CAlCULUS · Causes And ConseqUences of Low Urban accessibility. Defining proper policy responses
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2017-09-01 → 2019-08-31
- EU contribution
- €170,122
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Causes And ConseqUences of Low Urban accessibility. Defining proper policy responses
The CAlCULUS project aimed to explore reasons for limited accessibility, in particular, in urban areas. The main goal was to improve our understanding of how to take advantage of new data sources in order to improve transport planning and management in modern smart cities. Accessibility has become a key issue for achieving sustainable development, improvement of quality of life, reduction of transport-related air and noise pollution as well as a decrease in social and spatial inequalities. It is also among the global challenges addressed by the Sustainable Development Goals which frame the current United Nations and European agendas. Proper identification of causes of unfavourable accessibility patterns should facilitate the formulation of more efficient policy responses in order to improve the level of accessibility, diminish its inequalities and improve quality of life of inhabitants. The main project rationale was that despite the growing body of transport accessibility literature, most of the studies focused on consequences of particular spatial patterns of accessibility, leaving aside the causes that led to accessibility shortfalls in urban areas. The original approach of the project applied temporal dynamics of transport networks in order to uncover the underlying mechanisms leading to an unfavourable accessibility pattern.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
An efficient and just transport system is a key element of sustainable development and an indispensable component of coherent modern societies. Improving accessibility and reducing its disparities are the means that bridge the reduction of negative transportation outcomes with a positive response to the increased mobility needs of contemporary societies. This places accessibility at the core of the main challenges of EU’s urban areas. A proper identification of causes of low accessibility combined with a profound knowledge of the outcomes of a particular pattern facilitate the formulation of the most efficient policy response that leads towards social inclusion, an increase of well-being, and a fully-fledged citizenship of contemporary societies. The CAlCULUS project aims to deepen understanding of the causes and consequences of unfavourable accessibility patterns in order to develop a decision-support model which facilitates more efficient and just transport management. The growing potential of smart cities and the recent development of big data mining provide new opportunities for innovative analyses of accessibility and travel behaviour. The previous experience of the fellow in the field of accessibility and international comparative urban studies, together with the host’s expertise in the application of big data for transport research, create perfect conditions for the implementation of the proposed research project. The influential position of the UCM and the experience of its Scientific Culture and Dissemination Unit guarantee efficient communication of the project results to diverse target groups and facilitate public engagement. Mentoring from the supervisor, and the support of the host institution which includes dedicated training opportunities, teaching involvement, and the development of management skills, will be a milestone in a path towards research maturity and will lay the foundations for the future establishment of the fellow’s own research team.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID · MadridCoordinatorSpain
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union