MRCMH has undertaken a range of innovative strategic studies for both the Mobility Division of Siemens as well as Siemens 1 (the strategic planning group of Siemens).

Originally retained to undertake a study of global megacities and the potential impacts of technology, this has blossomed into new, interesting and groundbreaking studies. This has included Prof George Hazel jointly presenting with Siemens CEO at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and supporting a US study tour for Siemens’ clients.

Some recent thought-leadership and research pieces commissioned by Siemens are as follows:

Megacities
MRC McLean Hazel undertook a survey and analysis of 22 global megacities covering critical infrastructure sectors that included: potable water; waste water; transportation, energy; safety and security, and healthcare. The project’s goal was to develop an understanding of the key functional characteristics of megacities on a sector by sector basis, the critical challenges faced, solutions currently employed, and important barriers that remain to be overcome. A set of simple diagnostic models was developed to structure the analysis of each of the sectors. The understanding developed for each of the sectors fed into an overall assessment of the megacity itself and whether its infrastructure challenges were primarily governance, funding, or technology. The report has been translated into 5 languages and widely praised throughout the Siemens family, being instrumental in helping them to reinforce their unique position in meeting the global challenge of city development: [10:25:56] Bethan Garner: http://w1.siemens.com/en/megacities.htm.

Complete Mobility
Following the success of the Megacities project, MRCMH were commissioned to complete a three-stage study on Siemens innovative idea of “Complete Mobility”. The Complete Mobility project began with a “teaser study” providing an informed definition of the concept of complete mobility which was based on a review and development of global trends affecting megacities, with specific reference to London, Sao Paulo, Shanghai and New York. This demonstrated that radical changes to the demand for transport are already occurring. The second stage of the project provided an explanation of the meaning of the mobility trends to megacities, and how they are and will change mobility and the market for mobility infrastructure and services. Additionally a city index was developed which clustered cities based on their maturity with regard to mobility. The model was used to define generic mobility solution sets for clusters of cities depending upon their relative positions on the pathway to complete mobility.

Pictures of the Future – Global Rail
MRCMH successfully completed the Pictures of the Future – Rail project which discerned the key trends and factors affecting passenger rail (long distance, short distance and urban rail) and freight throughout Europe, India and China. The work included the presentation and validation of initial MRCMH work with European, Chinese and Indian experts, and subsequently developed scenarios for future development up to 2030.