TransformMobility ‐ A Human-Centered Turn to Responsible Urban Mobility by Transformative Vision Design (2024-2026)
Abstract
Today’s transport systems result in an enormous consumption of space, energy, and resources, which
is accompanied by an urgent quest for innovative technological answers, especially in urban settle‐
ments. TransformMobility stands for a new vision for future mobility based on public mobility services with
electric, autonomous, small, light, and low‐speed vehicles in combination with roads with little land
use, high water permeability and low heat storage. This innovative approach could be an answer to
societal needs by leading to a healthier and liveable city in times of climate adaptation with more green
space, lower noise and air pollution levels and new opportunities for active transport, e.g. walking and
cycling. A conventional approach would first develop the technical system as a potential answer to
society’s needs; once the technological innovation would be mature enough, questions of societal ac‐
ceptance will be addressed. Our project turns this process upside down. We will develop the vision for
the human‐centered future mobility system in an explicitly transdisciplinary approach, bridging engi‐
neering with ethics, socio‐ecological, and health sciences and including societal stakeholders from the
start. This vision will guide the fundamental research by integrating the exploration of potential im‐
pacts on society, an orientation towards societal wishful futures and ethical values of good mobility
already in the concept phase. The main goals of the project are:
a. the transdisciplinary co‐creation process of the vision development of a future mobility system,
b. identification, operationalisation, and analysis of key values of good mobility,
c. development and assessment of the proto vision,
d. development of transformation scenarios,
e. a communication campaign for broader societal feedback on the vision, and
f. a methodological meta‐research on the normative, transdisciplinary process.
To achieve these goals, the PIs are going to work closely together with our partners PaperPlanes and
Changing Cities. An advisory board will be established that reflects the perspective of people with dis‐
abilities, pedestrians, cyclists, politics, administration and social sciences. During the funding period, a
proposal for a DFG collaborative research centre will be prepared.
Applicants:
Prof. Dr. Sabine Ammon, TU Berlin
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christine Ahrend, TU Berlin
Dr.‐Ing. Kerstin Kracht, TU Berlin
Prof. Dr. Tobia Lakes, HU Berlin
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Müller, TU Berlin
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Rackwitz, TU Berlin
Prof. Dr. Gunter Schumann, Charité Berlin
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Utz von Wagner, TU Berlin
