The 2024 International Mobility Data Summit
Conference Event
2024 International Mobility Data Summit
A 2-day event dedicated to mobility through the lens of data.
The 2024 International Mobility Data Summit aims to highlight the importance of mobility data and standardization efforts, which are crucial for building a sustainable future for transportation. It will cater to transit agencies, shared mobility providers, policymakers, city officials, and standardization experts, among others, who regularly engage with mobility data and standards.
Program Overview
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October 30, 2024
Day 1
from 8:15 am
to 9:00 am
Welcome & Registration
- 45 min
- St-James Theatre
from 9:00 am
to 9:30 am
Opening Remarks by MobilityData
- 30 min
- The Bus Lane
Keynote: The Last Year in Transit and Shared Mobility
Description:
A comprehensive overview of the significant progress made, spotlight key innovations, emerging trends in transit and shared mobility from the past year and explore how these developments are shaping the future of urban mobility.
from 9:30 am
to 9:45 am
Break
- 15 min
from 9:45 am
to 10:45 am
How to Make Sure Transit Riders Get New Schedules from GTFS Static Datasets on Time?
- 1 h
- The Bus Lane
Type: Workshop
Description:
The General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) guideline requires that new datasets be published at least 7 days in advance, but this timeline is often challenging to meet, leading to issues such as riders missing updated schedules. The interpretation of “on time” varies, and the 7-day rule may be too rigid for minor adjustments or not long enough to understand new routes. This workshop aims to address these challenges by exploring practical solutions for improving GTFS compliance and enhancing data management.
Facilitator:
Emma Blue, Program Manager, Ecosystem, MobilityData
Contributors:
Timothée Millet, Transit Analyst, Transit App
Brian Ferris, Senior Staff Software Engineer, Google
Ian Rees, Co-Founder and Principal, Interline Technologies
Transforming Urban Mobility: The Impact of Shared Systems and the Role of Cities
- 1 h
- The Bike Lane
Type: Panel
Description:
Integrating innovative solutions across various aspects of transportation is essential in creating more equitable, efficient, and sustainable mobility systems. This panel will explore the intersection of bikeshare, modern parking management, carshare, micromobility and the Mobility Data Specification (MDS), and how these elements can collectively transform urban mobility.
Moderator:
Heili Toome, Global Engagement Director, MobilityData
Panelists:
Mitch Vars, Technical Development Specialist, Open Mobility Foundation (OMF)
Ted Banken, Candidate for Master of Science in Urban Informatics, Northeastern University
Charles de la Chevrotière, Executive Director of Business and Mobility Strategies, Agence de mobilité durable de Montréal
Cristina Gil Álvaro, Head of the Department of Mobility Technology, Empresa Municipal de Transportes (EMT) Madrid
from 10:45 am
to 11:00 am
Break
- 15 min
from 11:00 am
to 12:15 pm
Empowering Global Access: Promoting and Assessing Open Transport Data
- 1 h 15 min
- The Bus Lane
Type: Panel
Description:
Open mobility data is transforming urban transportation by making information accessible and usable for a diverse range of stakeholders, including developers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. This panel will explore how open data can drive progress in cities and communities by fostering new solutions, optimizing services, and enhancing accessibility and equity in transportation.
Moderator:
Isabelle de Robert, Regional Director, Europe, MobilityData
Panelists:
Rik Opstelten, Mobility Innovation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Masahiro Bessho, Professor Toyo University, Public Transportation Open Data Center (ODPT)
Gemma Schepers, Program Manager, City of Amsterdam
D. Taylor Reich, Data Science Manager, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP)
Maxime Siret, Head of French National Access Point, transport.data.gouv
from 12:15 pm
to 1:30 pm
Lunch & Fireside Chats
- 1 h 15 min
- The Bus Lane
There will be two 15-minute Fireside Chats throughout this period.
Chat 1: Can We Convince Other People to Care About High-Quality Data?
