Geospatial Commission launches £2m transport location data competition

The Geospatial Commission believes data-based mobility solutions could increase the capacity of transport networks

The Geospatial Commission believes data-based mobility solutions could increase the capacity of transport networks

Ideas that use location data to make kerbside delivery efficient are among the ideas being encourage by a new UK government-backed competition.

The Geospatial Commission has partnered with Innovate UK to create a new £2m competition that will look at how location data can spark innovation and support the future of mobility for the United Kingdom.

The organisations believe that smarter mobility solutions, underpinned by location data, could increase the capacity of transport networks, reducing environmental impacts and decreasing travel times.

The competition aims to stimulate commercial innovation to help create geospatial solutions to our transport challenges and support the future of mobility.

Examples of projects that could be awarded funding include:

• sensors that can support safer transport
• making better use of kerbside space for deliveries; near-miss identification tools to identify risk early on
• geospatial tools to inform balanced infrastructure investment that supports social and environmental outcomes
• apps that integrate a range of location data sources to provide new joined up services to transport users.

The competition follows the publication in June of the UK Geospatial Strategy, Unlocking the power of location. Under the strategy the Geospatial Commission will maximise the commercial opportunities for innovation and promote market-wide adoption of high value emerging location technologies.

Minister for Transport Rachel Maclean said: “Data is key for innovation in transport to flourish. Whether helping manage our transport networks, or rolling out connected autonomous vehicles, data is helping provide the new digital tools to change how we travel.”

Dr Ian Campbell, executive chair of Innovate UK, said: “As the UK’s Innovation Agency, Innovate UK is tasked with delivering measurable economic and societal impact across the UK. We are delivering this potentially game-changing competition, cementing the UK’s reputation as a world leader in shaping the future of mobility. There is clear demand for innovation and we are utilising the proven Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) process to bring together transport challenges and innovators in order to deliver novel solutions.”

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Lord True CBE, added: “Location data and technology will help improve transport services, enabling the efficient delivery of new networks and transport corridors. Location data helps connect people with the jobs they need, the goods and services they want, and the places they want to go. This competition will help position the UK as a global science superpower, and start to unlock £2 billion of economic value per year in our transport sector.”