HARMONY looks to the future by translating results into action
Image by Unsplash, Antonio Sessa
HARMONY continues on the road to meaningful impact and success with the beginning of a new stage, in which the HARMONY multiscale platform is implemented. In doing so, it will be possible to scale-up and transfer the approach in other contexts. At this stage, the findings taken from the electric AVs and drone pilots will contribute to the recommendation of useful technologies and indicators for policy makers to govern the mobility transition. To transform these recommendations into practical guidance, HARMONY will develop roadmaps to support authorities in the transition.
This stage of the project is crucial, as it aims to translate the results of the HARMONY Integrated Spatial and Transport Planning Model Suite, which assesses the multidimensional impacts of new mobility concepts and technologies into recommendations for authorities to update spatial and transport strategies. This includes recommendations for electric autonomous vehicles (AV), drones and the SUMP framework, with the goal of scaling-up and transferring the methodology and findings to other territories.
The development of HARMONY roadmaps will be useful to lead the transition to new mobility services by filling the gap between public authorities and new mobility service providers in metropolitan regions. By exploring innovative solutions, HARMONY provides insights and recommendations about their actual use and exploitation in real scenarios.
HARMONY will provide decision-makers of metropolitan areas across Europe with policy recommendations and guidelines to enable them to lead a sustainable transition to a low carbon mobility era. In particular, policy recommendations aim to bridge the transport gap between metropolitan regions and neighboring areas, and work towards a resilient, sustainable, optimized, intermodal and harmonized transport system.
Currently, HARMONY's biggest challenge is to translate all technical findings into more accessible language. The HARMONY Model Suite integrates land-use, people and freight activity, and multimodal network models to allow for vertical planning. It attempts a holistic, in-depth analysis, using sophisticated agent-based simulators that range from the long-term strategic to the short-term operational level, aiming to capture the maximum detail of travel behavior and network performance.
In order to increase coordination between multimodal infrastructure mobility, spatial economic development and social inclusivity, a number of SUMP recommendations will arise from the results of the AV and drone pilots, as well as the Model Suite. A set of multidimensional scenarios will be evaluated based on resiliency, impact on air quality, accessibility and energy consumption. The most promising and environmentally rational scenarios will be included in the list scalable strategic recommendations.
Finally, HARMONY roadmaps will capture the long-term impacts of innovative mobility solutions, thereby guiding decision makers in the definition and implementation of redesign strategies.
Author: ENIDE SOLUTIONS