Moderator: Isabelle de Robert, Regional Director, Europe, MobilityData
Speaker: Stephen Miller, Policy Lead, Transit App
Description:
Lots of transit and mobility leaders have never heard of GTFS or GBFS. Spec updates? Data quality best practices? Their eyes have glazed over. Our work has a real-world impact on riders, but we’re not always successful at getting CEOs and decision-makers to understand why it matters. What’s worked so far? Which conferences, events, and publications should we use to spread the good word? Whether you’re technical or not, join us to help figure out how we can do more than just preach to the choir.
Chat 2: Modernizing Service Performance Reporting at the MBTA
Moderator: Gretchen Newcomb, Director Partnerships, North America & Australasia, MobilityData
Speaker: Joshua Fabian, Deputy Director of Real-time Technology, MBTA
Description:
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is transforming how it evaluates transit service performance via a modern, in-house solution. Lamp (Lightweight Applications for Measuring Performance) replaces decades-old, unsupported systems that did not allow for existing metrics to evolve. Lamp is used to report on service quality across the agency—to planners, operations, and executives alike. Policy changes to adopt rider-centric metrics, such as headway variability, can also be implemented without costly vendor change orders.
from 1:30 pm
to 2:00 pm
Highlights from Nationally Funded Mobility Data Projects
- 30 min
- The Bus Lane
Type: Panel
Description:
In this lightning session, Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) and Future Mobility grantees will introduce their projects and share data challenges they are facing during execution. From advancing rural mobility, addressing accessible and equitable multimodal public transportation, to planning event integrated ticketing and designing a framework for women-centered mobility hubs (and much more), these projects represent a cross section of the diverse and robust investment by the U.S. and Swedish Governments to enable sustainable mobility to thrive within communities.
Moderator:
Gretchen Newcomb, Director Partnerships, North America & Australasia, MobilityData
Panelists:
Nina Kin, Tech Lead, LA Metro
Steven Jones, Interim Executive Director, Alabama Transportation Institute
Albert Benedict, Director Accessibility Programs, Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC)
John McCormick, Director, Operations Planning, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
Janet Geissler, Mobility Innovations Specialist, Michigan Department of Transportation
from 2:00 pm
to 3:15 pm
Global Strategies for Data-Driven Transit Projects Serving the Public Interest
- 1 h 15 min
- The Bus Lane
Type: Panel
Description:
This panel explores transformative national-scale GTFS projects, focusing on enhancing transit data accessibility and improving planning and coordination.
Experts from Mexico, Brazil, Japan, and the United States will present innovative large-scale projects addressing key issues such as reducing inequality in urban accessibility and driving digital innovation in public transportation.
This session offers a global perspective on how leveraging transit data can reshape urban mobility, foster more inclusive and equitable cities, and support local governments in developing effective policies to promote social equity.
Moderator:
Eric Plosky, Executive Director, MobilityData
Panelists:
Gustavo Balieiro, Director, Bus2
Jorge Michel, Research and Data Analysis Coordinator, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy in Mexico (ITDP)
Masaki Ito, Associate Professor, University of Tokyo
Building a Thriving Mobility Ecosystem: How Quality, Open Data Facilitates Discoverability and Stimulates Demand
- 1 h 15 min
- The Bike Lane
Type: Panel
Description:
In an era where urban mobility is rapidly evolving, shared mobility solutions—such as ride-sharing, bikesharing, and carsharing—are becoming integral to the transit ecosystem. Yet, the potential of all leveraging all modes remains underutilized due to challenges in visibility and user demand. This panel will explore strategic approaches to enhance discoverability and integration that drive demand for shared mobility services by leveraging data as a foundational element.
Moderator:
Heili Toome, Global Engagement Director, MobilityData
Panelists:
Bastian Leferink, Director Software and Product Development, raumobil GmbH
Amy Bridge, Chief Customer Officer, Ito World
Guillermo Campoamor, Co-Founder, Meep App
from 3:15 pm
to 3:30 pm
Break
- 15 min
from 3:30 pm
to 4:30 pm
Talking about TODS: How the v2 Standard Will Shape the Future of Internal Transit Data
- 1 h
- The Bus Lane
Type: Panel
Description:
TODS (Transit Operational Data Standard) v2 launches soon with more robust and expanded modeling opportunities. This session will describe the benefits of adoption within the industry, nuances of the v2 spec, and application via several agencies in the Northeast. A particular focus will be on the complexities surrounding passenger railroad operations, which largely span the set of edge cases encountered in all modes of operation. Together, this highlights the TODS standard flexibility, its widespread application, and the path forward.
