SIMULATE is a new kind of infrastructure partnership, designed to accelerate innovative solutions in Air Quality and Intelligent Mobility within local authorities. SIMULATE is funded by the DfT and is part of the ADEPT Smart Places Research Programme.
Three Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) present three different types of challenge in delivering clean air. Each AQMA is pre-sensorised; creating the ultimate test environment.
SIMULATE's Mobility Challenges are centred around a radical new vision for sustainable transport in Staffordshire; where 'Mobility Hubs' remove the reliance on personal car ownership.
Born from a successful bid into the ADEPT Smart Places Live-Lab programme and funded by the Department for Transport, SIMULATE combines research and feasibility with collaborative incubation and trialling of SMEs to deliver a radical new vision for air quality and Mobility in Staffordshire.
The programme is based on challenges in two areas: urban air quality and mobility.
With over 130 applications received to be part of the programme the SIMULATE judging panel which included representatives from across the project, had the enviable task of whittling the SMEs down to just ten to address the challenges that had been set out
The winners in both the mobility and air quality challenges, are as follows:
Live Labs Programme Director, Giles Perkins, said: “This exciting group of smart mobility and air quality interventions illustrates the breadth of innovation that can now be harnessed in our local communities. We look forward to seeing these being deployed and learnings shared right across the local roads sector for the benefit of all.”
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport Helen Fisher, said: “The SIMULATE project has reached an exciting stage where we now have all of the SMEs on board to start their challenges.
“We’re pleased to be working with our partners in bringing in industry expertise to find and apply innovative sustainable transport and clean air solutions which will bring real long-term benefits to communities and businesses in Staffordshire and across the UK.
“As a council we are committed to work towards greener transport options and combating climate change and so it’s great that we have this project running in Staffordshire.”