Photo: Johan Bjurer, Mostphotos.
How can automation become meaningful and feasible for public transport authorities in sparse geographies to enable socio-technical transformation?
Planning for automated mobility often assumes the conditions found in metropolitan regions: dense transport networks, strong demand and good digital infrastructure. In sparsely populated areas, distances are longer, passenger numbers lower and public transport services often infrequent or entirely absent. Automated, demand-responsive vehicles may therefore serve a different purpose than in cities: maintaining access to mobility. At the same time, smaller regions often have limited resources and expertise to participate in their development. The project will synthesise research and interview public transport authorities and other key stakeholders. It aims to establish which mobility problems the technology could help address, its possible long-term role, and what public transport authorities would need in order to introduce and integrate it into their operations.