A New Center for Innovation and Walkability
The Milan Innovation District (MIND) is an urban regeneration project on the site that hosted festivities for the Expo Milano 2015 in Milan, Italy. As part of the plan for this 60,000-resident urban center, they wanted to redefine mobility within this innovative campus and beyond, using public transportation, active modes of travel, such as walking, and shifting to sustainable mobility strategies to minimize traffic congestion and to decrease carbon emissions. Systematica was tasked with planning and designing this integrated, multimodal transport model in support of the district’s master planning and architectural design. The MIND mobility plan will be a walkable, user-centric development and is shaped by an effective mobility as a service (MaaS) model. However, Systematica needed to focus on the user experience, deliver a pedestrian-oriented public realm, provide intermodal connection, and seamlessly connect to mass transit.
Integrating Mobility with the Surrounding City
Systematica realized that converting the former visitor-oriented space into a permanent community-based district would require exploring and testing new ways of movement in cities across many mobility options, as well as the integration of these different mobility types. First, Systematica needed to update and calibrate a GIS-based simulation platform that encompassed the entire metropolitan area of Milan. Second, they needed to create a modeling layer that could replicate and test the expected mobility patterns within the MIND campus. Therefore, they made it their goal to implement the latest mobility simulation technology to overcome these challenges. Their simulation needed to consider both the effectiveness and attractiveness of the different forms of mobility. The model also had to simulate people movements throughout the district and make it seamless to access all the different forms of mobility.
Ease of Access and Electric Vehicles for MIND and Beyond
After searching for the right solution, Systematica selected Bentley’s CUBE to evaluate the accessibility patterns and impact of mobility demand on all available transport services and infrastructure, as well as model and simulate mobility patterns for both transport and pedestrian movement throughout the campus. Using the anticipated 60,000 residents, Systematica’s simulation evaluated macro-level accessibility patterns, as well as assessed walkability potential and mobility demand. Additionally, Systematica analyzed ease-of-use for all mobility services and last-mile transport solutions. Using CUBE, they proposed a highly efficient group rapid transit system operated by autonomous shuttles to connect the main transit hub of Milano Rho Fiera, West Gate with MIND, East Gate. They also analyzed electric mobility, which included recharging for public and private car parking and facilities for external e-bus services.
Providing Optimal Mobility with Minimal Environmental Impact
This integrated, multimodal transport model of the campus supported master planning and architectural designs and is anticipated to speed adoption for the master plan. By using CUBE to validate the effectiveness and sustainability of MIND mobility strategies, Systematica has already achieved accelerated approval of the master, reducing the overall approval time by two months. Additionally, their model has helped create an effective dialogue with technology providers and mobility operators to explore and identify the most suitable solutions. Leveraging the flexibility of CUBE helped Systematica model a more integrated and sustainable mobility solution—one that works within the campus and beyond, creating a benchmark for planning and designing future urban developments.
Project Playbook: CUBE