MobLab Study

Background, goals and first insights into the scientific survey during the exploration phase.

Since there is hardly any practical experience and no generally valid method of approach, the Urban Mobility Lab Initiative is about to break new grounds. As part of the exploration-phase, different approaches had been allowed deliberately, to generate a broad range of experiences and insights.

The exploration phase was accompanied scientifically by a backing study, to lead the different experiences from the exploration-phase-projects in a structured pool of knowledge for the initiative and to enable possibilities for learning processes. First results were available for the projects already during the exploration phase.

The insights build an essential knowledge base for the implementation phase. These results are important for the derivation of reference points for a successive improvement of the knowledge transfer between research and implementation, as well as insights regarding the impacts of the UML-initiative.

Knowledge Levels

Following main questions have been examined in the scope of the survey and were structured alongside three knowledge levels which are built upon each other:

1. Process Knowledge

Main focus was the development of knowledge in the field of aims and processes:

How do particular Urban Mobility Labs define their goals?
Are there generalizable processes for the setup of Urban Mobility Labs?
What are the contentual alignments of the UMLs?
What can be learned from the different processes during the exploration phase?
Can other barriers for implementation be found?
Which subsidy instruments and other assistance measures can be helpful?
Which players were able to be mobilized, which were not?

2. Transformation Knowledge

Based on the insights from the first level, the next knowledge level is about the development of knowledge for the implementation and transformation:

Are experiments planned to be held in an real-life- or laboratory-environment?
Which methods and instruments will be used?
How will the monitoring and evaluation of trials happen?
Which strategies for diffusion are pursued?
Which business models are discussed?

3. System Knowledge

The next level is the development of system-knowledge, built on the insights from the exploration-phase-projects:

Do UMLs have an impact on system innovation?
How can a systemic change in the area of mobility, for example triggered by the sensitisation of different players, can be observed and researched?

Results of the Survey

Results of the survey are statements to following aspects:

Generalizable good-practice-examples (aim- and process-knowledge) for the setup of Urban Mobility Labs by the accompaniment of the activities of the exploration-phase-projects, regarding
- Visions, goals and motivation
- Stakeholders, networks and competences
- Management, financing and business models
- Processes and interaction o Methods and tools
Documented knowledge for implementation and transformation (as far as possible)
Exogenous fostering and obstructing factors for the implementation of the UMLs, like politic-administrative systems, the social and economic environment as well as technological developments from the ongoing observation, analysis and preparation of the context
Overall impact of the program through an assessment of the added value of the initiative on all furthered UMLs in adjustment with the subsidy programme „Mobility of the Future"
A guideline for the arbitration of relevant process- and implementation-knowledge for the expert community
Feedback of the results and modifications for the improvement of the initiative