How will public transport meet the expectations of the smart traveler and their intelligent communities? Today, people expect intelligence in order to make informed decisions and select their preferred mode of transport everywhere and any time. IT trends and innovations for public transport are issues to be addressed in IT-TRANS 2016 Conference and Exhibition.

  An “integrated mobility platform” ideally combines all available mobility options into a One-Stop-Shop. Its added value is not found in the collection of existing separate services presented in parallel on one platform but in actually connecting the dots (sharing a common fare-structure, connecting timetables, one brand, etc.).

  Tackling this challenge at the level of organisational co-operation inherently results in a much higher quality than solving the integration through technical interoperability alone! Today, we see a growing number of attractive and innovative platforms. What are the technical barriers they have had to overcome? How did legislation play a role; and could they rely on open data and use common standards? Who are the newcomers and which initiatives are on track to offer similar solutions? New mobility services such as transactional platforms for ride selling are generating buzz and are being adopted. How do they relate to mobility platforms?

   Together with its control centres, Intermodal Transport Control Systems (ITCS) can be seen as the data spinal column connecting operations to the brain of public transport networks. Its tasks are still expanding - real-time data, guaranteed connections and passenger counting! ITCS has great and uncharted potential. Algorithms are often at the heart of things and they are growing in complexity especially when it comes to e.g. pattern recognition using artificial intelligence to analyse the movement of people in stations, on platforms and in vehicles. Data from social interactions and driverless cars may also be valuable sources.

   At the same time, these systems are becoming more and more complex and expensive. When the time is ripe to expand or replace equipment, it would help not to be dependent on just one supplier. Modularisation has been on the agenda for a while to enable a system of black boxes and standardised interfaces.

  IT-TRANS is a hub for IT solutions in the public transport industry. IT-TRANS 2016 combines two different formats, the Conference and the Exhibition: At the Exhibition, renowned businesses and associations from all over the world present their cutting-edge products, developments, and innovations for the whole public transport sector. The Conference is the Place where the sector meets to discuss and invent IT solutions, to further support the growth of public and sustainable urban transport. The event will take place in Karlsruhe Trade Fair Centre, 1-3 March 2016.

The LIFE GYM [LIFE14 ENV/GR/000611] project is co-funded by the LIFE programme, the EU financial instrument for the environment.

The sole responsibility for the content of this report lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EASME nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

Start Date: 15 September 2015 – Duration: 35 months