RAAV - Rural Accessibility & Automated Vehicles

Wider research contextheoretical framework Isolated rural areas often experience poor accessibility e.g. to workplaces, schools and services of general interest. This applies especially to some social groups as elderly, pupils and people with low-income, who mostly depend on public transport. Automated vehicles (AVs) may greatly change this condition and impact on the accessibility of rural areas. AVs could e.g. foster the introduction of new services able to increase the effectiveness of rural public transport, as for example affordable on-demand minibuses. However, accessibility impacts will depend on the types of AV-applications introduced, as well as on the specificities of the social groups considered. Hypotheses/research questions/objectives This project aims to investigate the potential impacts of different AV-applications on the accessibility of isolated rural areas by taking into account both the individual perspective of different social groups, as well as the collective perspective of rural communities. For this purpose, the project addresses four research questions (Qs): 1) What AV-based transport systems could be introduced in rural areas? 2) How do AVs change the individual accessibility of different social groups? 3) How do AVs change the collective accessibility of rural population as a whole? 4) What are the key AV-drivers improving accessibility in rural areas and which policies can foster them? Approach/methods To address these questions, explorative what-if scenarios showing possible individual, shared and collective AV- applications for rural areas are developed (Q1). The potential impacts of scenarios are then analysed comparatively for rural case studies through space-time accessibility prisms. These prisms reveal the impacts on different social groups (Q2), as well as on rural dwellers in general (Q3). The results of the accessibility analyses are then assessed by involving experts and stakeholders in a Multi Criteria Decision Analysis and round tables. These steps are expected to highlight the key AV-drivers improving accessibility in rural contexts (Q4). Finally, a policy analysis investigates potential measures that could foster such drivers (Q4). Level of originality/innovation The linkage between AVs, accessibility and rural areas has poorly been considered so far. Therefore, it represents the main originality of this research. The described approach on accessibility analyses (space-time prisms) represents the second added value, since it will consider both the specificities of different social groups and the point of view of the entire community. This represents an innovative solution in the development of a multidisciplinary research on AVs and accessibility. Primary researchers involved G. Hauger (TU Wien) and E. Ravazzoli (Eurac Research) will combine the competences of their institutions in transport innovations and rural challenges to develop a transnational multidisciplinary research project.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The project Rural Accessibility & Automated Vehicles (RAAV) explored how the deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVS) in rural public transport (PT) can improve accessibility for residents in rural areas. Rural areas often face long travel distances and limited access to PT networks. RAAV examined whether AV-based services could address these challenges by pursuing the following three main objectives: - to develop innovative rural PT scenarios based on AVS, - to assess their potential impacts on individual and collective accessibility, and - to guide local stakeholders on future AV-based PT strategies. Two case study municipalities were selected: Mühlwald (South Tyrol, Italy) and Sooß (Lower Austria, Austria). STRUCTURE AND STEPS The project began by refining concepts and methods in space-time accessibility (STA) modelling. Socio-demographic and transport data were collected in both regions, and resident mobility behaviour was recorded through detailed travel diaries. Based on this data, five AV-based public transport scenarios were designed, combining line-based and on-demand services in varying spatial and temporal configurations. The scenarios were modelled using two newly developed tools: - PT-STA (Public Transport - Space-Time Accessibility), to measure individual accessibility, and - CSTA (Collective Space-Time Accessibility), to assess collective accessibility impacts. These models enabled the analysis of accessibility gains across user groups, times of day, and spatial locations. RESULTS The analysis showed that AV scenarios involving flexible, demand-responsive services delivered the most significant accessibility improvements, especially for residents with mobility constraints. However, stakeholder evaluations conducted through a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) revealed concerns about technical complexity and operational feasibility. These perceptions adjusted the purely model-based rankings of the scenarios and highlighted the importance of integrating different perspectives into transport planning. Methodologically, the PT-STA and CSTA models represent significant advances in accessibility modelling, incorporating fixed activities, time thresholds, and cumulative spatial overlays. POTENTIAL IMPACT AND USE Despite limitations, such as small case study areas and a lack of empirical AV data, the project contributes practical insights for transportation system planning. The AV scenarios and modelling tools offer a transferable framework for testing future transport strategies in rural areas. The RAAV approach provides a more or less replicable methodology for evaluating accessibility-oriented transport innovation in rural communities.