Press releases

2024-03-25

Victoria Markewitz is one of six headline speakers at the IT-TRANS conference from May 14-16. She is Partnerships Director at Via Transportation and will be speaking on a top-tier panel about Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and on-demand mobility – both major topics for Via. The company advises and supports municipal clients, as well as transport associations, on the implementation of digitally networked transport systems. The IT-TRANS team spoke to her about the difference between urban and rural mobility, and examples of successful urban transport planning.

Ms. Markewitz, where do you see future mobility in the next ten to 15 years? What will be the key changes?

Looking ahead to the next 10 to 15 years, the future of mobility appears to be increasingly interconnected and dynamic. We anticipate a shift towards more sustainable, efficient, and inclusive transportation solutions. Key changes will likely include the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, advancements in autonomous technology, and the integration of various modes of transportation into seamless, flexible and user-friendly networks.

If we care about issues like reducing poverty, stimulating the economy, and combating the climate crisis, we must shift our focus away from large highway capital projects, and invest more in innovative, equitable public transit at the federal, state, and local level.

Cities in Germany like Hannover have created a blueprint for how communities can reimagine transportation for their residents – reducing congestion, improving access to opportunities, and removing the financial burden of needing to own a private car. We look forward to working with other communities across the region in months to come.

Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is often already a reality in urban areas: what possibilities do you see for rural areas? How can connections between rural and urban areas be improved?

While MaaS has made significant strides in urban areas, its potential in rural areas is equally promising. Via envisions leveraging our technology to optimize on-demand transit solutions for rural communities, enhancing connectivity and accessibility. This could involve flexible routing and scheduling to accommodate the unique needs of rural populations, while also using more ubiquitous MaaS apps to feed important data back into transport planning schemes.

Via Transportation also supports and advises local authorities and transport companies on transport planning. What needs do your customers have here? And have the requirements for transport planning changed today — keyword sustainability, keyword quality of life in city centers?

In supporting and advising local authorities and transport companies, we've observed a growing demand for transport planning that aligns with sustainability goals and enhances the quality of life in city centers. Customers now seek solutions that prioritize environmental impact, affordability, and community well-being. Via aims to address these needs by offering tailored, data-driven insights and innovative transit solutions.

Do you have an example of a particularly successful example of modern transportation planning?

As for an example of successful modern transportation planning, our collaboration with [insert city/region name] stands out. By implementing a comprehensive, data-informed transit network, we were able to optimize routes, improve service quality, and increase ridership. This not only enhanced the overall mobility experience but also contributed to the city's broader goals of sustainability and improved urban living.

You will be speaking at the IT-TRANS conference and Via Transportation will be presenting its solutions as an exhibitor: What are you personally looking forward to at IT-TRANS 2024?

I am personally looking forward to the networking aspect and sharing best practices amongst industry experts. Whether this is via the official program panels, presentations, or the informal gatherings at the coffee stands or the evening reception. Coming together as an industry, learning from each other and connecting with existing business partners as well as making new connections is one of my main motivating factors attending IT-Trans.

Thank you!

2024-03-25
IT-TRANS Conference: Where the future of public transport is being shaped

For more than a decade, the IT-TRANS conference has been the trend-setting platform for all those who want to find out about and exchange information on digitalisation in public transport and the mobility of tomorrow. Now the organisers of IT-TRANS, which takes place from 14 to 16 May at Messe Karlsruhe, have once again published a forward-looking conference programme: almost 50 international experts and more than 20 sessions will provide insights into current challenges and best practices in the fields of connectivity, autonomous driving, ticketing and on-demand transport. In the interests of diversity, the programme committee has placed particular emphasis on a balanced representation in terms of gender and background.

Victoria Markewitz

Headline speaker Victoria Markewitz, Via Partnerships Director, comments on how digitalisation will shape the future of mobility: “We anticipate a shift towards more sustainable, efficient, and inclusive transportation solutions. Key changes will likely include the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, advancements in autonomous technology, and the integration of various modes of transportation into seamless, flexible and user-friendly networks.”

From digital transformation and AI to staff shortages

"The shortage of skilled labour is a growing issue in the industry. For a successful transport turnaround, it is not only necessary to compensate for many deserved retirements, but also actively recruit new personnel. This is a major challenge, especially for drivers," says Dr Mareike Massow, Head of Product Management at IVU Traffic Technologies AG. "For IT Trans, I have bundled best practices from many discussions with public transport companies – and, of course, I have the right software tools to get to grips with the problem."

Further speakers include Rebecca Bissel, Director of Information Technology at Transport for London. Bissel specialises in digital transformation and technology-supported change processes in companies. Her topic at the IT-TRANS conference is "Capturing the digital value within public transport" (15 May, 1.30 pm).

"The full potential of AI: Making public transport the first choice" is the focus of the session being held by Wellington Toapanta, Head of Digital Strategy and Innovation at Hitachi Rail (15 May, 9.30 a.m.). In his position, he is responsible for the implementation of the Smart Mobility portfolio at Hitachi Rail and monitors and shapes international industry trends.

Silvia Roldán Fernandez will provide an insight into the municipal side of public transport. As the former CEO of the Madrid Metro, she is now Deputy Minister of Digitalisation at the City of Madrid and therefore has extensive expertise on both sides of the desk. The industrial engineer is one of six headline speakers at the conference.

From digital transformation and AI to staff shortages

"The shortage of skilled labour is a growing issue in the industry. For a successful transport turnaround, it is not only necessary to compensate for many deserved retirements, but also actively recruit new personnel. This is a major challenge, especially for drivers," says Dr Mareike Massow, Head of Product Management at IVU Traffic Technologies AG. "For IT Trans, I have bundled best practices from many discussions with public transport companies – and, of course, I have the right software tools to get to grips with the problem."

Further speakers include Rebecca Bissel, Director of Information Technology at Transport for London. Bissel specialises in digital transformation and technology-supported change processes in companies. Her topic at the IT-TRANS conference is "Capturing the digital value within public transport" (15 May, 1.30 pm).

"The full potential of AI: Making public transport the first choice" is the focus of the session being held by Wellington Toapanta, Head of Digital Strategy and Innovation at Hitachi Rail (15 May, 9.30 a.m.). In his position, he is responsible for the implementation of the Smart Mobility portfolio at Hitachi Rail and monitors and shapes international industry trends.

Silvia Roldán Fernandez will provide an insight into the municipal side of public transport. As the former CEO of the Madrid Metro, she is now Deputy Minister of Digitalisation at the City of Madrid and therefore has extensive expertise on both sides of the desk. The industrial engineer is one of six headline speakers at the conference.

2024-02-19
MaaS@IT-TRANS: Exhibitors reveal how mobility can succeed seamlessly, individually and synergistically
Two men looking at a mobility app at their smartphone

While Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is on the wishlist of many people in rural areas, it’s already a popular offering in many cities. The intermodal linking of various private and public modes of transport through travel planning, booking and payment using a single digital platform is considered one of the key pillars of the transport revolution. At IT-TRANS in Karlsruhe, the leading exhibition and conference for intelligent solutions in public transport, key players from all over the world will be presenting their MaaS solutions from May 14 to 16, accompanied by two exciting conference sessions on the subject. MaaS is just one of eight key topics covering the entire spectrum of digitalization in public transport, from connectivity and 5G to artificial intelligence.

Fun and easy to use

Hall 1 at IT-TRANS

Apps that make life easier for passengers will only prove popular if they are passenger-centric, functionally convincing, economically advantageous and, last but not least, fun. That’s the conclusion of analysis conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering involving 6,400 participants from all over Europe. It is not gamification that has to provide the fun factor, but maximum ease of use and a high level of user comfort.

"MaaS is centered around us as users and enables tailor-made mobility offers that are bundled and easily accessible," says Wolfram Uerlich, Founder and Head of goFLUX & Karos Germany. There are (almost) no limits to intermodal integration: streetcars and buses are just as much a part of it as scooters, e-bikes or carpooling. The latter is served by goFLUX (dm-arena, W10) with its app of the same name: it links public transport services with private car pools and can thus supplement and relieve bus and streetcar networks and, in particular, better connect rural and urban areas.

Making life easier with MaaS

The Spanish startup meep (Hall 1, Z112) develops white-label applications for cities and transport operators and, as such, provides backend infrastructure for the EMT Madrid transport association used on the Madrid Mobility 360 app. The app integrates a multimodal travel planning tool including bus, metro, trains, and shared mobility services, and enables payment and information on real-time bus utilization.

In the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion, the regiomove app from KVV, the Karlsruhe Transport Association, links traditional public transport with bike and car-sharing providers. Here, too, the app takes care of intermodal travel planning, booking and payment. The regiomove booking platform comes from Init (Hall 1, F5), with the traffic modeling software supplied by the PTV Group (Hall 1, B3). Regiomove was launched as a lighthouse project by Karlsruhe research institutions and companies back in 2017, and is now a firm pillar of urban mobility in Karlsruhe.

The MaaS project in German state North Rhine-Westphalia shows that MaaS is particularly successful when political decision-makers, transport companies and associations, and service providers work together. Commissioned by the responsible ministry, the development and operation of bundled data access for networking background systems is at the heart of the project, as is the MaaS NRW toolkit. The latter enables and promotes the state-wide transfer of knowledge between stakeholders. In addition to goFLUX, the IT-TRANS exhibitors better mobility with its apps (dm-arena, P11) alongside Mentz, with its check-in/check-out system (dm-arena, Q10) took part.

Conference: Experts driving the future mobility solutions

Panel discussion with two men and two women and many attendees at IT-TRANS Coference

At the three-day IT-TRANS conference, eight key topics will focus on urban mobility and the latest technologies in this area - including shared mobility and MaaS. Two parallel sessions will focus on MaaS from the perspective of both passengers and on-demand transport providers: Tuesday afternoon, May 14, will focus on "Mobility-as-a-Service: the perspective of the passenger", while Wednesday morning's session will provide information on the next steps in this area with "Arriving at the next stop with MaaS and on-demand transport".

