The AutoFipS project investigated the technological, economic and societal potentials of automated driving in peripheral settlement structures, with a particular focus on mobility‑restricted user groups such as students, seniors and people with disabilities. Conducted by the IVM Institute for Connected Mobility (IVM) in cooperation with the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI), the study ran from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018 and was funded under the grant number 16AVF2002A. The project served as a feasibility study for subsequent phases, including the establishment of a test field in the Dresden metropolitan area and the execution of field trials with selected use cases.
The technical work was organised into three main work packages. Work Package 1 (AP 1) performed a secondary statistical analysis to compile demographic and mobility indicators for rural and urban areas in Saxony. It identified differences in mobility patterns and assessed the availability of flexible mobility services, including Mobility‑as‑a‑Service, collaborative mobility concepts and Autonomous Mobility on Demand (AMoD) models. The analysis also mapped the current state of rural mobility, screened research and development projects focused on automated and connected driving, and examined the mobility behaviour of vulnerable groups. The outcome was a comprehensive overview of rural mobility and the potential for service flexibility in Saxony.
Work Package 2 (AP 2) developed a multi‑criteria evaluation concept for automated driving. Five target dimensions—social, economic, safety, environmental and user‑acceptance—were defined to reflect the interests of diverse stakeholders. A two‑stage approach was adopted: first, a site‑selection model based on a utility analysis identified optimal test‑field locations in the Dresden region, taking into account demographic need, infrastructure adaptation, accessibility to services and traffic safety. Second, a potential analysis assessed the benefits of automated vehicles for mobility‑restricted groups, quantifying individual and societal gains such as improved traffic efficiency, increased safety, reduced greenhouse‑gas emissions, and enhanced accessibility. The evaluation framework was applied to municipal data for Saxony and projected to 2030, providing a basis for decision‑making on test‑field sites.
Work Package 3 (AP 3) applied the evaluation system to three use cases—school transport, senior transport and mobility for people with disabilities—within the proposed test‑field sites of Dippoldiswalde and Großenhain. The study produced cost estimates for the construction and operation of the test field, analysed business cases for public transport operators and private or collaborative mobility service providers, and identified potential technology carriers for AMoD concepts. An exemplary cost analysis demonstrated the economic viability of operator models employing automated vehicles, while a tabular assessment highlighted suitable technology partners.
The results of AutoFipS provide a solid evidence base for the design of future test fields and the integration of automated driving into rural mobility plans. The evaluation methodology is transferable to other regions, enabling the replication of the study’s approach for test‑field realisation elsewhere. By addressing previously under‑explored social and economic aspects, the project extends the current research landscape beyond urban‑centric automated‑driving studies and offers actionable insights for policymakers, mobility providers and technology developers aiming to enhance accessibility and sustainability in peripheral settlement structures.