Citizens need intelligent mobility to fully benefit from smart cities

Brussels, cinquantenaire Autoworld

VIEW CONFERENCE SUMMARY AND ALL PRESENTATIONS HERE

On 18 November, key players from all sides of the mobility debate took part in a wide ranging conference on ‘Intelligent Mobility for Smart Cities’ in Brussels. The conference examined how intelligent mobility technologies will integrate into the everyday lives of citizens living in smart cities through the development of vehicle connectivity, automation and adaptive infrastructure.
 
Keynote speaker John Baekelmans, CTO of CISCO’s Smart+Connected Communities, highlighted the crucial role that transportation will play in smart cities as it is essential for inhabitants to be mobile in their daily lives. Intelligent mobility options underpin a functional society, facilitating economic growth and social interaction.
 
The event took place as the concluding event of the iMobility Challenge. Experts from innovation companies, researchers and policymakers shared the latest ideas and examples of intelligent mobility services and technologies deployment. The event was divided into two breakout sessions, ‘mobility for smart-cities’ discussed how we will move around cities tomorrow; and ‘smart vehicles’ discussed what future vehicles will look like, investigating emerging trends such as vehicle connectivity and automation.
 
The conference concluded with closing remarks from public authorities, including the Mobility Minister of Brussels and the UK’s Department for Transport to discuss the role that policymakers can play in the deployment of intelligent mobility. Both speakers supported strong governmental support to fully realise the best outcomes for mobility.
 
The iMobility Challenge has promoted and demonstrated the benefits of intelligent vehicle systems for energy efficient, safe and smart mobility, seeking better understanding and buy-in for the technologies throughout Europe. Some of the campaign’s highlights have included Formula One drivers racing electric vehicles on an airstrip in The Hague, eco-driving competitions in the city centre of Istanbul and Helsinki and live demonstrations of various cooperative ITS systems, including the emergency eCall system. All events gave the opportunity to the participating experts and public to get first-hand experience of advanced technologies. To date, events have taken place in Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Finland, The Netherlands, Spain, Turkey and Germany.
 
If you were not present at the conference or would like to see video recordings from the breakout session you did not attend, all presentation videos and slides are AVAILABLE HERE.
 
 

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NOTES TO EDITORS
 
About the iMobility Challenge
iMobility Challenge, is a EU funded project by DG Connect of the European Commission to demonstrate the benefits of efficient, safe and smart mobility through new Intelligent Transport System (ITS) solutions. The FIA is leading the coordination of the project, working with partners ACEA (European automobile manufacturers association), CLEPA (the European association of Automotive suppliers), ERTICO (the network of Intelligent Transport Systems and Services stakeholders in Europe) and VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland).
 
The declared objectives of iMobility Challenge are:
-Promote the deployment and use of intelligent vehicle systems for energy efficient and sustainable mobility, with a particular focus on cooperative systems;
- Support the implementation process for priority iMobility systems, notably as directed by EU legislation;
-Organise iMobility awareness raising events for policy makers with vehicle demonstrations, and national awareness events for users with demonstrations, driving Experiences and training open to the public;
- Conduct support studies documenting the socio-economic impact of iMobility systems throughout the project, through a mapping of systems and of products and services based on cooperative systems; and by assessing consumer awareness and demand, and their feedback before and after testing systems.
 
For more information, visit www.imobilitychallenge.eu or contact: Gabriel Simcic, Senior Project Manager, FIA Region I, gsimcic@fia.com +32 2 282 0817
 
About the FIA
 
Founded in 1904, with headquarters in Paris, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is a non-profit making association. It brings together over than 236 national motoring and sporting organisations from more than 139 countries on five continents. Its member clubs represent millions of motorists and their families.
 
FIA Region I is a consumer body representing 111 Motoring and Touring Clubs and their 38 million members from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The FIA represents the interests of our members as motorists, riders, pedestrians and passengers. FIA Region I is working to ensure safe, affordable, clean and efficient mobility for all. www.fiaregion1.com