Moderator:
Eric Plosky, Executive Director, MobilityData
Panelists:
Jeff Kessler, Director of Innovation, Keolis Boston
Joshua Fabian, Deputy Director of Real-time Technology, MBTA
Enhancing Interoperability: Seamless Integrations in Shared Mobility from Availability to Payment
- 1 h
- The Bike Lane
Type: Panel
Description:
The seamless exchange of information across systems is vital for building a cohesive mobility ecosystem that serves the public effectively. Just as physical infrastructure—buses, roads, escalators—facilitates city navigation, mobility data infrastructure forms the digital backbone, connecting travelers to the information they need to make informed decisions.
Data standards such as GBFS (General Bikeshare Feed Specification), NeTEx (Network Timetable Exchange), TOMP (Transport Operator to MaaS Provider), and MDS (Mobility Data Specification) lay the foundation for this digital infrastructure.
This panel will explore how these standards can transform the rider experience by enabling frictionless interactions across different transit services and platforms, and how they can be applied in various contexts.
Moderator:
Isabelle de Robert, Regional Director, Europe, MobilityData
Panelists:
Edwin van den Belt, Software Architect, Transport Operator to Mobility Provider-Application Programming Interface (TOMP-API)
Brede Dammen, Product Owner National Trip Planner & Standardization, Entur
Ferdinand Burgersdijk, CEO, Fairsfair Foundation
Cameron Monagle, Real-time Data Developer, Transit App
from 4:30 pm
to 5:00 pm
Break
- 30 min
from 5:00 pm
to 5:30 pm
Opening Remarks from Government Delegates
- 30 min
from 5:30 pm
to 7:00 pm
Networking Event & Happy Hour
- 1 h 30 min
Sessions are subject to change
October 31, 2024
Day 2
from 8:15 am
to 9:00 am
Welcome & Networking
- 45 min
- St-James Theatre
Coffee, tea, and pastries will be provided.
from 9:00 am
to 10:15 am
Community Pitch
- 1 h 15 min
- The Bus Lane
A unique opportunity for you to showcase your innovative ideas and projects related to mobility data, and to connect with industry leaders, experts, and fellow enthusiasts.
Whether you have a groundbreaking solution, a new research initiative, or a community-driven project, we would love to hear from you! The Community Pitch is your chance to present your vision, demonstrate its potential impact, and engage with a vibrant audience eager to explore and support new advancements in mobility.
Registration details to come!
from 10:15 am
to 10:30 am
Break
- 15 min
from 10:30 am
to 12:00 pm
Revolutionizing Transit: Open-Source GTFS for Inclusive Mobility
- 1 h 30 min
- The Bus Lane
Type: Panel
Description:
This panel will showcase innovative solutions for improving transit data and mobility through:
- Community-Based GTFS: Creating GTFS datasets using OpenStreetMap.
- Flexible and On-Demand Standards: Integrating taxi, flexible, and on-demand services using GTFS-Flex, GTFS-OnDemand, and GOFS-Lite standards.
- Rural Transit Solutions: Implementing GTFS-Flex and volunteer driver programs to improve rural transit accessibility and service.
- OpenTripPlanner Integration: Using NeTEx FlexibleLine and GTFS-Flex data sources in OpenTripPlanner to unify trip planning for flexible and micro-mobility services.
Moderator:
Carl Fredlund, Strategic Director, MobilityData
Panelists:
Leonardo Gutierrez, Business Development Manager, Trufi
Carole Philibien, Tech Lead, Coop Carbone
Kyle Shannon, Director of Data Science, Volunteer Transportation Center
Stephen Kuban, Head of Partner Growth, The Routing Company
Vincent Paturet, Software Developer, Entur
Achieving Optimal Efficiency in GBFS Data Exchanges
- 1 h 30 min
- The Bike Lane
Type: Workshop
Description:
As the usage of GBFS data continues to grow exponentially, so does the demand on computing bandwidth. In this workshop, we will discuss possible technical solutions to unlock new efficiencies to ensure that GBFS data remains accessible, reliable, and sustainable for all stakeholders.
