The Transport Research Knowledge Centre (TRKC) A review by CityNetMobil cities

Transcription

1 The Transport Research Knowledge Centre (TRKC) A review by CityNetMobil cities Tony May and Paul Timms Institute for Transport Studies University of Leeds

2 TRKC Objectives To enhance and maintain the web-based Transport Research Knowledge Centre (TRKC); To provide structured and timely access to both detailed and summary information on European, national and international transport research activities and their results; To provide focused aggregated analysis of transport research results against a thematic structure and emerging policy priorities; To explore how to accelerate the application of research results through extended networking among the main stakeholders

3 TRKC Outputs A web-based searchable structured portal of European and some selected national and international programmes, projects and research findings; An Extranet facility for collecting and validating information; A multi-dimensional thematic structure which is used for labelling European, international and national projects but also facilitates the searching of material online by internet users; High-quality, targeted outputs, including Thematic Research Summaries and Policy Brochures and a Programme Compendium

4 The 30 TRKC Themes T h e F o u r T r a n s p o r t D i m e n s i o n s Sectors Modes Sustainability Tools Policy objectives 1.1 Passenger transport 2.1 Air transport 3.1 Economic aspects 4.1 Decision-support tools 1.2 Freight transport 2.2 Rail transport 3.2 Efficiency 4.2 Financing tools Geographic 2.3 Road transport (incl. 3.3 Equity and accessibility 4.3 Information and awareness walking and cycling) 1.3 Urban transport 2.4 Waterborne transport 3.4 Environmental aspects 4.4 Infrastructure provision (incl. TENs) 1.4 Rural transport 2.5 Innovative modes 3.5 User aspects 4.5 Integration and policy development 1.5 Regional transport 2.6 Intermodal freight transport 3.6 Safety and security 4.6 Intelligent Transport Systems 1.6 Long-distance transport 4.7 Regulation/deregulation 1.7 EU accession issues 4.8 Land-use planning 4.9 Transport management 4.10 Pricing and taxation 4.11 Vehicle technology

5 TRKC Study of CityNetMobil Reference Group cities Aims of first stage of study 1. To gain a general overview of information needs of cities 2. To understand how cities currently access research results 3. To identify more effective ways in which research results can be made available Aim of second stage of study 4. To evaluate the usefulness of TRKC products for CityNetMobil activities

6 Overall design of study First stage of study Interviews with representatives of 7 CityNetMobil cities Carried out in 2008 (June, July and December) Second stage of study CityNetMobil cities were invited to read 8 TRKC documents and comment on them (through a questionnaire) 3 cities participated During July and August 2009

7 Results of interviews: general observations World of information is becoming increasingly complex Two particular drivers of relevance in context of study: Internet, with ever increasing availability of information EU funding for projects that facilitate professional information exchange Important to develop a conceptual map of how different types of information acquisition fit together

8 Results of interviews: general conclusions (1) Important to identify different types of information source for different types of activity (policy, design, operation...) Higher priority (more pressing) activities require personal contacts for information exchanges informal networks, and formal networks (such as CityNetMobil) which include experts for each issue of interest Other activities can obtain information from sources such as the internet

9 Results of interviews: general conclusions (2) Cities increasingly need to project a positive image of themselves It is important to provide information to the outside world on their progress such information broadcasting is often as important as obtaining information Any conceptual overview of information needs of cities should take into account both obtaining information and broadcasting information

10 Relevance to CityMobil: obtaining information (1) Interviewees would expect to obtain information from other CityMobil partners both formal technical information and informal information that might not be public (e.g. this is what went wrong ) This was a key reason for their participation in CityMobil

11 Relevance to CityMobil: obtaining information (2) Such "first hand" and "expert" information was always seen to be superior to any information that could be found on an internet site (e.g. TRKC) Is CityMobil providing this support? Could CityNetMobil? How can TRKC help?

12 Relevance to CityMobil: broadcasting information (1) Another benefit of involvement in CityMobil is as a vehicle for broadcasting information to the outside world letting the world know of their progress Those cities currently out of the loop of EU networking have particular needs

13 Relevance to CityMobil: broadcasting information (2) So cities also look to participation in CityMobil as a means of publicising their activities Is CityMobil providing this support? Could CityNetMobil? How can TRKC help?

