PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The EU has set the most ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in the world, with binding mechanisms already in place that guarantee a unilateral 20% reduction by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. The EU is committed to increase this figure to 30% in 2030. Member States must promote policies that will result in the prevention of climate change, and several industrial sectors have been required to measure their carbon footprints – usually reported as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in CO2 equivalents. Air quality thresholds for particulate matter, ground-level ozone and nitrogen dioxide are foreseen by the Air Quality Directive – but these thresholds are exceeded in the most densely populated areas. The Roadmap for a Resource Efficient Europe (2011) reported that a better implementation of existing legislation in combination with new science-based standards for air quality and the transition to a low-carbon economy would benefit air quality.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the LIFE GYM project was to make a contribution towards reducing EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by introducing a sustainable mobility strategy and by promoting environmentally optimal co-modal options for commuting and travelling. Specific project objectives included developing tools to accurately measure the emissions of vehicles in public transport networks, and to identify the most environmentally-friendly journey for passengers between any two points within these networks (in Czech, Slovak and Greek locations). The project team ultimately aimed to develop, demonstrate and promote an integrated platform that would decrease GHG emissions and energy consumption (per km travelled, per passenger) in the European transport sector, by reducing the demand for travel by car and by making public transport more efficient, accessible and attractive.
RESULTS
LIFE GYM (Green Your Move) reached its objective of developing the GYM application, an environmental co-modal journey planning platform, and made it available through a web application (greenyourmove.eu) and as a smartphone application for Android and iOS devices. Its use is aimed at enhancing sustainable mobility in European cities, reducing pollution (e.g. particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide) and minimising public transport GHG emissions in urban environments. Through the GYM apps, the public can plan their journeys using different modes of transport (e.g. metro, city and intercity bus, train) in 13 cities of Greece and in 11 other European countries, by having reliable, up-to-date information on itineraries. Moreover, the user is informed about the carbon emissions of their journey via public transport and can compare those to emissions made by car. This enhances awareness regarding the significant benefits of opting for public transportation.
To produce their app, the project developed novel emission calculation models, which are now available for inclusion in any other journey planner applications in the EU and worldwide. The project beneficiaries are continuing to make further improvements to the project tools, as well as the integration of emission calculation models in the formal versions of the Czech and Slovak Journey Planners to complete the project objectives, and to encourage a wider uptake of the smartphone app.
The main innovations of the project were the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data homogenisation for public transport in Greece, the development of emissions calculation models, the modelling and solution approach for the environmental co-modal Vehicle Routing Problem (co-VRP), the transportation data updating web-service, and the development of software that automatically provides synchronised timetables for metro lines.
The project conducted several dissemination and communication activities in Greece with the active participation of public transport operators. The project's web and smartphone applications will be retained by the beneficiaries for years to come, providing the public with a service through which they can have reliable information regarding their travel, as well as the impact of their transportation choices. The long-term environmental benefits of the project depend on the inclusion of the track-and-trace system in the applications of further public transport operators.
The major socio-economic effect identified was the increased number of tickets sold in public transportation networks; although this cannot be attributed 100% to the project, it has at least been influenced by the dissemination activities conducted. Long-term socio-economic benefits rely on the transfer of the project’s tools to other European public transport networks.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
