Research & impact

CONNECTING aims at addressing the challenges posed by increasing cross-border commuting between France and Luxembourg, and at quantifying the environmental impacts posed by answering these challenges.

The number of cross-border commuters working in Luxembourg is increasing by about 6% each year. Most are using their private cars, which pose environmental and congestion problems. In parallel, Luxembourg has set clear national mobility objectives for 2020: to reach 40000 electric vehicles in the private fleet, and ensure that 19% of all passenger travels be by public transportation.

To compare potential mobility scenarios in the 2015-2025 period, the project relies on a combination of agent-based modelling (ABM) and hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA):

• The agent-based model simulates commuters’ behaviour, and choices in terms of transportation mode, according to various parameters such as home-work distance, income, gender, age, etc.
• The hybrid LCA model contains datasets representing the various modal options of the commuters, including production, use, and end-of-life of vehicles, with different sizes and powertrains.
• Combining the two models gives an insight into environmental consequences of changing mobility policies, from the effects that policies incentives have on each end user, to the overall change in environmental impact (e.g. emissions of greenhouse gas, particulate matter, toxic compounds, land use…) over the period.

The final objective of CONNECTING is the production of a web-based tool featuring the various scenario comparisons and parameters to inform the general public in terms of modal choices, and to assist other stakeholders, in particular policymakers, in their mobility-related decision-making. 

See the relevant sections for details: Questions & Objectives, Innovation impact.