How can smart software equip urban planners with the data they need to make better decisions about walkable cities? How can GPS tracking reveal how vulnerable groups move through urban space and help design more inclusive mobility solutions? These are the kinds of questions driving the Proof of Concepts developed within the DRO-DMI consortium. Through targeted, small-scale pilots, the AMS Prototyping Team is turning academic ideas into tested, tangible solutions.
To help public organizations with the digital orchestration of the use of public space, AMS Institute collaborates with the municipalities of Amsterdam and Almere, Groningen Bereikbaar, Goudappel, Technolution, and ViaNova in the consortium DRO-DMI. Together we develop, test, and research digital, data-driven solutions to make smarter choices about the design and use of public space.
DRO is part of the broader DMI (Dutch Metropolitan Innovations) ecosystem, a platform of public and private partners and knowledge institutions co-funded by the Nationaal Groeifonds. Its mission: accelerate the development of innovative technology for sustainable urban densification and mobility, working toward cleaner, safer, and more inclusive cities.
The PoC Fund: Bridging Science and Practice
Within this consortium, AMS Institute manages a dedicated Proof of Concept fund. Between 2024 and 2026, the DRO-DMI program funds 20 PoCs; short, practical pilots that test whether specific concepts or technologies can work in the real world, and whether they are worth further investment. Research and testing are, in most cases, conducted in collaboration with researchers from TU Delft or Wageningen University & Research, and with partners from municipal practice and technical developers from DRO-DMI.
At the heart of this process is the AMS Prototyping Team: the hands-on technical arm of AMS Institute that transforms scientific concepts into functional prototypes. The team brings together expertise in user research, stakeholder engagement, interaction design, technical development, data visualization, and parametric modeling. All in service of one goal: validating urban innovations before they are implemented at scale.
“Prototyping is where science meets reality. Our team bridges the gap between academic insights and practical urban solutions by bringing ideas to life through design, technology, and user testing.”
Thijs Turèl
Program Developer & Teamlead
Impact in Practice: Three Showcases from DRO-DMI
Pedestrian Flow Model
How can a municipality make well-founded decisions about the allocation of scarce public space when reliable data on pedestrian volumes is lacking? This study found that pedestrian flow models can be concretely improved by:
- Explicit modeling of busy origin-destination flows (between stations and other key attraction points).
- Model corrections for more accurate estimates where model outcomes deviate significantly.
- Linking available walking space and capacity bottlenecks to enable prioritization in the allocation of space between pedestrians, cyclists, and motorized traffic.
The key recommendation to municipalities is to invest in scaling up and embedding these improvements in existing municipal workflows, GIS environments, and digital twin platforms.
“It is really incredibly useful to know where people walk, so that you can target specific measures to those locations — whether it concerns social safety, installing additional lamp posts, or planting trees in the places where people come most often.”
Stef Klompmaker, Municipality of Almere
Towards Better Walkability Tools
How can software for walkability analysis be better tailored to the needs of urban planners? To make cities truly more legible, insight is needed into how, why and where people walk, and that calls for better tools. Tools that go beyond attractive maps and smart algorithms; they must align with the needs of urban planners and the communities they represent.
This Proof of Concept describes practice-based research into the tool CTstreets, involving planners, designers and policymakers. Based on this, the researchers propose a four-layer framework focusing on user-centered development, clarity of purpose, alignment with professionals' values, and the translation of insights into concrete action. The CTstreets case shows that a well-designed tool, developed together with professionals, can help cities realize safer, more inclusive and more walkable streets for everyone.
-> View all outputs in the policy paper
Collecting Data on Vulnerable Groups
How do you collect mobility data from underrepresented groups like wheelchair users? Existing mobility models are often based on general assumptions and miss the real experiences of vulnerable road users. This Proof of Concept examined the ethical and effective collection of pedestrian mobility data. Using GPS tracking, in-app surveys and interviews, a privacy-conscious approach was tested that was developed together with the participants themselves.
The study shows that collecting mobility data from vulnerable groups is valuable, provided this is done in an ethical and inclusive manner. Recommendations: clearly define objectives and select a fitting data collection method; design the study with participants, not just for them; engage participants through organizations that represent vulnerable road users and practice data minimisation to streamline the privacy approval process. This approach offers a replicable model for future data collection. Cities looking to develop a more inclusive mobility system can incorporate this into their urban planning and design.
“Beyond the fun of building it, a prototype is a powerful way to learn about the desirability and feasibility of a concept in practice.”
Linus Knupfer
Designer/researcher DRO Proof of Concept
From Pilot to Policy
Each Proof of Concept produces more than a prototype. Key findings are shared with Dutch municipalities through DRO-DMI, Open Research Amsterdam and other professional networks and direct contacts. This ensures that these insights and models reach the people who make decisions about our cities and that the work of the DRO-DMI consortium translates into lasting impact.
Together with various other showcases, such as AMS Institute - Why Transport Equity Depends on Better Data, these data-driven solutions help municipalities in making informed choices about the design and use of public space. While at the same time contributing to the larger goals of DRO-DMI: accelerating the development and implementation of innovative technology for mobility and sustainable urbanization, towards cleaner, safer, and more inclusive cities and regions. Each PoC produces more than a prototype. Key findings are shared in policy papers with municipalities through Open Research, professional networks, and direct contacts. This ensures that insights reach the people who make decisions about our cities and that the work of the DRO-DMI consortium translates into lasting impact.
You can find more information and policy papers of these Proof of Concepts on dro-dmi.nl/proof-of-concepts
