PROJECTS
Mapping Mobility
Investigators
Andrea Scheller,
Frédérique Chevrot (MIT)
Partners
AGS Mapping Project: Joanne
Kauffman (project coordinator, CEI,
MIT), Chizuru Aoki, Chia-Chin Cheng, Ali Shirvani-Mahdavi (co-investigators,
all MIT), Ross Stevens (consultant, Stevens Associates), Sue Bridge
(consultant)
Time Frame
1998
Funding
Alliance
for Global Sustainability AGS
Abstract
AGS activities in its six "pathways of sustainability": energy,
mobility, urban systems, cleaner technologies, natural resources,
and global climate change, were mapped, ie. research needs and priorities
in these fields were identified. For the mobility sector the analysis
showed that the assessment of alternatives for sustainable mobility
and the development of cost effective measures to reduce pollution
should be prioritised, as well as an intensification of co-operation
with developing countries and the construction of a network of sustainable
mobility research activities
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1 English Summary
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In January 1998 the co-ordinators of the Alliance for Global
Sustainability (AGS) initiated a Mapping Project for AGS activities
in its six "pathways of sustainability": energy, mobility, urban
systems, cleaner technologies, natural resources, and global climate
change. The goal of the project was to identify needs and priorities
in each of the AGS sustainability pathways. For that purpose the
a team of five researchers interviewed principal investigators
of AGS projects and reviewed related literature to identify the
products of AGS research, major questions and knowledge gaps,
and other programs for overlaps and synergies. Andrea Scheller
was assigned to investigate in the mobility sector during a two
months stay at MIT.
After her stay the draft of the white paper on mobility was handed
over for completion to Frédérique Chevrot. The results of the
investigation suggest that AGS should concentrate on coming to
a better understanding of the problems (data analysis) and assessing
alternatives for sustainable mobility systematically. Evenly important
are the development of scenarios for cost effective measures for
the reduction of pollution and congestion and for this purpose
continued interactions with developing countries are crucial.
The building of a global network of scholars with links to industry
could serve as a catalyst for change by bringing together stakeholders.
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2 Project Description
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In January 1998 the International Advisory Board of the
Alliance for Global Sustainability requested that AGS Coordinators
undertake a mapping project to give a comprehensive overview
of the AGS research portfolio and to demonstrate the degree
to which the AGS is successful in meeting its goals. MIT
was asked to take the lead in this initiative with the following
objectives: (1) Identify needs and priorities in each of
the AGS main areas, (2) Examine existing criteria for projects,
(3) Develop further means to operationalise goals, (4) Prepare
policy guidelines and objectives, and (5) Identify what
it will take to meet these goals.
MIT identified a team of five graduates at MIT and ETH
to work with coordinator, Dr. Joanne Kauffman, to develop
four white papers covering the six AGS research areas (as
well as cross cutting initiatives), global climate change,
energy, mobility, water and agriculture, cleaner technologies
and urban systems. The aim of the papers was to identify
goals, barriers to sustainability, and gaps in knowledge;
examine the strengths of current AGS projects, and major
initiatives being undertaken elsewhere.
Working with assistance provided by ABB and DuPont, the
team developed a working concept of "sustainability" (or,
sustainable development) to attain a future state of human
well-being and societal development without destroying the
natural resources that provide the bases for current and
future prosperity. The team began with a brainstorming meeting
on the energy sector, which helped us to develop the model
for sustainable development and identify key pathways which
lead from the current state to the desired sustainable future
state. Based on this initial work, the team developed a
set of critical questions and students interviewed scholars
in each of the areas. The team members also reviewed secondary
literature and developed project summaries for each of the
AGS projects. They met weekly to distil the data, develop
key concepts, articulate how the AGS works to enable sustainable
growth, and, most importantly, to identify critical relationships
that will help the AGS build synergy between projects, identify
gaps in knowledge and in current practice, and recommend
future directions.
The draft white papers have been reviewed by principal
investigators on AGS projects and were presented at the
AGS
annual meeting in January 1999 in Tokyo. After comments
received at this meeting are incorporated, they will be
published.
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3 Results
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Main results of the white paper on mobility
Major problems
AGS Strengths
- Existing mobility
programs (technology and policy) in cooperation with the International
Cooperative Mobility Program and other major research initiatives,
as well as strong links with industry
- Expertise in developing,
modelling, and assessing technological options and policy actions
· Multidisciplinary capacity
- Robust relationships
in developing countries, especially China and Latin America
AGS Objectives
- Using the technical
strengths of the three universities, come to a better understanding
of the problems and assess alternatives for sustainable mobility
- Build a global network
of scholars with links to industry which could serve as a catalyst
for change by bringing together stakeholders Develop scenarios
for cost effective measures for the reduction of pollution and
congestion Continue and increase interactions with developing
countries.
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4 Publications
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Scheller, Andrea: "Experiences with
an Academic Alliance for Sustainability" [pdf],
in: Proceedings
of the Euroconference Series Quality of Life - Sustainability
- Environmental Changes Event 3: "Present and future measures
to achieve sustainability on international and local levels",
Austrian Research Centers, Seibersdorf, April 2000.
Chevrot, Frédérique, and Andrea Scheller:
"White Paper on Mobility", in: The AGS Mapping Report, AGS (Alliance
for Global Sustainability), MIT, Cambridge, December 1998.
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5 Presentations
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"Experiences with an Academic Alliance for Sustainability" (paper
presentation), Euroconference
Series Quality of Life - Sustainability - Environmental Changes
Event 3: "Present and future measures to achieve sustainability
on international and local levels", Stadtschlaining, April 2000.
"The Mapping Project" (talk), 2nd AGS (Alliance for Global Sustainability)
- ETH Day, Berne, September 1998.
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