What is SMART Mobility?
In simple terms, smart mobility means using emerging technologies to improve the mobility of people and goods. It’s the use of new technologies to move things from point A to point B in the safest, most convenient and most cost-effective way. Smart mobility encompasses everything from car-sharing programs, on-demand ride services and better access to public transportation to drones, autonomous and connected vehicles, and a transportation infrastructure that’s connected, automated and intelligent.
Kickoff resources
At our kickoff, the presenters shared several resources you could use in your classroom.
Smart Columbus Hook Activity
Participants are tasked to complete their character’s schedule throughout the day but at each turn, different transportation challenges impede their ability to complete their schedule. These challenges force the participant to think about how every person struggles with unique transportation issues and how sometimes there are very limited options to complete your daily tasks. You can tailor this activity to fit your communities demographics.
Paradox Prize Breakout Activity
Sample design challenge activity that gets your students to start thinking about solutions to transportation access issues in low income communities.
PAST Foundation Design Challenge 101 Breakout Activity
Instructing teachers on the fundamentals of running a design challenge in their classrooms. How to implement the design cycle in the many stages of the design challenge.
Roundtable Organizations
We brought in experts from different mobility organizations and to give educators the chance to network and get questions answered. The roundtable included these experts on Smart Mobility:
Introductory materials
Before you begin using the resources below, be sure to download this packet of helpful guides and templates along with two introductory videos from one of our partners, Smart Columbus.
What is a Smart City?
Guide your class through the research of what makes a smart city. This worksheet walks you through the elements of a smart city and gets you thinking about a transportation future.
Operating System Projects Jigsaw
Orient your students to the future of transportation and smart mobility.
Design Challenge Problem Needs Statement
These two worksheets go hand in hand to present your students with several problems facing connected mobility and gets them thinking about possible solutions and prototypes they can begin to develop.
Smart Columbus (HOW Columbus is changing its transportation infrastructure)
Columbus, Ohio was awarded the Smart Cities grant. These are just a few of the strategies they are looking to implement to update the transportation infrastructure, fleet, and culture in Central Ohio
Smart Columbus (WHY Columbus need to affect change toward the future of transportation)
With a changing more technical workforce and a rapidly expanding city, Columbus is looking to modernize its transportation system to suit the needs of a modern city.
SAFETY:
How can you make transportation safer in your community?
Five Ways Technology is Making Cars Safer
Increased numbers of distracted and unsafe driving behaviors are leading to larger numbers of motor vehicle fatalities in the United States. Here are some tips to regain focus and drive more safely.
Three Ways That Technology is Making Transportation Safer
Find out how technological features that exist in most modern vehicles are preventing unsafe driving habits.
What Future Car Technologies Will Make Roads Safe?
Automotive manufacturing is constantly innovating. Learn about 10 new technical advancements that will help vehicles adapt to handle difficult driving situations.
Improving Road Safety with Technology Innovation
Roadway infrastructure has changed over the last 100 years. See how adopting modern roadway signage and lighting can lead to a safer roadway.
Honda Demonstrates New “Smart Intersection” Technology in Marysville
The technology allows cars to virtually see through and around buildings and walls in weather conditions to help identify and alert drivers to otherwise hidden hazards.
Next Big Thing – What’s the future of so-called talking cars?
Brian Cooley discusses a new wireless technology, dedicated short range communication (DSRC), that will make it possible for cars to make each other aware of their position, speed, and direction.
Ford Demonstrates Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication for Increased Safety
Using simple GPS and WiFi technology, Ford is working to make driving even safer. In this video, I go through a series of scenarios led by Ford experts showcasing how cars will communicate with each other to make for an even safer driving experience.
MOBILITY:
How do we make improvements to the way people and goods move around your community? This could be an opportunity to invent a new mode of transportation, improve on an existing system, or combine transportation modes to increase efficiency.
TRANSPORTATION Moving People and Goods
As urban centers expand, traffic congestion becomes worse and worse. Congestion management plans create a multi-modal strategy to avoid these transportation issues.
Introduction to Multi-Modal Transportation Planning Principles and Practices
There are diverse groups of individuals that struggle to fit into the modern transportation system. Investing in multiple forms of transportation can reduce congestion and lead to a higher social good.
