A European group of researchers is taking the first steps to explore how AI can help urban mobility planners.

As city populations grow causing strain on resources, the experts are to investigate the potential of AI-driven policy tools to create greener cities.

The team has received £10,000 in funding from the British Academy, which it hopes will set them on the road to further research.

Taking part in the project will be experts from Aston University, University College London, Ruralis University in Norway, University of Turin, and Lisbon University Institute.

Dalila Ribaudo (research.aston.ac.uk/en/persons/dalila-ribaudo) from the Centre for Business Prosperity at Aston Business School and Alina Patelli from the Aston Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research & Application will co-lead the UK-EU consortium consolidation project.

The interdisciplinary project will benefit from expertise in applied business and specialist insight into global economics, policymaking and urban transport planning.

“Policymakers and society could all benefit from our research into innovative ways of managing the strain on urban infrastructures and resources,” said Patelli (research.aston.ac.uk/en/persons/alina-patelli). “The AI-powered policy tools we are developing are meant to support decision managers at all levels of urban governance with reducing emissions, optimising transportation as well as predicting and preventing environmental hazards. Such changes would improve the quality of life for the millions of people living in towns and cities across the UK, Europe and, in the long term, the entire world.”

Following the successful bid for the British Academy pump priming grant, the team will apply for Horizon Europe funding to continue developing the AI-driven policy tools for greener cities.

For over 130 years, Aston University (www.aston.ac.uk) in Birmingham, UK, has specialised in science, technology and enterprise. It focuses on high-quality, exploitable research that has an impact on society through medical breakthroughs, advancements in engineering, policy and practice in government, and the strategies and performance of business. The university offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as continuing professional development.