UC2 Cross-Border Shuttle Transport
Description
Use case 2 (UC2) is advancing a new model of demand-responsive shuttle transport across Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, and Austria. The aim is to address existing gaps in connectivity between regional cities and major international airports.
Building on GoOpti’s established reservation-based shuttle services, UC2 is developing an enhanced transport platform designed to improve the efficiency, flexibility, and environmental sustainability of long-distance travel.
The solution integrates real-time planning, predictive modelling, and adaptive routing—providing a scalable foundation for reliable cross-border shared mobility services.
Scenarios and Testing
UC2 is being evaluated through a combination of live trials and simulation-based studies, focused on three representative cross-border routes:
- Ljubljana – Trieste
- Ljubljana – Zagreb
- Maribor – Vienna
These routes offer a range of traffic conditions and operational complexities, enabling the project team to validate platform performance under realistic scenarios. Evaluation efforts focus on travel efficiency, emissions reduction, service responsiveness, and the ability to handle last-minute booking demands.
Simulations replicate varying travel demand levels and traffic conditions, and are complemented by real-world operational data collected from pilot deployments.
Key Features
Demand-Responsive Transport Platform
A robust and modular digital system based on microservices architecture, enabling seamless integration of various functional components, from routing to booking and fleet management.
Planning and Routing Optimisation
An intelligent engine that continually updates and refines shuttle routes and schedules, aiming to reduce overall travel distance, journey time, and associated emissions.
Ad-Hoc Continuous Planning
Allows passengers to request transport at short notice, with the system dynamically adjusting plans to fill available seats and maximise fleet efficiency.
Demand Prediction Models
Forecasts transport needs across different time horizons—ranging from hours to a full year—by drawing on historical patterns and external influencing factors.
Traffic Event Assessment
Monitors traffic conditions, such as congestion or sudden spikes in demand, and proposes alternative routing strategies to maintain service reliability.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Route Efficiency
Metrics related to reduction in vehicle kilometres travelled and travel time per journey.
Fleet Utilisation
Analysis of seat occupancy rates and vehicle deployment efficiency.
Environmental Impact
Measurement of greenhouse gas emissions per passenger-kilometre, compared with baseline scenarios.
Operational Costs
Assessment of cost-effectiveness, including savings from reduced mileage and better vehicle usage.
User Experience
Indicators relating to passenger satisfaction, flexibility of service, and booking reliability.
Further indicators will consider system scalability, staff workload, and cross-border service continuity.
Expected Benefits
- Better regional and international airport access through shared mobility solutions
- Reduced environmental impact via optimised routing and planning
- Enhanced operational efficiency with lower per-trip costs
- Improved working conditions for drivers and transport planners
- Greater travel flexibility and convenience for passengers
Contribution to the CONDUCTOR Project
- Demonstrates the feasibility of scalable, demand-responsive cross-border transport
- Applies predictive analytics and intelligent fleet management to long-distance shared travel
- Supports improved coordination of transport services across national boundaries
- Provides an evidence base for sustainable mobility strategies in medium-to-low density regions
Deployment Architecture