Optimising multimodal network and traffic management, harnessing data from infrastructures, mobility of passengers and freight transport

Such advanced capabilities need to be supported by harnessing data from physical and digital infrastructures, as well as from the mobility of passengers and freight, involving different types of vehicles, rolling stock, aircraft and vessels (including zero-emission, connected and automated), technologies and the use of innovative services.

At the same time, novel forms of mobility (e.g. shared, micro-mobility or even hyperloop) and new services (e.g. Mobility as a Service) present new challenges, but also great opportunities for enhanced management and optimisation of the transport network. This includes advances to fully utilise dynamic and interoperable data exchange from multiple actors and transport modes, for well-tested and validated systems and operations, with appropriate governance arrangements in place.

In this context, building on best practices (technological, non-technological and socio-economic), ongoing projects on multimodal network and traffic management, as well as other initiatives (e.g. the Digital Transport and Logistics Forum and the common European mobility data space), actions should address at least 6 of the following aspects:

• Developing and testing new generation multimodal, flexible, agile and adaptable, secure and resilient transport network and traffic management systems, leveraging state of the art technologies (e.g. artificial intelligence, big data, edge computing, internet of things, blockchain).
• Assessing and simulating the effects on multimodal network and traffic management of new forms of mobility (e.g. zero-emission, connected and automated vehicles and vessels, car sharing/pooling, active-/micro-mobility, sustainable land/air transport modes and drones), as well as of innovative services (e.g. Mobility/Logistics as a Service), in different urban and rural environments, considering the socio-economic acceptability and different user needs (including vulnerable and gender groups).
• Performing simulations for network-wide optimisation of traffic models, aiming towards a “social optimum” and an evaluation of mobility options for multimodal mobility and freight flows (including last-mile), enabling a modal shift to more sustainable modes (leveraging public transport), while addressing planned and unplanned events of mobility and freight systems under disruption.
• Demonstrating the collection, aggregation, analysis and use of network-wide data from infrastructures, vehicles/vessels and users (using ICT and EU satellite-based systems), from across transport modes (modal and intermodal data), stakeholders and national borders, while preserving data privacy, security and confidentiality to data providers, thereby enabling effective and intelligent multimodal network and traffic management, and even further data exchanges with other sectors (e.g. energy and telecoms).
• Performing early pilot activities on multimodal network and traffic management of limited scale in mobility hubs (e.g. rail nodes, maritime or inland ports), where cross-modal or hinterland inter-connections are present for passenger and freight traffic flows.
• Designing and testing innovative multimodal network and traffic management services, offered by public and/or private stakeholders, which can be operated at network centres (e.g. at cities or hubs) and/or at decentralised level (e.g. by users or vehicles/vessels themselves).
• Developing and showcasing workable governance and dynamic incentive models, for the effective engagement of public and private stakeholders in interoperable data exchange, in the optimisation of transport network and traffic management and in promoting a better use of (public) transport systems.
• Evaluating the qualitative and quantitative impact of the proposed measures and project results, including on reducing travel delay, transport emissions and energy consumption, with a clear baseline for each use case.

If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries are expected to describe if and how the use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS are incorporated in the proposed solutions. In addition, proposals should describe the technological and societal readiness of the systems and/or techniques proposed for development and use, particularly in the case of systems based on Artificial Intelligence.

The multimodal aspects listed above are complementary and in synergy with actions foreseen in other parts of the Work Programme, such as in the areas of C-ITS (as part of Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility), rail traffic management (as part of EU-Rail Joint Undertaking), air traffic management (as part of SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking) and vessel traffic management (as part of Zero-Emission Waterborne Transport).

In line with the Union’s strategy for international cooperation in research and innovation, international cooperation is encouraged.

Destination

Safe, Resilient Transport and Smart Mobility services for passengers and goods (2023/24)

This Destination includes activities addressing safe and smart mobility services for passengers and goods.

Europe needs to manage the transformation of supply-based transport into safe, resilient and sustainable transport and demand-driven, smart mobility services for passengers and goods. Suitable research and innovation will enable significant safety, environmental, economic and social benefits by reducing accidents caused by human error, decreasing traffic congestion, reducing energy consumption and emissions of vehicles, increasing efficiency and productivity of freight transport operations. To succeed in this transformation, Europe’s ageing (and not always sustainable) transport infrastructure needs to be prepared for enabling cleaner and smarter operations.

Europe needs also to maintain a high-level of transport safety for its citizens. Resilience should be built in the transport systems to prevent, mitigate and recover from disruptions. Research and innovation will underpin the three safety pillars: technologies, regulations and human factors.

This Destination contributes to the following Strategic Plan’s Key Strategic Orientations (KSO):

• C: Making Europe the first digitally enabled circular, climate-neutral and sustainable economy through the transformation of its mobility, energy, construction and production systems;
• A: Promoting an open strategic autonomy[[ ‘Open strategic autonomy’ refers to the term ‘strategic autonomy while preserving an open economy’, as reflected in the conclusions of the European Council 1 – 2 October 2020.]] by leading the development of key digital, enabling and emerging technologies, sectors and value chains to accelerate and steer the digital and green transitions through human-centred technologies and innovations.

It covers the following impact areas:

• Industrial leadership in key and emerging technologies that work for people;
• Smart and sustainable transport.

The expected impact, in line with the Strategic Plan, is to contribute to “Safe, seamless, smart, inclusive, resilient and sustainable mobility systems for people and goods thanks to user-centric technologies and services including digital technologies and advanced satellite navigation services”, notably through:

• Accelerating the implementation of innovative connected, cooperative and automated mobility (CCAM) technologies and systems for passengers and goods (more detailed information below).
• Further developing a multimodal transport system through sustainable and smart long-haul and urban freight transport and logistics, upgraded and resilient physical and digital infrastructures for smarter vehicles and operations, for optimised system-wide network efficiency (more detailed information below).
• Drastically decreasing the number of transport accidents, incidents and fatalities towards the EU’s long-term goal of moving close to zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050 even in road transportation (Vision Zero) and increase the resilience of transport systems (more detailed information below).