Joint developments for Urban resiLIence connecting users to public transport through spAce technology

Project Information

JULIA

Grant agreement ID: 101129891

DOI

10.3030/101129891

EC signature date 5 December 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 30 November 2026

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 3 810 293,76

EU contribution

€ 2 915 643,13

Coordinated by

FACTUAL CONSULTING SL
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - JULIA (Joint developments for Urban resiLIence connecting users to public transport through spAce technology)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

JULIA will pilot market-ready solutions (TRL 7–9) that integrate EU Space services and data into day-to-day public transport operations:

• Co-define requirements with transport authorities and operators in varied contexts (urban, peri-urban, rural; bus and rail; different maturity levels).

• Engineer and integrate hardware and software building blocks: certified on-board units, cost-effective Galileo-enabled receivers, AI planning and map-matching, and Copernicus-powered analytics—exposed via APIs for easy integration.

• Pilot the solutions in multiple European locations, iteratively refine them against KPIs (punctuality, reliability, travel time, coverage, emissions proxies), and validate transferability.

• Disseminate curated knowledge and indicators through a “Global Observatory of EU Space Data & Services in Public Transport,” accelerating awareness, replication, and procurement readiness.

• Prepare exploitation with tailored business models for small/medium operators (cost-efficient, plug-and-play) and large operators (deep integration with existing systems), including pathways to data-space alignment.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

SUMMARY OF KEY ACHIEVEMENTS TOWARDS

- Objective 1: JULIA has progressed with the planning of all technical integrations required among various partners (within WP3) to leverage HAS and OSNMA (within WP4). Progress has also been made in the definition and development of all EGNSS-based applications (A-1 to A-8) that are about to be tested in three Level 1 – pilot sites over the next months: Greece (Athens and Thessaloniki), Catalonia, and Slovenia. To facilitate the development of the various applications, GN has upgraded its real-time trajectory estimation engine, the NEXA RT system. The engine is now able to handle carrier-phase measurements under a HAS-augmented processing mode. Additionally, INIT has integrated the U-Blox F9P chipset with INIT’s own COPILOTpc3 on the hardware and software integration level. The setup and the selection of the chipset was done in close collaboration with GN to receive all relevant OSNMA and HAS messages from the Galileo system.

- Objective 2: JULIA has created the first versions of the Copernicus-based applications (A-9 and A-10) for 10 cities (Level-2 pilot sites). The first application (A-9) focuses on air-quality-based mobility decisions. The application is designed around two core goals: (a) Assisting PTOs in operational planning by analysing spatial trends and recurring pollution patterns to pinpoint high-exposure zones along public transport routes, and (b) Supporting travellers with personalised alerts and forecasts on pollutant levels and pollen concentrations, helping them reduce exposure during their trips. For this reason, in RP1, JULIA processed air quality data and global atmospheric composition forecasts from Copernicus Atmospheric Service (CAMS) and integrated Sentinel-5P satellite data for refined pollutant mapping and spatial trend analysis. For A-9, climate change monitoring in urban areas, JULIA utilised datasets from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The application computes key climate indicators at high spatial resolution to support operational resilience and long-term planning.

- Objective 3: JULIA engaged public transport operators and authorities (OASA, HT, Arriva d.o.o. FGC) to understand their requirements and to plan pilot activities that satisfy their technical, policy and organisational needs. Through WP6 communication and dissemination activities, JULIA has sought to disseminate the benefits of EGNSS and Copernicus for sustainable mobility, and more specifically, for public transport planning and operations, with activities targeted at public transport operators and transport authorities. Finally, JULIA published its “Global Observatory of EU Space Data & Services in Public Transport” within its webpage in M of the project. By the end of RP1, the Observatory included data on Galileo usage in public transport from 11 EU cities, while it had also published 8 in-depth success stories (i.e. short articles outlining how Copernicus or Galileo have benefitting real-world public transport applications).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

RESULTS ACHIEVED

The JULIA project has made substantial progress in demonstrating how European space technologies can enhance the performance, sustainability, and resilience of public transport systems:

- Integration of Galileo services (HAS, OSNMA): High-accuracy and authenticated positioning solutions have been assessed for different use cases.

- TransitTech Operating System: A modular digital backbone for Public Transport Operators (PTOs) has been prototyped.

- Environmental and climate applications: Tools using Copernicus datasets provide air-quality-based mobility recommendations and climate resilience indicators to PTOs and travellers, enhancing decision-making for healthier and more sustainable journeys.

- Pilot preparation: Local and technical requirements have been collected for demonstrations in Catalonia, Slovenia, and Greece, alongside city-level dashboards for 10 additional pilot cities.

- Stakeholder engagement and dissemination: PTOs and authorities have been directly involved in defining requirements and piloting, while dissemination activities (e.g. Global Observatory of EU Space Data & Services in Public Transport, conferences, success stories) have built awareness among industry and policy actors.


POTENTIAL IMPACTS

- Societal: Improved reliability, accessibility, and safety of public transport through accurate tracking, demand-responsive services, and cleaner travel choices, directly supporting modal shift and reducing car dependency.

- Environmental: Reduced exposure to pollution for citizens, improved resilience of transport networks to climate change, and support for EU climate neutrality goals.

- Economic: New business opportunities for SMEs and technology providers in the Galileo and Copernicus downstream markets, strengthening Europe’s competitiveness in TransitTech and mobility innovation.

- Policy and governance: Evidence for cities and transport authorities on how space data can support Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs), air quality policies, and climate resilience strategies.


KEY NEEDS FOR FURTHER UPTAKE AND SUCCESS

- Further research and demonstration: execution of the pilots during the last part of the project is needed to validate technical solutions under diverse real-world conditions, including integration with existing ITS infrastructures.

- Access to markets and finance: Mechanisms to support SMEs and start-ups in scaling solutions and entering procurement processes of PTOs and cities.

- Commercialisation and IPR management: Clear exploitation roadmaps, licensing models, and protection of software modules and algorithms to attract private investment.

- Supportive regulation and standardisation: Engagement with EU and national authorities to align with the Data Act, AI Act, and sectoral standards in transport and telecommunications, ensuring compliance and interoperability.

- Internationalisation: Alignment with global standards and export opportunities to position European TransitTech as a leader in integrating space technologies into public transport.

- Data governance and trust frameworks: Ensuring secure data sharing between PTOs, operators, and third parties, leveraging European data space initiatives.