N° 5
May 2023
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TTS Italia is the Italian ITS Association founded with the aim to promote the development and deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in Italy.
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The interview by Morena Pivetti
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“Digitalisation: the application of innovative technologies will improve infrastructure management and the quality of mobility”.
Interview with Elisabetta Pellegrini, coordinator of the Technical Mission Structure of Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (Mit).
TTS Italia organizes the conference "Solutions for the digitization of infrastructures" on 12 July in Rome.
The event will be an opportunity to present the results of the Working Group of the same name launched in April by the Association, and in particular will focus on a position paper which, starting from the proposal of the new European Directive on ITS, focuses on key issues such as intelligent technologies for infrastructures, cooperative mobility and road safety, taking into consideration opportunities, criticalities and impacts to arrive at proposals for concrete actions.
The Conference aims at the comparison between Institutions, Cities, Associations and Industry of the sector, also leaving room for Case Studies of a practical nature.
To continue proposing the topics that will be the subject of the Conference, this issue of the newsletter opens with an interview with engineer Elisabetta Pellegrini, coordinator of the Technical Structure of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
Engineer Pellegrini, how strategic do you consider the digitization of infrastructures for the management of buildings and major works in the country?
The efficient application of innovative technologies - with particular reference to the digitization of infrastructures and the related automation of vehicles and driving - are the key to obtaining a significant reduction of the negative impacts of transport, such as accidents, congestion, harmful gas emissions, emissions of climate-altering gases and to allow, at the same time, an effective management of the infrastructures, with particular regard to their maintenance, and a greater quality and efficiency of mobility. Application on a large scale - the only one that can bring significant results - requires the creation of the enabling conditions, applying to the road network technologies that are mature, tested and specified, putting the roads in a condition to collaborate with the vehicles, creating in parallel, operational prototypes on the appropriate scale for systems and services of proven efficacy - for motorway and multimodal corridors and for urban environments, targeting both private traffic and Local Public Transport -, involving operators, local authorities and the world of research to knowledge sharing and dissemination.
What are the strategies of Italy and, operationally, of the Technical Mission Structure in this field?
The foreseen digital evolution of infrastructures and that of vehicles towards growing connectivity and automation pose new challenges and offer new opportunities, in particular for road systems: the greatest benefits can be achieved by combining 'smart and connected vehicles' with 'smart roads' and capable of cooperating with vehicles'. Using information and communication technologies - "Intelligent Transport Systems" - we want to facilitate the creation of a qualitative leap in the primary road network, creating new services oriented towards efficiency and thus preparing the primary road network for the transition of vehicles roads towards connected and automated vehicles.
Let's see in more detail the objectives that derive from this strategy.
The strategic ones are four. The first is to substantially improve the efficiency, safety and quality of road transport; the second is the use of information and communication technologies - "Intelligent Transport Systems" - to achieve a qualitative leap in road transport; the third is the creation of new digital services oriented towards efficiency, the so-called digital transition, and the fourth is the creation of the enabling conditions and the knowledge, research and development environment in order to be able to positively exploit the opportunities offered in the near future from technological innovation in vehicles, with particular reference to traction systems, connection and automation.
And the more operational objectives?
Also, in this case there are four: the technological upgrading of the primary road network, the construction of prototypes for the realization of digital multimodal corridors, the creation of rei for the development of knowledge and collaboration in research and experimentation. Finally, the management of road infrastructure safety in a structural way and through an iterative process: analysis of the network, inspections, management of the digitized system, classification of maintenance priorities, implementation of interventions.
What are the reference norms?
The Decree of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport 28 February 2018, n. 70 regulated the digital transformation of 1st level road infrastructures in Italy, defining smart roads as 'road infrastructure for which a digital transformation process is carried out aimed at producing traffic observation and monitoring platforms, data processing models and information, advanced services to infrastructure managers, public administration and road users', and identifying the minimum functional requirements of smart roads, contained in Annex 1. The preparation and implementation of dynamic monitoring systems with distance are provided for by Ministerial Decree 578/2020 as an obligation for all managers of the SNIT network, the National Infrastructure and Transport System, on the basis of the Guidelines for risk classification and management, safety assessment and monitoring of existing bridges issued by the Superior Council of Public Works, and pursues the direction, started with the D.L. 109/2018 the so-called 'Genoa Decree', converted with amendments by Law 16 November 2018, n. 130, on increasing the safety of infrastructures.
How strategic will digitization be for monitoring artifacts, for predicting their state of wear and preparing the necessary preventive maintenance?
One of the main causes that prevents successful planning of the maintenance works necessary to ensure safe road connections, at present, is given by the fact that there is not enough information, data and knowledge on the state of maintenance of bridges, viaducts, overpasses and tunnels of the road network. Digitization for the monitoring, in particular, of road bridges and viaducts will therefore be strategic for control and prevention actions: the National Fund for complementary investments to the PNRR has already provided for the implementation of an integrated census, classification and management system of risks for 12,000 works of art in the SNIT national network, of which 6,500 will be instrumented. The adoption of the BIM (Building Information Modeling) model is envisaged for the works of art subject to inspection for 200 artefacts. On this basis, the structures that are in the most critical conditions will be selected, on which to apply the technological monitoring and for which the repair, safety or replacement works will be designed. Numerous pilot projects will also be developed, characterized by the use of innovative intervention techniques and materials.
What are the main objectives of this intervention and other similar ones that will be planned for the next few years?