Tickets & Info:

Visit https://www.it-trans.org/de/tickets/ to get your tickets for the exhibition and conference, and www.it-trans.org to learn more about the exhibitors and event programme.

2024-02-12
How digitalisation is driving public transport progress for visually impaired passengers
A visually impaired passenger enters a public bus.

In Switzerland, the Disability Equality Act requires barrier-free conversion of railway stations. In Germany, the Passenger Transport Act demanded accessibility in public transport by 2022. And in Austria, the law on the equality of people with disabilities required compliance by 2015 with transition periods. However, transition periods of around ten years are a big ask when it comes to remodelling stops, replacing buses and making underground stations more accessible. What is often overlooked is the fact that such accessibility does not end with raised kerbs at stops, lifts in stations and orientation strips, but extends to the entire transport experience - from route planning to orientation at major stops and real-time information in passenger vehicles.

In collaboration with the Swiss Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBV), Trapeze, a company that provides software solutions for public transport, has developed the INTROS system. It provides virtual assistance for passengers with visual impairments, helping them get from A to B, and will be presented in more detail at IT-TRANS from 14 to 16 May in Karlsruhe.

By definition, public transport is as much a fundamental part of daily life as, say, education, energy supply and healthcare. For passengers with disabilities, however, the ability to use transport safely, stress-free and, above all, independently is key to an enhanced quality of life. While access for people with walking difficulties in particular has been improved in recent years, blind and visually impaired passengers face more specific challenges.

Michael Lingk (Credits: Trapeze Group)

Learning from users

So what problems does a person with a visual impairment encounter when travelling by bus? The variety of stops, routes and destinations, for a start, all of which are particularly common at transport hubs and can be a challenge even for sighted passengers. Which bus is currently pulling into the stop? Where are the entrances to the vehicle? When do I have to get off and where is the stop button? At best, there is an audible on-board announcement of upcoming stops; at worst, there is just a visual display - and these may not necessarily be correct due to last-minute diversions and timetable changes. Everything that many passengers take for granted when travelling by bus can be problematic for blind and visually impaired people.

The INTROS development team worked closely with the SBV to identify the specific needs of blind people on public transport, and the most pressing issues. Michael Lingk, Product Manager at Trapeze, says: "As the representative of visually impaired and blind passengers, the SBV approached Trapeze Switzerland in 2018 to assist with the development of a regionally scalable solution. Pupils from the Zugerland School for the Blind were involved in the first pilot project to ensure feasibilty of the solution, along with computer scientists from the SBV's Technology and Innovation department. In short, the app was developed by those affected for those affected."

Real-time communication and networked systems

The system is based on an on-board module connected to the vehicle's computer via an interface, alongside a smarthphone app that can communicate with the on-board module using Bluetooth Low Energy. The focus is always on enabling passengers to plan and start their journey as independently as possible, and without the need for third-party assistance.

Before travelling, passengers can use the app to access timetables and plan their route, with the system automatically identifying the stop closest to their current location. If the passenger is already at the stop, the system recognises this and displays the local timetable. When the desired vehicle arrives, the app informs the user and guides them to the correct boarding point.

An important component of INTROS is real-time communication with the vehicle's on-board computer and, therefore, direct interaction. For example, through the app, users can tell the driver that they need more time to get on or off the vehicle, and at which stop they wish to alight. Acoustic signals on board and a hands-free system help further simplify the process.

Katharina Meßner-Schalk (Credits: Saarbahn)

After successful trial run, Saarbahn equips entire bus fleet

Saarbahn is currently equipping its entire bus fleet with the barrier-free INTROS information and orientation system. In doing so, the Saarbrücken-based transport company aims to make it easier for blind and visually impaired passengers, in particular, to use public transport, thus supporting their need for independence.

The lighthouse project is funded by the state of Saarland, and was preceded by another Saarbahn initiative in 2020 and 2021, which was supported by the Saarland Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the full-time Commissioner for the Disabled and the Saarbrücken Advisory Council for the Disabled.

The "barrier-free information and orientation system" was tested in cooperation with blind and visually impaired passengers. "The focus was on the special requirements of the target groups and the user-friendliness of the system," explains Katharina Meßner-Schalk, Head of Strategic Projects at Saarbahn. After several months of testing, the technology was described by test users as suitable for offering everyday assistance to blind and visually impaired people. Other user groups could also benefit from the service, for example senior citizens and those unable to use conventional passenger information due to a literacy issues or learning difficulties.

Saarbahn is implementing the project, which is based on successful cooperation between all parties involved, across its entire bus fleet. With 28 trains and 138 buses, the company transports around 40 million people a year in the state capital of Saarbrücken and the surrounding region.

Says IT-TRANS Senior Product Manager Markus Kocea: "At Messe Karlsruhe, we engage in intensive dialogue on the topic of accessibility, especially through our in-house trade fair REHAB. What we have learned time and time again is that appropriate offers are well received when they enable people to cope with everyday life largely independently. This also includes travelling safely from A to B without having to rely on the help of others, thanks to reliable and well thought-out technology. We are delighted that Trapeze will be presenting the innovative INTROS system at the upcoming IT-TRANS from 14 to 16 May 2024."

2023-12-18
Driving the transport revolution: Innovative digital solutions showcased at IT-TRANS
Attendees visting the booth of TRAPEZE Group at IT-TRANS 2022.

In five months' time, the leading exhibition and conference for intelligent solutions in public transport will open its doors. From 14 to 16 May 2024, public transport stakeholders will gather for the seventh time in Karlsruhe for IT-TRANS, held in conjunction with global association UITP and Messe Karlsruhe. The focus will be firmly on driving digitalisation in the sector for more attractive, efficient, and resilient public transport solutions. Advance ticket sales for the exhibition and the conference, which is supported by Transport Minister Dr Volker Wissing, are now open.

The application of practical transport solutions is one of the many highlights at IT-TRANS, both at the stands and during live demonstrations. For example, FZI will be demonstrating its autonomous "FZI Shuttle", which is able to recognise and drive around dynamic obstacles, and thus optimally handle unpredictable situations in road traffic without the need for a safety driver intervention.

Autonomous passenger transport demo

Ein autonomes Shuttle hält vor dem Eingang der Messe Karlsruhe zur IT-TRANS.

The FZI shuttle will transport IT-TRANS attendees between two intelligent stops, performing complex driving manoeuvres such as swerving and turning. "As the shuttle is not limited to a virtual track, it can use the entire width of a road," explains FZI division manager Dr Alexander Viehl. "If the designated bus lane is occupied, for example by a parked car, the vehicle drives around it independently with the help of sensor technology. The intelligent bus stops provide the shuttle with additional updates about passengers and other traffic in the area. By combining sensor information from the vehicle and its surroundings, safety, efficiency and passenger comfort are assured."

Markus Kocea, IT-TRANS Senior Project Manager, says: "I’m not only looking forward to exploring the wide range of innovations from our exhibitors, but also hearing the conference speakers address the challenges currently faced by the industry. These are also reflected in the key topics at IT-TRANS - from AI, ticketing and digital transformation to shared mobility and MaaS. Furthermore, around 80 per cent of the exhibition space has already been booked.”

Sustainable, cost-effective and flexible solutions

Women in front of a screen discussing IT solutions at IT-TRANS.

Public transport makes an important contribution to climate protection and quality of life in cities if it meets consumer demand for flexible, budget-friendly mobility. Here, exhibitors at IT-TRANS 2024 will be presenting their own solutions. These include key industry players such as Trapeze, Init, Atron, Transdev, Hanover, Amcon, IVU, TAF mobile, Transdev, Siemens and the PTV Group. Stefan Mehler, Marketing & Sales at ESM GmbH, comments: "For us as a software provider for demand-responsive transport, IT-TRANS is one of the most important events. The entire public transport industry comes together to exchange information on the latest trends and technologies. As an exhibitor, the event offers us a comprehensive opportunity to talk to existing customers and potential new customers, as well as intensify our collaboration with other software companies."

FAIRTIQ AG addresses the challenge of selecting optimal fares, especially for occasional users, with its app. The company helps operators introduce an innovative ticketing system that makes traveling on public transport easier than ever before. (hall 1, stand J30). IVU Traffic Technologies, meanwhile, is declaring war on industry-wide staff shortages by providing a control centre for transport companies that simplifies personnel planning and addresses vehicle bottlenecks (hall 1, stand H10). Derovis GmbH will also be in attendance and showcasing its cloud app that can locate vehicles, count people and recognise parking offenders, and danger spots (hall 1, stand L10). Exhibitor Xovis uses artificial intelligence for object and passenger detection - data that allows public transport operators to improve planning and reporting by detecting both passengers and objects such as wheelchairs or bicycles (dm-arena, stand X75). French company Citiway will be presenting its pilot project for Wiener Linien - an app for intermodular transport for traditional public transport and private on-demand services, including planning, booking and payment (dm-arena, stand T40). IT-TRANS also offers young companies a platform, with special rates and offers for start-ups as part of the "Young Innovative" concept.

Tickets & info:

Tickets for the exhibition can be purchased at https://www.it-trans.org/en/tickets/. A special price of €40 euros instead of €80 currently applies for the 3-day ticket. Conference tickets are also available at the Early Bird rate.

2023-10-27
Save the date: Karlsruhe to be focus of digital mobility solutions from 3 to 5 March 2026

Before the outspread of the pandemic, the leading event on intelligent mobility solutions has traditionally taken place in early spring. Messe Karlsruhe now responds to the industry's requirements and rearranges the event at its preferred date and continues to offer a platform for exchange and networking. In Karlsruhe’s exhibition halls and the adjacent conference centre, experts and key players of the industry will present their latest developments and best-practice solutions to a global specialist audience.

