Data-driven strategies shape urban transport in Seville and Hannover

Seville and Hannover are collaborating with the Sustainable Urban Transitions Lab at ETH Zurich to explore how data can improve urban transport planning. The project, initiated in April 2025 and set to continue until April 2027, focuses on evaluating multimodal transport systems to guide public investment in sustainable mobility. Researchers are analysing a wide range of data, including mobility patterns, infrastructure usage, and travel preferences, to understand how people move around cities and how shared transport options are used.

The objective is to identify projects that could most effectively reduce car usage, lower emissions, and encourage greater use of public transport. A key part of this effort involves the development of mobility hubs, which are central locations integrating different transport modes such as buses, bikes, and e-scooters to facilitate seamless transitions between them. 

In Seville, this work is particularly relevant as the city considers expanding its mass transit system. The research aims to determine the best locations for these hubs and predict their impact on travel behaviour and transit use. This is part of a broader push across Europe, where cities are required to develop Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) as part of the Trans-European Transport (TEN-T) Regulation.

The lab is also using simulation models to help cities test the potential effects of new transport infrastructure before committing to construction. These models incorporate real-world data to estimate changes in travel times, emissions, and user adoption, helping authorities make more informed decisions. Ultimately, the research supports a shift towards more sustainable, multimodal urban transport systems by providing insights based on actual data and user behaviour.

Author: Carla Giaume

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.