MaaS: Enabling Rural Geospatial e-Solutions(MERGeS)

Public description

MaaS is the multi-modal use of transport to get from A-to-B cost and time-effectively. It relies on complex geospatial data which varies from trusted certainty of organisations to the socially-created by individuals. In between is data of its moment such as capacity and demand created by algorithms and the acceptance/decline of offer or connection.

MaaS: Enabling Rural Geospatial e-Solutions(MERGeS) enables rural areas to build-back better by addressing the key issues of transport silos and integration. Feasibility then prototyping enables innovation through existing methodologies applied to geospatial data and the development of a highly novel geospatial cybersecurity approach for clear routes to market.

Travel is an essential component of modern life. Mobility as a Service (MaaS) has social, economic and environmental benefits, but this is not a quick fix. It is far more easily deployable in urban areas. Why? Urbanites see hopping on a bus/train/tram to be normal/easy. Their app questions are transactional; when does it go?

MaaS in rural settings has major obstacles of inflexible supply/demand exacerbated by silo thinking not integrated customer-first solutions. Demand inconsistency and cuts in rural bus routes impact route-sustainability; the fix seen as spending more on historic failed approaches, not innovation for the future. Rural questions are firstly awareness and secondly behavioural change aligned to net-zero thinking.

MERGeS falls squarely into Geospatial Commission's missions. At its core is the ethical use/safeguarding of geospatial data across organisations; it improves access to better location data services in rural areas to level up left-behind communities and enables pragmatic innovation in areas of foreseeable connectivity issues.

MERGeS follows best practice and opportunities identified by KTN's Power of Place 2020 to collaboratively unlock data silos to advances in cloud-based computing to harness knowledge securely for more responsive seamless rural transport systems.

Decarbonising Transport, Setting the Challenge March 2020 "mobility innovation, will change the way vehicles are used. Clean, place-based solutions will meet the needs of local people; including how digital tools empower consumer choice."

The feasibility defines the prototype technical build that enhances practical usability of the component parts of traveller app, operator platform, backend & system control and analysis interface. Key technical challenges:

Obtaining and converting geospatial data from disparate sources into core database through APIs and semi-automated processes. Synchronisation of data from central database/APIs to specific user applications within predefined timescales. Creation of a simple, easy-to-use, user interface to ensure uptake of app.

Fundamental cybersecurity and individual privacy.