🚗💨 Cruising into the Future: Measuring MaaS Readiness with the MaaS Status Index

The Main Idea

Researchers develop a quantitative tool called the MaaS Status Index (MSI) to assess and compare the readiness of urban areas for Mobility as a Service implementation.

The R&D

Buckle up, fellow mobility enthusiasts! 🚀 We're about to take a ride into the future of urban transportation with an exciting new development in the world of Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Researchers Tabea Fian and Georg Hauger from the Vienna University of Technology have just unveiled a game-changing tool that's set to revolutionize how we measure MaaS readiness in our cities. Say hello to the MaaS Status Index (MSI)! 👋

So, what's the big deal? 🤔 Well, imagine trying to build a puzzle without knowing what the final picture looks like. That's been the challenge with MaaS implementation until now. This new MSI is like having the puzzle box lid – it gives us a clear picture of how ready a city is to embrace MaaS.

The dynamic duo behind this research has cooked up a four-step recipe for MSI success:

1. 🚕🚲 Identify relevant mobility markets (think taxis, bike-sharing, etc.)
2. 📏 Define mobility market metrics (user numbers, revenues, you name it!)
3. 💰 Integrate macroeconomic metrics (because the economy matters, folks!)
4. 🧮 Derive the MSI formula (math magic happens here)

To put their method to the test, they took it for a spin in Austria, looking at data from 2017-2022 and making predictions for 2023-2028. The results? Fascinating! 🤓 They found that shared mobility services like car-sharing and ride-hailing are picking up speed, while traditional modes like private cars are pumping the brakes when it comes to MaaS relevance.

But wait, there's more! 📈 The MSI doesn't just look at mobility markets. It also considers factors like urbanization rates, population demographics, and GDP. It turns out that tech-savvy youngsters in economically thriving urban areas are more likely to jump on the MaaS bandwagon. Who would've thought? 😉

The best part? This isn't just some academic exercise. The MSI is a practical tool that city planners, policymakers, and transport operators can use to steer their MaaS strategies in the right direction. It's like having a GPS for the future of urban mobility!

So, there you have it, folks! The MaaS Status Index is here to help us navigate the twists and turns of urban transportation evolution. Fasten your seatbelts – the future of mobility is looking smoother than ever! 🚀🌆

Concepts to Know

• Mobility as a Service (MaaS): 🚗🚲🚇 A concept that integrates various forms of transport services into a single mobility service accessible on demand. Think of it as a digital platform that combines transportation options from public and private providers, allowing users to plan and pay for multiple types of mobility services.
• MaaS Status Index (MSI): 📊 A quantitative tool developed to assess and compare the readiness of urban areas for MaaS implementation. It considers both mobility market metrics and macroeconomic factors to provide a comprehensive evaluation of a city's MaaS potential.
• Mobility Market Metrics: 📈 Specific indicators used to measure different aspects of mobility services, such as user numbers, revenues, and market penetration rates for various transportation modes.
• Macroeconomic Metrics: 💼 Economic indicators at a national or regional level that can influence MaaS adoption, including GDP per capita, urbanization rates, and infrastructure investments.

Source: Fian, T.; Hauger, G. Developing a Mobility as a Service Status Index: A Quantitative Approach Using Mobility Market and Macroeconomic Metrics. Future Transp. 2024, 4, 1247-1265. https://doi.org/10.3390/futuretransp4040060

From: Vienna University of Technology.