Tag Archive: technology

  1. Digitalisation and Europe’s sustainable transport economy

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    Source: European Environment Agency

    Digital technologies can offer scope to alleviate the impact that Europe’s mobility sector has on our everyday lives, be it damage to the environment from our vehicle emissions, or the unwavering time we spend in congestions. A new investigation by the European Environment Agency (EEA) has reported that any gains made are circumstantial to the employment of digital solutions and the demand of transport in more general.

    New report: Digitalisation and mobility

    The EEA’s Transport and Environment Report explores the impact of digitalisation on what is largely one of the most important facets of our lives and the EU economy: transport. Parameters have been set by the European Green Deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050, but the process is not straightforward.

    Sustainability is strived for in the transport sector, and digital transformation can certainly help how it operates. According to the EEA, the effects are still unclear and depend on transport demands, something that has, until recently, off-balanced technological efficiency gains, such as lower fuel consumption.

    Perhaps the most effective consequence of digitalisation on our mobility sector is the new data that can be produced and used to create and meet targets that support a better, more objective mobility infrastructure. With the introduction of automated mobility, digitalisation will certainly be an influence, not least in terms of safety and passenger accessibility.

    The EEA report goes on to warn that automated technology might, in fact, have a detrimental effect and increase transport demands. Optimised journeys and an eventual reduction in costs will play a significant role.

    New briefing: Commuting or working from home?

    Teleworking, commonly known as working from home, generates more uncertainties for the mobility sector as it is still a relatively new concept. According to a new EEA briefing, ‘From the daily office commute to flexible working patterns — teleworking and sustainability’, these new-founded working patterns will have an effect on our car-commuting habits and be an influence on the way our towns and cities are developed. However, due to the aforementioned uncertainties, the EEA recommends supporting policies be put in place.

    The briefing on teleworking and sustainability is part of EEA’s foresight work that uses horizon scanning to identify emerging issues that can affect Europe’s sustainability efforts. 

  2. Call for R&D lightweighting projects

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    Source: Eureka Network

    Submissions deadline 25th April: Funding has been set aside by a host of EU and other countries, for any organisations who are collaborating on international R&D projects in lightweighting.

    Submissions of R&D project applications can be made until 12.00 CEST on 25th April; project consortiums must include organisations based in a minimum of two of the following countries / regions: Austria, Belgium, (Flanders and Wallonia), Canada, France, Luxembourg, South Korea, Sweden and Switzerland.

    R&D lightweight technology projects are the focus of the call, as these innovations award sustainability and commercial value. Trans-border partnerships and alliances are a requirement for success, and permit access to customers, technologies and best practices for stakeholders’ businesses and research bodies.

    Funding for the projects varies from territory to territory. For example, Switzerland grants a maximum of 70% of the total cost, while South Korea grants up to 500 million KRW (approx. 370,000 Euros) per year up to 3 years. Projects need to be positively evaluated by all participate funding bodies in order to receive funding in accordance with the funding budgets for each. Self-funding is an option.

    Eureka’s Network projects consortium does come with some eligibility directions, for example the project must be directed at researching or developing an innovative product, process or service with the goal of commercialisation and must have a civilian purpose. Additional directives are required in order to be eligible for funding, for example the product or process must be innovative and with the potential to create impact and not exceed 36 months.

    Applications are via multiple channels. Perhaps most simple is by creating an account on the Eureka application portal, after which applications will be reviewed by the corresponding territory bodies. Evaluations of each project will relate to the impact they have made on the market, the innovation and excellence, quality and efficiency of its implementation and its overall perception, judged by a panel of experts who will list three positive and negative elements for each.

    More information and a contact form can be found here.

  3. The Digital Europe Programme calls for proposals for mobility and smart communities in two new initiatives

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    Source: Eltis

    The Digital Europe Program, which brings digital technologies to businesses, citizens, and public administrations has released calls for proposals under the categories “deployment of the data space for mobility” and “deployment of the data space for smart communities“

    The two latest calls are as follows:

    Digital Europe Programme – deployment of the data space for mobility

    The Programme is pleased to share the deployment call for the common European mobility data space. Funded under the Digital Europe Programme, the call has a budget of €8 million. Its primary focus lies in identifying and supporting the deployment of mobility data-sharing use cases in the area of urban mobility, based on data space building blocks. This will allow the deployment of an operational data space enabling participants to make available and share data in a controlled, simple and secure way.

    Deadline to apply: 24 January 2023.

    Digital Europe Programme – deployment of the data space for smart communities

    With a budget of €8 million, this call seeks to pilot and apply the principles of the data space for smart communities on a large scale and with a large geographical coverage, to build EU capacity for connecting data from all relevant domains. The call will fund a consortium of relevant supply and demand-side stakeholders to foster innovation among many European cities and communities.

    Especially relevant is that the call focuses, among other things, on predictive traffic management and sustainable mobility planning. It will exploit synergies with the common European mobility data space and with the data available on transport National Access Points, and make use of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators (SUMI).

    Deadline to apply: 24 January 2023

  4. Bird reveals new Visual Parking System – a revolutionary parking tool

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    Source: Bird

    Powered by Google, the new parking tool from LEVA-EU member Bird uses ARCore Geospatial API to geo-localize parked scooters

    The new tool is a solution to a prominent challenge for micromobility implementation – cluttered sidewalks due to poorly parked vehicles. The system utilizes years of Google 3D scanning, augmented reality technology, and street view data to create the world’s first scalable, hyper-accurate Visual Parking System (VPS).

    Upon parking, riders are prompted to quickly scan the surrounding area with their smartphone, followed by the vehicle’s QR code. The VPS then compares rider images against the vast Google database using stationary objects as reference points.

    The process is near-instantaneous, giving centimeter-level results. Such precise data ensures scooters are left only in approved areas. Justin Balthrop, Chief Technology Officer at Bird shares, “The new ARCore Geospatial API from Google is an absolute game-changer for micromobility that allows us to offer cities a first-of-its-kind Visual Parking System that’s unmatched in terms of accuracy and scalability. With Bird VPS, we’re able to meet cities’ number one need, proper parking, in a way that’s never been possible before, and we’re able to do it at scale in cities around the world thanks to Google’s robust global data and technology.”

    Bird VPS is already being piloted in, or will immediately be rolling out in, cities including New York City, San Francisco, San Diego, Madrid, Bordeaux, and Tel Aviv. Additional locations will be added in future months.

  5. Sofia launches new green mobility app

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    Source: The Mayor EU

    ‘Sofia Coin’ will track individual usage of sustainable transport, offering rewards for consistent adoption.

    The app ‘Sofia Coin’ is the collaborative effort of the Municipality and Bulgarian businesses to promote sustainable mobility, healthier lifestyles, and boost the economy. City goers can use the app to track the distance travelled using bikes, e-scooters, e-bikes, public transportation, or by foot. The app will then relay information on carbon emissions saved; and by accumulating points over time, prizes ranging from small accessories to concert tickets can be won.

    Outside of encouraging commuters to alter their habits, Sofia Coin will allow local authorities to target high-volume areas for a sustainable upgrade. In a swift move, the Municipality has incentivised green mobility, and, created a research tool that allows intelligent city planning to further solidify sustainable transport in Sofia’s future.

    The app combines the efforts of Eventim, the biggest event ticket platform, Hobo and Brum, e-scooter operators in the city, E-bike rental and A1 – the biggest telecommunications operator.

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