14 Second stage of study All CityNetMobil Reference Group cities were invited to participate in a reading/questionnaire study Involving reading 8 TRKC documents after downloading them from the TRKC website a time-consuming task! and filling in a questionnaire on the 8 documents

15 Participating cities Three cities accepted the invitation: Vienna Vantaa Santa Margherita Ligure Santa Margherita Ligure City Council Project in CityNetMobil is called S.M.I.L.E. MOBILITY (S=Santa; M=Margherita; I=Innovation; L=Local; E=Evolution ) Main project goals of S.M.I.L.E. Mobility are: a web portal for an easy access to the mobility services an integrate control system for bus/taxis/urban police fleets an integrate system for information about mobility electric car sharing - Project TWIST cable railway or inclined lifts 1-2 automatic guided systems on the main axis

16 TRKC documents to be read Policy Brochure Transport and the Environment Thematic Research Summaries (TRS) Environment Transport Management Land Use Planning User Aspects Vehicle Technology Urban Transport Other Modes

17 Assessment Each of the 8 documents was assessed in terms of its relevance to CityNetMobil activities for each city concerned Each document was scored as either Very useful Moderately useful Not useful Reasons were provided for each score

18 Policy Brochure: Transport and the Environment Vienna Moderately useful. Only few projects related to urban public transport Vantaa Not useful. Only common information. There was no information of future urban transportation mode and nothing about how to carry out a city study for CityMobil vehicles. Santa Margherita Ligure Very useful. The S.M.I.L.E. project is formed of several initiatives aimed to reducing CO2 emissions and to improve quality services in urban transport.

19 TRS: Transport Management Vienna Very useful. Many projects related to urban public transport Vantaa Not useful. Only common information. There was no information of future urban transportation mode and nothing about how to carry out a city study for CityMobil vehicles Santa Margherita Ligure Moderately useful. The targets of S.M.I.L.E. MOBILITY Project are to increase the attractiveness and services for tourists and to control and limit the use of the private cars.

20 TRS: Land Use Planning Vienna Very useful. Many projects related to urban public transport Vantaa Moderately useful. Good basic information of impacts of land use on transportation in urban environment. Santa Margherita Ligure Document is moderately useful to define the issues concerning the development of innovative services for parking for non residents and their choice to public transport

21 Vienna TRS: User Aspects Partly useful. Only some projects related to urban public transport. Vantaa Very useful. Good information of human aspects in transportation including new urban transportation modes Santa Margherita Ligure Not useful. No connection with S.M.I.L.E. Mobility Project.

22 TRS: Vehicle Technology Vienna Moderately useful. Most projects interesting for vehicle builders and operators, only a few for transport planners. Vantaa Very useful. New vehicle concepts were interesting (cybercars) Santa Margherita Ligure Documents are very useful because S.M.I.L.E. Mobility is based on high-tech in urban transport and services.

23 Vienna TRS: Urban Transport Very useful. Many projects related to urban public transport Vantaa Very useful. Transportation systems in the future was interesting to read (PRT). Santa Margherita Ligure Moderately useful because there are several references to future transport systems, for example electric cyber cars. In particular there are references to new power propulsion systems and automatic driving systems.

24 Vienna TRS: Other Modes Moderately useful. Only some projects related to urban public transport Vantaa Very useful Interesting about PRTs Santa Margherita Ligure Very useful in full compliance with S.M.I.L.E. Mobility project: Automatic Drive Control Systems, Innovation in Power Propulsion, Environmental Sustainable. In a high level tourist town, it is important to have a high quality level services to offer to inhabitants and tourists. Innovation contributes to increased quality. Innovative measures are a natural improvement on the old way to offer services.

25 Recommendations for future TRKC products Vantaa: Studies about how to plan and take in use new vehicles as PRTs in urban transportation. What are the differences between the conventional transportation and automated systems in different aspects, not only technical

26 Conclusions and next steps Wide range of opinions shown by cities Not surprisingly (given the nature of CityNetMobil) documents concerned with technology were most favoured Comments from other cities still welcome to (see Feedback to TRKC in designing final versions, but structure seems appropriate Potential for further outputs: a CityMobil Policy Brochure?