First of all, the preparation and implementation of a dynamic monitoring system with remote control, necessary to improve the planning of maintenance operations and to identify the most vulnerable points, considering the seismic and landslide risks and the useful life. Then the management of road infrastructure safety in a structural way and through an iterative process - analysis of the network, inspections, management of the digitized system, classification of priorities, implementation of interventions - capable of guaranteeing a more in-depth knowledge of the state of the network and the improvement of its safety.
The interventions already financed, and the further interventions that will be financed, will be included, for the first level roads of the SNIT, in the ANAS program contract and/or in the contracts stipulated between motorway concessionaire companies with MIT. The activities related to the census, the acquisition of data and their processing will flow into the National Archive of Public Works, AINOP, established at MIT, which includes data from various administrations concerning the execution of public works. The survey campaigns will provide useful data and experiences, also for the monitoring and maintenance of bridges/viaducts/overpasses/gates of other road infrastructures. The integrated technological platform will thus be fed, with progressive dynamic implementation of the same, on the basis of the data collected and the highlighted intervention priorities.
Smart roads: where are we now?
The objective of the DM 28 February 2018, n. 70, mentioned above, consists in the adaptation of the 1st level road network to the minimum functional specifications set out in Annex 1 and over a six-year horizon (the 2021–2026-time frame was envisaged, which must be updated by moving it by one year for slowdowns due to the pandemic), substantially improving the efficiency, safety and quality of the primary road network.
Both ANAS and the motorway concessionaires are implementing the Decree, albeit with delays due, among other things, to the non-financing of the 'smart road' investment that was proposed, in 2021, under the PNRR.
In particular, ANAS has launched, in recent years, an overall digitization project of the network of competence, based on a complex digital platform that is articulated on the road network as a 'nervous system' with the support of technologies such as IoT, Internet of Things, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and advanced sensors through the development of the national ultra-broadband network.
Since the digital transformation process is constantly evolving, it is essential that the industry standards, and specifically the DM 70/2018 and subsequent amendments, including the technical annex, are adequately updated: the contents of the DM are currently being updated as part of the revision of the Highway Code, extending the scope of the diffusion of smart roads also in urban areas.
What are the critical issues you encounter as a Public Administration in implementing the process?
The critical issues are related to regulatory and financial aspects. In terms of regulatory updates, after the issue of DM 70/2018 'smart road' we had been working on its update for some time, which also reached a good level of preparation. However, due to the important implications connected with the provisions of the Highway Code, it was recently decided not to issue an updated DM, but to insert the rules and definitions associated with 'smart roads' directly in the new version of the Code, adapting it to the strategy progressive digitization of infrastructures.
In financial terms, given the extension of the national road network, even if only limited to the first level one, and considering the number of works of art, due to the Italian orographic characteristics, the resources necessary for a progressive digitization are truly enormous, and the need to find them does not allow short times for achieving the programmed objectives.
Are there European and/or Italian best practices to refer to?
Italy is moving ahead of Europe in the field of 'smart roads'. The first application step of the digitization in progress concerns, in fact, some of the most important strategic axes of the country: the E45-E55 'Orte-Mestre' itinerary, in Veneto the state road 51 'di Alemagna', in Sicily the Catania ring road and the A19 'Autostrada Palermo-Catania', in Lazio the A90 'Grande Raccordo Anulare di Roma' and A91 'Autostrada Roma-Fiumicino Airport', the national road 4 'Salaria' and the A2 'Autostrada del Mediterraneo'.
Anas' testing on the occasion of the 2021 Alpine Ski World Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo represented the first Smart Road experience in Europe. The state road 51 'Alemagna' was equipped with a Smart Road technological infrastructure, for a total investment of around 27 million euros. This project has made it possible to use an integrated platform for managing mobility with the aim of guaranteeing the best quality of travel in the Valley, not only for sporting events but, in the future, also for residents and tourists.
Who is Elisabetta Pellegrini. Graduated in civil engineering, Coordinator of the Mission Technical Structure of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport since 16 December 2022.
She follows strategic dossiers including the bridge over the Strait of Messina, the country's water emergency, the Milan - Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the motorway concessions and the programming and strategic planning of the country's infrastructure projects.
Former Director of the Infrastructure, Transport, Public Works and State Property Department of the Veneto Region, she has maintained her position as Rup of the Pedemontana Veneta.
She was hired in the Public Administration as an official over the years she reached the top as General Manager of the Infrastructures design and construction management sector of the Province of Verona.
She held numerous lectures in post-graduate masters at the University of Verona.
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Founded in 1997 thanks to the synergic work of a group of experts engaged in the field of Sustainable Freight and Passenger Mobility, today FIT Consulting Srl is recognized and appreciated in Europe, Asia and the USA thanks to an extensive network and presence in the main thematic networks of the sector. Through the constant search for innovative and cutting-edge solutions, the company has acquired a wealth of knowledge that it puts at the service of social and economic development. FIT Consulting, offers a portfolio of specialized technical and scientific assistance services ranging from project management to complex research and development projects for the digital and ecological transition of companies, from the study of pilot projects to the exploitation of results, from new business models for logistics and transport companies to support to public administrations in the definition of integrated measures in Sustainable Mobility and Logistics Urban Plans, to the analysis of impacts and the conception of functionalities of innovative mobility systems (e.g., Mobility as a Service and Logistics as a service).