For IT-TRANS 2024, UITP and Messe Karlsruhe are happy again to welcome the industry to Karlsruhe in order to discuss current topics in public and private transport. Karlsruhe will thus remain the central hub for intelligent solutions in the mobility sector. The follow-up event in 2026 will offer a continued platform for future-oriented innovation and digital solutions.

Booking for the 2026 edition will be open as of April 2024.

2023-10-09
SWEG relies on the Integrated Rail Control Centre from IVU.rail
Leitstelle

Berlin/Lahr im Schwarzwald, 25 April 2023. Complete integration of rail operations – in order to keep its passengers up to date with real-time information and to quickly process short-notice changes or disruptions, SWEG has relied on the software system Integrated Rail Control Centre from IVU.rail since the beginning of 2023.

In 2022, the Südwestdeutsche Landesverkehrs-GmbH (SWEG) launched a long-term strategic partnership with IVU to modernise its entire bus and rail transport. Following the successful introduction of scheduling and dispatch, SWEG now also implements the seamlessly connected software system Integrated Rail Control Centre from IVU.rail in its rail control centres in Offenburg (Ortena district) and Gammertingen (Sigmaringen district). The transport operator is thereby able to compare timetables, calculate predictions, and process modifications and disruptions, all in one system. Additionally, reliable passenger information can be directly transmitted from the control centre to passengers, who can stay informed quickly and easily via web, app, or display screen in real-time. IVU runs all these operative systems on a high?performance Kubernetes cluster in the IVU.cloud.

"The Integrated Rail Control Centre from IVU.rail opens up many new possibilities for us in our operations and at the same time saves us numerous work steps", says Timo Remlinger, Head of SWEG's Digitalisation/ITCS/Sales Technology division. "I am particularly glad that we can now keep our passengers informed in a more direct, and therefore significantly faster manner."

"SWEG is another satisfied customer productively implementing our new rail control centre", says

Perry Prust, Head of the Rail division at IVU Traffic Technologies. "I am confident that many more

transport operators will follow this example and profit from the enormous advantages of completely

integrated rail operations.

Find out more:

Press Contact:

Annette Weisser

Unternehmenskommunikation

IVU Traffic Technologies AG

Bundesallee 88, 12161 Berlin

T +49(30)85906-244

kommunikation@ivu.de

www.ivu.de

2023-09-29
Karlsruhe, the focal point for digital mobility solutions: success story goes on

However, 2024 marks the last edition of the event co-organised by Messe Karlsruhe and the International Association of Public Transport (UITP). Starting from 2025, UITP will focus on a yearly conference and exhibition, therefore making the Global Public Transport Summit an annual event, with one year in Europe and the other in another part of the world. Messe Karlsruhe will continue to hold a focal event on digital solutions in public and private transport in Karlsruhe: Thus, the city will remain the central hub for addressing and developing digital solutions in the mobility sector and turning them into reality.

Both Messe Karlsruhe and UITP are immensely proud of the eight successful editions of IT-TRANS organised since 2008, becoming the leading international conference and exhibition focusing on digitalisation and IT solutions for public transport. With the 2024 edition just eight months away, building on the past successes and making next year’s IT-TRANS even better is the priority for both organisations. In parallel, the partners are also discussing how cooperation could look like after the 2024 edition.

For the 9th edition in 2024, which will take place from May 14 to 16, UITP and Messe Karlsruhe predict the best edition ever and are thrilled with the significant progress already made. Stands are in high demand in hall 1 and the dm-arena, also attracting many new exhibitors.

More information on IT-TRANS 2024 will be shared by both UITP and Messe Karlsruhe in due course.

2023-09-07
MaaS: Google activities as a wake-up call for the industry

Massive investments are still being made in the app to make it a "super app". But the industry itself is also investing. This is also shown by the exhibitors at IT-TRANS 2024.

Mobility must change, and the digitalisation of demand, supply and operation is just as much a key element as multimodality. This is one reason why the Federal Minister of Transport, Volker Wissing, has been so insistent on a digital solution for the Deutschland-Ticket. This approach is also being taken in other countries. Only recently, a Danish consortium awarded a contract for a uniform digital mobility solution for public transport in the country - to well-known providers of software-as-a-service (SaaS).

Google invests in "Super App"

The fact that brokerage commissions could one day flow after the successful mediation of information on mobility is now attracting Google's attention. For some time now, the tech giant has been investing billions to expand its map service Google Maps into a "super app" to locate and answer all kinds of search queries - and then integrate them into its business model. The expansion took place in several stages, including the (real-time) integration of DB offers and links to the corresponding ticketing, the integration of e-scooters or transport associations. Flixbus and Flixtrain connections are also visible in Google Maps. The drop-down menu "Details" leads to a link "Buy tickets". From here you go directly to the Flix booking screen. The route and travel date are already preset, but Google might not stop with the redirection in the near future. It is working on integrating the Google Pay payment service into the search.

The attitude in German local transport is divided

The advocates of information and distribution liberalisation want to make it as easy as possible for (potential) customers, who are increasingly becoming "digital natives". Increases in demand are supposed to more than compensate for financial losses, for example through commissions. The other side fears the loss of distribution power, customer relations - and not least of interpretive sovereignty, also vis-à-vis the most important customer, politics. Joint responses have been attempted, but so far have not been implemented across the board - unlike in Denmark or Switzerland. However, the upgrade in the works for Google Maps and the app's current efforts to integrate other mobility service providers are a new wake-up call for the industry. It must observe and analyse the development carefully. At the same time, defensive strategies must focus on customer benefits.

MaaS also one of the big topics at IT-TRANS 2024

The IT-TRANS from 14 to 16 May 2024 will show which new innovations companies will bring to the market in the field of MaaS in the coming months: Several exhibitors will focus on Mobility as a Service at their booths. For example, they will show innovative software for traffic planning, simulation and management, smart mobility, distribution and control systems or multimodal mobility platforms. Among others, Amco, AMCON Software, BLIC Beratungsgesellschaft für Leit-, Informations- & Computertechnik, ESM and Streamax Technology will be there. However, the IT-TRANS sponsors IVU Traffic Technologies and PTV Group are also at the leading edge of the topic of MaaS and will be showing their latest developments in Karlsruhe next year.

2023-06-21

For three days at the beginning of June, everything at the UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Barcelona revolved around trends and innovations that make public transport even more efficient, sustainable and customer-centric. The Karlsruhe Mobility Lab, an association of 15 partners from the TechnologyRegion Karlsruhe (TRK), key players in the industry as well as transport companies, associations and research institutions were all in attendance to showcase the power of the region. The focus of the joint stand, under the leadership of TRK and Messe Karlsruhe, was the ability to test public transport possibilities virtually before making decisions on possible real-life implementation. The concept attracted much interest in Barcelona, especially among municipal decision-makers and transport companies.

TRK Managing Director Jochen Ehlgötz observed: "For TRK, the joint stand under the name Karlsruhe Mobility Lab was an important positioning in the global competition of mobility regions. I am very happy that we had more than 15 partners on board who were able to present more than 20 projects, and had more than 35 delegates at the UITP World Summit. It was important for the Messe Karlsruhe team to take charge of the joint stand in Barcelona and the preparations for the Karlsruhe delegation alongside TRK.”

“In order to really advance mobility, we need networked cooperation between research, the public sector and relevant companies in order to maximise the innovative power of all stakeholders and raise public transport to the next level,” adds Britta Wirtz, Managing Director of Messe Karlsruhe. “We have plenty of that in Karlsruhe, which is also expressed in our excellent trade events such as IT-TRANS."

Karlsruhe scored not only in terms of mobility and technology, but also aesthetics in urban space, which takes high priority in the UNESCO City of Media Arts. In Barcelona, the Karlsruhe public transport company (VBK) won the UITP Design Award for the outstanding lighting concept of its tunnel stops, beating Hong Kong and Vienna in the final.

"We are incredibly proud of this award. It proves that we have done everything right with our very bright, puristic stops which are designed as quiet zones in the big city. They make an important contribution to the appeal of local transport in our region. The UITP highlights the stops as a worldwide model for contemporary public transport," says VBK Managing Director Prof. Dr. Alexander Pischon.

Scaling future mobility solutions

The MobileCityGame simulation game by Fraunhofer ISI/IOSB, KIT and Takomat GmbH simulates the effects of strengthening public transport on the quality of life. Using an app, trade visitors at the stand were able to test out in a simulation how much a new cycle path or the reconstruction of roads would cost, how long the construction and planning would take, and the potential CO2 savings. They could also assess how much car traffic, noise and environmental pollution would be reduced, and the free space that could potentially be created. Project manager Dr. Claus Doll explains: "The app can be a decision-making aid for public transport operators and municipal planners in particular. For example, while some measures may initially be rejected, for example significantly increased parking fees, such decisions may be reviewed if it can be proved that a project may result in a noticeable improvement in the quality of life in a city centre."

PTV Group's new SaaS software PTV Lines proved similarly important for urban planning. Until now, the expertise of experienced transport planners was needed to use software to draw a new bus or tram line, and calculate potential costs for passengers. "This was a challenge, especially for small transport companies that do not employ their own transport planners," explains Dr Klaus Noekel, Head of Competence Center Mobility at PTV Group. "Now, minimal knowledge is required, as the new software can be operated quickly and intuitively." Thus, in addition to key mobility providers, small and medium-sized companies also found their way to the joint stand to find out more about PTV Lines.

The FZI Research Centre for Information Technology was also present on site. "The highlight for us was the Innovation Guided Tour, where our test field and autonomous FZI shuttle experiences were particularly in demand," says division head Dr Alexander Viehl. "The fact that we achieve an acceptance of autonomous vehicles of more than 90 per cent in our user surveys surprised some people."

A delegation with representatives from the University of Tokyo was also at the stand to get an overview of the integration and communication capabilities of autonomous shuttles at a simulated control station.