The desired outcome of this workshop is to understand how the current pull-based GBFS model has efficiency limitations and to discuss possible technical developments. No technical knowledge is necessary to attend this interactive workshop.
Facilitator:
Fabien Richard-Allouard, Program Manager, Shared Mobility, MobilityData
Contributors:
Tom Erik Støwer, Senior Software Developer, Entur
Antoine Augusti, Technical Lead, transport.data.gouv
from 12:00 pm
to 2:00 pm
Lunch & Fireside Chats
- 2 h
- The Bus Lane
There will be three 15-minute Fireside Chats throughout this period.
Chat 1: How Governments Encourage Collaboration to Leverage Learning Across Communities and Countries
Moderator: Gretchen Newcomb, Director Partnerships, North America & Australasia, MobilityData
Speakers:
Hans Pohl, Program Director Future Mobility, Lindholmen Science Park
Madeline Zhu, Policy Advisor, United States Department of Transportation
Description:
Future Mobility is managed by Lindholmen Science Park and funded by the Swedish Innovation Agency, Vinnova. The program aims to lower the threshold to collaboration by supporting strategic projects that boost research and innovation ventures between the United States and Sweden and create disruptive sustainable mobility solutions. The U.S. DOT’s SMART program, currently funding 93 projects, for up to $500 million over five years, has supported locally driven solutions across the country. Successful projects create sustainable partnerships across sectors and levels of government, engaging industry, labor, academia, and nonprofits to better meet community transportation needs. Come hear from these experts about the whys and hows of collaborative learning to advance sustainable mobility solutions worldwide.
After this Fireside Chat, SMART Grantees are invited to meet in the President room.
Chat 2: You Can’t Talk YIMBY Without Transportation in the Conversation
Moderator: Gretchen Newcomb, Director Partnerships, North America & Australasia, MobilityData
Speaker: David Schneider, Founder, Schneider Analytics
Description:
With the cost of housing reaching stratospheric heights, a “Yes In My Backyard” movement is growing in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world. The term is used to describe people who support the development of affordable housing and oppose restrictive zoning and planning policies. YIMBYs also support public transportation and oppose density limits, such as single-family zoning. Learn how David Schneider, creator of Transit-Oriented Discoveries, Data-Driven Insights into U.S. Urban Landscapes is leveraging open data to promote both transit mobility and transit-oriented development. The site offers data, visualizations, and analysis of land use, transportation features, and points of interest around 5,000 rail and bus rapid transit stations in the United States.
Chat 3: Digitizing Popular Transport: GTFS Workarounds for Accurate PT Modelling
Moderator: Gretchen Newcomb, Director Partnerships, North America & Australasia, MobilityData
Speaker: Hazem Fahmi, Research Software Engineer, Transport for Cairo
Description:
From field data collection to demand and emissions modelling, Transport for Cairo (TfC) has created a data modelling pipeline for popular transport modes in the African continent that utilizes GTFS in its core. “RouteLab” (RL) is a software suite developed to map and fully capture the dynamic PT modes prevalent in Africa. RL crunches raw survey data to produce accurate GTFS feeds providing accurate daily PT service estimations, enabling accurate demand, revenue and emissions modelling and more.
from 2:00 pm
to 3:15 pm
Challenges & Lessons Learned from Managing Transit Data for Big Cities
- 1 h 15 min
- The Bus Lane
Type: Panel
Description:
As the backbone of public transportation information, GTFS plays a pivotal role in shaping the commuter experience and optimizing transit operations. However, managing GTFS data for massive systems presents unique challenges and complexities, from ensuring data accuracy and consistency to addressing scalability and performance issues. This panel will highlight the experience from large scale systems from across the globe.
