Mobility as a Service (MaaS) describes a movement towards mobility solutions that are consumed as a service by using a variety of transportation modes and a system of shared data. Learn more about the personal and societal benefits below with our infographic.
Technology and mobility are merging. From hybrid cars taking the auto industry by storm to the growing capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) in everyday life, exciting possibilities are beginning to flourish, which means new movements to familiarize yourself with.
As populations become increasingly urbanized and city densities rise, inner-city transportation models need to evolve. In many large cities across the US, even those considered to have relatively strong public transit systems, current transportation models are falling short in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. This shortcoming isn't because the public transportation systems are set up poorly, but because the current models have surpassed their scalability. Fortunately, an alternative exists.
According to the UN, another 2.5 billion people could be added to urbanized cities by 2050 increasing the proportion of urban areas in the population to 68%. These growing urban populations are creating a host of issues including increased congestion. This severe city congestion will inhibit mobility and contribute to the already high rate of automobile accidents—around 1.3 million deaths worldwide—if transit companies and other organizations don’t implement a solution.
Although the rapid pace of innovation in consumer technology is much more visible, especially when it comes to mobile devices and electronics in general, a great many tech advancements are also helping to shape the future of both transit and the transportation sector as a whole. Here's a look at some of these technologies that have had an influence on transit companies this past year.