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PROJECT IN THE SPOTLIGHT
DISCO: a SuperHero accelerating urban logistics digital transition synchronizing citizen, planners, and business in strategically use space and assets in adaptive, service-oriented and smart European cities
The DISCO project is a 42-month innovation action co-funded by the European Commission in the Horizon Europe Programme, coordinated by FIT Consulting srl (www-fitconsulting.it). With its 47 partners DISCO aims at fast-tracking upscaling to a new generation of urban logistics and smart planning framework, enabling the transition to decarbonised and digital cities in Europe, delivering innovative tools and methods, changing the urban logistics and planning paradigm with a Physical Internet (PI) – led approach.
In the music industry evolution, the transition has already been achieved: from physical support in vinyl, magnetic tape, or metal, to full dematerialisation of products, distributed by means of a data platform, able to share royalties, services, and music as a commodity, like Spotify. Music can now be massively used by everyone by regular subscription (just by mobile), wherever they are and whatever music one would like to listen (Music as a service). The same should go for deliveries in urban logistics (es. Logistics as a service).
DISCO Kick off meeting in Bruxelles, 16 and 17 May 2023, the DISCO Consortium
In European cities, a dynamic and optimal space re-allocation, requires integrating urban freight within an efficiently operated network-of-networks, exploiting underused land and assets, including both fixed and mobile infrastructure, based on throughput demands. Supporting such a challenge, the DISCO vision lays upon four Game Changers in the last mile: Fast-tracking transition of digital, physical, and economically / socially viable sustainable solutions driven by new technologies, by integrating interoperable innovations with enabling technologies by an online PI-led Meta Model Suite, composed of five “DISCO-X” innovations: DISCOCURB, DISCOPROXI, DISCOBAY, DISCOESTATE and DISCOLLECTION. An Assessment Toolkit measures quantitative and qualitative digital transition progress, for a holistic urban logistics and planning. The Meta Model Suite will help the deployment of clustered 23 innovative measures across eight European Living Labs; Co-creating an innovative enabling city “cloud” ecosystem for trust and data protection to ensure services interoperability and common protocols. This target has potentials to valorise urban freight data, for new value creation, fostering capacity in aligning digital challenges among public/private stakeholders, by introducing a Data Space in Living Labs - with anonymised and customised data pipelines supporting such services, enabling better collaboration and coordination among different stakeholders. Driving cities in effectively implementing new urban logistics sustainable planning adopting a Poly-parametric city typology as Functional Urban Areas (FUAs) to synchronise city centres and peripheries with mixed and optimal space distribution and of lands uses; Fast-tracking adoption of innovative business models, of assets that are based on data-driven and sharing principles among private/public players, stimulating an executive collaboration model to generate new market and values.
DISCO demonstrates innovative measures to connect in different flex zone functions, having common data syntax for efficiently allocating space. The Meta Model Suite guides Living Labs in achieving PI-led optimisation of urban space use and allocation, multipurpose use of buildings, open hubs operating with co-modal services, reducing empty miles, achieving better operational results, and limit congestion through dynamic routing, and load policies. The UF Data Space introduces common standards on business and governance models for data sharing, and a portfolio of urban functions creating conditions to engage stakeholders in customised data sharing. Having digitalisation at the centre of the urban logistics ecosystem, a smooth coordination and voluntary data sharing among the mobility and urban planning departments of the cities can fulfil the primary principles of the SUMPs in the entire “functional city” by integrating previously fragmented urban logistics elements of the value chain.
The DISCO’s 23 ground-breaking measures are demonstrated on a 3-Steps implementation lifecycle, involving in total 8 demonstrators: 4 Starring Living Labs, Copenhagen (DK), Ghent (BE), Thessaloniki (EL), and Helsinki (FI) (Step 1), 4 Twinning Living Labs, Padua (IT), a Spanish Cluster with Barcelona, Valencia, and Zaragoza (ES) (Step 2), and 4 Early Adopters, Prague (CZ), Piacenza (IT), Aarhus (DK) and North Hesse (DE) (Step 3). They span North to South and East to West along TEN-T corridors, supporting the revised guidelines for the TEN-T, which states that EU cities on the network should adopt a SUMP harmonised with SULP, and collect relevant data. Seven out of 8 LLs are in the list of EU Mission cities.
The PI-led approach implemented in DISCO delivers trusted integration of systems and networks, adopted by cities actively shaping their transition, smoothly harmonising freight considerations into land-use policy and planning. Within a data-driven “cloud” approach a city could fairly penalize abusers of the infrastructure by having access to real-time data on use, avoid costly infrastructure investments that simply address congestion times by optimizing use during all times of the day and control access to infrastructure and avoid congestion or overuse.
As ultimate goal, DISCO supports Living Labs with a Policy package to achieve the EU Mission goals for inclusive climate-neutral smart cities by 2030 with socially and economically viable solutions of digital urban logistics and planning at different ranges of European city geographies and ambitions, distinctive and settled urban and peri-urban systems and hierarchies.
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THREE QUESTIONS TO…
Paola Cossu, CEO FIT Consulting
Which role does dynamic urban space management play in logistics and new models for resilient urban development?
The major challenges faced by European cities in day-to-day activities are affected by disruptive changes in consumer behaviour, new urban mobility patterns and the effects of Covid-19, all together having generated growth in the number of deliveries, increasing pressure on the entire mobility system. This is increasingly limiting the - already scarce - availability of areas for effective delivery operations. Therefore, an extreme form of demand for flexibility is required, delivery to any location, ability to change plans on the run, expectation of not paying for delivery and demand for free and fast returns, thus disruptively changing logistics requirements. Being the “last mile” the most expensive competent of the entire logistics chain, generating more than 50 percent of the total cost, with deliveries now made directly to the end consumer rather than to stores, there is a need for a paradigm change with capability on dynamic and strategic reallocation of urban spaces, integrating urban freight transport within an efficient "network of networks" optimally using available spaces and assets. New and advanced models, such as proximity logistics, omnichannel, smart zones, and 15-minute cities, have powerful potential to transform, if duly and timely implemented, urban areas as independent, intelligent, and interconnected multipurpose “cloud nodes”.
