DynamiCity demonstrates how urban transport systems can be transformed into net positive contributors not only to cleaner, better-connected cities, but also for possible cancer prevention and improved survivorship. The project advances a paradigm shift: transport is no longer a source of negative impacts – such as safety issues and adverse health effects, but rather a strategic means to promote healthy lifestyles and overall wellbeing.
Through human-centred, multi-level interventions, DynamiCity enhances active travel health literacy, empowers diverse target groups to walk and cycle as part of cancer survivorship support and strengthening both physical and mental health. For this purpose, DynamiCity brings together 27 full partners and 9 associated partners from 17 countries, including 12 European cities, nine of which are EU Mission Cities (https://netzerocities.eu/mission-cities/) and six Net Zero Cities (https://netzerocities.eu/).
The project targets >15% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and >30% more walking and cycling in 6 demonstrator and 6 follower cities. Through tangible recommendations and measures (urban design, digital tools, policy guidelines, etc.), DynamiCity will break silos between health and transport, paving the way for cross-sectoral, cross-European collaborations placing walking and cycling at the core of integrated transport planning and health strategies. Effectiveness will be measured through active travel uptake, reduced environmental exposure, and health-related outcomes linked to cancer prevention and survivorship.
Transport Studies (TS-CEM) group (M. Baran Ulak and Karst Geurs) and Biomedical Signals and Systems (BSS) group (Annemieke Witteveen) from University of Twente partnered up in DynamiCity together with Municipality of Helmond as full partners from the Netherlands, and Province of Overijssel, BYCS, and Mobycon as Dutch associated partners.
Within this project, the TS and BSS groups collaborate to expand the expertise on the active and micro-mobility usage patterns and health impacts and develop a well performing cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS) for active and micro-mobility users. The aim is to develop a feasible and proven C-ITS implementation combining smart infrastructure and digital tools to create safety and health impacts for active and micro-mobility users, which can be transferred to urban regions outside of project scope. The UT team will:
· Explore the role and function of active- and micro-mobility (AMM) in transport ecosystems, developing approaches to multi-modal integration of active mobility modes with other modes, particularly with public transport, to enhance sustainable mobility options.
· Explore the role of AMM to improve quality of life, to support cancer survivorship, and to decrease the incidence of cancer or late effects from cancer.
· Design and specify C-ITS technologies and solutions that support AMM and can be integrated in the DynamiCity living labs (LLs), such as dynamic traffic light systems, app-infrastructure connections, digital twins for AMM planning and enhancement, roadside smart and dynamic sensors with warning and communication systems for pedestrians, cyclists and micro-mobility users, etc.
· Quantify the safety implications of C-ITS and smart systems for pedestrians, cyclists and micro-mobility users, and measure their impacts on modal share and potential mode shift towards AMM.
· Support Gemeente Helmond in pilot implementations to enhance cycling, encourage more walking and reduce the life expectancy gap amongst neighbourhoods through interventions
