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Where can changes be particularly effective?
Analyzing mobility reveal patterns, differences, and anomalies. However, it is only when these findings are considered in the context of local priorities and conditions that their significance for a region becomes clear.
mobi.mapr does not provide ready-made solutions. Rather, its analyses highlight areas that warrant closer examination—and where discussions about mobility can begin. This creates a foundation for identifying potential starting points, evaluating them collaboratively, and using those findings to make informed decisions.
The central question is: Where should change begin in order to have the desired effect?
The analyses can provide support in
Identifying focus areas
Refining and aligning objectives
Narrowing down specific areas of focus in terms of location and subject matter
Applications for mobi.mapr
mobi.mapr is, first and foremost, an analytical tool. It cannot single-handedly bring about a change in transportation patterns and use, but it does help provide a quick overview of the state of the quality of mobility.
Below are a few different scenarios in which mobi.mapr can be used.
Set the Scene
The development of a shopping center on the edge of town has led to a shift in the distribution of local amenities and shopping options. Central facilities within the community have declined, while new options are all concentrated on the outskirts.
mobi.mapr brings these connections to light
The analyses provide an at-a-glance overview of how services are distributed geographically, how accessible existing shopping facilities are by various modes of transportation, and what conditions different demographic groups encounter.
Starting points can be identified and evaluated
At the same time, potential courses of action become apparent and can be weighed against one another. These range from strengthening existing locations and expanding services in town centers, to improving accessibility between residential areas and public services or commercial centers—for example, through walking, cycling, and public transportation—to developing new, locally tailored services such as community-driven buses or delivery services.
Goals can be extrapolated
This provides a basis for an evidence-based discussion on how to organize local offerings (both from public and private providers) in the region. In doing so, it becomes clear where new dependencies arise and what conflicting objectives are involved.
Goals for future development can be identified and prioritized in light of local constraints or wishes.
Set the Scene
Essential everyday services for families—such as daycare centers, playgrounds, or recreational facilities—are limited or difficult to access.
mobi.mapr brings these connections to light
The findings reveal the circumstances under which families currently organize their daily lives: what their family-related goals are, how they go about achieving them, and how these vary depending on mode of transportation and place of residence.
Starting points can be identified and evaluated
This provides a solid foundation for further developing family-friendly mobility. Interdependencies and areas of friction become clear—for example, between centrally located services and short, practical routes within residential areas. This allows communities to prioritize and coordinate local improvements.
Goals can be extrapolated
Possible options—such as safe and convenient walking and biking paths, improved local public transportation services, or targeted efforts to strengthen neighborhood infrastructure for childcare, daily necessities, and leisure activities—can be considered in context and weighed against one another.
Set the Scene
Weiterführende Angebote wie Schule, Arbeit, medizinische Versorgung oder Verwaltung befinden sich im nächstgelegenen Zentrum. Für viele Menschen – etwa Jugendliche, ältere Personen oder Haushalte ohne Auto – ist dieses aktuell nur eingeschränkt erreichbar, vorwiegend zu Randzeiten.
mobi.mapr macht die Zusammenhänge sichtbar
The analyses show how routes to the city center currently function. They reveal which neighborhoods have good connections and for which population groups trips to the city center are feasible and under what conditions.
Starting points can be identified and evaluated
This gives rise to clear requirements for improved access for various groups. Goals related to accessibility and participation can be situated within the context of the respective framework conditions.
Goals can be extrapolated
Measures such as more direct routes, improved transfer points, or additional modes of transportation can be discussed within the local context and evaluated for their effectiveness.
FAQs
mobi.mapr uses different data sets.
External data—such as population distribution data—is updated as soon as it is republished by official sources.
Internal data, such as the underlying activities and calculations, is updated on an ongoing basis. This is because calculating mobility analyses is a very complex process that can sometimes take several weeks or months.
To ensure that the results provided are as up-to-date as possible, the dataset is continuously refined and updated.
An overview of all data sources used is available directly in the tool via the info icon.
mobi.mapr is based on a combination of various data sources that map mobility from different perspectives.
To map everyday destinations, mobi.mapr primarily uses open geodata—specifically from OpenStreetMap. Depending on the research question, additional datasets are also incorporated.
For population distribution, mobi.mapr relies on official statistics, such as those from DESTATIS.
Furthermore, insights into mobility behavior and qualitative aspects are incorporated into the analyses—such as the perceived quality of routes, for example from the ADFC Bicycle Climate Test.
All data is consolidated into a unified model and systematically evaluated. An overview of all data sources used is available directly in the tool via the info icon.
mobi.mapr is a project of the Baden-Württemberg Institute for Sustainable Mobility (BWIM)—an independent think tank and action group dedicated to sustainable mobility.
The platform is backed by an interdisciplinary team of experts from various fields who are continuously developing mobi.mapr.
For more information about BWIM, visit bw-im.de.
The values displayed should not be interpreted as exact times for a single trip, but rather as a comparable basis for assessing local mobility quality. They may therefore differ from individually measured times.
This is because mobi.mapr does not show pure travel time, but rather a systematically calculated mobility time. This takes into account various aspects of everyday mobility and thus goes beyond a traditional route calculation.
For example: According to navigation, the trip to the supermarket might take three minutes by car, six minutes by bike, or nine minutes on foot. In everyday life, however, additional time is required—such as for parking or locking up the bike—which mobi.mapr systematically factors in.
At the same time, typical behavioral patterns are also taken into account: For very short distances, people often choose to walk, even if the bike would theoretically be faster—for example, because they first have to fetch it from the basement and then put it away again, which takes additional time.
Furthermore, the algorithm considers not just individual destinations but multiple feasible options, which are weighted against one another—after all, people don’t always want to go to the same supermarket.
Mobility time is therefore not an exact route specification, but a realistic, comparable time estimate for everyday mobility.