Which solutions can facilitate voluntary data exchange among stakeholders in urban logistics?
Before talking about data exchange in urban logistics we need to understand the context: "Knowledge requires both belief and truth. Without the ability to verify the truthfulness of a belief there can be no knowledge", as H. Frankfurt, said on Bullshit in 2005. In recent years, data - especially in urban mobility - are equivalent to digital transformation and necessary in any sustainable development model laying on innovation and decarbonization. Sustainability and efficiency of the urban logistics system is based on the “data economy”, a central element for digital transformation, enabling the integration of a network of systems. Data Spaces are remarkable innovative solution encouraging voluntary data sharing. They introduce semantic interoperability in the data management system across multiple layers, managing commercial, proprietary and open data, adopting a coordinated data sharing model and value creation in different service levels. A Data Space in urban logistics can outline common standards on different business models and governance, offering a portfolio of key functions representing generic and reusable services, and creates optimal conditions for stakeholder engagement within a customized and anonymized data sharing system, with access to a catalogue of federated services, in full compliance with the principles of sovereignty, interoperability and trust.
Which are the enabling technologies in urban logistics and innovative assets with the greatest potential to help cities pursue real digital transformation with measures that are interoperable and replicable?
The ability of local governments to optimally acquire and manage information toward a digital transformation of freight mobility planning, real-time knowledge of data and the use of new technologies are the most relevant and disruptive enabling assets, among which I mention the most impactful ones: Flexible management of the curb zone, a neural road network that, if not properly governed, can generate conflicts between freight and people mobility players. One good example is the use of "smart" loading and unloading areas. Dynamic Access Control (DAC) for route optimization, which can be implemented through automated communication systems regarding regulations for access in the city. Smart micro-hub network management, to reduce the number of deliveries by optimizing loads, incentivizing the use of zero-emission modes of transportation in low/zero density areas with additional services (charging for electric bikes, maintenance, warehousing, and lockers). New models of flexible warehouse cooperation for consolidation by dynamically managing space for e-commerce, setting up off-road proximity areas for loading and unloading, located nearby the destination (Warehouse-as-a-service). Digital Twins for real-time decision making, to define adequate measures that a local government is required to introduce for efficient urban logistics, with the integration of fresh data from logistics Service Providers. Collaborative storage capacity among operators, by the Virtual Freight Centers, matching supply and demand finding the right paths to availability of unused infrastructure, as temporary warehouse, i.e. "freight hotels". Now more than ever, it is urgent to address mobility and accessibility priorities by fostering new social models, based on principles and technologies towards a digital and ecological transition, favouring sustainable city development models. |
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Chat&Go®: OpenMove lands in Venice
This is the announcement by the COO of AVM Group at the conference on “Digitalization of Mobility in Venice – Enabling Technologies for Automated Fare Collection” organized by Club Italia in Venice on May 8th and 9th, 2023.
The collaboration with the Venetian Mobility Company has led to a new and innovative ticketing system, Chat&Go®. Citizens, commuters and visitors will be able to purchase an urban transport ticket of the Venice municipality (buses and ferries) with a few simple clicks via WhatsApp, without the need to download and register to new applications.
Why WhatsApp?
Currently, in the messaging app sector, WhatsApp plays a dominant role and is driving the progressive transition of communication from personal – between family members and friends – to corporate. The so-called WhatsApp APIs, recently introduced, allow the interaction between companies and customers, which is therefore pioneering.
With a market penetration rate approaching 90% in Italy (89.1% in 2022. Source: Statista), WhatsApp represents a privileged communication channel for companies, also considering the incredible message opening rate which reaches 98% (Source: AiSensy). Combining this commercial strength with the new integration capabilities of the WhatsApp platform, the ticketing system Chat&Go® is the result of an early-stage opportunity seized by OpenMove together with AVM.
Companies and users have never been so close, being able to interact within a single communication environment. In particular, in the case of Chat&Go®, this interaction begins and ends in a few simple steps with the delivery of the ticket. WhatsApp, given its immediacy, is therefore a more powerful tool than an e-mail, being used on a daily basis by users, even by those less tech savvy.
But how does it work in detail?
It is a real-time and in push interaction which takes few simple steps to complete the purchase flow of the ticket:
By framing the QR Code placed at the stops of the urban transport service or, alternatively, by saving the number on your smartphone, a dedicated WhatsApp channel will open;
Simply start the conversation to receive a link that will lead to the web app;
Once you have chosen the desired ticket, you can perform the purchase with credit or debit card, Google Pay and Apple Pay;
You will receive your ticket directly on WhatsApp, within the initial chat.
At present, tickets for the urban network are available for purchase through WhatsApp. However, throughout 2023 and 2024, the solution Chat&Go® will extend to tickets for the suburban network and those currently loadable on the Venezia Unica card. The ticketing system Chat&Go®, consequently, is a true example of a smart solution which fits into a multi-channel context.
The solution takes advantage of the ABT (Account-Based Ticketing) platform and logic of OpenMove: in this way you will always be certain of having your ticket saved on the cloud and within easy reach on any device. If, for some unfortunate event, your mobile runs out of battery after a long day spent between the Venetian streets, it will always be possible to recover your ticket by communicating, for example, your phone number to the bus inspector. The ticket will be recovered in a simple and immediate way!
