modum final brochure
DESCRIPTION
Models for Optimising Dynamic Urban Mobility - Final Recommendations and Results For additional information about MODUM, please visit: http://modum-project.eu/TRANSCRIPT
MODUMFinal Recommendations and Results
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 288205.
Models forOptimisingDynamicUrbanMobility
MODUM addresses the environmental footprint in the trans-
port sector by developing a new approach for pro-active
demand-responsive management of traffic.
This approach enables energy-efficient multi-modal transport
choices accommodating dynamic variations, minimising the
environmental impact and improving the quality of life in ur-
ban environments.
MODUM IN A NUTSHELL
MODUM – Models for Optimi-sing Dynamic Urban Mobility
Project type: Specific Targeted Research Project (STREP)
Programme: 7th EU Framework Programme
Objective ICT-2011.6.6 Low carbon multi-modal mobility and
freight transport
Project coordinator:
Transport & Mobility Leuven
Griet De Ceuster
+32 16 317730
Central contact:
Transport & Mobility Leuven
Sven Maerivoet
+32 16 317733
IMPRINT
MODUM – Models for Optimising Dynamic Urban Mobility
Final Brochure; December 2014
Text: Dr. Sven Maerivoet, Transport & Mobility Leuven
Design & Layout: FGM-AMOR Forschungsgesellschaft Mobiliät -
Austrian Mobility Research
Pictures: Page 2-3: i-stock; p. 4-8: FGM-AMOR; p.9 left: H.Schiffer, p.9
right: i-stock, p.10 left: Eltis-Plus; p.10 right: i-stock, p.11: FGM-AMOR
The sole responsibility for the content of this document lies with the
authors. It does not represent the opinion of the European Communi-
ties. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may
be made of the information contained therein. MODUM is funded by the
European Union in the FP7 programme.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 288205.
2
BACKGROUND & MOTIVATIONTransport congestion problems contribute around 70% of pollutants to urban
environments. The transport sector by itself consumes up to some 30% of the
total energy in the EU. These figures suggest that if Europe is to reduce its CO2
emissions by making an efficient use of energy while improving the quality of life
in European cities, novel approaches for the optimal management of urban trans-
port complexity must be developed and adopted in the transport sector.
MODUM addresses the environmental footprint in the transport sector by develop-
ing a new approach for traffic management. To that end, it employs the multi-agent
system paradigm, which is used in a novel setting, i.e., for distributed coordination
and forecasting (of, e.g., travel times) by means of self-organising virtual ants. In
addition, multi-modal solutions are provided through a noticeboard and bidding
approach using real-time data and declared destinations.
Urban transport and related congestion
problems contribute to up to 70% of CO2-
emissions in urban environment. Addition-
ally, the transport sector consumes about
a third of the total energy need in the EU.
These figures suggest that if Europe is to
reduce its CO2 emissions by making an
efficient use of energy, new approaches
for optimal management of the complex
urban transport must be developed and
adopted.
MODUM addresses the environmental
footprint in the transport sector by de-
veloping a new approach for pro-active
demand-responsive management of traf-
fic to enable energy-efficient multi-modal
transport choices accommodating dy-
namic variations, minimising the environ-
mental impact and improving the quality
of life in urban environments.
3
THE MODUM APPROACHIn practice, this translates into a tool that commuters can use for their daily
mobility. Whether or not they use bicycles, private cars, or a combination of
public transport, MODUM can provide with the greenest or fastest alternative
to reach their destinations. Moreover, the provided routing advice also takes
dynamic conditions into account, such as unexpected disturbances typical of
urban environments. In addition, the MODUM framework provides local admin-
istrations with a tool to obtain more insight into the traffic dynamics of their
cities. At anytime, the application provides the current state in the network,
based on information from available traffic detectors. In addition, MODUM also
provides information on transport links where no explicit measurements are
made, by means of cleverly interpolating the traffic conditions using a calibrated
microscopic traffic flow model.
MODUM will consider commuters, in
combination with both private and public
transport, facing dynamic conditions such
as unexpected disturbances that are typi-
cal for urban environments.
MODUM addresses the environmental
footprint in the transport sector by devel-
opinga new approach for traffic manage-
ment. To that end, it employs the multi-
agent system paradigm, which is used in
a novel setting, i.e., for distributed coor-
dination and forecasting (of, e.g., travel
times) by means of self-organising virtual
ants. In addition, multi-modal solutions
are provided through a noticeboard and
bidding approach using real-time data
and declared destinations.
