FREEFLOW aims to change fundamentally how we use transport data, by using it to generate what we call transport intelligence. Currently we are collecting more (and better) data about our transport networks, such as journey times and the location of buses. We process data in various ways and then supply it to users – individual travellers and service suppliers as well as network operators and travel information providers.

However, our present techniques for handling data are insufficient to help us actively manage transport. Instead, we often just react to network problems. Both the public and those responsible for networks want new intelligence to help them make better decisions - instead of being told about a queue, drivers want to know how to avoid it and network managers want to know why it is there and how to control it. This is a challenge, even with the relatively small data volume today. But soon there will be many new sources of data and so there is a clear opportunity to fill a market gap, before we are overwhelmed with data. This is a global problem, so has great potential for the UK to exploit.

FREEFLOW therefore fuses transport policy requirements for better services with innovation from outside transport, to generate transport intelligence for urban areas. We want to deliver services that users will really want to use and so dramatically improve how they travel – not just make small changes. We will look for new sources of data to help services evolve.

We aim to research how to deliver policy outcomes of improved safety, reduced congestion and safeguarding the environment, and measure the changes we make through demonstrations in Kent, York and London. We aim to make a noticeable change that will stimulate a global market and make life easier for travellers too. Hence our vision is to:

“ Improve transport user decisions and performance, by turning data into intelligence”