrate planning, booking, payment, and customer-service processes. Municipalities, transport companies, technology startups, and payment companies have been investing in MaaS due to the dual benefits for passengers and urban areas.
These three technologies are often implemented in conjunction with other initiatives or urban architecture projects, such as developing dedicated lanes for public transport or bicycles, establishing restricted access areas, or enforcing on-street parking payments. However, implementing these technologies at scale is a complex and challenging process due to the involvement of multiple stakeholders and the need for tailor-made solutions for each city.
Implementing Smart Mobility Solutions at Scale
The various actors across the urban mobility landscape can be classified as those that shape the urban system and those that deliver mobility services. Communication and coordination across these stakeholders can be difficult and may pose challenges to implementation.
International examples show that urban mobility projects are often unique and cannot be directly replicated and scaled. Each city requires tailor-made solutions, as needs vary according to factors such as the maturity level of the system already installed, the budget allocated for the project, and the targets to be achieved. A solution that works in one city is difficult to replicate or scale to others, as it was designed to solve specific challenges in a particular context.
Moreover, solutions for smart mobility depend on the mix and integration of multiple layers, and each component has to be adapted to local standards and tech protocols. Elements include hardware and IoT devices, software to collect and synthetize data from multiple sources, and third-party providers who install and maintain the hardware and software. Furthermore, any solution will likely need to be compatible with all kinds of legacy applications that are still in operation.
Due to the complexity of urban mobility systems and the required interconnection of multiple stakeholders, an ecosystem approach can increase the chances of success when implementing digital technology at scale. In this approach, every actor plays a critical role in successful implementation and the resulting impact. Actors need to work together across the mobility ecosystem to upgrade existing public transport systems and road infrastructure and make traffic more fluid—ultimately increasing people’s quality of life.
Real-World Examples of Smart Mobility Solutions
Let’s explore seven examples of real-world challenges and how cities have solved them, showcasing how new technologies and an ecosystem approach can lead to positive outcomes:
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Miami-Dade County, Florida: A private operator committed to installing nearly 3,000 traffic controllers to upgrade the traffic-detection infrastructure in the county, as part of a seven-year partnership between the private operator and Miami-Dade County.
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Copenhagen, Denmark: The city invested in ITS by installing new controllers in traffic signals at the city’s intersections, enabling real-time control and optimization of signals for more efficient flows of bikes and buses, and reduced accidents.
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London and Singapore: These cities successfully implemented congestion pricing mechanisms to reduce traffic congestion in city centers during rush hours, leading to significant reductions in traffic, travel delays, and improvements in bus reliability and journey times.
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Berlin and Finland: These cities have developed MaaS platforms that allow travelers to purchase tickets for multiple transport options through a single app, tailored to local contexts.
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Paris, France: The city has implemented the “15-minute city” concept, where residents’ needs are easily satisfied within a 15-minute cycle or walk, by upgrading squares with more room for pedestrians, repaving areas with new bicycle lanes, and reducing parking spots.
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Oregon, USA: The state’s Department of Transportation is designing a cloud-based connected vehicle ecosystem that leverages moving vehicle data and public-agency data to deliver safety and mobility applications.
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United States: The Federal Highway Administration is rolling out an Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) program that takes into account the interdependence of traffic conditions across different roadways and modes of transport, using managed lane strategies, alternative routing, and proactive traffic control.
These examples demonstrate how an ecosystem approach involving multiple stakeholders, tailored solutions, and the strategic deployment of digital technologies can address the complex challenges of urban mobility and enhance the quality of life for city residents.
The Future of Sensor-Enabled Smart Mobility
As the world becomes increasingly urbanized, the need for innovative and sustainable mobility solutions has never been more pressing. Sensor-enabled smart mobility holds the key to transforming transportation and logistics, addressing challenges such as traffic congestion, emissions, and safety.
By integrating advanced sensors, IoT, AI, and cloud computing, cities can gain real-time visibility into their transportation networks, optimize traffic flows, and provide seamless, multimodal mobility options for their citizens. Autonomous vehicles, drone delivery, and intelligent traffic management systems powered by these technologies are already being deployed in forward-thinking cities around the world.
Moreover, the smart mobility revolution is not limited to urban areas. Supply chain and logistics operations are also undergoing a transformation, with smart sensors, predictive analytics, and autonomous vehicles optimizing the movement of goods and enhancing efficiency.
As the sensor networks and IoT ecosystems continue to evolve, the potential for sensor-enabled smart mobility solutions to reshape transportation, logistics, and urban living is immense. By embracing these technologies and fostering collaborative ecosystems, cities and businesses can unlock a future of enhanced livability, sustainability, and economic prosperity.