The NAPCORE Mobility Data Days were held for the third year on November 6-7, 2024, in Turin. NAPCORE is an EU-funded project that seeks to establish a federated and harmonised National Access Point (NAP) infrastructure across all EU and affiliated Member States. The event gathered a wide range of stakeholders from across Europe’s mobility ecosystem: policymakers, data providers, transport authorities, industry experts and Advisory board members convened to address mobility data accessibility and strategies for data exchange in Europe.

As a key contributor to NAPCORE, TN-ITS demonstrated its essential role in supporting the exchange of authoritative static road data, fostering harmonization within Europe’s evolving transport data ecosystem.

“Participants had the unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the advancements being made across the initiative, with the sessions not only offering valuable updates and insights, but also reinforcing the importance of collaboration among stakeholders,” claimed Frank Daems, Senior Manager at ERTICO.  

The TN-ITS and DATEX II Merger

An in-depth session was dedicated to the TN-ITS and DATEX II merger, a significant milestone for Europe’s transport data systems. This merger aims to simplify data sharing while improving the accuracy and timeliness of map updates across the EU, and the session drew an audience of experts and ITS community members eager to learn more about the benefits of the unified standard.

The session began with an overview of the roles TN-ITS and DATEX II play in the broader Real-Time Traffic Information (RTTI) framework, followed by updates on the status and progress of TN-ITS. The presentation underscored the need for continued engagement with map service providers and NAPCORE representatives to address critical aspects of the merger.

An interactive workshop concluded the session, inviting attendees to share their thoughts on the impact, expectations, gaps, and opportunities of the action. Key takeaways included:

  • High Impact Potential: Participants highlighted the significant potential of the merger to enhance safety and support future ITS applications.
  • Areas for Improvement: Discussions emphasized the need for robust supporting tools and strategies for EU-wide deployment, including city-level integration.
  • Next Steps: A clear demand emerged for a follow-up session, bringing together key stakeholders such as map service providers and NAPCORE WG leaders.

       

Key Themes from the Mobility Data Days

The event also tackled critical challenges and opportunities within Europe’s mobility data ecosystem. Discussions centred on improving data accessibility, ensuring interoperability, and the importance of innovation in meeting the evolving needs of transport systems.

Highlighted topics on day one included data accessibility across urban and regional landscapes; enhancements to data standards that could make travel information more accessible for users; strategies for improving the reliability, consistency, and security of NAP data; the importance of uniform standards to support emerging mobility trends; and the growing demand for accurate, real-time digital transport data.

Day two spotlighted advanced approaches to improving NAP services, with a strong focus on how innovation can help meet the evolving demands of European transport systems. Key sessions covered strategies to improve interoperability and service quality aligned with the ITS Directive goal; multimodal travel data from NAPs supporting user-friendly and seamless transport experiences; insights into partnerships between NAPCORE, ITS Corridor Projects, and C-Roads; live demonstrations highlighting the significance of interoperability for cross-border mobility data exchange; real-time traffic information (RTTI) updates pinpointing existing gaps and proposed strategies for improved coverage; and exchanges of best practices with U.S. experts, which provided a global perspective on mobility data management.

This year’s discussions and workshops at the NAPCORE Mobility Data Days provided a solid foundation for future impactful developments, and underscored Europe’s commitment to creating an accessible, standardised, and secure mobility data ecosystem.

 

A Unified Vision for Europe’s Mobility Data

Looking ahead, TN-ITS remains committed to advancing harmonised data standards, driving safety improvements, and enabling smarter, more sustainable transport across Europe. The event reinforced TN-ITS’s vital role within this mobility ecosystem, particularly through the merger and ongoing collaboration with DATEX II.

This year’s discussions and workshops at the NAPCORE Mobility Data Days provided a solid foundation for future impactful developments, and underscored Europe’s commitment to creating an accessible, standardised, and secure mobility data ecosystem.