Moderator:
Carl Fredlund, Strategic Director, MobilityData
Panelists:
Shanti Gonzales, Program Manager, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
Hazem Fahmi, Research Software Engineer, Transport for Cairo
Gergő Roflics, Leader of IT Business Support, Budapesti Közlekedési Központ (BKK) Centre for Budapest Transport
Leon Byford, Digital Product Manager, Transport for London (TfL)
Albert Bigorra Miralles, Research and Training Manager, Centre de Gestió de la Informació de la Mobilitat (Barcelona)
Ikeda Yo, Senior Director for Data Utilization, Tokyo Metropolitan
Feedback on Successfully Switching to GBFS v3.0
- 1 h 15 min
- The Bike Lane
Type: Workshop
Description:
From protecting publishers and riders, reducing implementation costs, and improving the rider experience, GBFS v3.0 brings many new and exciting features. In this workshop, operators and trip planners will share their experience of switching to GBFS version 3.0. They will explain why they did it and share their learnings and technical choices. No technical knowledge is necessary to attend this interactive workshop.
Facilitator:
Fabien Richard-Allouard, Program Manager, Shared Mobility, MobilityData
Contributors:
Tom Erik Støwer, Senior Software Developer, Entur
from 3:15 pm
to 3:45 pm
Break
- 30 min
from 3:45 pm
to 5:00 pm
An Industry-Wide Approach to Improving Real-Time Data Quality
- 1 h 15 min
- The Bus Lane
Type: Workshop
Description:
Accurate real-time information, communicated using GTFS Realtime, is crucial for building trust and reliability in public transit. But how do we also ensure high-quality GTFS Realtime? Join us to discuss data production difficulties like trip modifications, itinerary matching, prediction accuracy, ghost buses, etc. We’ll walk through what various industry actors have done to tackle these problems, and what we can do together to provide riders with the real-time information they deserve.
Facilitator:
Drew Carruthers, Product Director, MobilityData
Contributors:
Guillaume Campagna, CTO, Transit App
Ritesh Warade, General Manager, Transit, Swiftly
Tristan Coste, Analyste Principal – Solution Transport, Société de transport de Montréal (STM)
Melissa McFarland, Customer Success Team Lead, Optibus
Navigating Privacy and GDPR Compliance in GBFS Data Ecosystems
- 1 h 15 min
- The Bike Lane
Type: Panel
Description:
This panel delves into the complexities of managing privacy and GDPR compliance within the GBFS data ecosystem. Together, we will address how to effectively navigate diverse cultural and regulatory expectations to ensure robust data governance. Panelists will share insights on balancing innovation with regulatory requirements, and provide actionable solutions for integrating GBFS data with other services while maintaining high standards of data protection and compliance.
Moderator:
Carl Fredlund, Strategic Director, MobilityData
Panelists:
Johan Høgåsen-Hallesby, Co-Founding Partner, Beta Mobility
Venkatesh Gopal, Principal – e-Mobility and Financial Feasibility, movmi
Gemma Schepers, Program Manager, City of Amsterdam
Austin Spademan, Head of Government Partnerships, Bird
from 5:00 pm
to 5:15 pm
Closing Remarks by MobilityData
- 15 min
- The Bus Lane
Sessions are subject to change.
Attending The Summit
Summit Ticket
Includes:
- Day 1 & 2: Conference program
- Lunch on both days
- Coffee breaks on both days
- Networking night (canapés and drinks provided)
Note:
If you are a member of MobilityData, you have access to gratuities and special offers. Take advantage of them when you purchase your ticket!
If you are buying 10 or more tickets, contact us for special group discounts.
Accommodations
Stay in old Montreal where the Summit is happening for a minimal commute!
Le Saint-Sulpice Hotel Montreal – Use code: “MOBILITY” for 25% from Tuesday October 29 to Friday November 1st.
Make the Most of Your Visit!
Our team curated a special “Guide to Montreal” that includes local amenities, transit options, other events happening around the Summit, and more!
Sponsorship Opportunities
Support our mission to provide better transportation through data and position your organization as a thought leader. Become a sponsor! Learn more from the Sponsorship Program and reach out to events@mobilitydata.org to secure your spot today.
Thank You Summit Sponsors
Previous Summit
Experience The 2022 International Mobility Data Summit event with our selection of official videos and replays.
The Highlights Video
A condensed perspective on The 2022 International Mobility Data Summit.
Credit: Terrarian Productions
The Official Photos
Click through the photos of the event to re-live the 2022 International Mobility Data Summit.
Credit: Andrew Monia Photografikart