Our research perspectives

K2’s research is guided by three perspectives that highlight the purpose of the knowledge developed and applied: to improve, renew, and deepen in ways that contribute to attractive and sustainable cities and regions.

Improve

Renew

Deepen

Improve

This is about making what we already have even better. By examining today’s collective mobility systems, we can identify new ways to develop and enhance what is already working.

The focus is on traditional public transport, but other forms of shared mobility are also important. The goal is to make established systems smoother, more efficient, and more sustainable for the future.

Examples of themes

  • Effects of network changes. This includes both the hardware of public transport—vehicles and infrastructure—and the software, such as route planning, service frequency, pricing, and transfer conditions between routes or other modes of transport. A key issue is improving bus traffic flow while managing potential conflicts with pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
  • Enhancing public transport reliability. This theme focuses on increasing knowledge about factors affecting punctuality and capacity in rail transport, as well as strategies to reduce delays and improve regularity in bus and tram services. It may also include research on better methods for measuring and predicting reliability, ensuring it plays a greater role in decision-making regarding transport design and infrastructure.
  • Procurement. Research in this area explores how procurement processes can be improved to become more efficient, flexible, and coordinated, ultimately reducing costs and increasing sustainability. Topics for further investigation include contract models and evaluation methods.
  • Collaboration. Improving collective mobility and enabling seamless door-to-door journeys requires cooperation between various stakeholders. This theme may include topics such as integrated transport and urban planning, collaboration on multimodal services, ticketing partnerships, and communication across strategic, tactical, and operational levels.
  • Adapting to different user groups. This theme addresses accessibility for all in public transport. It also includes considerations for different customer segments and how to meet their needs at different life stages.

As a bridge to the Renew area, this theme also includes research on the future of traditional public transport. This could involve questions about system resilience in a changing world and how increased access to open data and AI can enhance public transport performance and improve goal monitoring.

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Renew

In the renew perspective, we look ahead and explore new opportunities that can reshape how we perceive collective mobility. The goal is to think beyond today’s boundaries and develop innovative solutions that break traditional patterns and create a sustainable future.

Renew is about both new ways of thinking and concrete innovations—ranging from new technology to smarter services and processes. It can involve challenging current systems, developing new working methods, or finding better solutions to make travel more efficient and sustainable. This also includes reviewing organisational roles and institutional structures that either support or hinder innovation.

Examples of themes:

  • New and emerging technologies and services. How can new technology contribute to more sustainable accessibility? A key focus is the role of AI and its potential impact on mobility, as well as its application in transport analysis. The influence of autonomous vehicles on mobility is particularly relevant. Another critical aspect is the potential benefits and effects of shared data across different stakeholders. Research questions in this area include assessing the potential impact and opportunities of new innovations.
  • Legitimacy and acceptance of new technologies. A crucial aspect of transformation is how new technology is received and integrated into society. This includes social dimensions and the user perspective when introducing new solutions. The theme also covers issues related to emerging services such as Mobility as a Service (MaaS), on-demand public transport, and personal travel assistants.
  • Transformative system change. This theme includes a transport efficiency perspective, focusing on new ways to co-transport goods and people, alternative approaches to mobility, and strategies to reduce person-kilometres and CO₂ emissions per person-kilometre.
  • Roles and organisation. Collective mobility may require new structures for integrated planning of land use and transport systems. This presents challenges for regulations, legislation, and governance. Organisational boundaries may shift, requiring new business models and legal frameworks to accommodate evolving mobility needs and demands.
  • Crises as a driver of change. Resilience, robustness, and preparedness will likely become more central in the future. A shifting security landscape and climate change necessitate a stronger focus on resilience in the transport system, particularly in relation to new technologies. Historically, crises have often driven renewal, and in some cases, they can be seen as opportunities for transformation.

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Deepen

Deepen is about pausing to ask the difficult questions. By critically reflecting on and challenging established norms and perspectives, we aim to spark discussions about the role of collective mobility in society. What truly influences our choices, routines, and structures? What values underpin the way collective mobility operates today—and for whom?

This area focuses on questioning what is often taken for granted, both in research and practice. By challenging prevailing truths, traditional working methods, and established concepts, we can raise new questions and broaden perspectives on how collective mobility can evolve in the future.

The goal is to generate knowledge that not only fosters new ways of thinking but also supports a sustainable transition for cities and regions. By questioning the present, we lay the foundation for what can become.

Examples of themes

  • Consequences of current practices for different groups. This includes research on the impacts on various user groups (children, older adults, people with disabilities), differences in mobility needs and service access between urban and rural areas, and the economic implications of transport accessibility for different socio-economic groups. A key aspect is ensuring equitable access to transport.
  • Conflicting goals in planning and decision-making. Examples include balancing democratic participation with efficiency, addressing trade-offs between different social groups, urban and rural needs, risk-taking and long-term stability, or prioritising land use, planning, and accessibility.
  • The organisation of work and working conditions. This includes working conditions for different employee groups, the emergence of gig- and platform-based jobs in the mobility sector, and broader questions about how work is organised—such as local perceptions of roles, skills provision, and the involvement of various stakeholders (consultants, researchers, civil society organisations).
  • Processes for equitable inclusion in transport planning and decision-making. This includes examining how responsibilities and mandates are distributed across political levels and organisations, the relationship between politicians and civil servants, transparency in decision-making, and ensuring public values in innovation processes.
  • The role and impact of knowledge in practice. What types of expertise become normative, and which perspectives are (not) influential? This theme also includes knowledge generated in pilot projects, the expertise within organisations, and power-related aspects of understanding different groups’ travel habits and mobility patterns.

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