One added attraction, especially for software providers, was the Dakimo project of KAMO Karlsruhe Mobility High Performance Center/Profile Region: Apps for calculating the best routes, means of transport and departure times for a journey can be more detailed thanks to expanded data from Dakimo and suitable interfaces. KAMO office manager Matthias Vollat, from KIT, explains: "If weather data is included, a short walk in snowy conditions might be replaced by a bus ride. Or the passenger is informed that a huge soccer match is taking place along the route and therefore an alternative route should be used."

Using empty tram seats for freight transport

The second KAMO research project LogIKTram pursues a different goal: public transport is in many cases a subsidy model. "The travel costs of a full tram are similar to those of an empty one. So what if we could use unoccupied space for freight transport, for example?" asked Dr.-Ing. Michael Frey, from KIT, of the Lab's guests. The trailer from the LogIKTram project, which was exhibited at the joint stand, is perfectly poised to fill this gap. Designed as a motor-driven bicycle trailer, it can be packed with goods in a loading centre outside the city, then travel independently to the designated place in a tram and finally be collected by a bicycle courier in the city centre. This solution is still in a legally undefined area, as the current Passenger Transport Act does not regulate freight transport in trams. "But autonomous driving was also not allowed 40 years ago when the first trials started. However, it is now regulated by law," Frey continues.

Pragmatic state-of-the-art solutions

A daily challenge, especially in urban transport, are bendy buses and those with passenger trailers, which are used at peak times but are unwieldy and consume significantly more energy. KIT presented its solution in Barcelona: So-called platooning is an automated connection of several vehicles to form a convoy, with no need for an articulated joint or drawbar. Instead, at peak times, a second, driver-free bus can simply be coupled purely by information technology and not physically. The system maintains a fixed distance fully automatically and ensures that the second car stays exactly in the lane of the first, driver-operated car. "We assume that our system will be able to be used regularly on routes from 2025," says M.Sc. Nicole Kechler from the Institute for Information Processing Technology at KIT.

At the end of the summit, trade fair director Wirtz took a look into the future: "We are very happy to give Karlsruhe's mobility expertise an international stage - here at the UITP Summit, then also in 2024 at our IT-TRANS trade fair and conference, and beyond."

2023-05-30
Revolutionising the German transport system

Huge demand for the Deutschlandticket, which has been available since 3 April 2023 (and will be valid from May ) has been driven by passenger convenience, cost-effectiveness and reduced CO2 emissions. Its popularity is similar to that of the 9-Euro-Ticket, which was introduced in the summer of 2022. Although the Deutschlandticket builds on experiences learned from its predecessor, it still posed new organisational challenges for transport companies. Keen to find out more, the IT-TRANS team spoke to experts about the evolution of the 9-Euro-Ticket and Deutschlandticket, and what it means for the transport revolution in Germany. The extent to which digitalisation is driving the sector, user-friendly ticketing options and associated IT solutions are all key topics that will be addressed at the upcoming IT-TRANS, the leading trade fair and conference for digital solutions in public transport, which will take place from May 14-16, 2024.

Ein Aussteller zeigt einer Fachbesucherin verschiedene Ticketlesegeräte.

The precursor to the Deutschlandticket was the 9-Euro-Ticket - a special offer for a limited period which was intended to make local public transport more attractive, while easing the financial burden in times of hardship. The ticket was not only intended to protect commuters and frequent travellers from rapidly rising energy costs, but also make public transport more attractive for those who had previously preferred to use their car. In total, more than 52 million 9-Euro- Tickets have been sold, saving around 1.8 million tonnes of CO2, which is roughly equivalent to the result of a one-year speed limit on German motorways. Yet despite its undisputed success, such a cheap ticket was not financially sustainable in the long run, according to political leaders at the time.

However, growing calls from associations and environmental organisations for the continuation of the 9-Euro-Ticket beyond August led to the creation of a follow-up ticket. Thus, the Deutschlandticket, at 49 euros per month, was born and offers the same benefits as the 9-Euro-Ticket. This time, though, it is designed to be a longer-term solution or compromise for rail travellers, with the cost borne by the transport companies until 2025, and an annual contribution by the federal and state governments to the tune of €1.5 billion as compensation for losses.

Lessons learned from the 9-Euro-Ticket

What was not obvious to the buyers of the discounted ticket, even in 2022, was how difficult it would be to successfully implement the short-term changeover of a long-standing system, with the perennial problem of different tariff areas and association borders. Although the 9-Euro-Ticket was an unmitigated success for the SSB - the Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG - with more than one million tickets sold (52 million tickets were sold throughout Germany), it also required a lot of work, according to Mathias Hirth, head of the sales department. For example, all existing season tickets had to be put on an equal footing with the 9-Euro-Ticket without disadvantaging either online or paper ticket users in the process. "We had to start preparing for the changeover even before the final framework conditions were set by the politicians," says Hirth. "The challenge was not in selling the 9-Euro-Ticket but, among other things, refunding customers who had already bought annual tickets. To implement price reductions on this scale across the board had never been done and therefore we had to start from scratch.“

"For more than 15 years, IT-TRANS has been the leading trade fair and conference for digital solutions in public transport. Naturally, we’re keen to know what our customers, both exhibitors and visitors, are currently most concerned about and how the market in Germany, Europe and the rest of the world is developing - for example, in ticketing. The Deutschlandticket obviously plays an important role here and, despite all the challenges, looks set to be a real milestone in the transport revolution," observes Markus Kocea, Senior Product Manager at IT-TRANS.

Challenging changeover

For Karina Kloppenburg from IVU Traffic Technologies, it was not only the many unanswered organisational issues but also the many to-do's involved in the technical implementation that made the changeover extremely complex. "One problem was the modernisation of the sales channels and subscription systems in a short time-frame. Previously, mobile subscription systems via smartphones were not commonplace, which is why there had to be investment in a new sales infrastructure," she says. In addition, the requirements of the Deutschlandticket had not been fully defined even up to the day of its launch on 1 May 2023, which led to customer uncertainty.

However, despite the difficulties, the introduction of the Deutschlandticket as the successor to the 9-Euro-Ticket is a milestone in transport innovation. "One ticket for regional and public transport in all German cities is a revolution for the German fare system," says Alexander Giegerich, Head of Sales & Marketing at the ATRON Group. Yet he also believes the conversion from the 9-Euro-Ticket to the Deutschlandticket to be costly and time-consuming: "In some associations, a suitable distribution and control infrastructure for a purely digital ticket is still lacking. And tickets on chip cards are not electronically readable for control purposes nationwide. In addition, the Deutschlandticket should be accessible to all age groups.“ Giegerich goes on to point out: "There are challenges in the digital area too. For example, going forward, the use of a dynamic Motics barcode on smartphones is planned to protect against copying and manipulation. However, it will take until the middle of 2024 at the earliest to introduce this nationwide.“

Even though the SSB says it has been well positioned in the field of digital ticketing for some time, Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG nevertheless faced an organisational challenge, as shortly before the introduction of the Deutschlandticket, the Youth Ticket BW was launched – also on 1 March, 2023. "Thankfully, the fact that we‘ve been investing heavily in digital ticketing for eight years is paying off," says Hirth.

There is agreement, too, that, going forward, digital, standardised ticketing is essential in order to make access to public transport as easy as possible for customers.

Cheaper, simpler and more flexible - but not for all

"The Deutschlandticket is definitely an opportunity for public transport, as it makes local transport more attractive for passengers, offers extra flexibility and is more user friendly: Passengers no longer have to worry about tariff boundaries, as long as they do not want additional transport options and offers not covered by the Deutschlandticket," says Kloppenburg from IVU. The needs of commuters, in particular, for whom the Deutschlandticket has now become much more affordable than a conventional ticket, are being addressed, he adds. Experts agree that the new Sparticket will encourage many people to switch to public transport for the longer term. But there is also something else to be considered: "For occasional users, it may still be cheaper to buy a 'normal' ticket, without any obligation to subscribe," says Giegerich. He also believes that retaining customers long-term may be a challenge. "If the travel experience is not great as a result of delays, overcrowding or other disruptions, the benefits of the new ticket will be negated. Furthermore, it’s not relevant in rural areas due to the frequent lack of public transport options. Therefore, in order to offer those in remote areas an alternative to their car, needs-based and flexible mobility offers must be created. But here, too, there are already encouraging examples of functioning on-demand transport. This must now be expanded quickly.“

The introduction of the Deutschlandticket was essential for the progression of public transport, however, according to experts, the momentum must continue, particularly with regard to investments. "We still a need to catch up in terms of investment in the public transport infrastructure. Germany is lagging behind countries such as Switzerland and Austria, with the latter investing much more in its infrastructure despite being less than a quarter of the size of Germany. For example, Germany invests €125 per inhabitant annually as opposed to Austria at €270," concludes Karina Kloppenburg.

While price is a key factor in consumer decisions to use public transport, so too are user-friendliness and convenient ticketing options for long-term retention. Not surprisingly, e-ticketing is one of the most important topics at IT-TRANS: At the last event in 2022, one-third of attendees visited with the aim of finding out about related solutions. In addition, according to a visitor survey, passenger information, e-mobility and flexible, on-demand services were among the most requested topics, and will therefore be high on the agenda at the upcoming IT-TRANS in May 2024.

2023-05-02
Innovation made in Karlsruhe live in Barcelona

From 4 to 7 June 2023, the who's who of public transport from all over the world will meet in Barcelona for the UITP Global Public Transport Summit, the leading event on sustainable mobility. The Karlsruhe Mobility Lab, an association of institutions and companies from the TechnologyRegion Karlsruhe (TRK), will be on board. 15 partners, transport companies as well as representatives from business, academia, and the public sector, will present both Karlsruhe as a hub of innovation and their projects - from autonomous driving to artificial intelligence in public transport - at a joint stand. Also present in Barcelona will be a congress delegation led by Karlsruhe’s Lord Mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup, TRK Managing Director Jochen Ehlgötz and Britta Wirtz, Managing Director of Messe Karlsruhe.

