A Socio-Technical User-Based Perspective for Urban Transport Solutions - The Fjordbus Case
Center for Logistik og Samarbejde (CLS) Camilo Andrés Perdomo Luengas
Trafikdage
24 of August, 2021
Acknowledgments
• My gratitude to the Center for Logistik og Samarbejde (CLS)
and Lars Jøker for their support and feedback on this research project.
• Special thanks to Aalborg University and theTrafikdage
organisation for their efforts in arranging this years’ edition.
• This project has been made possible through the support and
sponsorship of ShippingLab and Port of Aalborg.
Key Points
• The Fjordbus as a socio-technical project revolves around the planned and emergent strategies of stakeholder networks.
• The user-based perspective integrates both the planned and emergent aspects of the project.
• The interplay between autonomous transport and their users on the current urban development context unravels 3 discussion frames:
1. The role of autonomous transport in the urban context.
2. Regulatory and ethical considerations towards the development of autonomous transport.
3. The users/citizens role of the Smart City.
What is the Fjordbus?
1. Fully electric passenger ferry for the crossing of the Limfjord between
Aalborg and Nørresundby (planned).
2. Camera system and Convolutional Neural Network.
3. Facilitating passenger transport for increased mobility across the Limfjord.
4. Emphasis on low energy consumption.
5. Enhancing travelling experience for the passengers.
6. To be approved by the Danish Maritime Authority to navigate autonomously.
Fjordbus prototype rendered image provided by Hauschildt Marine A/S
The three types of cameras. From left to right: NIR, visible range, LWIR, NIR and Visible Range (Stets
et al. 2019, 4).
What is the Fjordbus for?
• The urban development project brings about increased connectivity and
mobility solutions.
• The kaleidoscope of sustainable development in Aalborg.
• The city’s transport context and the
citizens’ transport practices required to understand the drivers and barriers for the project.
Destination point at Stigsborg Initial planned Fjordbus route
Research Purpose and Design
• Gathering empirical data from potential users of the Fjordbus in Aalborg and Nørresundby.
• Conducting a survey to understand transport practices.
• Imagining the daily use of the Fjordbus
through the “Future” Workshops”.
Research Design (Survey)
Understanding transport practices and customer behaviour
1. The Fjordbus Users´ Preferences when Crossing Limsfjordbroen.
2. Potential users' Transport Practices.
3. Perceptions Towards the Fjordbus.
Waiting time and ticket price for a ride on board the Fjordbus
Crossing Limfjordsbroen on a bicycle or similar modes of transport according to the
type of weather
Importance of the integration of the Fjordbus into the public transport network in Aalborg and
Nørresundby
Research Design (Workshops)
• Scenarios that trigger participants’ imagination.
• Describing their travelling experience.
• Discussions and consensus on solutions.
(...) “I’m really a fan of interconnectivity. If you post this idea of the ferry you have to imagine, see the bigger
picture. What comes then? They will leave the ferry? […] It is about bringing different transportation modes in order to make this whole system work in a way. You can’t just
replace something and say it is sustainable, but it doesn't
work in the existing system” (Group 1, workshop).
Results
• The interplay between autonomous transport and their users on the current urban development context
unravels 3 discussion frames:
1. The role of autonomous transport in the urban context.
2. Regulatory and ethical considerations towards the development of autonomous transport.
3. The users/citizens role of the Smart City.
Results
Autonomous Transport Challenges Fjordbus Challenges The role of autonomous
transport in the urban context
The increased offer of technologies and services shapes new social relations.
• Critical incidents (local/worldwide).
• Urban infrastructure design.
• Current level of autonomous navigation.
• New travelling experiences and business potential.
• Sustainable kaleidoscope in Aalborg.
• Integration to the public transport network.
Regulatory and ethical considerations towards the development of autonomous
transport
The generation of data from the technologies and users creates autonomous and collaborative scenarios.
• Development of system redundancy.
• Labiality distribution.
• Decision-making process during an accident.
Solving and creating new problems:
• Cyber-security.
• Trust in regard to the driverless system.
• Alignment of public actors.
The users/citizens role of the Smart City
The integration of technologies requires more socio- technical experts and facilitators.
• Assess local transport practices.
• Formulate project plans considering the potentials of the socio-technical approach.
• Citizens data protection while enhancing data access and sharing.
Potential users’ context:
• Trust on services and institutions.
• Transport interconnectivity.
• Low tolerance to failure.
• Integration with local authorities.
• Handling of safety on board.