Chat&Go®, in the users’ pockets, fits into the OpenMove project suite, contributing to the pursuit of the company mission, namely to make people free to move when and how they prefer, facilitating access to public and shared mobility.
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ACI signs agreements with ENAC and ISPRA: towards a new mobility
ACI, TTS Italia founding member, and ENAC have signed a collaboration agreement for emergency management, research and development of new technologies for the creation of service mobility. An agreement to combine expertise in the event of an emergency, experience and experimentation in the field of research on the most advanced driving technologies was signed by the President of the Automobile Club of Italy, Angelo Sticchi Damiani and by the President of the National Body for Civil Aviation, Pierluigi Di Palma. The collaboration agreement provides for the integration and coordination of the activities relating to the phases of emergency preparation and management in the sectors of competence of each of the parties, as well as the scientific/technological transfer of skills and the results obtained, as well as joint research and development activities to find innovative solutions of public utility and service for citizens and the territory. Thanks to the agreement, ENAC and ACI will strengthen and implement their respective response capacities in the field institution, launching a collaboration process on the issue of emergency coordination with the activation and launch of shared paths, mutual exchange of professionalism and know-how. "Collaboration between public bodies in areas of common interest and competence is essential for developing innovative projects and expand the areas of research and development of solutions in the field of safe and sustainable mobility”, underlined the President of the Automobile Club of Italy. “The agreement allows us to extend our knowledge of safety and monitoring systems for risk prevention – continued Sticchi Damiani – and represents an opportunity for ACI to put experience and analysis skills into a system to intercept new mobility needs of people. But also to look to the future and to the technological possibilities that will intervene to offer increasingly modern services and in line with the needs of the territories". "The Protocol - commented the Enac President - represents the starting point of an unprecedented institutional agreement aimed at achieve, on the basis of consolidated relationships and in the light of new synergies, a system that will allow us to protect fundamental aspects for the life of every citizen, such as that of mobility. We want to put all our knowledge and our vision into play, which also includes advanced, intermodal, sustainable and technological air mobility". "By exploiting the third dimension - continued Pierluigi Di Palma - new integrated and intermodal models of intelligent mobility, both air and land, can be offered to citizens and territories, such as to develop innovative and eco-sustainable solutions for the realization of mobility as a service". ACI has also signed a memorandum of understanding with ISPRA to encourage sustainable mobility.
The President of ISPRA Stefano Laporta and the President of ACI Angelo Sticchi Damiani have signed a three-year memorandum of understanding, aimed at promoting collaboration on sustainable mobility. In particular, each with their own skills and institutional purposes, they will provide knowledge and professionalism to improve mobility in terms of safety and environmental sustainability. ISPRA performs technical and scientific functions for the planning and implementation of sustainability policies of pressures on the environment, through monitoring, reporting, evaluation, control, inspection and management of environmental information, as well as guidance and coordination of the National Network System for the Protection of the Environment (SNPA). The Aci deals with the various aspects related to mobility, spreading the culture of responsible use of the car in line with the principles of sustainable development and valorisation of the territory, promoting automotive education and road safety education in order to reduce the accidents. The two Institutes have already collaborated in the past for elaborations and studies relating, for example, to the Inventory of emissions into the atmosphere and numerous editions of the Report on the Quality of the Urban Environment; the signed Agreement confirms and extends the collaboration to the implementation of specific study initiatives, also in partnership with other public entities, in order to improve knowledge of the problems connected to road transport and to encourage solutions for sustainable mobility from the point of view of safety, the environment and the economy.
Source: ACI/ISPRA
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CIRCLE Group signs a new project worth € 250,000 with a primary Mediterranean port
CIRCLE Group (“CIRCLE”) – Group specialized in the analysis of processes and in the development of solutions for the digitization of the port sector and intermodal logistics and in international consultancy on Green Deal and energy transition issues led by Circle S.p.A., listed on the Euronext Growth Milan market of Borsa Italiana, and TTS Italia ordinary member – has signed a new project worth approximately € 250,000 (in the period 2023-2025) with a primary Mediterranean port. “The fact of having been selected to support in he evolution of advanced port, railway and customs services of an important player in the port sector in the Mediterranean active mainly in containerized traffic and capable of distinguishing itself for its strong railway vocation, is a source of great pride and satisfaction” comments Luca Abatello, CEO & President of CIRCLE.The project constitutes a further stage of the Connect 4 Agile Growth roadmap which envisages the expansion of geographical coverage as one of the cornerstones of the Group's development strategy.
Source: Circle Group
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CIRCLE Group: project signed for approximately € 300,000 with leading international multimodal logistics operator
CIRCLE Group (“CIRCLE”) – Group specialized in the analysis of processes and in the development of solutions for the digitization of the port sector and intermodal logistics and in international consultancy on Green Deal and energy transition issues led by Circle S.p.A., listed on the Euronext Growth Milan market of Borsa Italiana, and TTS Italia ordinary member – has signed a new framework contract and a first project worth around €300,000 with a leading international multimodal logistics operator.
The order has a duration of 9 months and concerns innovative digitization activities related to the international cargo sector, including a strong focus on multimodal shipments and air cargo.
“This new contract confirms the market's positive response to the CIRCLE Connect 4 Agile Growth strategic plan, which is increasingly increasing its potential also thanks to the increase in Milos® Federative Services and the strengthening of the component aimed at international multimodal cargo and air cargo” declares Luca Abatello, CEO & President of CIRCLE.