Karlsruhe Mobilitsy Lab - IT-TRANS

Mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup comments: "It needs future-oriented mobility concepts if the transport revolution is to succeed - for the climate, the environment and a better quality of life in urban areas. Karlsruhe offers a climate of innovation in which actors from business, science and the public sector jointly develop solutions for sustainable mobility. We are pleased that we can once again showcase the fruits of this cooperation internationally at the UITP Global Public Transport Summit, after the Karlsruhe network with its interdisciplinary projects already gained international recognition at the last summit in Stockholm."

Experience future mobility first hand: from AI to automated driving

At the joint stand, attendees can explore the massive progress in flexible and sustainable transport of people and goods in practice: highlights at the stand are exhibits such as the e-trailer of the LogIKTram project of the partner KAMO: Karlsruhe Mobility High Performance Center/Profilregion. The trailer is part of a logistics concept for freight transport on the last mile. It is precisely this last mile that the second KAMO project DAKIMO also tackles to make sustainable and intermodal mobility more attractive through artificial intelligence (AI). The MobileCityGame, a collaborative project led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, is pursuing the same goal with an app that trade visitors can test at the stand. The serious game on the mobility transition offers urban developers, NGOs, and science an intuitive tool for testing low-carbon, reliable and affordable mobility in cities.

On site in Barcelona, the FZI Research Center for Information Technology brings the technologies behind its autonomous FZI shuttles and the Autonomous Driving Test Site Baden-Württemberg to life: In a demonstrator, FZI experts visualise interactive control centre views and provide unique insights into the infrastructure and communication of the various technical systems. A team around Prof. Dr.-Ing. Eric Sax from the Institute for Information Processing Technology at KIT, led by M.Sc. Nicole Kechler, presents the TEMPUS project on city bus platooning in Munich. Platooning enables vehicles to automatically follow the lane of a lead vehicle at a short distance. Through this technology, operations can be adapted to passenger numbers as demand requires, become more automated and thus more economical.

On site from the Karlsruhe Mobility Lab are also other partners of the hub, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, the PTV Group, TransportTechnologie-Consult Karlsruhe GmbH, AVG – Albtal Transport Company, INIT GmbH, Karlsruhe Transport Network, the City of Karlsruhe, the UITP Regional Training Centre Karlsruhe and the Karlsruhe Transport Company. Organisors of the joint stand are TechnologyRegion Karlsruhe GmbH and Messe Karlsruhe.

Jochen Ehlgötz, Managing Director of TRK: "Thanks to its partners, the Karlsruhe Mobility Lab has become a globally recognised centre for intelligent concepts in the field of urban and regional mobility. One main focus is to continuously improve local public transport and develop new mobility concepts. Together, all players contribute significantly to the global mobility transition." Dr Alexander Viehl, Division Head at FZI adds: "FZI is a leader in the field of connected autonomous driving and intelligent digital infrastructure for new mobility concepts. The UITP Global Summit is a very special platform for FZI to showcase its technological skills as well as its applications and expertise in automated public transport."

About the Karlsruhe Mobility Lab

Based in one of Germany's central mobility and technology centres, the Karlsruhe Mobility Lab is a globally recognised hub for the development of intelligent concepts for the urban and regional mobility of the future. Science, business, the public sector, and innovative transport companies work together in an interdisciplinary way in this unique ecosystem to improve public transport and develop new mobility concepts. The focus is on intelligent, connected, resource-efficient and sustainable mobility that reconciles environmental friendliness and mobility comfort.

Much has already been achieved in the Karlsruhe Mobility Lab - from a convenient mobility platform that integrates individually usable means of transport such as car and bike sharing as well as intermodal traffic control, to autonomous first/last mile services in on-demand transport, cross-border mobility solutions, an extensive network of cycle paths and innovative fast cycle lanes and, last but not least, the Karlsruhe Tram Train Model, which has received worldwide attention.

2022-05-23
IT-TRANS 2022: Responding to today’s challenges with intelligent mobility

After a successful eighth edition, IT-TRANS has once again shown that intelligent mobility has an important role to play in the future, with more exhibitors, innovations and international participants than ever before. At a time of climate crisis and rising energy prices, multimodal transport networks are decisive. By combining private and public transport providers, they boost convenience and therefore acceptance. “Mobility is an issue that affects all of society”, says Britta Wirtz, CEO of Messe Karlsruhe, which hosted the event together with the International Association of Public Transport (UITP). “The challenge we face is to satisfy changing mobility needs while simultaneously achieving our climate goals. We believe that public transport will play a key role here, as future-ready, digitally connected transport and mobility solutions combined with intermodal approaches are the only way to meet both these objectives. That is why IT-TRANS and Karlsruhe as a technology hub are the ideal platform for this.” Dr Volker Wissing, the German government’s Minister for Digital and Transport, emphasised the particular status of Karlsruhe in shaping the mobility of the future: “You are turning Karlsruhe into a hotspot for sustainable mobility”, he summarised in a video message to organisers, partners and supporters of IT-TRANS at the opening of the event.

Blick in die Messehalle
For three days, IT-TRANS brought together the key players in digital mobility in Karlsruhe. Photo: Behrendt & Rausch

The relevance of the topics discussed at the trade fair was also reflected in the higher visitor numbers. This year’s IT-TRANS attracted around 6,500 guests from 71 countries (2018: 6,000), with 70 per cent coming for the first time. Most strikingly of all, these visitors came from all over the world: from Europe and Australia to Asia and Africa. All were eager to discover the innovative solutions that are already reality today and to find out about the trends that are shaping the industry.

Karlsruhe a hotspot for sustainable mobility

With its unique collaboration between science, industry, government and transport providers, Karlsruhe is known throughout Germany and Europe as a hub for sustainable mobility. The city is also one of Europe’s most important IT clusters, with 25 research institutes focusing on issues related to IT and digitalisation. These all make Karlsruhe a leader in research whose reputation extends well beyond the region. IT-TRANS has a key position in this ecosystem.

IT-TRANS 2022 saw the first presentation of the Karlsruhe Mobility Lab: a unique and exemplary cooperation between science, industry, public authorities and innovative transport organisations involving 34 projects. These are dedicated to developing and implementing smart concepts for the urban and regional mobility of the future, and have already gained global attention and praise. “Researchers from the region are making important contributions to the transport revolution worldwide. Karlsruhe can therefore rightly see itself as a pioneer in sustainable mobility development”, says Jochen Ehlgötz, Managing Director of TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe GmbH.

IT-TRANS leads the way in the international mobility sector

276 international exhibitors from 33 countries as diverse as China, the USA and all over Europe presented their latest solutions and shared their experiences with colleagues and visitors from all over the world. This represented an increase over the last event in 2018. “We have been at IT-TRANS since the very beginning and have not missed one yet”, says Anna Bergstedt, Marketing Manager at Axentia Technologies in Sweden. “We were so disappointed when the in-person trade fair in 2020 was cancelled because of the pandemic, and are now even happier to be back and meeting both new and existing customers face to face. IT-TRANS is such an important event for us. Here we can network with customers and secure new business”. This was also reflected in feedback from visitors, 95 per cent of whom had a very positive view of the exhibitors’ presentations.

The three-day conference with 180 speakers also went down well. 800 delegates attended, around 30 per cent more than in 2018. They saw presentations from industry thought leaders and took the opportunity to network with colleagues. Various elements of the event were also offered digitally, with 130 people tuning into the conference remotely.

The next edition of IT-TRANS is scheduled for 14 to 16 May 2024. Around half of the stand spaces have already been reserved by exhibitors.

2022-05-10
Digital Press Kit IT-TRANS
2022-05-07
IT-TRANS 2022 vereint internationale Mobilitätsbranche in Karlsruhe

Mit rund 275 Ausstellenden aus 33 Ländern und ca. 180 internationalen Referierenden setzen sich die klügsten Köpfe der Branche mit der digital vernetzten urbanen Mobilität auseinander. „Voller Vorfreude blicken wir auf die kommende Woche, in der wir wieder Gäste aus aller Welt hier in Karlsruhe begrüßen dürfen, um uns auszutauschen, gemeinsam zu diskutieren und über Innovationen zu staunen“, sagt Projektleiter Jochen Georg. „Nichtsdestotrotz haben wir die vergangenen vier Jahre, in denen die IT-TRANS pandemiebedingt nicht als Vor-Ort-Event stattfinden konnte, genutzt, um innovative digitale Formate zu entwickeln. So haben wir 2020 mit einer rein digitalen Ausgabe überzeugt und ergänzen die IT-TRANS 2022 mit hybriden Formaten, wie etwa Live-Übertragungen einzelner Vortragsreihen unseres Konferenz- und Messeprogramms.“ Wem die persönliche Teilnahme nicht möglich ist, kann sich online über das digitale Angebot der IT-TRANS informieren und anmelden: https://www.it-trans.org/de/tickets/

Karlsruhe Mobility Lab feiert auf der IT-TRANS Premiere

Karlsruhe Mobility Lab
Karlsruhe Mobility Lab

Eines der Highlights der diesjährigen IT-TRANS ist das Karlsruhe Mobility Lab der TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe, das sich als Zusammenschluss aus Wissenschaft, Industrie, öffentlicher Hand und innovativer Verkehrsunternehmen der Entwicklung und Umsetzung von intelligenten Konzepten der urbanen und regionalen Mobilität der Zukunft widmet und erstmals auf der IT-TRANS präsentiert wird. Mit 33 Partnern gilt das Lab als ein weltweit anerkanntes Zentrum, das einen großen Beitrag zur Mobilitätswende leistet. Britta Wirtz, Geschäftsführerin der Messe Karlsruhe, ist von der Bedeutung des Projekts überzeugt: „Das Karlsruhe Mobility Lab leistet einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Positionierung Karlsruhes als Mobilitätsstandort, in dem vor allem das Thema `smart mobility` prägend ist", sagt sie. In diesem Umfeld ist die Fächerstadt natürlich prädestiniert als Veranstaltungsort für Kongresse und Ausstellungen zu Mobilitätsthemen, wie etwa die IT-TRANS, die seit 2008 hier beheimatet ist.“

Im Karlsruhe Mobility Lab werden wesentliche Teile der Karlsruher Mobilitätsvision präsentiert, die zum größten Teil selbst vor Ort ausprobiert werden können:

  • das Mobilitätsportal der TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe,
  • die Mobilitätsplattform regiomove mit zahlreichen Mobilitätsangeboten sowie deren Erweiterungsmöglichkeiten für die Zukunft – von autonomen Shuttles bis zu röhrenbasierten Hochgeschwindigkeits-Transportsystemen,
  • die KArgotram, City hubs, cargo bike und Hofladentrams,
  • das autonome FZI-Shuttle, mit dem im letzten Jahr im Stadtteil Weiherfeld-Dammerstock der Betrieb von vernetzten und autonom fahrenden Mini-Bussen für die letzte Meile von der Haltestelle bis zur Haustür erprobt wurde,
  • weitere spannende Forschungs- und Innovationsprojekte.

