IV - Multimodal travel starts with data sharing
Aviation, rail and public transport often operate in silos, which significantly hinders the effective sharing of data needed to achieve multimodal travel.
Ismini Stroumpou, SIGN-AIR project coordinator
The future of travel may be multimodal, but that future will not materialise unless transportation service providers (TSPs) share data. “Aviation, rail and public transport often operate in silos, which significantly hinders the effective sharing of data needed to achieve multimodal travel,” says Ismini Stroumpou, project manager at Sparsity Technologies(opens in new window). The initiative, supported by SESAR JU(opens in new window), is focused on addressing those roadblocks that prevent efficient collaboration and data sharing amongst TSPs. “Efficient data sharing between TSPs is a prerequisite to offering the integrated services that make multimodal travel a viable and attractive option,” adds Stroumpou. The project looks to streamline the creation and management of Data Sharing Agreements (DSAs) and Smart Contracts (SCs). To do so, it is building a secure web platform where TSPs from different modes can create, monitor and modify signed contracts. Additionally, the platform supports the integration of multimodal schedules, proposing itineraries with acceptable transfer times that are appealing to passengers. When disruptions occur, it analyses affected journeys, predicts cascading effects on subsequent legs and proposes real-time rerouting options to passengers, thus enhancing resilience and enabling single ticketing across modes.
Reliable and resilient journeys
The project’s key goal is to enhance passenger-centric mobility. “Without effective data sharing, a passenger experiencing a delay in their initial train journey might miss their connecting flight, and the airline might not have the necessary information to assist them,” explains Stroumpou. “This leads to frustration, inconvenience and a negative perception of public transport.” With SIGN-AIR(opens in new window), the contracts would automate the exchange of relevant information, allowing for a proactive rebooking or alternative travel arrangements to be made, thus significantly improving the overall passenger experience. The SIGN-AIR platform can also be used to identify sustainable alternatives to replace short-haul flights and enable the introduction of emerging mobility such as ‘flying taxis’. “By automating and simplifying the contractual framework, SIGN-AIR is set to transform the total travel experience,” concludes Stroumpou.