On April 23, 2026, the TERRAIN project hosted the webinar Understanding Urban Mobility Dynamics in TERRAIN Areas, featuring Prof. Georgios Tsaples. The session introduced a System Dynamics approach to analysing how urban mobility systems may evolve over time.
The webinar presented the results of a survey conducted among citizens and stakeholders across the nine cities involved in the project. The analysis explored mobility behaviours, user perceptions and priorities, highlighting how factors such as service quality, perceived safety and network coverage strongly influence transport choices.
From data collection to System Dynamics modelling
The collected data enabled researchers to identify causal relationships between the key variables affecting urban mobility. These relationships form the basis of a System Dynamics model, which simulates how complex systems evolve over time through interconnected cause-and-effect mechanisms and feedback loops.
The model includes both reinforcing and balancing dynamics. For example, increased active mobility can improve perceived safety and encourage further use, while excessive reliance on private cars may generate congestion and reduce their attractiveness.
How the simulator works
Based on the survey analysis, several policy areas were explored, including public transport improvement, active mobility safety, parking policies, transport integration and awareness campaigns.
The simulator acts as a virtual laboratory where users can test different scenarios and better understand the potential impacts of policy decisions on urban mobility systems. As highlighted during the webinar, its main purpose is not to predict the future precisely, but to support a deeper understanding of how urban mobility systems work.
Try the online simulator.