This May, ERTICO – ITS Europe and the Host City of Seville are inviting innovators, industry leaders, researchers, and visionaries from across the ITS ecosystem to bear witness to the evolution of smart mobility at a critical juncture. As we enter the final year of the first quarter of the 21st century, the 16th ITS European Congress (19-21 May) will focus on the rapidly changing mobility landscape, where technological development is underpinned by resilience, sustainability and user needs and experiences.
In the last few years, there has been a near-seismic shift in the development of transportation systems and services powered by the convergence of advanced technologies such as AI, AR, VR, the roll-out of next-generation communications, and the ubiquity of data use. Emergent Technologies: Shaping the Future of Data and Services for Mobility is one of the four Congress topics chosen by the European Programme Committee to highlight their combined transformative impact and potential.
Data to Fuel Mobility
The Data Act, which came into force last year and will become applicable this September, is a critical component of the European Commission’s digital strategy, with profound implications for the ITS ecosystem. By establishing clear rules on data access and sharing, it aims to ensure that businesses, public authorities, and individuals can benefit from the data economy while cultivating trust. It also holds the potential to boost interoperability and breaks down silos between sectors.
Harnessing data effectively and ethically is fundamental to creating seamless, multimodal mobility services that meet user needs and address societal goals such as accessibility, inclusivity, and equity. By reinforcing open data ecosystems and enabling standardised data sharing, we can unlock the floodgates of innovation.
The European Commission’s agenda to advance the Digital Decade, emphasising connectivity, AI, and digital sovereignty, aligns with the ITS community’s goal to develop sustainable and smart mobility solutions fuelled by real-time data. The common European mobility data space will play a crucial role in achieving the objectives of reducing congestion, lowering emissions, and enhancing safety, efficiency and accessibility.
The role of AI, AR, and VR in transformative mobility
Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality have established a firm foothold in our industry and are leading enablers of a new era in mobility. AI is revolutionising aspects of traffic management, predictive maintenance, and user-centric services like personalised route planning. Meanwhile, AR and VR are opening new dimensions in driver assistance systems and user experiences. These technologies, which can usher in a future of mobility that is intuitive, immersive, and inclusive, must be rigorously tested to mitigate risks and avoid any potential pitfalls.
After coming into force last year, the AI Act, which will also start applying this year, will become fully applicable in August 2026, is also relevant for the future of ITS. Europe is leading the way in adopting and regulating these technologies, and we have a unique opportunity to make certain they are applied ethically and inclusively, benefiting all demographics and bridging regional divides.
Clean, resilient and connected mobility
As Europe strives to meet its ambitious climate goals, ITS solutions supported by emergent and advancing technologies are driving the transition to clean and green mobility by the development of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, optimisation of public transport systems, and through sustainable logistics. By prioritising transport decarbonisation through the integration of green technologies, practices and policies, as outlined in the European Green Deal, ITS is contributing in a highly significant way toward a net-zero future.
Beyond the push towards sustainable mobility, it is incumbent on the ITS sector to set clear targets of resilience in our smart mobility ambitions. Along with developing safeguards for data integrity and protecting user privacy in a way that balances technological progress with trust and accountability, a resilient mobility system must be able to withstand the menace of human-made and natural disasters – pandemics, conflicts, floods, fires, cyber-attacks, etc.
These considerations are particularly pertinent when communication technologies like 5G and beyond are in a race to enable cooperative, connected and automated mobility on land, air, and water.
The dynamism of digital twins
Digital twins (DT) are among the innovative technologies revolutionising the mobility value chain. As part of the Digital Europe Work Programme 2021-2022, the EU launched the initiative to co-design the Local Digital Twins (LDT) toolbox to expedite the digital transformation towards smart communities. By integrating real-time traffic data from various sensors to provide a virtual mirror of transportation systems, DTs can simulate, predict, and optimise transportation scenarios.
The LDT toolbox is poised to play a transformative role in the future of mobility cities to make smarter, data-driven decisions, that boost efficiency, safety, sustainability, and resilience. This technology allows planners to test solutions, such as new public transit routes or autonomous vehicle flows, without disrupting real-world systems, leading to smarter infrastructure planning and reduced congestion.
For commuters, the digital twin provides tailored, real-time insights on traffic, transit schedules, and parking availability, allowing more efficient and eco-friendly travel choices. In crises, the toolbox provides actionable insights, directing emergency services, optimising traffic light sequences, and ensuring swift responses.
Building trust
The combination and integration of emergent technologies hold immense promise for the ITS ecosystem. Technological progress, however, must undoubtedly be matched by good governance and standards so that new and advanced technologies contribute to a sustainable, secure, and inclusive transport future that enhances user experiences.
Events like the ITS European Congresses are important avenues for the ITS community to share best practices, and promote cross-sectoral collaboration to accelerate these advancements. Through collaboration, we can ensure that Europe’s ITS and smart mobility community remains competitive and at the forefront of global innovation.
I call upon the ITS community to come together on 19-21 May, to address the challenges and opportunities we are faced with. With a clear vision, a commitment to shared values, and our joint efforts, we can harness the potential of new technologies to drive the agenda forward towards a climate-neutral and inclusive future in Europe and around the world.
Joost Vantomme
CEO, ERTICO – ITS Europe