The Future of Mobility Takes Shape at the 16th ITS European Congress
The transport sector is rapidly evolving, demanding more sustainable, efficient, and user-focused mobility. The 16th ITS European Congress, organised by ERTICO – ITS Europe, is a key event where industry leaders, tech pioneers, and authorities converge to showcase and shape the future of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). It’s a vital forum for collaboration on solutions enhancing safety, reducing congestion, and improving the transport experience. In this article, Dr Eusebiu Catana, Senior Consultant at ERTICO talks to Alistair Gollop about innovations and technologies to look out for.
Exploring the innovations and strategies driving smarter, safer, and more sustainable transport.
The Congress promises a deep dive into the innovations transforming how we move people and goods. From smart mobility ecosystems and autonomous vehicles to the intricacies of electric transportation, IoT-edge enabled Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM), and smart logistics, the event covers the spectrum of modern transport challenges and opportunities. Central to these discussions are data-driven solutions aimed squarely at creating more sustainable and efficient systems that enhance safety, alleviate congestion, and fundamentally improve the overall transportation experience.
The Innovation Landscape: Technologies Defining Tomorrow's Transport
Attendees at the ITS European Congress can expect to engage with a range of transformative technologies poised to reshape mobility:
- Autonomous Systems: Self-driving cars, automated shuttles, and autonomous drones are moving from concept to reality, revolutionising personal transport and logistics. A key enabler is the transition to Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), fostering a data-driven ecosystem essential for optimising vehicle performance and integrating seamlessly with urban infrastructure for a truly connected city experience. This shift is critical for commercial scalability and accelerating adoption by OEMs.
- Connected Infrastructure & IoT: The integration of sensors and smart devices into our transportation networks (IoT-edge Enabled Infrastructure) is accelerating. This allows for real-time data gathering, condition monitoring, and enhanced operational efficiency. Initiatives focus on orchestrating cross-domain data sharing, minimising energy footprints, stimulating multi-sided marketplaces, and promoting open standards for virtualisation and interoperability – strengthening Europe’s competitiveness.
- Electrification and Sustainability: Innovations in Electric Vehicles (EVs), sophisticated charging infrastructure, and integrated shared mobility solutions are central to achieving greener transport goals.
- Advanced Connectivity: High-bandwidth, low-latency 5G and B5G networks are unlocking the potential for real-time data sharing and communication between vehicles (V2V), infrastructure (V2I), and users (V2X), forming the backbone of smarter, more responsive transportation systems.
- Intelligent Traffic Management: AI-powered solutions are optimising traffic flow dynamically, reducing congestion, and enhancing safety through sophisticated real-time data analytics and predictive modelling.
- Secure Transactions & Data: Blockchain technology is being explored to enhance the security, transparency, and efficiency of payment systems, ticketing, and data sharing protocols within transport networks. Ensuring cybersecurity across these interconnected systems is paramount.
- Integrated Mobility Services: Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms continue to evolve, integrating diverse transport options into single, user-friendly applications for seamless journey planning, booking, and payment.
- Enhanced User Experience: Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are finding applications in improving navigation, providing immersive training for drivers and operators, and enhancing passenger information systems.
The Powerhouse Duo: AI and Digital Twins Accelerating Progress
Among the array of innovations, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Twins stand out as particularly potent catalysts for creating greener, safer, and more efficient transport systems. Their combined capabilities offer unprecedented opportunities for optimisation and foresight:
- AI-Driven Optimisation: AI algorithms are transforming traffic management by enabling real-time analysis and prediction of traffic patterns, allowing for dynamic signal adjustments that significantly cut idle times, reduce emissions, and improve fuel efficiency. AI is also integral to enhancing the safety features of autonomous vehicles, powering systems like collision avoidance and real-time hazard detection. Furthermore, AI integration in EVs optimises battery management and energy consumption, making electric mobility more practical and reliable.
- Digital Twins for Strategic Insight: By creating dynamic virtual replicas of transportation networks – encompassing cities, airports, and ports – Digital Twins allow authorities to simulate complex scenarios, monitor operations in real-time, and optimise infrastructure planning and management. This technology is invaluable for testing interventions before deployment, reducing environmental impacts, enhancing resilience, and ensuring mobility systems are future-ready.
Case Study Spotlight: 3DxVERSE – Digital Twins for Sustainable Communities
A compelling example of these technologies in action is the 3DxVERSE project. This initiative exemplifies how emerging technologies are converging to transform mobility and urban living. 3DxVERSE is committed to fostering an open, transparent, and collaborative approach, making its outcomes open-source to empower cities, planners, researchers, and citizens globally.
The project integrates real-time data from diverse sources (sensors, vehicles, imagery) to create sophisticated virtual models. Key features include:
- Advanced Technologies: Leveraging the latest in 3D Digital Twins, AI for predictive analytics, and Extended Reality (XR/VR) for immersive interaction and training.
- Real-World Applications: Piloting includes applications for optimising urban mobility and enhancing airport operations. For airports, this involves deploying real-time digital twins offering a bird's-eye view of operations and, crucially, enabling the visual tracking and analysis of aircraft carbon emissions from landing to takeoff, supporting climate goals for airports and airlines alike.
- Alignment with EU Goals: The project directly supports the European Green Deal through its focus on sustainable mobility, aligns with the New European Bauhaus initiative by emphasising community-centric innovation, and contributes to Europe’s Digital Decade targets by developing ethical frameworks for technology use and data privacy.
Lessons Learned for the ITS Community
The 3DxVERSE project, and others like it, offer valuable lessons for the broader ITS sector:
- Data Integration is Key: Combining diverse data streams is fundamental to building accurate and effective digital twins.
- Cross-Sector Collaboration is Crucial: Success hinges on partnerships between government, industry, academia, and citizens.
- Real-Time Feedback Drives Efficiency: The ability to monitor and adjust systems dynamically is invaluable.
- Optimisation Delivers Sustainability: Digital twins provide powerful tools to reduce energy consumption and emissions.
- Scalability and Adaptability are Essential: Platforms must evolve with technology and changing needs.
- Community Engagement Matters: Solutions must be responsive to local needs and foster inclusivity.
- Ethical Frameworks are Non-Negotiable: Data privacy and responsible technology use must be prioritised.
- Open Standards Foster Innovation: An open-source approach and global collaboration accelerate progress.
Looking Ahead
The journey towards a fully intelligent, sustainable, and efficient transport future is complex but gathering momentum. Advanced technologies like AI, IoT, 5G, and Digital Twins are not just theoretical concepts; they are increasingly practical tools being deployed to solve real-world challenges. Events like the 16th ITS European Congress are vital platforms for sharing knowledge, forging partnerships, and collectively navigating the path towards a mobility ecosystem that is smarter, safer, greener, and works better for everyone. The innovations showcased promise a future where transportation is seamlessly integrated, highly efficient, and fundamentally sustainable.
150x150.png)
