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Symbolfoto: Das AIT ist Österreichs größte außeruniversitäre Forschungseinrichtung

Shaping Europe's driverless mobility future proactively

Automated and connected vehicles will radically change mobility in the coming decades. To varying degrees and in different contexts, vehicles will be able to manoeuvre, accelerate and brake independently and monitor their surroundings. The project "LEVITATE: Societal Level Impacts of Connected and Automated Vehicles" develops and applies a comprehensive planning methodology. This enables cities, municipalities, regional authorities and national governments to use the technology of automated driving to achieve their sustainability goals.


The project investigates which function connected and automated driving can assume in the area of passenger and goods mobility as well as on the social level, how the transport infrastructure is to be designed for this and which innovative mobility concepts are to be developed. In this context, AIT is developing a generally accessible set of instruments for assessing the effects, benefits and costs of networked and automated systems, including the necessary infrastructures. Furthermore, a web-based decision support tool is being developed that will help the authorities to evaluate strategic decisions on urban regulations as well as planning and provide recommendations for measures based on predefined policy objectives. The researchers rely on comprehensive expertise in the areas of scenario development, impact on passenger and freight transport, traffic safety and infrastructure.

LEVITATE addresses a number of issues

  • How will automated vehicles contribute to increased safety and environmental protection as well as to a reduction in traffic congestion?
  • What key decisions need to be taken at political level to maximise benefits and minimise negative impacts?
  • Which mobility technologies will contribute most to value creation?
  • How can the benefits of automated vehicles be exploited at lower cost?

Based on this, the four main objectives of the project

  • Creation of a web-based toolkit to help urban planners assess the impact of automated mobility and design the transport infrastructure, regulations and rules accordingly
  • Development of mobility concepts for bus shuttle, car and freight transport - based on future-oriented solutions and innovative technology
  • Development of methods for evaluating and controlling the short, medium and long-term effects of automated systems on individual mobility, safety, the environment and society
  • Application of the methods and prediction of the effects of driverless transport in a variety of environments with the aim of promoting a sustainable mobility system

Further Information: https://levitate-project.eu/

LEVITATE has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 824361.