Multimodal transportation system provides door-to-door travel

The technology to create seamless or connected multimodal transportation exists, but the majority of services are still being delivered to the end customer in a disconnected, piecemeal way. For example, a journey from A to B might involve switching from a bus to a train and then a ferry, with tickets purchased for each separate stage from the different operators providing transportation. In order to improve services and keep up with the huge growth in numbers of people traveling throughout the world, we need to look at new ways to streamline services for travelers and simplify the provision of services for operators.

Transport 4.0 explained
All things point to a future that lies in multimodal transportation, where different forms of transportation are integrated into a single passenger interaction to arrange complete door-to-door travel. Imagine buying one ticket to get you on a train, to the airport and straight to the hotel – where your luggage will be waiting for you. The aim is to make travel experiences more efficient, safer, greener and less hassle while optimising journey times, and minimising costs for travelers. We are just now starting to see how this future might develop, with the potential to completely transform travel.

The connected experience – we’re already on our way
The multimodal experience starts at home or on your smartphone. There are already travel planning apps and websites that show different modes of transportation, times and costs to help get passengers from A to B, but even these are done through separate providers and intermodal systems. In the future, we will see services that will be able to book your whole itinerary through a single app - with one search and payment.

Smart-ticketing and e-ticketing are essentially already here. From boarding passes on smartphones to contactless card machines on buses, the next step will be to offer one ticket for all forms of travel. While simplifying travel for passengers, these ticketing systems are also useful to transportation operators as information gathered by smart systems can be analysed to offer better services.

Single token travel is the next development in multimodal travel—using a passenger’s biometrics and travel data to create a digital record and provide secure authentication. The technology has the potential to create a seamless journey for passengers by cutting the time taken for security checks, check-in and boarding at airports and stations.

In order to achieve multimodal travel, transportation systems need to be connected both physically and operationally. This means having the right infrastructure supported by high-quality, real-time information systems for connecting routes, schedules and fares.

Keeping passengers connected
Communication is an important factor in the passenger journey – keeping passengers connected and informed improves their experience. Smartphones, laptops and tablet devices are ubiquitous for travelers now, as is public WiFi – the same needs to be true for real-time data and communications for transportation operators. In addition, there are applications that provide guidance and wayfinding to help find retail outlets, departure gates or even locate their car, but this is not enough. The real value comes from requesting assistance in real-time to enhance the passenger experience.

Collaboration services embedded in applications through a CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) model allow transportation authorities to provide real-time communications, such as messaging, voice and video, to provide scheduling updates, travel information, real-time interaction with staff and passengers and emergency notifications. All of this can be delivered via a single app, simplifying and enhancing the traveler experience.

Laying the groundwork with open data and APIs
Mass data is gathered every second from traffic management systems, CCTV cameras, vehicle detectors and many more devices, such as IoT - this will only increase in the future as transportation gets smarter. But collecting data is just one challenge. The real value comes from sharing data and creating operational processes to create truly connected transportation systems.

Infrastructure based on opendata and APIs will be important to push forward future transportation innovations and mobility solutions. Multimodal transportation involves different operators coming together to provide better travel, but they can’t provide this without knowing what’s going on around them. London Gatwick Airport has already reaped the rewards of closer collaboration with low-cost airlines, sharing live data to provide real time updates and instructions for passengers on the airline’s mobile app.

Safeguarding the network
Despite these benefits, security remains a challenge. The growth in the Internet of Things and the increase in connected devices used by transportation operators in expanding networks will only increase the number of vulnerable points for unauthorised access – unless properly secured on the network. Cyber-attacks and data breaches are a top concern for IT departments right now, and it will be of vital importance that operators secure this data or risk losing passenger trust and the benefits of streamlined travel.

One solution to this problem is IoT containment, as part of an overall layered security approach. By ‘containing’ connected IoT devices into several virtualised environments on a network, businesses can greatly decrease the chances of a broad network breach, as the threat is confined and cannot spread to wider business operations. Using this segmented approach allows IoT devices to be managed and operated only by the authorised personnel that use them, simplifying IoT management.

Another security approach focuses on mission-critical communications, which has an important role to play in passenger security and operational safety. A consistent cybersecurity strategy is key to keep the communication platform safe from cyber-attacks and ensure service continuity, supported by embedded protection in the system and smart best practices rules.

A glimpse into the future
Multimodal transportation will completely transform the way we travel. The technology is already here, enabled by open APIs to offer a single ticket, payment and itinerary across different modes of transportation. But the groundwork – the network and systems that connect it all together - must be installed now if we are to take full advantage of seamless travel. This means having a secure and reliable network that keeps passengers and operators connected no matter what mode of transportation they’re using.