Source: CIRCLE Group
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eticketing: the popularity of Atac's Tap&Go is growing in Rome
Tap&Go is confirmed as one of the most popular sales channels of Atac, TTS Italia founding member. Data from the first quarter of validations of 2023 show that the number of travel tickets purchased with payment cards has practically doubled (+81%), with peaks of 57,000 daily taps on buses and metros. The introduction of the Tap&Go system also on buses since the end of 2022 it has also "driven" validations on the metro, increased by 55% since the beginning of the year. Data show that BITs (100-minute timed tickets) purchased at turnstiles or validators with Tap&Go, i.e., with payment cards, now cover over 25% of sales, i.e. one BIT out of four. The number of individual travelers who to date has used Tap & Go has exceeded three million, with over 23 million taps. 5% of these customers used the best fare, i.e., the possibility of enjoying the best fare as the number of taps increases, up to the Roma 24 ore fare, which allows you to travel for 24 hours from the first validation. About 80% are Roman city users. Among the tourists, 12% come from non-EU countries, with the British and Americans in the lead. The others come from the EU, with Spanish citizens leading the ranking followed by the French and Germans. Most of the users are occasional customers who use public transport to move around the city, especially in their free time. In fact, 77% use the service on average one day a week, usually during the weekend. In short, Tap&Go is characterized as a sales channel for leisure and tourism. The metro stations where the highest number of validations were recorded are in fact Termini, A and B, and Ottaviano and Spagna of Metro A. The use of Tap&Go has made it possible to save over 226 quintals of paper - the equivalent of the replaced magnetic tickets from electronic payment – has generated a lower consumption of 114,000 liters of water, 1,976 kW of electricity and 158 quintals of Co2.
Source: Clickmobility |
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Free Flow Systems: the new barrier-free toll system designed by Movyon has been inaugurated in Argentina
On May 9, the new "Free Flow" toll system was inaugurated on the Illia highway in the city of Buenos Aires, in the presence of Rodríguez Larreta, head of the local government, accompanied by other institutional representatives, by the President of Autopistas Urbanas (AUSA), José Luis Acevedo and the CEO of Movyon, Lorenzo Rossi.
The solution, commissioned by AUSA, the infrastructure manager, and the first case of barrier-free tolls open to all types of vehicles in Argentina, was created by Movyon, TTS Italia founding member.
The main objectives of the technology implemented are greater traffic flow on the 10.5 km stretch of the Illia motorway and a better travel experience for the 93,000 users who use it every day. The system also allows a reduction of polluting gases equal to 1,154 tons of CO2 per year, a fundamental result in terms of sustainability, obtainable thanks to the elimination of queues.
The system replaces traditional toll booths with a portal equipped with devices that capture vehicle license plates, detect the RFID TAG on board and identify the category it belongs to, recording the passage of the vehicle and allowing electronic payment of the toll without slowdowns or stops.
It is an imposing and technologically advanced structure covering a total of 11 lanes equipped with redundant devices. The solution is accompanied by real-time monitoring tools that allow the operator to monitor, manage and measure the performance of the toll infrastructure.
The levels of accuracy of the system are among the highest in the sector and are represented by KPIs of 99.9% relating to portal availability and 97% for RFID Tag reading.
This important project joins the other systems created by Movyon around the world, for a total of 450 free Flow portals and Stop&Go stations.
Source: Movyon |
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Geotab drives industry standard in electric vehicle fleet management with data intelligence solutions for over 300 EV makes and models
Geotab Inc. (“Geotab”) is revolutionizing the way electric vehicles are managed with its comprehensive telematics and data intelligence solutions. Geotab’s platform provides near real time data on battery charge, range, energy and fuel usage and charging history for over 300 different EV makes and models, making it the global leader in EV telematics.
Geotab announced the world leading milestone at the grand opening of its new Innovation and Research Hub in High Wycombe, England. This state-of-the-art facility, which has been active since 2020, is dedicated to advancing the data intelligence required to support the electrification of the transportation sector at scale. The hub is home to some of the brightest minds in the industry who are pioneering the way forward in developing cutting-edge technologies to support connected vehicles of all kinds. With a focus on delivering innovative solutions, this center of excellence is at the forefront of driving a cleaner and more sustainable future for transportation.
”We understand how the quality and richness of the data captured from the vehicle can define the success of analytics that support the fleet’s operations and sustainability program, which is why access to comprehensive data insights is critical,” added Neil Cawse, CEO of Geotab. “Our world-class EV support is a differentiator, and we are proud to lead the industry in this area.”
Despite the rapid growth of the EV industry, there is still a lack of official vehicle information standards, creating unique data challenges for fleet managers. Through Geotab’s technology and reverse engineering process, the company offers comprehensive data insights that provide fleet managers with the information needed to make informed decisions for fleet electrification and sustainability goals, such as vehicle range, efficiency and state-of-charge. Without access to this data, fleets can face issues such as inefficiency, unexpected breakdowns, decreased productivity and an unsatisfactory electric vehicle experience.
Geotab has been at the forefront of innovation for over 20 years. It has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of the industry, and for the past decade, has been specializing in electric vehicles. The company’s ability to provide rich and comprehensive data signals for virtually any EV make or model is a remarkable milestone that reflects the hard work of hundreds of engineers and data scientists.
“With EVs, data is vital from the outset. The lack of an industry standard means each EV model that is released could potentially require a new approach for accessing its data,” said Charlotte Argue, Senior Manager, Sustainable Mobility, Geotab. “With the full EV support that Geotab offers, we've ensured fleets get the insights they need to optimize their fleets, as they deploy and scale zero-emission vehicles in their operations.”
