Application of the Persona Concept to Convey Socially Sustainable and Responsible Transport System Planning to Children and Juveniles Considering Autonomous Vehicles: Work Report on the Project AM4Kids – Future Workshop

Abstract

The automation in the transportation and mobility sector, particularly the use of autonomous systems in public transportation, presents novel challenges for various user groups despite offering numerous positive aspects. Autonomous vehicles, particularly in the domains of micro-public transportation and car sharing, have the potential to serve as a flexible mobility solution for individuals without a driver's license or those who are physically or mentally incapable of operating a vehicle. To ensure equitable access to this potential of independent and flexible mobility for all individuals, the design of autonomous transportation modes must be inclusive. The Austrian“AM4Kids” project (August 2020 to October 2023) imparts knowledge on mobility and transport system planning to children and juveniles in the context of the progressive automation of transportation and mobility modes, focusing on the principles of inclusive mobility offerings. Children and juveniles have attended several workshops on mobility and inclusion for over three years. In the final stage of the workshop series, the children and juveniles develop their visions and ideas for automated mobility, discussing the opportunities, risks, and consequences for themselves and other groups. One way to better understand and visualise the wide range of everyday lives of people with disabilities, their mobility patterns, and mobility options is to use the persona concept. This method aims at packaging real users’ motivations, needs, wishes and ambitions in a model to better integrate future research and technology development of automated mobility with the wants and needs of users. Personas do not represent the whole range of user diversity. However, they enable planners and developers to deal realistically with the situations and mobility needs of the relevant groups of people and allow specific analyses to implement user-oriented transport solutions. This paper outlines the methodology applied and the results achieved to make them accessible to a broad professional audience. The project demonstrates that knowledgeably selected personas provide added value in developing technologies. They can also be employed in the further education and sensitisation of children and juveniles.