The Importance of the Open Data Approach for Multimodal Travel Improvement

Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems 20(2), 136-148, 2022 THE IMPORTANCE OF OPEN DATA ACCESSIBILITY FOR MULTIMODAL TRAVEL IMPROVEMENT* Bia Mandžuka1, **, Krešimir Vidović2, Miroslav Vujić1 and Charalampos Alexopoulos3 1 University of Zagreb, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences Zagreb, Croatia 1 2 Ericsson Nikola Tesla Zagreb, Croatia 2 3 University of Aegean Athens, Greece 2 DOI: 10.7906/indecs.20.2.6 Regular article Received: 20 January 2022. Accepted: 3 March 2022. ABSTRACT The dynamic urban network continues to face a number of problems caused by traffic. One of the main problems is the increasing use of personal vehicles (especially for shorter journeys) and an unattractive alternative – public transport. In this context, Intelligent Transport Systems can be defined as a holistic, management and information communication upgrade of the classic transport and traffic system. From the passengers’ point of view, the usage of personal vehicles is still more pronounced compared to public transport. The main reason is that the public transport service quality needs to be improved if compared to the personal vehicles. The concept of multimodal travel is not new, but with the usage of adequate Intelligent Transport Systems services, it is possible to support and encourage modal shift, optimise the use of public space and influence passengers’ behaviour patterns. Multimodal Journey Planners provide travellers with better and more complete information when choosing a mode of transport so they can select the most suitable option for their needs. The open data approach is crucial for defining a system that responds to the end-users’ actual needs and aspirations (personalisation of the service). Another major challenge in providing a high-quality multimodal journey planning service is the availability and accessibility of data. EU directives require each Member State to establish a National Access Point. The National Access Point is a digital interface, a single/unique access point providing all information regarding travel and traffic. In this article, the importance of traffic data collection, acquisition and distribution according to the open data concept is described. KEY WORDS intelligent transport systems, multimodal travel, multimodal journey planners, national access point, open data CLASSIFICATION JEL: O18 *This is the extended version of the abstract published in: Vujić, M. and Šalamon, D., eds.: Book of abstracts of the National Open Data Conference. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Traffic and Transport Sciences,*Zagreb, 2021. **Corresponding author, : ; +385 98 908 6171; **Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, Vukelićeva 4, HR -10 000 Zagreb, Croatia The importance of open data accessibility for multimodal travel improvement INTRODUCTION The lifestyle of urban commuters is changing significantly due to rapid urbanisation and economic globalisation, as well as the continuous development of information and communication technologies. According to projections [1], 68 % of the world’s population will live in urban areas, placing a significant burden on environmental management and existing infrastructure. One of the most important aspects of the social ecosystem is urban mobility. Urban mobility is essential for the survival of urban agglomerations. The need for mobility in urban areas is constantly growing and is met by the use of personal vehicles. The spread of personal vehicles has increased people’s mobility, but it has also had unforeseen effects on the sustainability of urban ecosystems. With the increasing level of motorisation, a number of problems are emerging that threaten the long-term viability and mobility of the population [2, 3]. Inadequate transport infrastructure, lack of space for people, limited mobility and accessibility, and negative environmental impacts are just some of the problems that need to be addressed comprehensively. The EU Urban Mobility initiatives and policies [4, 5] emphasise seamless mobility for all user groups and offer a range of attractive, efficient and environmentally friendly public transport options. Transforming urban transport towards innovative mobility solutions and services that meet the real needs of residents could be a response to existing challenges. However, it is important to stress out that the transition should start at a personal level, at the level of the users of such a system (of course, if the quality of public transport system is equal or better than the usage of personal vehicles). According to the literature, this transition has already begun and is referred to as the “socio-technical” transition [6]. By applying modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in transport – specifically Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) services, it is possible to achieve a sustainable, clean, and energy-efficient transport. ITS offers new approaches, models and technologies to solve a variety of traffic and transport problems [7]. “Multimodal mobility” is one of the possible solutions for establishing sustainable public transport and, as a result, liveable urban spaces. The approach combines different modes of transport into everyday transport routines. In other words, the concept represents the transition from owning a vehicle to using the public transport system. In this regard, the transition to sustainable mobility is seen as a major challenge in the upcoming decades, aiming to eliminate or at least mitigate the negative effects currently caused by traffic [6, 8, 9]. In order to simplify multimodal journeys and overcome barriers (waiting time, transfers, switching to another mode of transport), it is necessary to offer users a service that will cover the journey from point A to point B. This is especially important for modern users who are more inclined to use technology (technophiles) [10]. To achieve the quality and efficient functioning of such systems, modern technologies (smartphones and other digital gadgets) need to be used. In addition, data and interoperability for cross-border journey planners play an important role in the quality provision of travel planning services. In this sense, specific data quality requirements and appropriate data exchange protocols are prerequisites for implementing travel planning services [11, 12]. The aim of the LinkingDanube project (Interreg – Danube Transnational Program) was to encourage the provision of transnational, interoperable and Multimodal Journey Planners (MJPs) covering urban and rural areas. The project “Coordination mechanisms for multimodal cross-border traveller information network based on OJP for Danube Region (OJP4DANUBE) explores the possibility of personalised cross-border travel choices based on a distributed architecture [13, 14]. 137 B. Mandžuka, K. Vidović, M. Vujić and C. Alexopoulos In recent years, opening data has become easier due to sensor technology integrated into our urban environment. In (...truncated)