The Hardenbergplatz Smart Mobility pilot at Berlin Zoo station is redesigning one of the German capital's busiest and most complex transport interchanges through the integration of real-time data analytics, dynamic digital signage and sensor-driven traffic management. The project addresses the challenge of coordinating multiple transport modes — including regional and S-Bahn rail, numerous bus lines, taxis, bike-sharing stations, e-scooter parking and heavy pedestrian flows — within a confined urban space that serves tens of thousands of travellers daily. A unified digital management layer collects and processes data from sensors, cameras and transport operator systems to provide a real-time overview of conditions at the hub, enabling dynamic adjustments to traffic signal timing, bus bay allocation and pedestrian routing. Digital information displays guide passengers between transport modes with live departure times, walking distances and service disruption alerts, reducing confusion and improving transfer efficiency. The pilot also tests innovative approaches to kerb management, dynamically allocating limited roadside space between buses, taxis and delivery vehicles based on real-time demand patterns. Air quality and noise sensors monitor environmental conditions, informing decisions about vehicle access restrictions during peak pollution periods. The project is a collaboration between the Berlin Senate Department for Mobility, BVG and several technology partners, with academic researchers evaluating outcomes using before-and-after studies of passenger satisfaction, transfer times and traffic flow. Lessons learned from the Hardenbergplatz pilot are intended to inform Berlin's broader strategy for digitalising major transport hubs across the city, creating a scalable model for smart interchange management.
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