44
In summary, MODUM provides on the one hand commuters with up-to-date
multi-modal travel information, and on the other hand it provides local adminis-
trations with a means for more efficient traffic management within their cities.
All in all, this leads to improvement of the quality of life in urban environments.
In order to accomplish all of this, MODUM is composed of various interrelated
core components. As already mentioned, there is a microscopic traffic flow
simulator at the heart of the application. In itself, it provides a complete view
of traffic conditions on the transport network. Additionally, it is queried by two
other services: one of them is responsible for gathering information on the fast-
est and greenest routes throughout the transportation network, including not
only private road traffic but also public transportation (such as buses, trams,
metro, and trains). The other service is centred around predicting road traffic
travel times for short periods of up to 30 minutes to 1 hour into the future. The
interaction of these three components makes MODUM truly an innovative player
in the field of personal mobility assistance, as it not only calculates for example
the fastest commuting route, but it also takes into account the predicted travel
time in the future.
While the mathematical computation engines are working behind the screens,
the entire MODUM system is accessed by a commuting end-user via both a
website and a mobile app. Registration of commuters wishing to use the app
can be done via a supporting website. It also serves them with a personal
dashboard to track their mobility behaviour, CO2 emissions, et cetera. The app
itself then equips users with an easy-to-use method to ask routing advice for
the fastest and greenest routes, depending on users’ specific preferences for
transport modes.
MODUM has undertaken a requirements
capture for low-carbon and efficient mo-
bility by means of three qualitative stud-
ies. They each rely on a different research
technique, namely (1) a survey for collect-
ing critical incidents, (2) a two-round Del-
phi study, and (3) a series of focus group
interviews at different locations. The tri-
angulation of these studies has provided
an in-depth understanding of current
commuting behaviour and practices in
addition to the factors that influence such
behaviour.
In MODUM scientific objectives push the
state-of-the-art in the area of pro-active
traffic control and deliver new knowledge
in the area in terms of models and re-
quirements (demand and supply side).
The prototype of the MODUM system
provides an implementation of an optimi-
sation approach to traffic management,
which is capable of dynamically adapting
the overall flows of traffic to unexpected
disturbances in order to minimise carbon
emissions within an urban complex envi-
ronment.
5
FINAL RESULTSOF MODUMMODUM not only provided a useful app for commuters and an informative sys-
tem for traffic managers, it is also backed by dedicated server infrastructure
that can be deployed anywhere. The software implementation of the synthe-
sised approach focuses on the telecommunication challenges of a realistic
demonstrator. MODUM’s prototype was validated by staging real-life experi-
ments, which were evaluated by the relevant traffic management structures
within the traffic control centres. In addition, the MODUM project also created a
structured evaluation framework which was used in the deployment stages of
the application. This evaluation framework is novel, in that it is essential to en-
sure that the right validation methods and assessments will be properly carried
out in order to have robust and clearly interpretable results at the end. Further-
more, the evaluation methodology is based on the CONVERGE and MAESTRO
project guidelines for technical assessment, adapted to the specific nature of
MODUM supports city councils in their
efforts to minimise the harmful effects
of urban traffic: MODUM helps traffic op-
erators to manage urban traffic more effi-
ciently, and MODUM helps city councils to
support their citizens with environmentally
conscious multi-modal routing informa-
tion.
The “package” that MODUM offers to city
councils basically comprises of two parts:
the MODUM Integrated Simulation Model,
and the MODUM applications for mobile
phones and in-car devices.
MODUM’s innovative modelling approach
allows traffic operators not only to get an
instant overview of the current traffic situ-
ation on the city’s whole road network, but
it also provides them with a forecast of the
traffic development on the city’s streets.
MODUM enables traffic operators to better
anticipate the effects of interventions and
the consequences of incidents, and thus to
manage urban traffic more efficiently.
6
the MODUM system. The framework consists of two major evaluation levels:
one dealing with the evaluation of the models used for the MODUM application,
and another one that puts the focus on the assessment of the application in
terms of technical performance, expected impacts, and user acceptance.
