Future(is here!)
A fully functional curbside management program relies on systems that capture the dynamics of curb use and respond to it in real time. The next evolution of curbside technology involves platforms that act as central control systems—smart grids for the curb—which dynamically optimize the curb for its most valuable uses.
These systems operate autonomously but are guided by city goals and priorities, whether improving safety, enhancing multimodal access, or reducing congestion. They are, in essence, the operational arm of a progressive curbside management program: tools that turn policy into action.
This system ushers in a new era of high-quality customer service for curb customers.
Below are the relevant curb elements.
A majority of vehicles on city streets are connected via phone apps and other communication devices, and now autonomous vehicles have arrived as well. These vehicles are navigated to curb destinations without regulation via shared mobility apps, ecommerce, and in the near future private vehicle owners. While convenient for the occupant, this unregulated demand is already causing chaos at the curb.
A World Class curbside management program accommodates reservations and payments for connected vehicles using block chain technology for the curbside.
connected and autonomous vehicles
A connected and autonomous vehicle curbside management system and method that generally provides real time communication between payment systems, navigation systems, emergency systems, and/or asset management systems, and the like, to control access to the curbside and travel lanes for connected or autonomous vehicles.
Read about the benefits and operating system components here.
A World Class curbside management program has an enterprise-level operating system with standards and flexible design that is ready for connected autonomous vehicles within all jurisdictions.
operating systems
The scope of data required for managing curb space is evolving, and is the foundation for decision-making. This element addresses three important uses of data: inventory, analysis, and real-time space reservation / pricing / prioritization. The success or failure of a curb space inventory is the quality of the system in place to ensure the inventory and associated attributes are accurate and updated as change occurs at the curb. Progressive entities are tying field work orders back to their asset management systems and curb space inventory software.
The wide range of new curbside management performance measures require data beyond turnover rates, occupancy, and revenue. The productivity of the curb space - dwell / docking time, person movement, and many other measures - requires extensive data interoperability and quality control.
As covered in other elements, real-time reservation, pricing, and prioritization represent progressive functions of a progressive program and require accurate and timely data. Progressive entities possess an accurate curbside inventory that is timely and interoperable on a limited basis.
World class entities have an enterprise-level solution for data quality assurance where data are complete, timely, accurate, consistent, and fully interoperable between systems.