The importance of open data in the mobility sector: Enabling smarter and more efficient transport systems
How the European Commission is supporting innovation in mobility with open data
The mobility sector is undergoing a rapid digital transformation, with open data playing a crucial role in enhancing transport efficiency, sustainability, and accessibility. By making real-time traffic data, public transport schedules, and infrastructure information openly available, open data enables smarter mobility solutions that benefit both citizens and businesses across Europe. From reducing congestion to improving multimodal transport planning, data-driven insights are reshaping how people and goods move.
To foster innovation in the mobility sector, the European Commission has introduced several initiatives that promote open data sharing. The EU’s Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy aims to create an integrated and intelligent transport system, where data exchange between public and private stakeholders improves traffic management, public transport accessibility, and green mobility solutions. Furthermore, the EU Open Data Directive ensures that valuable datasets, including geospatial and transport-related information, are freely available to fuel new digital services.
Several mobility data spaces are contributing to these efforts. The Mobility Data Space, provides a secure and standardised environment for sharing mobility-related datasets. This initiative facilitates real-time traffic monitoring, supports the development of AI-driven transport solutions, and enhances urban planning by providing detailed mobility insights. Similarly, projects like DATEX II, the European standard for road traffic data exchange, help ensure interoperability between different transport systems. By leveraging open data, European cities are developing sustainable and smart mobility solutions, such as real-time public transport updates, digital ticketing systems, and dynamic traffic management tools. These innovations contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions, enhancing commuter experiences, and optimising logistics networks.
Whether you are a policymaker, transport operator, or researcher, the opportunities provided by open mobility data are extensive. Explore thousands of mobility-related datasets on data.europa.eu and help shape the future of transportation in Europe.
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