In the dynamic landscape of modern cities, the efficiency of transportation systems is key for sustainable growth and citizen’s quality of life. This post examines the role of transportation vehicle data in shaping developments in urban mobility for companies and governments alike. By exploring the benefits of data-driven insights, we highlight the transformative potential vehicle data in managing the complexities of modern urban landscapes and developing more connected, efficient, and sustainable urban environments.
The Foundation of Informed Decision-Making
Vehicle data is becoming an indispensable tool for informed decision-making in mobility services, city planning and infrastructure development. Governments and organisations in multiple industries increasingly rely on this data for guiding their actions and powering their products.
Optimising Traffic Flow
Did you know that urban congestion costs cities billions annually in lost productivity and increased pollution? According to a World Economic Forum Study, commuters in Rome lose upto 254 hours a year due to traffic congestion. Traffic flow and congestion is a key criterion by which modern cities are judged, and a key factor in people’s choice of residence. Not surprisingly, cities and their contractors are prioritising effective traffic flow management. In this endeavour, vehicle data is a necessary ingredient for calculating precise commute times, identifying peak traffic periods, running smart traffic light systems and identifying real-time deviations from normal conditions like accidents or roadwork. Vehicle data is the latest addition in the arsenal of traffic management, following road camera sensors and traffic loops, to provide larger road network coverage and a dynamic image of traffic flow and trips characteristics. Armed with this data, authorities and local traffic management companies can increase understanding, optimise operations, and ultimately improve the overall mobility experience for citizens.
Enhancing Efficiency and Safety
Moreover, vehicle data collection empowers organisations to better understand how people utilise different modes of transportation and the challenges they face while travelling. This knowledge, in turn, guides decision-making of consulting, traffic management and civil engineering companies regarding the placement of new roads, train stations, and other transportation infrastructure, ultimately leading to more seamless, context-specific and demand-driven mobility solutions.
Another focal area that is benefiting from the use of vehicle data is road safety. According to WHO, an approximate 1.19 million deaths occur as a result of road traffic crashes with Road Traffic Injuries as the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years. In response the EU’s Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 aims at halving the number of fatalities and serious injuries on European roads by 2030, as a milestone on the way to ‘Vision Zero’ – zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050.
Vehicle Data thus becomes a crucial component in this action plan in improving Road safety and preventing fatalities. By capturing driving signals and information from vehicles ADAS systems, companies can analyse traffic crashes but also foreshadow and prevent future accidents by looking into the areas with high concentration of near-misses and risky driving behaviour to identify and address risky road segments. Cities can save lives by adjusting road designs, signage and traffic lights in high-risk areas before tragedies occur.
Mitigating Environmental Impact
In addition to safety, vehicle data collection and utilisation can play a crucial role in reducing pollution. The recent announcement from the EU outlining plans to reduce emissions by 90% by 2040 sends a clear message from governments regarding their urgent focus on reducing emissions in the transportation sector. Vehicle data plays a crucial role in advancing this goal by identifying areas of concern, enabling the optimization of road infrastructure. This, in turn, helps mitigate traffic congestion, allowing authorities to minimize vehicle emissions. Ultimately, this fosters cleaner and more sustainable urban environments. Furthermore, data plays a crucial role in electrifying fleets, offering another avenue for mitigating pollution and advancing environmental sustainability.
At MOBITO, we have performed analysis on usage of traffic data and environmental pollution to effect targeted changes with maximal impact in reducing emissions and complying with EU regulations. Access full report - here
Mobito’s Role as a trusted Vehicle Data Provider
Vehicle data collection is far more than just a tool for improving traffic flow; it's a catalyst for transformative change in urban mobility. However, it is also often a very challenging endeavour that involves sourcing and evaluating different data vendors, aggregating and standardising input data, maintaining data quality review processes and managing vendor’s commercial and legal relationships. At Mobito we provide companies seamless access to aggregated vehicle data, allowing them to focus on their own value added services and use-case specific analysis.
Our suite of vehicle data products and services is designed to address the diverse needs of clients working on transportation analytics and traffic management:
Mobito Probe data, sourced from over 8 million vehicles worldwide, allows companies to arrive at a comprehensive view of traffic patterns and mobility trends. By leveraging timestamped vehicle trajectory-level location data, Mobito enables granular monitoring of transportation and powers both historic analysis of traffic flow and real time traffic management.
Furthermore, Mobito offers customizable datasets tailored to specific use cases, including Mobito Harsh Driving events for road safety applications and Electric Vehicle Profiles (battery data, charging events, speed, etc) for EV range modelling.
Working with road authorities, Mobito has also developed comprehensive road conditions insights and a portfolio of data products including Road Health Data, Road Damage Detections and Road Assets inventory. This data enables organisations to make informed decisions regarding road maintenance, prioritise road works, and enhance overall road safety and infrastructure durability.
These datasets empower organisations to drive innovations and gain a competitive edge in areas such as retail site selection, automotive engineering, insurance modelling, advertising and weather analytics.
Join us in revolutionizing the future of transportation with Mobito – where data-driven insights drive meaningful change and empower cities to thrive in an ever-evolving urban landscape.