Background

Traffic accounts for more than 40% of Austria’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. To meet our climate protection goals, it is absolutely necessary to adjust our transport behaviour. This adjustment can be aided by the establishment of mobility hubs. Mobility hubs are publicly accessible areas that offer a diverse range of transportation options and simplify switching between them. These transport options provide a more environmentally sustainable alternative to personal vehicles.

However, mobility hubs require a high degree of use to truly harness their advantages over individual motorized transport. Mobility hubs in larger cities are generally able to achieve this, whereas mobility hubs in medium-sized cities struggle to reach a sufficient utilisation rate.

Content and Objectives

Mobility hubs are a significant driver of the mobility transition. With ADDHUB we aim to set the course for establishing such hubs in Austria’s medium-sized cities. We are developing an AI-driven evaluation and recommendation tool to support a successful implementation of multifunctional hubs that can adapt to both location and situation requirements. This tool will remain available after the end of the project and will help create economically and environmentally sustainable mobility hubs.

While medium-sized cities are our main focus, our solution can adapt to a variety of requirements and scenarios. As such, larger cities and even rural areas will also profit from ADDHUB. Our overarching goal is to make a lasting and impactful contribution to the mobility transition.

Results

We are developing an AI-assisted evaluation and recommendation tool that supports the planning and implementation of mobility hubs. To achieve this, the tool uses reinforcement learning and human feedback techniques. Data on existing infrastructure, traffic flows and cost-effectiveness are integrated to simulate a diverse set of scenarios, including factors such as location, the feature scope and different business models.

Additionally, feedback from experts is used to refine our models. This ensures that local requirements, social acceptance and long-term profitability receive sufficient consideration. Data space technologies will enable the safe and decentralised exchange of mobility data. As a result, scalable and interconnected mobility hubs can be established. The final outcome of ADDHUB is a flexible and adaptable planning tool that will support medium-sized cities and suburban regions in the development of sustainable and multifunctional mobility hubs.

Benefits and Value

The main benefit of the project lies in the tool prototype which provides quantifiable assessments with a clear link to population density, accessibility, hub features and various models for financing, organising and running mobility hubs. This reduces planning uncertainties for municipalities and urban developers and therefore lower costs. The tool’s clear guidance on operational and financing models can support the pursuit of solutions that are sustainable in the long term.

Funding

The FFG is the central national funding organization and strengthens Austria's innovative power. This project is funded by the FFG and the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure.