DyMoN Summer School

We are happy to announce the successful organization of the DyMoN Summer School titled ” GIS and psychology meet for behavioural change in mobility: Innovative digital interventions for sustainable mobility”. The summer school took place at the University of Salzburg from June 27th to July 6th, 2023. We would like to express our gratitude to Salzburg Research and Trafficon for their invaluable support in coordinating this event, as the summer school was a part of the Dynamic Mobility Nudge (DyMoN) project.

During these dates, an international group of participants from nine countries gathered to acquire new concepts and skills. They had the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences from their respective domains and regions, while collaborating on various topics related to sustainable mobility. Their diverse backgrounds in urban and transport planning, behavioural economics, machine learning, and geoinformatics fostered an interdisciplinary dialogue on designing and implementing digital solutions to promote sustainable mobility.

Throughout the summer school, participants attended lectures and hands-on workshops focusing on three domains: mobility, GIS, and digitally enabled behaviour change. They were encouraged to critically evaluate infrastructure planning, familiarize themselves with the wide range of possibilities offered by GIS technology, and gain a deeper understanding of human behaviour and motivation. These lectures and workshops aimed to provide participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to support their group project work. Four group projects were presented as posters at the GI_Salzburg conference:

• “Beyond Visuals: Harnessing the power of Mobility Dashboards”
• “Bike Lanes and Safety: Testing Bikeability in the Field”
• “Safety and accessibility at Salzburg Hauptbahnhof”
• “Isolated mobility: Aiglhof improvement plan for better connectivity and experience”

Participating in the GI_Salzburg conference was another highlight of the summer school, as it provided an opportunity for participants to showcase their work and engage with a broader community of geoinformatics and mobility professionals. We were delighted to invite experts from politics, mobility industry, transport planning, and psychology to participate in a panel discussion on digital solutions for assisting and promoting sustainable mobility. This discussion allowed for the exchange of past experiences and new ideas, while ensuring that the perspectives of all parties were heard. One key takeaway was the recognition that mobility change should be facilitated through a comprehensive approach that encompasses adequate infrastructure and technology, incentives, events, recommendations, and public information.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the school was the opportunity to get to know each other during breaks, dinners, and excursions. Among the highlights was the visit to the historic rooms of Mirabell Castle and the memorable hiking trip to Geisberg. Despite encountering some rain and wind, these elements added a sense of adventure to the journey. Here are some pictures of the summer school.

We extend our gratitude to all participants for their enthusiasm and willingness to contribute to the research and creation of sustainable and liveable places. We hope that everyone gained valuable insights for their professional careers, and we look forward to the possibility of crossing paths again in the future.