Testing and demonstration was done in two cities that served as candidates
for field trials. These cities were Nottingham in the United Kingdom, and So-
fia in Bulgaria. Both cities were specifically chosen as they are at two ends
of a spectrum: Nottingham has a rich traffic management infrastructure with
real-time video support and active intervention, and is thus characterised as a
mature traffic management environment. Sofia on the other hand, has, in com-
parison with Nottingham, very little active traffic management. Traffic lights are
controlled independently through local controllers and the strategy for dealing
with incidents is reactive, rather than proactive. The absence of any significant
level of coordinated traffic management infrastructure, coupled with the ef-
forts underway to deploy new infrastructure and the availability of GPS logging,
characterises Sofia as a more immature traffic management environment. Both
cities provide a well-suited range of testgrounds for the MODUM application. In
addition, the consortium was also in contact with Coventry, leading to another
project in which parts of MODUM are used, such that the flexibility of MODUM’s
proposed solution for deployment in other cities is addressed as well.
The main results from the MODUM project show that it is feasible for a city to
provide such an app, thereby directly tying into the needs of daily commut-
ers who wish to more efficiently organise their personal mobility. The fact that
public transport information can be seamlessly integrated within the application
framework is a huge bonus for systems that provide routing advice.
MODUM helps to support environmentally
conscious transport decisions
Based on the innovative modelling ap-
proach, MODUM offers routing informa-
tion highlighting the most environmentally
friendly routes. Applications developed
within the MODUM project allow access-
ing this information also via mobile and
in-car devices. This enables city councils
to help their citizens to plan their urban
trips more ecology-minded.
Software implementation of this synthe-
sised approach focuses on the telecom-
munication challenges of two realistic
demonstrators: the city of Nottingham
(UK) and the city of Sofia (BG). The devel-
oped prototype was validated by staging
real-life experiments in Nottingham and in
Sofia, which the relevant traffic manage-
ment structures within the traffic control
centres of these cities evaluated.
Objectives of the MODUM field trials
The purpose of the MODUM field trials
was twofold: On the one hand the aim of
the field trials was to test the application
in a “real-world” scenario and get the as-
sessment and feedback of the test users
and the city councils’ staff. On the other
hand the objective of the field trials was
to get an indication of the impact potential
of the MODUM application with respect to
reduction of carbon emissions and dura-
tion of journeys in urban centres.
7
Furthermore, MODUM allowed commuters to a priori determine the perform-
ance of their trips, by serving them with up-to-date real-time information in one
single view, something that hitherto was not easily possible. Given the number
of trips made by the field trial users within the projects, we can state that the
app is both stable and userfriendly, two very important characteristics for suc-
cessful apps, leading to a higher user retention rate.
The impact of the MODUM application will only be significant if it is to be im-
plemented on a wider scale. There are two aspects involved here, one is how
using the MODUM system by a broader user base within a city will lead to more
global effects, and the other one is how the MODUM system can have benefits
by expanding it to other European cities.
A traveller that has the MODUM system to his avail, will be better informed than
some other travellers and has an advantage compared to them. Increasing the
penetration of the MODUM system within the population will naturally lead to
more informed drivers. If everybody uses the MODUM system, then it stands
to reason that this will lead a system optimum of traffic load on the network.
The main reason is because the app is predicting traffic conditions for the near
future, and it does this for all the MODUM-equipped travellers in the system.
As such, the system will continuously try to generate the best/greenest routes.
If all users were (1) to choose the same cost function and (2) always follow
the advice of the MODUM app, then the system will settle near an optimum. In
this respect, the MODUM system provides a new method for nearing a system
optimum, while still remaining based on dedicated routing advice to individual
travellers. It thus bridges the gap between traffic operators and individual trav-
ellers, by means of enabling more optimal routing and traffic control.
The main results from the MODUM project
show that it is feasible for a city to provide
a useful app, thereby directly tying into
the needs of daily commuters who wish
to more efficiently organise their personal
mobility.
The MODUM app system is predicting
traffic conditions for the near future and
provides the fastest and greenest routes.
The MODUM system provides a new
method for nearing a system optimum,
while still remaining based on dedicated
routing advice to individual travellers. It
thus bridges the gap between traffic op-
erators and individual travellers, by means
of enabling more optimal routing and traf-
fic control.
8
When an expansion of the MODUM system to other European cities should oc-
cur, we need to be aware of the different legislative, financial, and social frame-
works in various cities that can lead to possible barriers for the implementation
of typical pilot and demonstration projects in a European context. Nevertheless,
there is an inherent scalability in the solution that the MODUM system provides.
This is because, as already explained, we deployed the system in two cities that
are quite different in their characteristics with respect to the environment for
traffic management. Because of this, it should be possible to expand the as-
sessment results to most other European cities in a scaling up.
