With urban population growth, traffic congestion, air pollution and the need for more environmentally responsible mobility solutions, a number of technologies have emerged to address these challenges. In this article, we will discuss some of the main mobility innovations that municipal authorities and companies in large cities have resorted to in order to improve the quality of life of citizens and move towards more sustainable smart cities.
Electric vehicles
The population is increasingly concerned about their impact on the planet and this environmental awareness has among its main objectives to reduce carbon emissions in large cities. This is where innovations such as electric vehicles play an important role in urban mobility, especially after the implementation of strategies such as Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in several cities that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. and encourage the use of cleaner technologies in urban transport.
Although the infrastructure required for their use remains a challenge, more and more consideration is being given to how to install and manage charging areas for electric vehicles in cities. In this context, smart parking solutions already in place in many cities would be useful and easy to adapt to enable drivers to locate not only parking spaces, but also available charging stations quickly.
Similarly, in recent years there has been talk of autonomous vehicles equipped with sensors and real-time navigation systems such as those mentioned above that can revolutionize urban mobility, improving traffic efficiency by reducing accidents and optimizing vehicle flow. Countries such as Singapore and the United States are already conducting tests in controlled environments to see how to integrate them safely into cities.
Micromobility
As a result of the aforementioned environmental awareness, micro-mobility has also emerged, linked to the use of small and light forms of personal transport such as scooters, bicycles and electric scooters. These transports are perfect for short distances, a fast and ecological way to move around the city, reducing both environmental and noise pollution due to their silent operation. Micromobility has been gaining popularity in large cities around the world thanks to companies that facilitate its use through location and reservation applications.
Cities are adapting more and more spaces for this type of transport, offering users a more environmentally friendly alternative with which to move easily around the urban center. In this transition towards a more sustainable mobility, some cities have definedPark&Ride smart parking areas at strategic points in the periphery, with good connection to the center. This initiative allows users to park their personal vehicles on the outskirts and move comfortably anywhere without worrying about traffic or the availability of parking spaces.
Shared mobility
The rise of platforms such as Uber, Bolt and BlaBlaCar has encouraged the use of shared transport or car sharing. With this initiative, users can book and share rides, whether short or long distance, which helps reduce the number of vehicles on urban roads.
The efficient management of these services is achieved thanks to advanced technologies that analyze real-time data to connect drivers and users through mobile applications. They offer convenience and flexibility to users, in addition to optimizing the use of transportation resources.
4. Intelligent infrastructures
Cities have been implementing smart infrastructures made up of innovative technologies capable of optimizing traffic and improving safety on urban roads. For example, some of these smart systems are equipped with sensors that monitor the flow of vehicles in real time to detect congestion and direct traffic to less busy areas through the use of signage panels.
Other systems have algorithms based on artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning that detect parking space occupancy through image processing technologies captured by compatible cameras, facilitating the search for free spaces. Cities such as Barcelona and Amsterdam have already implemented smart infrastructures as part of their efforts to optimize urban mobility.
U-Spot VISIO: A.I. Single space detection
5. Urban Distribution of Goods (DUM)
Optimizing the management of goods delivery or collection in cities is also a factor to be taken into account when it comes to improving urban mobility. In addition to the use of smart lockers or aerial alternatives such as drones, which are still in the testing phase, intelligent control systems for loading and unloading areas have proven to be useful solutions to address this issue.
These intelligent control systems make it easier to locate spaces reserved specifically for delivery drivers, which helps to optimize travel times, as well as avoid lengthy searches and double-parking that can block street traffic. By facilitating the efficient delivery of goods, this initiative improves traffic flow and reduces operating costs for logistics and transport companies, while optimizing the management of their resources.
In addition, by avoiding congestion in loading and unloading areas, these intelligent systems help reduce the risk of accidents caused by abrupt maneuvers to obtain a parking space.
At Urbiotica, we know that innovations in urban mobility are transforming the way we move around big cities and that smart parking solutions are capable of offering more efficient management, from technologies for guidance in city centers through sensors and signage panels to the control of reserved spaces for loading and unloading. As these innovative technologies continue to evolve and be applied to other areas, we will see even greater changes in urban mobility in the cities of the future.
