Smart Mobility in Smart Tampere (Tampere - Finland)
Tampere is one of the cities that is part of the 6City Strategy of Finland (along with the five other largest Finnish cities: Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Turku, and Oulu), which focuses on achieving a sustainable urban development based on each city's needs and strengths, finding ways to collaborate in more concrete terms. The strategy is part of the implementation of Finland’s Structural Fund Programme for Sustainable Growth and Jobs 2014–2020.
The Smart Tampere project covers a wide range of themes (or ecosystems, as they are called within the project), but mobility is undoubtedly one of the most important ones, due to its potential for enhancing citizens’ quality of life. The city is currently using real-time traffic data, open data, geospatial positioning, and robotics. A 5G mobile network is already being built and it is expected to be ready by April 2018.
The smart tram project will be the most significant innovation, to be completed by 2021. Mobility hubs with robotic bus feeder traffic, informative tram stops, and digital and non-digital services will be part of this system that aims to improve the transportation paradigm of Tampere’s citizens.
The European STARDUST project (which is being developed jointly with Pamplona, Trento, Cluj, Derry, Kozani, and Litomerice) is also being developed in Tampere, focusing on e-vehicles, public e-charging, and e-parking.
The City of Tampere’s Guidance Ecosystem is another project funded by the European Union that is currently ongoing. It focuses on guiding people and large crowds in city centres according to their needs, preferences, and user-profiles. The aim is to create a platform where companies like travel agencies and event organisers can provide better services to their clients.
Sources:
http://smarttampere.fi/en/smart-ecosystem-themes/smart-mobility
http://smarttampere.fi/en/news/tampere-aims-for-top-smart-mobility-testing-platform-in-europe
http://smarttampere.fi/en/city-as-a-platform/hervanta-testing-platform
https://smartcitiesworld.net/news/how-tampere-aims-to-be-top-for-smart-mobility-testing--2291
Improved Intelligent Transport Systems.
Description of the objectives:
- Provide an intelligent traffic management system and multi-modal transport services to improve citizens’ quality of life, reduce costs, and adopt an environmental-friendly mobility paradigm;
- Create an internationally recognised testing ground and innovation platform for innovative smart mobility solutions.
The City of Tampere; an ecosystem of partners: companies, universities, research and development organisations, public entities, citizens, and other organisations.
Traffic is increasing in the largest cities all over the world. Intelligent and sustainable traffic management solutions are mandatory to improve quality of life.
Internet of Things; Open Data; integrated mobility services for smooth traffic flow; intelligent test and innovation area for transport operators; guidance ecosystem for Tampere events; smart tram (with smart stops and intelligent hubs – this project is still under development and will be completed by 2021); autonomous vehicles pilot and new driving forces (research ongoing); digital apps that use traffic data to inform users about the traffic flow on the route to their destination; smart parking solutions.
The launch phase of the smart mobility project began with the following pilots:
- Smooth traffic – integrated mobility services;
- Smart tram (operating in 2021);
- Smart traffic parks: Hervanta (a pilot area where tram routes and feeder traffic with robot vehicles is planned), Kauppi (TAYS), Hiedanranta;
- City Centre – Travel Centre and the Deck Arena;
- New payment and information system of public transport (LMJ.fi);
- Reducing the need for owning a private car (sharing economy);
- Taking advantage of artificial intelligence in analysing traffic data;
- Interaction, guidance, and coaching of smart passengers.
- Reduced traffic congestions, and therefore less time spent travelling every day;
- Less CO2 emissions;
- Significant cost savings for the citizens.