A look to the future: Mobility as a Service and the evolution of infrastructure – Lexology

With Australia's infrastructure landscape evolving, steps are being taken to integrate Mobility as a Service (Maas) into our existing transport system.

Key takeouts

There are many and varied benefits expected to flow from a Mobility as a Service (MaaS) style approach to mobility. Therefore, it is unsurprising that a number of private and public entities have already started taking steps to integrate it into our existing transport system.

In July of last year, Uber and Transport for NSW announced an unprecedented partnership. The Uber app was updated to display dynamic public transport information, including routes, real-time schedules, pricing and walking directions, as well as the usual 'UberX' and 'Pool' options. Transport for New South Wales also announced that its trip planner included taxi and rideshare options including Ola, Ingogo and Cars on Demand, in addition to usual public transport options.

A future with MaaS will require physical and digital infrastructure to undergo transformation to permit the use of autonomous and electric vehicles, as well as other innovative modes of transportation.

How does Australia's physical infrastructure need to evolve?

Our physical and digital infrastructure will need to undergo a transformation.

Paving the way for autonomous and electric vehicles

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have been credited with driving the adoption of MaaS, as they are expected to reduce the burden on riders, decrease transportation costs, and increase safety on roads. Electric vehicles (EVs) are similarly seen as being intrinsically linked to the future of MaaS. In fact, EVs have even inspired the creation of a purely electric version of MaaS referred to as 'eMaaS' or 'Electric Mobility as a Service'. A number of changes to Australia's physical infrastructure are required before AVs and EVs can be implemented in earnest.

EVs require installation of charging stations along transit corridors throughout Australia. This would not be an unprecedented move, noting that the Queensland Government has rolled out the world's longest EV superhighway in a single state. This will soon be superseded, as in November 2020, Western Australia released its Electric Vehicle Strategy. This will facilitate the creation of an even longer EV charging infrastructure network from Perth to Kununurra in the North, Esperance in the South, and Kalgoorlie in the East.

AVs will need vehicle-to-vehicle and 'smart infrastructure' technology sensors installed in roads, signs and other associated infrastructure. Roads, in particular road markings, would need to be maintained in top condition to ensure that they can be recognised by the AVs. Drone technology should play a part here, with their ability to project live feeds to maintenance crews.

Sensors installed in smart infrastructure can serve a second purpose by collecting data, allowing analysts to predict maintenance problems before they occur. This would be similar to the sensors and analytics that are currently being used to provide the same service on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Connecting with ease

In a MaaS world, customers need accessible and safe intermodal interchange centres to transfer between various modes of transport. We could arrive by rideshare, then transfer to a scooter, and then board a train.

Much like our current metro systems, there are opportunities for interchange points to become shopping, dining and entertainment precincts. This could reduce the 'friction' that often comes with changing between modes of transport.

Growing our green infrastructure

COVID is accelerating the increase in the use of active transport, such as bikes and scooters. As a result, shared pedestrian and cycle paths are becoming crowded and unsafe.

Active transportation requires governments to invest in innovative, safety-focused solutions. This is already happening in a number of States. Brisbane City Council has revealed plans to build 5 new green bridges across Brisbane. The Queensland Government is also investing in veloways in strategic locations, to minimise the safety risk that comes with overcrowded pathways. Sydney is playing catch-up by installing a number of temporary bike lanes.

To take the concept a step further, future active transport infrastructure options may include elevated, enclosed and climate controlled paths installed over or under existing pedestrian paths and bikeways.

Is Australia's digital infrastructure capable of supporting a MaaS system?

Our digital infrastructure has several challenges to overcome for MaaS to reach its full potential.

5G Internet: the real deal, or just a fling?

A true MaaS ecosystem demands a lot from the internet: fast networks and ease of connectivity. A functioning 5G network is just part of the answer.

While a 5G network will be more than sufficient to grow the MaaS system, it may be the case that a transformational innovation in internet delivery is required. This may be needed to sustain a MaaS system in a 'Future City' traversed by interconnected and perhaps autonomous modes of transport.

Consistent access to internet in the 6th largest country

In a country the size of Australia, it comes as no surprise that establishing and maintaining reliable internet coverage, particularly in remote areas, can be a challenge. Given that 3G networks remain the only option in some locations, it may be some time before a 5G network capable of sustaining a full MaaS system is rolled out across Australia.

Despite or perhaps because of the challenges along the way, the journey towards MaaS as the future of transport in Australia promises to be almost as exciting as the destination.

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A look to the future: Mobility as a Service and the evolution of infrastructure - Lexology