Data-driven urbanism, digital platforms, and the planning of MaaS in times of deep uncertainty: What does it mean for CAVs?

Banerjee, Ian; Jittrapirom, Peraphan; Dangschat, Jens S. · 2021 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-63354-0_20

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Summary

This paper provides a critical review of three coevolving socio-technical paradigms: data-driven urbanism, digital platforms, and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS). The authors argue that Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) will likely be deployed through digital platforms within data-driven cities. Consequently, they contend that understanding the governance, regulation, and social implications of these existing paradigms is essential for designing socially accountable, sustainable, and inclusive CAV systems. The study moves beyond viewing CAVs merely as techno-economic novelties, framing them instead as socio-technical innovations embedded in a complex cyber-physical landscape. The authors analyze the "data-driven city" through the lens of big data and computational urbanism. They describe a fourfold process orchestrated by digital platforms: capturing infrastructural and personal data, storing it, processing it via algorithms to derive value, and feeding services back into physical space. The paper critiques the "computational understanding" of the city, which assumes urban phenomena can be fully measured, monitored, and optimized through data, often ignoring social complexities and democratic values. It highlights the rise of "platform urbanism," where digital platforms act as powerful intermediaries reorganizing societal functions. The authors examine the challenges of regulating these entities, noting issues such as transboundary jurisdictional conflicts, legislative lack of technical knowledge, and the rapid pace of digital transformation. They also explore alternative governance models, such as open-data initiatives, that aim to treat data as a public good rather than a private asset. Using MaaS as a case study, the paper illustrates the difficulties of planning mobility services under conditions of "deep uncertainty." MaaS pilot projects face unpredictable network effects, fluctuating future demand, and varying stakeholder cooperation. The authors suggest that governments acting as central actors in these pilots must navigate significant ambiguities regarding how MaaS impacts overall transportation systems and public acceptance. The review identifies that current regulatory frameworks are often fragmented and ill-equipped to handle the socio-technical nuances of platform ecosystems, leading to tensions between corporate interests and public values. The significance of this work lies in its recommendations for the governance and design of future CAV platforms. The authors conclude that to ensure CAVs contribute to sustainable and participatory human environments, policymakers must learn from the experiences of data-driven urbanism and platform regulation. They advocate for a "public value-centric design" approach, urging the enshrinement of democratic values into the architecture of digital technologies. The paper emphasizes that effective regulation requires international cooperation, whole-of-government approaches, and broad societal discourse to prevent the corporatization of urban governance and ensure that the benefits of automated mobility are distributed equitably.

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