Transit Hubs & Mobility Experience

Abstract

Society is increasingly tech-driven, with AI, automation, IoT, and MaaS reshaping daily life. Mobility hubs like transit stations prioritise efficiency and cost-effectiveness, using digital platforms for personalised travel. Competition among private providers fosters innovation, reducing costs and overshadowing public transit. Digital twins predict and manage congestion, ensuring smooth operations and controlled maintenance. Hubs now feature flexible, modular designs that reconfigure in real-time, optimising operations and enabling a decentralised, sprawled urban fabric. Major hubs such as airports and central stations, including hyperloops for long-distance travel, accommodate automated vehicles, offering on-demand services that cut wait times and improve efficiency. The shift from predetermined shuttle routes to more dynamic systems aligns with car-free streets and residential zones. Small hubs, strategically placed in these areas, become essential for providing convenient and efficient access to mobility services, ensuring that people and goods can move seamlessly within these pedestrian-friendly environments without relying on private cars or fixed transit schedules. Goods distribution relies on micromobility, drones, and automated systems. Urban air mobility solutions serve as premium services in congested centres, transforming hubs into high-tech innovation centres but raising concerns about affordability and inclusivity. While these advancements maximise space and efficiency, they risk prioritising data providers' interests over public welfare. The real-time reconfigurations demand significant energy, and the increased modularity risks rendering existing stations obsolete, necessitating retrofitting to avoid abandonment. […]