Start-up offers free smart city technology to every local authority

Tech start-up Zipabout is planning to give away its smart city technology to every local authority across the country, aiming to help transform UK cities into intelligent transport hubs.

The big data and communications platform, known as Transport Graph, can incorporate bespoke transport schemes including sustainable initiatives such as dock-less bikes, ride shares and park & ride, into any existing public transport network.

Using unique demand mapping technology alongside cutting-edge data technology, supply is then fully matched to passenger demand in real-time, Zipabout says.

The technology brings together local and national mobility-as-a-service programmes on one common platform with no capital investment required. Local authorities can also align live passenger and transport information to sustainable targets such as air quality and traffic congestion. By aggregating data from multiple sources, the platform can predict pollution issues or transport disruption, and provide motorists, cyclists or pedestrians with personalised routing alternatives in real-time.

“By making this unique and powerful platform available to local authorities free of charge, we are helping to ensure that they can provide sustainable transport and other smart city initiatives that can compete on a technical level with the likes of Uber, CityMapper and other global technology giants,” said Daniel Chick, Zipabout’s technical director. “We are helping to ensure that these services are delivered in an integrated fashion, and for the benefit of their constituents, not a tech giant’s shareholders.”

Zipabout partnered with Oxfordshire County Council to launch the first successful trial of the platform.

Llewelyn Morgan, service manager for infrastructure, innovation and development at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We have been working with Zipabout to develop new ways to inform customers about travel options and planning in Oxfordshire, and it is clear that they have created a platform which truly looks to future behaviour and market demands.

“Through layering of multiple data sets from operators and traffic to social media and consumer data, the platform enables a real personalised experience that enables us to work with partners to better manage the transport network. This user-focused platform also provides a base for Oxfordshire to support development of a mobility-as-a-service offer, as it covers off many of the tricky data integration issues we have experienced in the past.”

Transport Graph will be available via the Amazon Marketplace from early 2018.

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