Mobility as a Service

Mobility as a Service involves the integration of a range of transportation services into a single menu that is available on demand.  The transportation services can include public transit, car sharing, bike sharing, taxi, car rental or lease, parking, and combinations of these.  MaaS can be delivered by either public or private sector operators.  Essential features of MaaS include the ability to identify and locate transportation service vehicles, a single electronic payment mechanism, a simple user interface that across a wide range of Web-enabled devices including smart phones and the ability to convert data to information regarding available transportation options and the quality of those options.  An important objective is to present the transportation user with the best value proposition for the time of travel.

Location data from mobile devices is one of the critical enablers for Mobility as a Service.  Latest statistics show that more 80% of the US population uses mobile devices.  Mobile devices have become ubiquitous mobile computing devices that can act as the interface to information services and a secure and a convenient means of payment.  Mobile devices can also play a crucial role in providing the raw data required to manage Mobility as a Service applications.  

Movement analytics data from mobile devices can provide insight into traveler behavior, trip making patterns along with the ebb and flow of transportation demand within the smart city environment. The location data from the drivers available can provide the insight into a better way for supply and demand management. The traffic congestion information data from Traffic Management Systems can provide the better time estimates of driver arrival and can reduce the time to travel by suggesting the most optimal path in real-time. 

This data has important implications for understanding supply and demand conditions, prevailing transportation conditions and the performance of the various services that comprise the mobility as a service application.  

The implementation of MaaS also provides a high degree of connectivity between transportation service operators and service users.  This can form the basis for the delivery of other services within a smart city such as eGovernment, connected citizen and visitor services.

First mile, last mile issues have always been at the heart of public transit efficiency challenges.  With a few major exceptions, cities have been designed for the private car, with subsequently low density of land use.  This makes regular public transit services uneconomic and acts as a barrier to investment required to make public transit ubiquitous.  By adopting Mobility as a Service techniques, it is possible to chain together public transit and other services to create an end to end, comprehensive offering to the traveler.  This provides a traveler not just with a wider range of choices, but information regarding the choices available at any given time.  Mobility as a Service changes the traveler’s perception on who will provide the services by providing a one-stop shop to gain access to services that can include both public and private sector options.  These options can be made available on demand, thus increasing the flexibility available to the traveler.