Geotab offers a range of tools for EV fleet management, including an EV Suitability Assessment (EVSA) that analyzes unique driver profiles and patterns to identify which fleet vehicles are suitable for electrification. The Green Fleet Dashboard compares performance against similar fleets, including EV performance, usage, and cost savings, and the Fleet Electrification Knowledge Center provides data-driven analyses and resources for fleets of any size along the EV conversion journey, including analyses to help fleets understand EV battery lifespans and real-world range impacts.
To learn more about how Geotab can fully support your fleet’s transition to electric, visit https://www.geotab.com/fleet-management-solutions/electric-vehicles/.
Source: Geotab |
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Targa Telematics finalizes the closing of the acquisition of Viasat Group
Targa Telematics Spa – a tech-company specialized in the development of IoT solutions and digital platforms for connected mobility, and TTS Italia founding member – has announced the closing of the acquisition of 100% share capital of Viasat Group Spa (“Viasat Group”).
The operation has been finalized – as previously communicated in the press release on the 27th of February 2023 – following the approval from the Antitrust Authority in Italy and in Spain and the authorization by Golden Power in Italy.
This acquisition marks the creation of one of the main global players in the field of IoT and for the development of solutions and digital services for connected mobility. It will be present in eight key European countries: Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, the UK, Belgium, Poland, and Romania, on top of which a company in Chile as well.
Targa Telematics further strengthens its leadership in the Italian market and accelerates its expansion in Europe, bringing its technologies directly to the market to cater to projects at a continental level and beyond.
Amongst these international projects, Targa Telematics will be able to leverage a strong dedicated local support in different countries to serve its clients at its best, which mostly include multinational groups active in the mobility field, as well as in other sectors of the market.
Source: Targa Telematics |
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TTS Italia welcomes new members
Following the Board of Directors meeting held on May 29, TTS Italia is pleased to welcome its new members:
FRONTIERE (www.frontiere.io): is a company that focuses its activities in the following sectors Artificial Intelligence and Data strategy, Mobility solutions, Apps for businesses and new generation digital solutions.
In the mobility sector, their offer is focused on a platform with multiple functions and a single payment system to provide the technological tools and applications necessary for sustainable mobility decision makers and all new mobility operators. They also deal with solutions for vehicle monitoring and vehicle rental.
GreenShare (www.greenshare.it): is a SME operating in the sector of sustainable and shared mobility (carpooling). In particular, GreenShare designs, develops and manages applications for infomobility, mobile payment, supporting local public transport companies in their digitization process.
Source: TTS Italia |
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Turin launches the ToMove Living Lab. 5T also involved
On 25 May 2023, the Municipality of Turin, a member of the Local Authorities Platform of TTS Italia, launched the ToMove Living Lab.
Turin, in fact, with its ToMove project, was selected to create a Living Lab aimed at promoting the co-development and testing of new service scenarios and autonomous, connected and cooperative mobility solutions, in close relationship with MaaS services (Mobility as a Service) which, in parallel, will be developed in the "TorinoMaaS4Italy" project.
Specifically, the ToMove Living Lab will use the 35 km urban circuit and the related infrastructures already made available as part of the "Turin Smart Road" initiative as the first test area. In a second phase of the project, the infrastructure of the Mobility Center of the Municipality of Turin will be expanded and integrated, also with the involvement of citizens through self-driving collective transport solutions.
With this pilot, the Mobility Center assumes a strategic role and, on the other hand, the project offers the municipality of Turin the opportunity to better understand the mobility needs of different categories of city-users: from people with disabilities to tourists.
The director of 5T, Rossella Panero, TTS Italia ordinary member and President of TTS Italia, intervened to talk about the involvement in the project, underlining: the increasingly strategic role of the Mobility Center of the Municipality of Turin in the governance of mobility; the need to personalize access to mobility services by adapting them to different categories of city-users: from people with disabilities to tourists.
Source: 5T |
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Registrations open for the Next Generation Mobility. TTS Italia among the sponsors and speakers of the event
Next Generation Mobility, the conference on the mobility chain, reaches its third edition. Two days, on 13 and 14 June in Turin and in streaming, of conferences and meetings in which companies, start-ups, universities and institutions will have the opportunity to discuss innovation, business opportunities, compliance and sector reforms.
TTS Italia is among the sponsors and speakers of the event.
The title The Green Challenge was chosen for the 2023 edition of Next Generation Mobility, to reaffirm the strategic and key role that mobility represents for the achievement of the objectives set by the United Nations 2030 Agenda. The ways to pursue the goal of sustainability are diverse and range from decarbonisation to sharing mobility, from MaaS to light and individual mobility, from the design of products and services to connected driving: complex issues that have in common the application of technological innovation and precise governance choices at all levels: from European to local policies.
This year the event will host two important appointments: the IV National Conference on Urban Air Mobility and Advanced Air Mobility and the I National Conference on hydrogen and e-fuels.
TTS Italia, represented by Matteo Antoniola, coordinator of the Association's Working Group on MaaS, will take part in the session on 13 June (10.30 - 13.00, Room A) dedicated to MaaS: technologies and governance at the service of sustainability.
Mobility as a service is based on the idea that administrations and companies work together to develop a mobility network that replaces the private one in favor of public and shared transport. A sustainability that aims to reduce traffic in the city, in the metropolitan area and, eventually, throughout the country. Public and private must integrate various mobility services that are centered on the itinerary of the individual traveler and updated in real time as objective situations change to provide an end-to-end personalized service. To do this, the collection, sharing and management of data are essential. MaaS is also one of the application sectors where artificial intelligence can provide a fundamental leap in quality.
