What is smart mobility ?
Smart mobility refers to all means and tools of transport that have connectivity features. The key components are:
- Physical: private vehicles, trains, buses, traffic lights, surveillance cameras, road sensors, etc.
- Digital: MaaS applications (such as Bonjour RATP, SNCF Connect, M’ticket), fleet management software, connectivity, etc.
Smart mobility places the user at the heart of its concerns. Its goal? To improve the user experience and make their travels more efficient and safe.
IoT in Service of Smart and Sustainable Mobility
With the rapid expansion of cellular networks, more and more objects in our daily lives are interconnected. From our smartphones or computers, we have access to various services, especially in the realm of transportation. Mobility is termed “smart” because it relies on efficient connectivity, which is enabled by the Internet of Things (IoT).
IoT is a combination of technologies that allow devices to communicate with each other and connect to the cloud. From software to road sensors, vehicles, infrastructure, or traffic lights, all these elements can connect to the Internet and exchange data via cellular networks.
The evolution of cellular networks allows for the creation of new experiences in the mobility sector. Among the most used:
- LTE-M: cellular network dedicated to IoT
Ideal for low or medium bandwidth solutions that consume little energy, this protocol allows for the efficient use of IoT sensors in connected infrastructures like smart highways.
- 4G/5G
With ultra-fast data transmission and low latency, these networks allow connected vehicles, motorists, and infrastructures to communicate in real-time. Services such as driver assistance (traffic updates, weather conditions, safety alerts) can be developed, facilitating decision-making.
Companies can combine these technologies to develop a wide range of mobility services.
Smart Mobility: some use cases
The emergence of innovative technologies brings new development opportunities every year for (almost) all components of smart mobility. IoT combines with artificial intelligence and data analysis to make journeys smoother and more enjoyable. Here are some examples:
Shared mobility services
Bike-sharing, electric scooter rentals, ride-hailing services: city dwellers have access to several flexible, personalized, and affordable mobility solutions to get around. Thanks to connectivity, these services are accessible via apps and reduce the need for car ownership. Results: fewer road congestions and carbon emissions.
Connected vehicles
Equipped with IoT sensors, these vehicles have access to an increasing amount of real-time data such as weather, traffic, and road conditions. Route suggestions to spend less time on the road, fault detection: users enjoy a more pleasant and safer driving experience. Some vehicles offer features like anti-collision systems or automatic emergency calls.
Traffic lights
Using IoT sensors, they collect real-time traffic data. After analyzing this data, the lights are automatically adjusted to reduce congestion and the time spent at red lights, thereby minimizing traffic jams. These smart traffic lights are present in several cities like Amsterdam, Vienna, Copenhagen, and San Francisco.
Smart highways
Cameras and sensors send data to servers. To smooth out traffic and increase road safety, these servers take measures on a highway section, such as opening or closing traffic lanes and setting speed limits. These smart highways exist notably in the United Kingdom.
Electric vehicle charging
With the accelerating sales of electric vehicles in Europe, charging stations are expanding. The goal: to improve the user experience and ensure a consistent and uninterrupted service. Thanks to IoT technology, it is now possible to locate nearby available charging stations or view the remaining charging time via an app.
Parking space management applications
No more endless circling to find a parking spot: drivers are automatically guided to available spaces.
The benefits of smart mobility
The impact of smart mobility on cities and their inhabitants is considerable. In a smart city, IoT solutions notably contribute to:
Increasing travel safety
Road accidents are mainly caused by human errors or mechanical failures. Smoother traffic, pedestrian detection including at night, brighter smart lighting in the presence of a person, automatic fault detection: the features provided by IoT help reduce the risks of human error and, by extension, accident risks.
Reducing carbon footprint
By reducing travel time by car while making soft mobility options like cycling more accessible, IoT solutions help decrease emissions in urban areas and address issues related to air quality and pollution.
Lowering costs
According to the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory (ONISR), road accidents represented €38.3 billion in economic losses (work accident contributions, hospitalizations, material damages…). IoT solutions enhance road safety and help reduce the number of accidents.
Improving urban life
Services such as bike-sharing or scooter-sharing help streamline movements, reduce traffic jams, and decongest streets. Affordable and accessible to all, they promote social equity and the well-being of city dwellers.
Objenious, your reliable connectivity partner
Are you looking for an IoT solution for your smart mobility project? With 25 years of experience, Objenious offers cellular IoT technologies that meet every connectivity need and business requirement. At the forefront of the ever-evolving IoT market, we offer solutions based on LET-M, NB-IoT, 4G, and 5G networks. To access reliable networks and extensive coverage, contact our team of 40 experts and discover our offers.