New advances in technology are making it possible, in terms of mobility, to better understand the needs of travellers and manage the fleets of different transport models.
Gauging the demand for mobility and having detailed information on the use of transport services or the intelligent management of vehicle fleets are some of the issues that new technologies can offer in order to be able to offer services with a greater degree of adaptability, efficiency or sustainability.
Spanish telecommunications company Telefónica Tech, which boasts significant experience in projects of this nature with both public and private entities, has obtained highly accurate results on mobility through the use of mobile network data and IoT sensorisation.
Specific passenger insights – such as finding out how passengers move between different points – can be useful for carrying out mobility studies, planning new routes or even offering different services.
Mobility management can be aided by various technologies such as IoT, big data, Artificial Intelligence and blockchain to help evaluate possible routes or analyse competition (whether by road, rail, aviation or sea) with the aim of achieving more efficient and safer fleets.
Similarly, technology can be used to size and plan transport so that information such as the real demand for mobility can be known in greater detail or unsatisfied demand can be studied and assessed in detail.
One of the key areas of mobility that can be streamlined by new technologies is public transport. Some of the major disadvantages faced by companies involved in passenger mobility are steep fuel costs, the deterioration of vehicles due to mechanical failure and other fleet management problems.
However, emerging technologies can facilitate greater competitiveness, process automation and resource efficiency in the public transport sector.
Here are four ways new technology can reduce the impact of some of the issues faced by public transportation operators:
- Telemetry: Thanks to this wireless technology, companies can collect data to monitor and control assets by controlling fuel usage, detecting damage and managing indicators such as weight or cargo temperature.
- Route optimisation: Thanks to GPS technology and mobile apps, this software analyses the most suitable routes for each vehicle, saving time and better planning the use of the fleet.
- Driving assistance: A tool that monitors the location and real-time status of vehicles, used to supervise vehicle manoeuvres or speed, analyse routes and detect low fuel efficiency.
- Mobile Digital Video Recorder (MDVR) system: As the name suggests, this is a series of cameras installed inside the vehicle that collect information in real time. This can be used to respond to emergencies, provide security for both passengers and employees and prevent driving malpractice.
With these tools behind them, Telefónica Tech has supported the implementation of new technologies in Heathrow Airport – transforming the UK’s largest and busiest airport into a data-driven organisation taking full advantage of technologies such as artificial intelligence and data science.
This success story shows how a centralised data platform provides insight into data, which is particularly relevant for organisations with complex business models.
Obtaining detailed information about airport activity can be useful for gaining insight into operations, understanding cargo volumes or discovering trade routes.
It can also allow concessionaires in the retail sector to know what is the most suitable offer for the type of traveller. Similarly, from a security perspective, it can better understand what incidents have occurred at the airport and where it makes the most sense to introduce preventive measures.
Equally, Heathrow can take advantage of emerging technologies, such as generative AI, to be able to implement even more sophistication in passenger knowledge, operations and experiences.
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Source: Telefónica Tech