Partner des Karlsruhe Mobility Lab auf der IT-TRANS 2022 sind neben der TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe GmbH: Automotive Engineering Network e.V. (AEN), efeuCampus Bruchsal GmbH, FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik, Hochschule Karlsruhe (HKA), INIT SE, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) mit dem Leistungszentrum Profilregion Mobilitätssysteme Karlsruhe, Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund (KVV) mit Albtal-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft mbH (AVG) und Verkehrsbetriebe Karlsruhe (VBK), Messe Karlsruhe, mu-zero HYPERLOOP e.V., PTV GmbH, raumobil GmbH, Tiefbauamt der Stadt Karlsruhe, UITP Regional Training Centre Karlsruhe, Urbanloop SAS aus Nancy sowie die VeloCARRIER GmbH.

Endlich wieder: Diskutieren, netzwerken und feiern

IT Family Dinner powered by Trapeze
IT Family Dinner powered by Trapeze im Atrium der Messe Karlsruhe

Fester Bestandteil der IT-TRANS sind die bekannten Side Events der Veranstaltung. Auch in diesem Jahr freuen sich Ausstellende, Konferenzteilnehmende und Gäste auf spannende Events, bei denen sie sich mit Kolleginnen und Kollegen austauschen, Kontakte knüpfen und in entspannter Atmosphäre feiern können. Mehr Informationen zum exklusiven IT-TRANS 2022 pre-event powered by PTV GROUP, dem IT Family Dinner powered by Trapeze sowie zur legendären Karlsruhe Networking Night powered by init und KVV gibt es online unter https://www.it-trans.org/de/networking/

IT-TRANS 2022: Plattform für innovative Start-ups weltweit

Auch für junge Unternehmen ist die IT-TRANS eine ideale Plattform, um ihre Konzepte und Lösungen vorzustellen. In der START-UP ZONE in der dm-arena präsentieren 30 Start-ups ihre innovativen Ansätze und neuen Ideen in verschiedenen Formaten. Bei Pitches, Start-up speed-dating sessions oder einzelnen Vorträgen können interessierte Besucherinnen und Besucher die Newcomer kennenlernen und ihre Fragen in der offen gestalteten Ausstellungsfläche stellen. Informationen zu den einzelnen Programmpunkten gibt es hier: https://www.it-trans.org/de/fachmesse/messeprogramm/

Die Beteiligung deutscher Start-ups an der IT-TRANS wird vom Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz gefördert (Programm zur Förderung der Teilnahme junger innovativer Unternehmen an internationalen Leitmessen in Deutschland). Die Messeteilnahme ausländischer Start-ups wird zu vergleichbaren Konditionen angeboten.

Market Update Foren: Experten zeigen best-practice-Beispiele

Die Market Update Foren A (Halle 1) und B (dm-arena) bilden auch 2022 einen wichtigen Bestandteil der Fachmesse. Dort berichten 70 Speaker von Ausstellenden wie IVU, INIT, Trapeze, Cityway, Scheidt & Bachmann, Teralytics oder Motiontag von erfolgreich implementierten Projekten und Konzepten ihrer Unternehmen. Dabei reichen die Themen von integrierten Planungstools, kontaktlosem Ticketing, Elektromobilität, Mobility-as-a-Service und Technologien zur Gestaltung urbaner Mobilität bis hin zu Apps für Reiseplanung und Navigation, AR/VR-Lösungen oder auch Fahrgastinformationssystemen. Das Programm der beiden Foren, die von allen Besuchern der Fachmesse und Teilnehmenden der Konferenz gleichermaßen kostenfrei besucht werden können, gibt es online unter https://www.it-trans.org/de/fachmesse/messeprogramm/.

Menschlichkeit und Technologie auf der IT-TRANS-Bühne

“The future is already here – we just need to pay more attention …” – Unter diesem Motto stellt IT-TRANS 2022 Keynote-Speaker Gerd Leonhard auf der Bühne in Karlsruhe seine einzigartige Sicht auf Mensch und Technik vor. Der Futurist, Autor, Humanist und Filmemacher beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, was die Zukunft für die Menschheit bereithält und wie wir die Zukunft, die wir uns wünschen, erschaffen können. Dabei verbindet er Futurismus mit Humanismus, Algorithmen mit Androrithmen, Wissenschaft mit Vorstellungskraft und Wirtschaft mit Kunst. Als einer der weltweit führenden Zukunftsforscher, der auf zahlreichen Konferenzen und Veranstaltungen aufgetreten ist und mit Unternehmen wie Microsoft, NBC, Visa, Google und der Europäischen Kommission zusammenarbeitet, wird er als Hauptredner bei der Eröffnungssitzung der Konferenz spannende Akzente setzen, die sich der Erforschung der Beziehung zwischen Mensch und Technologie widmen.

Weitere Informationen über die IT-TRANS: www.it-trans.org und www.twitter.com/it_trans und https://www.facebook.com/ittrans.org/

IT-TRANS Insights: Hier den IT-TRANS Newsletter abonnieren:

https://www.it-trans.org/de/about/news/newsletter-abonnieren/

2022-03-31
IT-TRANS 2022: A platform for pioneering start-ups from around the world

Karlsruhe/Brussels, 31.03.2022 – IT-TRANS has always given special support to young businesses, and for good reason. “Start-ups are a powerful driver of growth, competition and especially innovations”, says Jochen Georg, project manager for IT-TRANS. “That is why it is so important to offer newcomers a platform on which they can present their solutions. This helps both their own development and that of the sector as a whole.” The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action is supporting German start-ups’ participation in IT-TRANS through a dedicated programme that helps young, innovative companies take part in trade fairs. These businesses will present their new ideas and pioneering approaches in a variety of formats in the START-UP ZONE. They will be joined by start-ups from outside Germany who can participate at similar conditions. Visitors who want to learn more about these companies will be able to do so in a series of pitches, start-up speed dating sessions or individual presentations. They can also pose questions in the open exhibition area. More information on the individual programme items can be found here: https://www.it-trans.org/en/exhibition/exhibition-programme/

IT-TRANS, the international conference and exhibition for intelligent solutions in public transport, will take place from 10 to 12 May 2022 at the Karlsruhe Trade Fair Centre.

VEOMO Mobility: Mobility where it is needed

VEOMO Mobility
VEOMO Mobility

One of these newcomers is the Munich-based tech start-up VEOMO Mobility GmbH, which specialises in analysing multimodal mobility data. Founded in 2018, the company has become the largest aggregator of real-time mobility data in Germany. It focuses on property development based on future mobility needs. This safeguards the attractiveness of the properties over the long term, increases user satisfaction and supports sustainable mobility. Whether they are used as residential buildings, workplaces or general meeting points, VEOMO strives to make properties fit for the mobility needs of the future, as people travel from their home to the office and back via the restaurant. This encourages sustainable mobility behaviour, reduces the need for car parking spaces and helps make life less stressful for commuters. The principle behind the system is to provide mobility data where it is really needed: in the buildings themselves. It uses large monitors to deliver real-time information about available mobility services. The data can be shown on digital display boards, smart home screens in apartments, or right on the user’s smart phone via building apps. Alongside public transport companies, the system integrates providers of sharing vehicles, taxi services and individual mobility services upon request. Visitors to the trade fair who would like to learn more about VEOMO can do so in the start-up speed dating session from 1 pm on 10 May 2022. Managing Director Dominik Nouri will also deliver a presentation at 10:25 am on 11 May in the START-UP ZONE entitled “Rethink passenger information systems”. “The mobility sector is undergoing a revolution”, says the young entrepreneur. “For us as a start-up in the industry, IT-TRANS is the perfect platform to present our software and bring fresh impetus.”

Corporate carpooling with goFLUX

goFLUX
goFLUX

Sustainable mobility saves money for both employers and employees alike. This is particularly true of commuters who travel to and from work every day by car. The start-up goFLUX from Cologne offers a practical solution that can help them reduce both costs and emissions. It offers a free and user-friendly carsharing app aimed primarily at corporate carpooling. Users simply enter the starting point and destination. The app then automatically suggests the best routes and brings drivers and passengers together via a navigation system. This makes it possible to not just plan journeys, but also offer them spontaneously and directly at the click of a button. The app even processes cost sharing. goFlux therefore makes a big contribution to reducing traffic and emissions in urban areas. In addition, the app supports public transport companies in areas where bus and train service coverage is lacking. goFLUX CEO Wolfram Uerlich will deliver a presentation entitled “How to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through carpooling” on 10 May 2022 at 4:05 pm in the START-UP ZONE.