Rural Transportation Toolkit
Rural communities face issues of mobility as well. The Rural Transportation Toolkit works through these issues to create a holistic change in rural mobility.
Transport in the Digital Age: Disruptive Trends for Smart Mobility
How can technological advancements create a benefit to the future of connected mobility? Data collection can help tailor the best mode of transportation for your community.
Connected Vehicle Technology
Connected mobility impacts enhance the livability of our communities. Find out a wide range of impacts to see how connected mobility impacts the safety and ease of day to day tasks.
DriveOhio and Smart Columbus Deploy “Smart Circuit” Automated Shuttle in Columbus
DriveOhio offers the Smart Circuit, a driverless shuttle running between several key downtown destinations. Visit https://smartcircuitcbus.com/ to plan a ride for you or your students.
DriveOhio and Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Launch “SkyVision” UAS Air Traffic Control in Springfield
AFRL and the Ohio Department of Transportation are now operating new technology known as SkyVision at the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. The technology allows for safe, accurate and effective operation of unmanned aircraft systems by detecting and avoiding other aircraft while in flight using radar feeds from airports in Dayton and Columbus and from the long-range radar at London, Ohio.
Youngstown awarded nearly $11 million, plans for self-driving shuttle
The grant will be used for improvements in the Central Business District
ACCESS:
How do we make sure that all people have access to transportation, regardless of economic, geographic or physical limitations?
Transportation Patterns and Problems of People with Disabilities
Individuals with disabilities are very concerned about how they fit into the future of transportation. Find out how transportation has been developed around individuals with disabilities and what changes can be made moving forward.
The Transportation Barrier
Connect to an individual from a low-income community who struggles to make it to the doctor’s office. People with limited access to transportation struggle with health issues as they are more likely to miss appointments.
The Grocery Gap: Who has access to healthy food and why it matters
People in low-income communities do not have equitable access to grocery stores that serve fresh fruits and vegetables. Read about some strategies to even this food discrepancy and how transportation can help.
Mass transit
Mass transportation has changed in recent history, but its primary goal is to meet the needs of the community. Diverse mass transit systems allow for the most equitable system.
“Free to Ride” documentary
Documentary from the Ohio State University Kirwan Institute on the workforce mobility/transportation paradox in Ohio, including in Dayton and Beavercreek.
RELIABILITY:
How can we better predict travel times, road conditions, or make the best use of infrastructure and resources?
The Reliability of the Transportation System and its Influence on the Choice Behaviour
In today’s high paced world individuals are on extremely time-tight schedules. Learn how people choose routes and transportation methods to increase their efficiency of travel.
Assessing travel time reliability in transport appraisal
Understand the in-depth analysis of travel time reliability and how it is calculated for public and private modes of transportation.
Who Cares about Running the Buses and Trains on Time?
Find out the importance of having mass transit run on time. People rely heavily on public transit and being able to predict and determine rides is crucial for all facets of modern life.
The Future of Mobility: 2050 and Beyond | Carla Bailo | TEDxOhioStateUniversity
Dedicating herself to the auto-industry, Carla Bailo has been around cars for a long time. Throughout her career, Carla has strived to provide the safest and most efficient vehicular experience for the public. She has recently launched the Smart Mobility Initiative, working to analyze the usefulness of autonomous vehicals. She and her colleagues are using Columbus, Ohio as a test bed for smart mobility.
TALENT:
How do we train people to use emerging technologies related to transportation?
A Guild for the Development of Career Pathways in Transportation
There are many possible careers in the transportation community. In this growing and changing workforce find out where the need is and the required individuals to fill forming positions.
Top 20 Jobs in the U.S. Transportation Industry
U.S. Departments of Transportation, Education, and Labor has released a joint transportation jobs report indicating that transportation industry growth will add 417,000 skilled and semi-skilled job openings from 2012 to 2022. Find which one of the top 20 new jobs suit you.
Emerging Careers – Autonomous Vehicle Development, Deployment, and Maintenance
There is a new sector of vehicle manufacturing that requires a new workforce. Autonomous vehicle development, deployment, and maintenance are new careers that require a collection of specifically skilled laborers.
Shared Mobility
Shared mobility is changing the scene of transportation across the country. Find out careers being developed in the bike-sharing industry and the skills needed to fill these new roles.