The UK’s technology and innovation center for intelligent mobility, the Transport Systems Catapult (TSC), has launched a first-of-its-kind data facility that will enable access and analysis of various data sources to help address challenges in transport.
The TSC has launched the Intelligent Mobility Data Hub (IMDH), which provides a neutral, secure platform for transport organizations to allow access to and analyze their data. The hub currently stores many valuable data sets from government organizations and transport and technology businesses, offering multiple insights into road travel and haulage patterns in the UK.
Businesses will be able to use the facility to work with SMEs and research organizations to create transport innovations. Existing data sets can be combined for the first time to help create solutions for transportation issues, such as congestion, pollution and journey planning.
Partners that use the facility have access to powerful IT infrastructure for data analysis and a team of experts to help them. The platform also features highly secure storage and robust legal processes to ensure privacy and commercial confidentiality, in order to allow partners data to be stored and analyzed.
The launch follows a statement from the TSC, which stated innovation in transport is at risk because data is not being shared in the sector. The report, commissioned by the TSC and using analysis from the Open Data Institute (ODI) and Deloitte, found £14bn (US$18.5bn) of potential benefits to the UK that could be gained from better use of data.
The IM Data Hub currently contains:
Detailed mapping grids with road direction markers, speed limits and vehicle flow;
Mobile Network data in aggregated anonymized form for vehicle and train journeys;
National roadworks data to observe the effects and impact on routes;
Traffic movement patterns with journey times and roadworks highlighted;
Vehicle-specific emissions running in an urban environment;
Freight journeys from telematics fleet providers, with port of entry and exit.
“Data is the key which unlocks the door to transport innovation, but too often transport data is locked within commercial and technical silos, inhibiting collaboration and innovation,” explained the TSC’s CEO, Paul Campion.
“Utilizing the TSC’s position as a neutral trusted broker, the new Intelligent Mobility Data Hub allows the UK transport industry to take a major step toward resolving this issue, by enabling the analysis and combining of large data sets in a secure platform. This new facility will allow UK companies to grow by offering new services to travelers, unlocking the door to innovations which were not possible before.”
