Vision of the mobility of the future in urban areas
The computer-generated scene from the DLR MOVE project shows a vision of what fair mobility might look like in the future. Connected, demand-orientated and sustainable!
As the world changes, so does mobility – and vice versa. This has been the case at least since the invention of the wheel. Today, people and goods are transported by numerous means of transport on water, land and in the air. Nevertheless, we are constantly facing new challenges: From climate change and its impact, to increasing urbanisation, demographic change, changing lifestyles and demands on mobility. Addressing these developments requires innovations and adaptations. At the Institute of Transport Research, we are exploring how the mobility of the future might look like.
Connecting towards the final destination
Intermodality – in other words, the use of different means of transport – is already a reality in both commercial and passenger transport. Upon arriving at your destination, you can continue your journey by taxi. The integration of different means and modes of transport will continue to progress. Increasing networking will make it possible in future to better fulfil both user demands for flexibility and customisation as well as the necessary environmental protection requirements.
From data to demand
The term 'connectivity' is multifaceted: digital interconnectivity further improves the quality of our mobility data and allows us to better analyse user needs. Collecting data from mobility apps and exchanging it in real time makes it possible to centrally control interconnected vehicle fleets from different modes of transport from one control centre.
Rail transport that is integrated, digitalised and organised can increasingly be seen as the backbone of intermodal mobility services. Whether on the road or on the rail network, automated vehicles will play a key role in improving services. Such services will also be available in rural areas. For instance, on-demand shuttles could be used to better integrate smaller towns and villages into the transport network. A further approach to connecting rural areas is the reactivation of existing railway lines.
Urbanisation is facing cities with new challenges that reveal a further level of 'connectivity'. The change in the transport mix brought about by seamlessly networked means of transport opens up opportunities for redesigning urban neighbourhoods. Active mobility, for example walking or cycling, can become more of a focus. As a result, the use of public spaces can be adapted to the needs of residents. Neighbourhoods will be quieter, more climate-friendly, more inclusive, safer and more accessible for everyone.
We use new, innovative survey and participation formats to test the impact of a wide range of changes: Citizen science - in other words, research involving citizens - with our MovingLab is just as much a part of our portfolio as supporting tactical urbanism projects such as pop-up cycle paths or open streets and research in real-world laboratories. The results are incorporated into digital twins that can be used to create forecasts and test the redesign iteratively.
Mobility hubs – public hubs in the transport network – are an important building block. They enable passengers to switch between different modes of transport – from trains and car sharing to micromobility options such as e-scooters and e-bikes. The widespread use of mobility hubs makes super apps – which not only allow you to find the best means of transport for every journey, but also to book it – powerful helpers. They are also opening up new business areas in the field of 'Mobility as a Service' (MaaS).
In commercial transport, improved integration of modes of transport will ensure optimised transport routes and greater efficiency. The establishment of micro-depots – small, decentralised distribution depots close to customers – makes the use of cargo bikes more attractive for last-mile deliveries, which contributes to a reduction in vehicle exhaust and noise pollution, particularly in cities and suburbs. The use of inner-city water areas could relieve the burden on urban infrastructure.
Innovative means of transport should take into account the needs of all users. Our studies contribute to inclusive thinking right from the design phase and help to generate a comprehensively new, accessible mobility experience.
A wider range of equitable means of transport is another building block of needs-orientated, equitable mobility; after all, people are no longer dependent on a specific mode of transport, but can choose freely.
In the future, autonomously operating air taxis will even make it possible to use the airspace in and around cities for passenger and commercial transport.
Sustainability
Needless to say, the mobility of the future also takes sustainability into account. Sustainable transport options are not just limited to the railway sector. Road vehicles will continue to play an important role in a mix of equally important modes of transport. Regardless of whether it is used for private transport, MaaS services or ride-pooling. Autonomous vehicles make sustainable transport available around the clock – particularly in times of low demand and in rural areas.
Alternative propulsion systems of various kinds are also at the heart of sustainable mobility, with electric drives leading the way. Last-mile electric cargo bikes can often replace the classic delivery van, and e-bikes make it possible for a larger group of people to be active and mobile. The charging infrastructure required for this can provide yet another benefit. Thanks to bidirectional charging, electric cars can be used to store energy. When they are not needed for mobility, they help to make supply grids more resilient as part of the sector integration of elctricity and transport and enable a flexible response to exceptional situations and crises. The increasing decentralisation of the energy supply is making another important contribution.
We assess the resilience and sustainability of transport systems and support the acceleration of electromobility based on scientific findings, including the development of charging infrastructure requirements.
The DLR Institute of Transport Research makes an important contribution towards both developing possible future solutions and testing their effectiveness. Our research supports partners from administration, politics and industry with data, models and services.
In doing so, the Institute is exploring more in-depth and overlapping issues. The use of mobility data poses a major challenge in the area of data protection for both researchers and users from industry. Working together with stakeholders from these sectors, we are working on recommendations for measures and services that reconcile the requirements of data protection and data usability.
Another focus area at the institute is socio-economic research, including the assessment of the Societal Readiness Level (SRL; how ready a society is to accept a new technology or societal change). The SRL is playing an increasingly important role in transport research. By categorising various innovations as part of the transport transition and the associated measures, the success of these can be sustainably influenced.
