Public infrastructure and the automobile sector are the two main areas into which smart transportation may be broadly classified. When networked sensors are included into infrastructure and automobiles to achieve remote administration and control, efficiency, and safety, these two industries are deemed “smart.”
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Imagine a bustling junction in a metropolis. People on foot are attempting to cross. The traffic flow is being controlled by the lighting. Cars are moving, with drivers frantically attempting to reach their goal. Streetlights in conventional transit networks are turned on by pedestrian buttons on the curb, pressure plates under the pavement, or timers.
It is the responsibility of both pedestrians and automobiles to observe and abide by traffic signals. Efficiency and safety, however, suffer if any of these nodes fail. A driver who is preoccupied runs a red light. A pedestrian misses their turn and has to wait longer since they neglected to press the crossing button. There is only one car waiting and no traffic, yet the streetlight will not turn on.
That all alters, though, at a smart junction. In order to avoid an accident, a car may automatically start braking when it detects a pedestrian using LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) in conjunction with Bluetooth. Pressure plates and timers are significantly less precise and efficient in determining how many automobiles are waiting in which direction than streetlights, which are able to detect unique signals transmitted by each car. Streetlights and cars can even interact to the extent that an automated start when the light becomes green (or transmits a “go” signal to the car’s computer) and a slowdown and stop when the light turns red (or transmits a “stop” signal to the car) are both possible. All of this is made feasible by the use of IoT and 5G connectivity rates in the transportation industry for distant sensing and real-time operations.
How smart mobility is enabled by smart cities
A smart city is an integrated approach to urban development that encompasses a variety of services and industries. Mobility is unique in the context of smart cities since it only considers creative solutions to problems with urban transportation. As a result, mobility is included in smart cities as one of many essential pieces that make up the complete picture.
Shanghai has been named the World’s No. 1 Smart City for 2023 by specialists from Juniper Research. Shanghai is at the top for a variety of reasons. For instance, the Suishenban Citizen Cloud app, which is actively utilized by locals, was effectively incorporated by the city administration. It provides access to more than 1,000 services, ranging from booking a cab and monitoring traffic in real time to scheduling a visit with a doctor or registering for marriage.
Shanghai’s strong 5G technology rollout helped to further cement its top ranking. The downtown region now has 5G connectivity, and 99 percent of the city is covered by fiber. Because of the wide coverage, a more robust network can accommodate the numerous linked devices and sensors that go into creating the infrastructure of smart cities, which includes anything from environmental monitoring to traffic control.
Shanghai’s use of digital twin technology is another factor contributing to its top place in the Juniper survey. The city features a 3D model that processes data in real time, a complete virtual clone. This digital twin offers useful information for planning projects, improving traffic flow, and streamlining services in urban planning. In turn, this enables designers to evaluate and test concepts in a virtual setting, enabling them to predict the effects of choices like where to put a bus stop or where to put a new building before they are ever implemented.
Smart mobility trends: an outlook for the field’s future
Smart cities are probably going to lead the way in terms of smart mobility trends, but it’s important to imagine not just where but also what the future will look like. There are significant developments coming up that will surely impact the existing way of living as well as the way suppliers and fleet owners conduct business.
shared movement. As previously said, shared mobility adapts to the shifting demands of society. McKinsey estimates that by 2030, shared mobility might bring in up to $1 trillion in consumer expenditure. The primary income generator is anticipated to be ride-hailing, which includes the emergence of shared autonomous cars. Shared micromobility, automobile sharing, and urban air mobility (UAM) are the next in line.
Air transportation in urban areas. UAM is a brand-new shared mobility market that requires careful consideration. Drones carrying freight and air taxis have the potential to drastically transform transportation in the future. Notwithstanding persistent obstacles in the areas of certification, building infrastructure, and technology for overseeing new fleets, the industry’s future expansion appears promising.
By 2050, around 160,000 autonomous drones will be in operation worldwide, predicts Roland Berger. They will bring in $90 billion a year in income.
Robotic shuttles and taxis. The introduction of self-driving technology is anticipated to give rise to new mobility ideas, with autonomous taxis and shuttles emerging as the predominant models, according to Deloitte’s mobility research with a focus on Germany. In Germany, one out of every three journeys is anticipated to be made by autonomous fleet cars by 2035.
electric cars. Though it has been going on for decades, the shift to environmentally friendly transportation—especially electric cars—has not happened quickly enough. However, there may be a significant increase in sales of electric cars due to the implementation of tougher CO2 pollution regulations, the construction of infrastructure for charging electric vehicles, and falling battery prices. Research from Goldman Sachs indicates that by 2035, EV sales may account for nearly half of all new car sales globally.
MaaS, or mobility as a service. Will purchasing and selling automobiles continue to be popular in the future? It appears that the shift from purchasing a personal car to subscribing to many shared mobility services via a single app on a monthly basis might expand. By 2028, Juniper Research projects a 363% rise in the MaaS market.
AI & Data. A new era of mobility has arrived with the development of big data and artificial intelligence, wherein transportation networks are more integrated, dynamic, and flexible to meet a range of demands. These technologies are essential for improving supply chain resilience, parking assistance, traffic control, and smart routing. The quick and accurate use of these technologies in linked mobility is what will make or break this trend.