EYYES: “We make machines see”

Under the slogan “We make machines see”, the Austrian start-up EYYES develops modular, scalable and intelligent safe artificial intelligence products that aim to increase safety in mobility and improve quality in manufacturing. The company’s applications use AI to recognise objects, enabling precise hazard assessments in complex situations. They can also detect and classify persons, objects and products, thus increasing safety in transport and mobility.

Detailed information on the comprehensive start-up presentations programme at IT-TRANS 2022 can be found at: https://www.it-trans.org/en/exhibition/exhibition-programme/

More information about IT-TRANS: www.it-trans.org, www.twitter.com/it_trans and https://www.facebook.com/ittrans.org/

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2022-02-28
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) – mobility of the future

“MaaS is all about placing the user at the centre of transport services and offering them mobility solutions that are tailored to their individual needs”. This is how the European Mobility as a Service Alliance describes the MaaS approach. This is based on a combination of all available modes of transport, giving passengers a flexible, simple and seamless travel experience – all at the push of a button and without using their own vehicles. Users receive real-time information in an app, where they can also book and pay for the transport option that best suits them. At IT-TRANS 2022, which has been postponed to the new date from 10 to 12 May at the Karlsruhe Trade Fair Centre, numerous companies will showcase their innovations and present their vision for mobility of the future.

Tailored, efficient and environmentally friendly mobility with Hacon and Siemens Mobility

Intermodal routing across various modes of transport enables tailored, efficient and environmentally friendly mobility. Whether as a native app or web app, the majority of the applications offered by IT-TRANS exhibitors Hacon and Siemens Mobility deliver much more than just the bus or train connections of a single provider or transport association. The Mobility Marketplace makes it possible to combine databases from multiple providers and deliver them via a single platform. This gives passengers a comprehensive and sustainable transport service that is the perfect alternative to driving their own cars. Different modes of transport are combined to form an intermodal door-to-door transport chain. This can include public transport, on-demand services, private transport, car/bike/scooter sharing providers, taxis, bicycles and even footpaths. As a result, users can easily create the combination that works best for them. All aspects of the journey are covered, from information and planning to ticketing, payment and the journey itself.

Hacon and Siemens Mobility
Hacon and Siemens Mobility

Capacity forecasts for greater safety in public transport

Unlike long-distance transport, urban public transport services have no reservation data to rely on. Based on big data technologies and self-learning algorithms, Siemens Mobility and Hacon have developed a software solution for forecasting passenger numbers. This has been in use since September 2020 at the Rhine/Main Regional Transport Association (RMV), which transports over 800 million people every year. It is a perfect example of how public transport has reacted quickly and effectively to the challenges posed by Covid-19. The forecast is based on both ticket sales and connection queries from RMV’s information service. This makes it possible to predict the short-term capacity utilisation on trains and buses. In addition, the self-learning algorithm takes predictable external influences like construction work and major events into account. The data is used on a completely anonymous basis and cannot be traced back to the individual user.

Central management of intermodal public transport services with mobility portal®

vedysis
vedysis

vedysis, a company from central Germany, will present its newly developed mobility portal® at IT-TRANS. The mobility portal® gives public transport companies a platform that allows them to connect various modes of transport, integrate on-demand services and provide new ticket types. This aims at using multimodal mobility services to successfully revolutionise transport. The service is aimed at municipal governments and transport companies that want to further expand their public transport networks and offer flexible door-to-door services to attract and retain customers. The mobility portal® connects various multimodal public transport services, such as buses, trams, electric scooters, bike sharing, electric cars, and park and ride.

This allows municipal governments and transport companies to digitalise public transport and benefit from seamless front and back-end processes. Passengers can select their preferred means of transport via the front end of the mobility portal®. The search, booking and payment functions work via a website or app. Transport companies can benefit from smooth real-time data transfer in CRM, ERP, etc. The platform also starts certain specified workflows automatically. On top of this, the mobility portal® flexibly integrates various transport services, such as new routes, pricing models or modes of transport, into the existing public transport infrastructure. This makes it quick and easy for providers of on-demand transport services to join the transport revolution. An easily accessible customer service with multilingual tools is another decisive part of creating a positive customer experience. In the mobility portal®, customers can interact with transport providers in various languages and around the clock.

The mobility portal® also analyses data from multiple sources to identify sales opportunities and cancellation risks. Using AI-based algorithms, it generates targeted service offerings that are then advertised to various target groups automatically via Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or online news outlets.

MENTZ GmbH to present the new MaaS app Gullivr

Technological innovations from the Munich-based IT firm MENTZ have long been a feature of IT-TRANS. This year, the family-run company will present the latest addition to its GENIOS product family. The tried-and-tested GENIOS programme integrates the latest research from artificial intelligence, evolutionary algorithms and graph theory. “Integrated optimisation with GENIOS enables perfect planning for electric buses, services and routes, as well as precise deployments and connection planning”, explains CEO Christoph Mentz.

MENTZ will also present the latest generation of its ticket shop for smart e-ticketing. The CiBo (check-in, be-out) ticketing system will make public transport more convenient and therefore more attractive to passengers. As a provider of MaaS solutions, MENTZ reliably connects the existing sharing services of external mobility providers via interfaces, before integrating them precisely into its customers’ apps. Real-time information from the MENTZ electronic timetable delivers a quick overview of shared mobility services or parking capacity at the destination. Christoph Mentz is especially looking forward to presenting the new MaaS app Gullivr. “We are setting new standards here in user experience and lean design. Gullivr covers every aspect of modern, multimodal mobility: MaaS, planning, booking and payment. The thing we are looking forward to most of all though is finally being able to meet in person again with our customers.”

2022-01-28
IT-TRANS 2022: Free webinar on 1 February 2022

The next webinar will take place on 1 February 2022 at 2 pm:

The Digital Hub Karlsruhe – Leading innovation in mobility

Register for free here:

www.it-trans.org/en/conference/conference-programme/webinar-series/

The webinar will give a taste of what’s to come at IT-TRANS, which will be held from 10 to 12 May 2022 at the Karlsruhe Trade Fair Centre. It will also show why Karlsruhe is known around the world as a hub for future mobility technology and a centre of digital research and innovation. Leading figures and experts from the city will report on the latest innovations and developments, and will showcase the technologies that are revolutionising public transport in Germany and Europe.

They will include Tim Wörle from the Institute for Transport Studies at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, whose presentation “Modelling the Effects of Mobility Hubs – the example regiomove” will explore the increasingly connected nature of various mobility services, the intermodal use of transport and the modelling of locations for mobility stations. Taking the “regiomove” project in Karlsruhe as an example, he will explain how mobility can become more sustainable and efficient.

Other speakers and presentations include:

  • Prof. Dr.-Ing. Anke Karmann-Woessner
    Head of Planning Department
    City of Karlsruhe

  • Dr Frank Pagel
    Manager Multimodal Transportation
    Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund
    Topic: regiomove – Connecting multimodal mobility with infrastructure and beyond

  • Dominic Ziegler
    Software developer
    INIT GmbH
    Topic: Project KARL – Artificial intelligence supports dispatchers in public transport

Register as an exhibitor now and meet your future partners and customers

Trade fairs and conferences like IT-TRANS thrive on in-person discussions and networking. Over 270 exhibitors are already looking forward to the conference and exhibition, which will once again welcome industry players from around the world to the Karlsruhe Trade Fair Centre from 10 to 12 May. Companies have until 19 April to secure their stand at IT-TRANS. This is an unmissable opportunity to meet future partners and customers, and present your products and solutions to the key decision-makers in all areas of public transport.

Find out more and register here: www.it-trans.org/de/fachmesse/informationen-fuer-aussteller/


More information about IT-TRANS: www.it-trans.org, www.twitter.com/it_trans and https://www.facebook.com/ittrans.org/

2022-01-13
New date for IT-TRANS 2022: May 10 - 12, 2022

IT-TRANS, the International Conference and Exhibition on Intelligent Urban Transport Systems, has been rescheduled and will now take place at Messe Karlsruhe from May 10-12, 2022.

Exhibitions and conferences like IT-TRANS are based on personal exchange and networking. The current Corona Ordinance of the German state of Baden-Württemberg dated December 20, 2021, prohibits the organisation of exhibitions and conferences during alert level II, in which Baden-Württemberg has been since December 4, 2021, and whose regulations will be prolonged until further notice. In addition, the rapid spread of the Omicron variant is causing social uncertainty. The organisers of IT-TRANS, Messe Karlsruhe UITP – International Association of Public Transport – have therefore decided to postpone the exhibition and the accompanying three-day conference to May.

The new date has been set for 10 - 12 May 2022 at the Karlsruhe Trade Fair Centre.

Britta Wirtz, Managing Director of Messe Karlsruhe, emphasizes the necessity of rescheduling. „We would have liked to continue our successful exhibition restart from last fall," she explains. "By rescheduling, we would like to offer all involved in the exhibition and the conference the possibility of reliable planning and hope to return to normality in trade fair operations, in what we hope will be an endemic situation by then."

UITP plan to bring both their Executive and Policy Boards to Karlsruhe during IT-TRANS in May, which adds real value for exhibitors and visitors.

All tickets purchased for IT-TRANS remain valid.

2021-11-08
IT-TRANS 2022 to present the future of mobility

Smart ticketing, smart cities, cybersecurity and mobility-as-a-service: IT-TRANS, the world’s leading conference and exhibition for digitally connected urban mobility, will address these issues and more from 8 to 10 March 2022. Held for the first time across two halls at the Karlsruhe Trade Fair Centre, IT-TRANS will offer exhibitors and visitors a platform where they can discuss the latest innovations, experience new IT solutions, join conversations and develop new ideas to shape the future of mobility. Tickets for IT-TRANS are already available online, with attractive early bird and group rates for tickets purchased by 15 December 2021.