The implemention of the MODUM system
in other European cities is possible since
the MODUM system is scalable and trans-
ferable to other contexts.
1
4 2
3 0
TRAFFIC CONGESTION DATA SIMULATOR
MULTI-MODE DECISIONSUPPORT TOOL FOR
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
REAL TIME TRAFFIC PREDICTION TOOL
USER REQUEST
ROUTE & MODESUGGESTION
TRAFFIC UPDATES
TRAFFIC UPDATES
TRAV
EL T
IME
FORE
CAST
(PER
OIDI
C)
ROADSIDE SENSORS
FLOATING CARS
I WANT TO GO FROM A TO B
THE MODUM SYSTEM
USER REQUEST AND ROUTE SOLUTION
OPTIMISED TRAVEL TIME FORECAST
9
THE FUTURE OF MODUMFor starters, MODUM provides two distinct products: an Integrated Simulation
Model (including an interface for traffic operators) that provides software that
models the current and near-future traffic situation on the city’s road network
based on sensor data and floating car information, and calculates routing infor-
mation based on this modelled traffic situation. In addition, MODUM provides
applications for mobile phones and for mobile (in-car) devices.
The primary target group for MODUM’s products are city councils. Although
road users are not a direct target group for MODUM, they are in itself the target
group for the city councils. These latter may buy the “MODUM package” (i.e.,
the aforementioned products). It is then up to them to see how they will make
the outcomes of the implementation of this “MODUM package” accessible to
their citizens. For example, city councils may provide their citizens with access
MODUM provides 2 products: (1) an In-
tegrated Simulation Model and (2) appli-
cations for mobile phones and for mobile
(in-car) devices.
The primary target group for MODUM’s
products are city councils. They have sev-
eral options how to implement the “MO-
DUM package” in thier city and make it
accessible to their citizens. The MODUM
implementation in the test cities of Sofia
and Nottingham can be transferrred to
other European cities.
1010
to MODUM via a website and/or by offering the MODUM apps. This has already
proven to work partially in the case of Sofia, where the MODUM consortium
coordinated together with Vivacom – Bulgaria’s largest telephone company – to
mass-distribute the MODUM app and attract potential commuters to use the
app.
In general, the MODUM system provides various benefits for each of its users.
It helps to reduce travel times, pollution, and traffic jams. In addition it also al-
lows better traffic control in real time by giving traffic information for the whole
city road network. Without MODUM, information is limited to sensor data and
covers not the whole road network. Note that the involved mobility and transport
operators (in Nottingham and Sofia) have a great deal of experience in terms of
investigating professional applications, pilots in the industry, and internal fine-
tuning of operations at the forefront. Nothing can be more convincing to other
stakeholders than systems already implemented in the real world, together with
key individuals speaking the voice of the traffic and transport operators and
having experienced impacts from research. This combination is the overlooked
element for convincing marketing in many technology-driven seller push ap-
proaches.
The MODUM system can help to reduce
CO2-emissions in urban environment. The
transport sector still consumes about a
third of the total energy need in the Eu-
ropean Union. MODUM can help to de-
crease the negative effects of individual
mobility for cleaner and better cities.
The MODUM system provides various
benefits for each of its users. It helps to
reduce travel times, pollution, and to avoid
traffic jams. Furtehermore it allows better
traffic control in real time.
The lessons learned from the MODUM
project can help cities to implement such
a system. Nothing can be more convinc-
ing to other stakeholders than systems
already implemented in the real world,
together with key individuals speaking the
voice of the traffic and transport opera-
tors and having experienced impacts from
research.
11
Project partners:
Austrian Mobility Research FGM-AMOR, AT
KU Leuven, BE
MUSAT Sofia, BG
Nottingham City Council, UK
Nottingham Trent University, UK
Sofia Centre for Mobility, BG
Technolution B.V., NL
University of Manchester, UK
The sole responsibility for the content of this document lies with the authors. It does not represent the opinion of the European Communities. The European Commission is not
responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. MODUM is funded by the European Union in the FP7 programme.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 288205.
For additional information about MODUM, please visit: http://modum-project.eu/
MODUM supports city councils in their efforts to minimise the harmful effects of urban traffic:
MODUM helps traffic operators to manage urban traffic more efficiently, and MODUM helps city councils to support
their citizens with environmentally conscious multi-modal routing information.
MODUM – Models for Optimising Dynamic Urban Mobility