For more details on the event and to participate, click here. |
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Regional mobility challenges & climate neutrality:
connecting underserved areas
The 1st Exchange of Experience event of the EMBRACER Project will take place on the 31st May and 1st June, 2023 in two beautiful cities of Portugal: Coimbra and Aveiro.
EMBRACER (intErconnecting MoBility acRoss europeAn CitiEs and subuRbs)is a project with a duration of 48 months (March 2023- May 2027)cofounded by the European Commission in the frame of the Interreg Europe Programme. EMBRACER is a region-driven project where seven underserved regions have committed to integrate public transport (PT) with informal modes (cycling, ride-hailing, car/bike/scooter sharing, on-demand transport, autonomous shuttles) to enhance the interconnection with urban areas and achieve seamless intelligent climate-resilient regional and local intermodal mobility.
In EMBRACER, TTS Italia contributes to the design of policy changes and implementation actions of the policy instruments addresses. TTS is also the Communication Manager of the project.
Under the umbrella of the main topic “Emerging pathways to climate-neutrality: how does intermodal
connectivity of underserved populations come into play”, Project Partners and relevant Stakeholders will discuss the current challenges and opportunities for improving mobility approaches for connecting underserved areas. The event will bring together various entities with the aim of strengthening relations and contacts to exchange experiences and create a policy learning environment so that the EMBRACER Consortium can benefit from.
The event includes a thematic seminar focused on discussing “Innovative tools and approaches for connecting underserved areas’, and a capacity-building workshop focused on “Regional challenges to better adapt the mobility systems: how to achieve seamless intermodal mobility?”, and on which Project Partners will share the current status of their own regions and learn from each other possible solutions to overcome some specific challenges.
Brian Masson from Multi Modal Transport Solutions Ltd, Adrien Torregrosa and Ricardo Alcala from PADAM Mobility, and Héctor Cañas and Anne Häner from ENTRANCE and RECIPROCITY Projects are among the keynote speakers of the event.
An interesting study visit to Metro Mondego, in Coimbra is also planned to occur. It will allow the partnership to understand the challenges and solutions that are currently being implemented in Coimbra Region to improve the mobility linking urban and suburban areas.
For the agenda, click here. |
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The role of logistics for climate neutrality. In Finland, the first event of the SPOTLOG Project
The 1st experience exchange event of the SPOTLOG project will take place on 6, 7 and 8 June in Tampere, Finland.
SPOTLOG (Green and Socially resPOnsible ciTy Logistics InnovaTions) is a project lasting 48 months (March 2023-May 2027) co-founded by the European Commission under the Interreg Europe programme. The main vision of SPOTLOG is to involve local communities in the creation of socially responsible logistics systems, based where possible on zero-carbon methods, through the intelligent use of all available resources and leveraging the digitization of freight services and passengers. Focusing on low-density communities and medium-sized cities, SPOTLOG partners aim to improve regional policy tools towards the European goals of zero-emission and inclusive mobility. TTS Italia is among the project partners and will provide shippers, logistics operators and shipping companies with adequate tools and information to contribute to low-emission last mile delivery schemes; support institutional bodies in defining relevant multi-scale policies and integrated logistics-mobility strategies; support collaboration and last mile training deliver concepts and solutions. TTS is also the Communication Manager of the project.
Following the main theme of "The role of logistics towards climate-neutral regions and cities", it will be possible to participate in a thematic seminar within the Tampere Smart City Expo & Conference. But the three days will also be an occasion for project partners and stakeholders to discuss local challenges for sustainable and efficient logistics, strengthening relationships and contacts to exchange experiences and create a policy learning environment from which SPOTLOG can benefit. TTS Italia will be among the speakers at the event with a speech on "A global outlook on the role of micro-hubs to greening last-mile logistics".
For the preliminary agenda, click here.
For registration, click here. |
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Digitalization of Infrastructures: TTS Italia launches a new Working Group
Last month, TTS Italia launched a new Working Group dedicated to the theme "Solutions for the digitization of infrastructures".
The working table was created with the aim of formulating concrete proposals to promote the widespread digitization of infrastructures, in line with new technological trends, standards and regulatory aspects.
The starting point is that of the regulatory context, both national and European, with particular reference to the Smart Road Decree, the Italian Experimentation Decree and above all the new ITS Directive which will be adopted by the European Commission in the coming months. The point of arrival is instead the elaboration of a Position Paper, which will be presented in Rome in a dedicated conference on 12 July focused on the challenges for national infrastructures as well as on proposals to address them, to be presented to the competent institutions and discussed with the interested stakeholders.
The Working Group is reserved for TTS Italia members only, while the July conference will be free and open to all.
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• Italia-Cagliari
Public buses
• Italia-Cardito
Electric buses
• Italia-Diamante
Parking management
• Italia-Mantova
Public buses
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• Italia-Priverno
Printing and delivery services
• Italia-Roma
Technical services
• Italia-Santa Marinella
Speed control devices
• Italia-Venezia
Financial transaction management
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NEXT GENERATION MOBILITY
13-14 June 2023, Turin and in Live Streaming
For further information, click here →
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UITP Global Public Transport Summit
4-7 June 2023, Barcelona, Spain
For further information, click here →
MOVE 2023
21-22 June 2023, London, UK
For further information, click here →
Urban Future
21-23 June 2023, Stuttgart, Germany
For further information, click here →
International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations
26-30 June 2023, Wien, Austria
For further information, click here →
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