Major industry players looking forward to in-person discussions

IT-TRANS 2022 is also the place to be for the around 270 industry exhibitors from 35 countries: “IT-TRANS has been an important date in the calendar for us for over 13 years”, says Michael Frankenberg, CEO of Hacon, one of Europe’s leading software providers for digital mobility. “That is why we cannot wait to see our colleagues and customers, along with other important decision-makers from our sector in person again at last. We are looking forward to some interesting discussions and shaping the future of mobility together.” A globally leading company, Hacon will exhibit at IT-TRANS together with Siemens Mobility and the technology firm eos.uptrade, which offers innovative sales and ticketing solutions. Other big names looking forward to the event include ATRON, init and Trapeze. These companies and many more have already secured their stands on the 28,000 square metres of exhibition space.

IT-TRANS to offer hybrid formats

The event will also have plenty to offer those who cannot attend in person. Following positive feedback after the virtual event in 2020, next year’s IT-TRANS will be based on a hybrid format. “We are committed to offering all participants the opportunity to get involved in IT-TRANS”, says project manager Jochen Georg. “That is why we have created countless digital activities and features to ensure a unique conference experience both in person and online. The hybrid formats include our webinars that will start in November, along with live streams of individual presentations from the conference and exhibition.” This will allow online participants to get involved in discussions between global experts.

Conference programme and core topics to highlight current challenges

Alongside the format, IT-TRANS will offer cutting-edge content focusing on the latest technological innovations in the public transport sector. The future of public transport lies in tailored services that cater to the individual needs of passengers, based on a flexible, on-demand combination of various modes of transport. The event will showcase solutions for transport companies and their activities in transport planning, fleet management and human resources. Other key topics of the exhibition and accompanying conference will include:

• Contactless ticketing

• Cybersecurity

• 5G and telecommunication

• Smart cities and integrated network management

• Digital transformation

• Artificial intelligence and the internet of things

• Autonomous mobility

• Big data and data governance

With a total of 180 speakers across 30 sessions, the three-day conference will feature presentations, panel discussions and workshops dedicated to the current priorities, challenges and opportunities of the sector. Researchers, industry experts and thought leaders will share their visions with an international industry audience, providing inspiration for exciting debates.

IT-TRANS Insights – subscribe to the new IT-TRANS newsletter now!

How will public transport look in future? How will urban mobility develop? What effect is the pandemic having on our transport habits, and how can transport companies successfully overcome the current challenges? Answers to these questions and many more can be found in the new IT-TRANS newsletter “IT-TRANS Insights”. ´From the latest industry news and fascinating insights into IT-TRANS to exciting interviews with the major players and ongoing mobility projects in Karlsruhe, each issue of IT-TRANS Insights will highlight the issues that are shaping the future of urban transport.

Subscribe here: https://www.it-trans.org/en/about/news/newsletter-sign-up/

More information about IT-TRANS: https://www.it-trans.org/en/, www.twitter.com/it_trans and https://www.facebook.com/ittrans.org/

Exhibitor statements on IT-TRANS 2022

Nico Hess, Operational Sales Director Europe, Luminator Technology Group:

“We are all very happy with how IT-TRANS went. We had a huge number of industry visitors at our stand. I think you could tell at the event that everyone was delighted to finally speak face to face, shake hands and talk to customers in person again.”

https://luminator.com/

Prof. Ingo Dittrich, Offenburg University:

“Our farm shop tram project focuses on the issue of cargo trams, which is attracting greater attention in more and more cities. We attracted plenty of visitors to our stand and received very positive feedback. We loved the international flair at the trade fair, with guests from everywhere from Spain and Lithuania to Egypt and West Africa. IT-TRANS helped us a lot and we were able to make lots of new contacts.”

https://www.hs-offenburg.de/

Peter Möhl, Vice President Central & Eastern Europe, PTV Group:

“We are so happy to see IT-TRANS take place as an in-person event again. Maintaining personal contacts is so important. We value being able to both present our company and listen to our partners and customers. The organisation was also excellent.”

https://company.ptvgroup.com/

Annette Weisser, Head of Corporate Communications, IVU Traffic Technologies AG:

“Both we as an exhibitor and our customers are happy that the first in-person IT-TRANS since the pandemic was a success. We will definitely be back next time and the time after that!”

https://www.ivu.de/

Alexander Szlezak, CEO, Unwired Networks:

"This year’s IT-TRANS really surprised me. The visitors were of a very high quality, especially on the first day. I think that everyone was ready to meet in person again after the pandemic. We also had the perfect spot for our stand in hall 1.”

https://unwirednetworks.com/

Public transport sector to meet again at IT-TRANS 2022

IT-TRANS, the international conference and exhibition for intelligent solutions in public transport, is set to resume its role as the international meeting point for the public and private transport sector for the seventh time. The event will be held from 8 to 10 March 2022 across around 28,000 square metres of space in two halls at the Karlsruhe Trade Fair Centre. It will showcase digital mobility systems that both respond to individual passenger needs and build on a flexible, on-demand combination of various modes of transportation. There will also be solutions that help transport companies with transport planning, fleet management or staff deployment. The parallel conference will feature 150 speakers in 30 sessions, including presentations, podium discussions and workshops. “Following the cancellation of IT-TRANS 2020 due to the pandemic, we are delighted to welcome back the international public transport industry”, says project manager Jochen Georg. “The event is more relevant than ever. Around 75% of the total exhibition space has already been booked, with 190 exhibitors from 27 countries.”

Future Mobility Award: Award ceremony on July 7 in Baden-Baden

IT-TRANS is not only an important platform for the big names in the industry to present their products and services. A large number of start-ups are also set to present their clever new ideas at the international exhibition. The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) is supporting German newcomers’ participation through a dedicated programme. International start-ups will also benefit from special conditions.

In the run-up to IT-TRANS, organiser Messe Karlsruhe will shine the spotlight on these up-and-coming small businesses. Together with the industry publication Nahverkehrs-praxis and aen – automotive. engineering. network, Messe Karlsruhe will showcase start-ups from around the world whose innovative ideas are shaping the future of sustainable mobility. The Future Mobility Award will be presented at the Regional Conference Mobilitätswende, to be held on 6 and 7 July 2021 in Baden-Baden.

On 6 July, the finalists will have the chance to virtually pitch their ideas to an expert jury and a broad audience. The highlight of the day will be the keynote speech by Dr Till Ackermann, Head of Economics and Business Development at the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV). He will speak about digital transformation in public transport, and how government and start-ups can help. The Future Mobility Award will then be presented on 7 July, with the winning start-up receiving a cash prize of 5,000 euros and a professional coaching programme. Both the presentation of the start-ups and the award ceremony, along will all other items in the programme, will be streamed live online. More information is available at http://www.future-mobility-award.com.

Smart solutions for new challenges

The challenges and developments resulting from the pandemic will play a central role at IT-TRANS 2022. “Our industry will continue to feel the effects of the pandemic for many years to come”, explains Dr Alexander Pischon, Managing Director of the Karlsruhe Transport Authority (KVV). “We are working on flexible and needs-based solutions for our passengers that reflect the changes in the way we work, for example, such as more frequent working from home.” These include alternative mobility systems like mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) that respond to passenger needs for comfort and flexibility. As customers increasingly require more information, intelligent software can provide a solution.

One of the main requirements is real-time information on vehicle occupancy. Public transport companies are faced with the challenge of preventing overcrowding on buses and trains, even after the pandemic. With its MOBILEguide passenger information system, IT-TRANS exhibitor INIT delivers a staged system that lets transport companies forecast vehicle occupancy levels. This information can then be integrated into passenger display systems and used for operational management. In the first stage, the occupancy information is based on empirical values. In the expansion stage, MOBILEguide takes real-time passenger numbers into account, along with historical data on typical embarking and alighting behaviour. This allows transport companies to precisely show passengers how much space is available through an app, for example. As a result, passengers can practice social distancing or look for a suitable alternative connection.

The international trade fair, together with the accompanying three-day conference, will also focus on other key topics related to the increasingly diverse and digitalised world of urban mobility. These will include contactless ticketing, 5G and telecommunications, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving and on-demand mobility services, along with data storage and management. The call for papers will be issued at the end of August 2021.

Karlsruhe: the model region for mobility in Europe

Karlsruhe is an important model region for mobility and is home to many innovations. The city’s tram-train system is known internationally as the Karlsruhe model. The regiomove project, which began in 2017 under the management of KVV, combines public and private mobility providers. It enables a combination of different modes of transport, ranging from bikes, buses and trains to cars, scooters and trams. Passengers can therefore use the various modes of transport flexibly and conveniently. The project offers a seamless mobility and service chain from a single provider. Passengers can plan, book and pay for journeys with all modes of transport via the joint regiomove app.

Karlsruhe is also Europe’s third-largest IT hub, with a high density of companies in the IT and communications sector. This has made it a pioneer in transport, with many intelligent systems for directing, managing and providing information for transport developed and trialled here, before being used around the world. With this expertise and the city’s renowned research institutes, Karlsruhe is also involved in the EU’s Urban Mobility project. Together with the European Commission, member states, experts and interest groups, the city is playing a leading role in this key topic. The ongoing expansion of the Karlsruhe tram network is attracting global attention, reinforcing the city’s role as a model region for future mobility. On top of this, Karlsruhe also acts as a testing ground for autonomous vehicles. The EVA-Shuttle project, for example, tests connected and driverless minibuses under real conditions in the city, with a safety driver on hand at all times.

The city also fulfils its pioneering role through a partnership with the UITP, the International Association of Public Transport, in the UITP Karlsruhe Mobility Innovation Partnership. This partnership is reinforced with a UITP branch office in the city, along with the UITP Regional Training Centre Karlsruhe.

More information about IT-TRANS: www.it-trans.org, www.twitter.com/it_trans and www.facebook.com/ittrans.org/