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Urbanity, mobility and logistics should be considered as one system, example Rotterdam

Designing livable cities

In constantly growing cities, global challenges are becoming more and more perceptible. Cities are directly affected by complex flows of goods and phenomena such as traffic collapse, social inequality, or the consequences of climate change. But these places are also laboratories for innovative new solutions. Leading cities around the world are setting themselves ambitious development goals and taking their fate into their own hands. They are using various creative ways to improve the quality of life of their citizens and provide a business environment for companies. Together with players from politics, business, and society, we design and implement forward-looking initiatives for cities worth living in – with sustainable mobility and effective logistics.
  1. Mobility – a multi-dimensional system
  2. Designing vivid neighbourhoods
  3. Logistics – a driving force

Mobility – a multi-dimensional system

Vibrant cities need seamless mobility. It's not just the economy that depends on efficient flows of goods, people also want to be mobile. But everyone with driving their own car? This model is outdated. The limited space in our cities has to be renegotiated to create a better quality of life and make room for efficient and space-saving means of transportation.

The future of mobility is intermodal, diverse, and at the same time, highly integrated. In 2012 we worked with Daimler on this idea. moovel – today REACHNOW – finds the best mix of mobility services for every user to get them from A to B. Such a digital network that connects all means of transport is the basis for new business systems. But it takes more than that to change the mobility behavior of people. We need a real network of mobility hubs; synchronised cycle times; and infrastructure development for public transport & micro-mobility.

In addition to pure effectiveness, the success and legitimacy of mobility offers are increasingly measured by their sustainability. If we, in Germany, want to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half as planned, we have to create a new foundation for the mobility system and not just micro-optimize the status quo.

Decision-Making in Complex Situations

Visualization and simulations based on real data are an essential part of network and location planning. These visual representations sharpen the understanding of dynamic contexts in companies and municipalities. They form the basis for new types of business systems or cooperations. Together with EnBW we developed models for the planning of EV charging infrastructure.

Designing vivid neighbourhoods

One reason for the growing demand for inner-city mobility is the outdated ideal of the functional city with its extreme separation of living, working, and leisure. But cities are rediscovering the value of small-scale neighbourhoods and find attractive solutions to create vital micro-organisms with a local identity, balanced social structure, and short distances. For future-oriented energy concepts neighbourhoods are also playing an increasingly important role. Locally generated energy from different sources is made available in micro-grids. The complexity of these solutions stems from the technical and organizational challenges; as well as the diversity of needs and opinions of the local community.

Portrait
Bernhard Staiber
„For a successful transformation, know-how, co-creation, discourse, and co-decision making at a local level is essential. With our years of experience in guiding and implementing complex products and services, we facilitate such transformation processes.”

Logistics – a driving force

The optimization of logistics processes leads to noticeably more comfort and efficiency for everyone. Consumers benefit from clarity and flexibility when it comes to ordering and delivery. For Daimler Vans, we have used scenarios to visualize how autonomous fleets can further simplify our everyday life and unburden the cities. Companies then benefit from cost-effective storage and fleet management. In doing so, logistics companies intercept potential chaos that arises from the value creation chain.

Just as seamless logistics contribute to the healthy organism of a city, networked intralogistics form the backbone of value creation within companies. The digital transformation is moving fast and it is gaining further momentum through machine learning, sensor technology, and automation. Companies in the logistics chain will continue to network even more. Important factors to consider in this context are:

  • The definition of standard interfaces for communication and multidirectional data exchange
  • The development of assistance systems that simplify storing, finding and picking of goods, even if they cannot be processed as planned
  • The implementation of uniform transport and storage containers, which can be equipped with sensors

In this way, the processes of the entire logistics chain can be harmonised with the production processes to create predictive, self-regulating systems.

What we can do for you

Our transdisciplinary team of engineering, natural and cultural sciences connects the world of numbers and models with social and economic aspects. We support cities and organizations in strategy development, service design and by developing next generation products and services. The future of our cities and the way we do business is more shapeable than ever before. Let us work together to develop livable cities, sustainable mobility, and a better flow of goods.