Project: Dynamic Carpooling Service For People On The Move

Transportation needs are increasingly ill-served with traditional fixed-route, fixed-schedule transit, because transportation origins and destinations are becoming more varied and dispersed. In suburbs and rural areas, where densities are low, fixed route bus schedules do not work well. Whole communities may be without public transportation, and a lack of an available private vehicle means total isolation. In urban areas, automobile ownership is rising, with one car per licensed driver becoming the norm, resulting in traffic jams, air pollution and energy waste and unproductive use of people's time. There is a need for a flexible transportation system that will serve the ever-changing mobility requirements in both urban and rural areas, which traditional systems cannot serve. The new system should be able to quickly match demand and supply while keeping waiting time low, but also contribute to increased occupancy rate and reduced effects of traffic per capita._x000D__x000D_Addressing this need, this project proposes the deployment of a dynamic carpooling / ridesharing system. The proposed service aims to re-focus the existing service models to fully take into account both the requirements of users and the non technical barriers (NTBs) restricting the uptake of these services. This, in essence, is the objective of the project; i.e. to develop a technologically advanced dynamic ride sharing model, and deploy it in a way that it is capable of meeting user needs, and can attract and sustain the interest of a critical mass of users. Critical mass, in the context of the project, implies that a passenger can and wants to find a ride and a driver can and wants to find a passenger, often enough for them to frequently return to the service. Sustaining a critical mass will also lead to fulfillment of the potential of the dynamic ride sharing model for reducing pollution and energy consumption._x000D__x000D_Worldwide, there is a constantly increasing interest in dynamic ride sharing. Improvements in public transport systems, increases in traffic congestion and traffic reduction methods (such as congestion charges) have made the use of the car as a single occupant vehicle less viable. However, many car users find themselves unable to give up their car, despite the general rise in acceptance of other forms of environment preservation, because of lack of feasible alternative, since public transport is often inflexible and, in many cases, unreliable. Dynamic ride sharing and carpooling offer an alternative that is flexible and often more economical. _x000D__x000D_The aim of the proposed project is to provide a service that combats non-technical barriers, such as security concerns and issues of travelling with strangers, and provides a technologically sophisticated service while still allowing access to the service from commonly used regular mobile phones. The system will comprise of a web interface for desktop users, a web interface for mobile phones, a mobile phone application and a sophisticated web access GIS-based service. The service will allow users to offer and request ride sharing journeys using their phones' GPS (where available and in cases where the journey is about to start immediately) and a simplified user interface (based on landmarks rather than map co-ordinates); and match them with other users (automatically or manually)._x000D__x000D_An outline of the CO envisaged project outputs include:_x000D_• Secure web service which allows users to define and offer or request trips for sharing._x000D_• A mobile application and user interface which both allows the user to access the service from a mobile device and also allows them to pass secure user identifying files both between themselves and back to the service, to ensure security while travelling._x000D_• Successfully tested, verified and evaluated service deployments in 2 sites across Europe._x000D_• A service architecture which responds to the identified user requirements while circumventing NTBs._x000D_• An intelligent multimodal shortest route matching system._x000D__x000D_The collaboration that takes place in DYNAMO is between experts from the fields of online services, GIS data and transportation policies, showing that a “cross-disciplinary team” was formed, which possesses the capabilities and the expertise to carry out the proposed project. All Ps (ATLANTIS, InteCo, UPATRAS as a Subcontractor) have extensive experience in participating and managing both national and European projects, ensuring the quality of executed work._x000D__x000D__x000D_

Acronym	DYNAMO (Reference Number: 5093)
Duration	01/01/2010 - 30/06/2012
Project Topic	DYNAMO is a carpooling service that allows users to offer and request ride sharing journeys using their WEB Browser and/or mobile phone, and receive instant matching. It is built on a user friendly interface based on landmarks, can be assisted by the phone's GPS , and can be performed automatically.
Project Results (after finalisation)	An outline of the CO project results of the DYNAMO project include:_x000D_* A secure, successfully test, verified and evaluated web service which allows users to define and offer or request trips for sharing._x000D_* A mobile application and user interface will allows users to access the DYNAMO service from a mobile device._x000D_* DYNAMO service architecture._x000D_* DYNAMO service back-end._x000D_* Documentation regarding users' requirements and Non-Technical Barriers (NTBs)._x000D__x000D_The major exploitable project results include:_x000D_* Licence to operate the web access GIS-based service._x000D_* Mobile phone application._x000D_* Mobile phone web interface kit._x000D_* Desktop web interface kit._x000D_* Publication guiding service operation._x000D_
Network	Eurostars
Call	Eurostars Cut-Off 3

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
2	ATLANTIS Consulting S.A.	Coordinator	Greece
2	I N T E G R A L C O N S U L T I N G R & D	Partner	Romania