Transport Data Standards, Formats & Key Indicators

Overview

The global transport sector generates vast quantities of data across multiple modes, jurisdictions, and functional domains. This document catalogs the major data categories, the standards and schemas used to structure transport data, and the key indicators and metrics used to measure transport system performance. Understanding this data ecosystem is essential for building a Global Intelligence System for Transport.

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1. Transport Data Categories

1.1 Geospatial & Network Data

Data describing the physical location and topology of transport networks.

Data Type	Description	Common Formats	Key Sources
Road network	Road centerlines, classification, attributes	OSM PBF, Shapefile, GeoJSON, GeoPackage	OpenStreetMap, national road agencies, HERE, TomTom
Transit network	Routes, stops, stations, service patterns	GTFS, NeTEx, GeoJSON	Transit agencies, MobilityData, TransitLand
Rail network	Track alignment, stations, gauges	Shapefile, OSM, UIC databases	National rail agencies, UIC, OpenRailwayMap
Maritime network	Shipping lanes, ports, anchorages	S-57/S-100 (IHO), AIS data	IHO, port authorities, MarineTraffic
Aviation network	Airport locations, airspaces, routes	AIXM, OurAirports, FAA data	ICAO, national CAAs, OurAirports
Cycling/walking network	Bike lanes, sidewalks, greenways	OSM, CyclOSM, Shapefile	OSM, municipal GIS
Pipeline network	Pipeline routes and facilities	GIS proprietary, PODS	Operators, regulators (limited open data)
Intermodal facilities	Ports, terminals, logistics centers, transfer points	GeoJSON, CSV	UNCTAD, World Bank, national agencies

1.2 Traffic & Mobility Flow Data

Data describing movement patterns, volumes, and speeds.

Data Type	Description	Collection Methods	Temporal Resolution
Traffic counts	Vehicle volumes on road segments	Loop detectors, cameras, radar, pneumatic tubes	1 min - 1 hour
Traffic speed	Speed on road segments	Probe vehicles (GPS/cellular), radar, Bluetooth	1 min - 15 min
Origin-destination (OD)	Trip patterns between zones	Surveys, mobile phone CDR, GPS traces	Daily/weekly aggregates
Mode share	Proportion of trips by mode	Household travel surveys, census	Annual / periodic
Pedestrian counts	Walking volumes at locations	Infrared sensors, cameras, manual counts	15 min - 1 hour
Cycling counts	Bicycle volumes	Inductive loops, pneumatic tubes, cameras	15 min - 1 hour
Transit ridership	Passenger boardings/alightings	AFC (smart card), APC (automatic passenger counters)	Per trip / daily
Maritime traffic	Vessel movements and density	AIS (Automatic Identification System)	Seconds (AIS updates)
Aviation traffic	Aircraft movements, passenger flows	Radar, ADS-B, airline data	Real-time / monthly
Freight flows	Commodity movements by mode	Waybills, customs data, surveys, GPS	Monthly / annual

1.3 Safety & Crash Data

Data Type	Description	Key Sources
Road crash records	Location, severity, vehicles, causes, victims	Police reports, national crash databases
Road fatality statistics	Deaths from road traffic crashes	WHO Global Status Report, IRTAD (ITF)
Aviation incidents/accidents	Aircraft accidents, incidents, near-misses	ICAO, national AIBs (NTSB, BEA, AAIB)
Maritime incidents	Collisions, groundings, sinkings, pollution events	IMO GISIS, flag state reports, EMSA
Rail accidents	Derailments, collisions, level crossing incidents	ERA (EU), FRA (US), national authorities
Hazmat incidents	Dangerous goods transport incidents	National databases, UN UNECE
Near-miss / conflict data	Surrogate safety measures	Video analytics, conflict analysis systems

1.4 Emissions & Environmental Data

Data Type	Description	Key Sources
GHG emissions inventory	CO2, CH4, N2O by transport sub-sector	National inventories (UNFCCC), IEA, EDGAR
Air pollutant emissions	NOx, PM2.5, PM10, SOx, VOC, CO	National emission inventories, EEA, EPA
Fuel consumption	By fuel type, vehicle type, mode	IEA, national energy statistics
Fleet composition	Vehicle stock by age, fuel type, emission standard	National registries, OICA, ICCT
Noise exposure	Population exposed to transport noise	Noise mapping (EU END Directive), research
Energy intensity	Energy per passenger-km or ton-km	IEA, national statistics
Well-to-wheel emissions	Full lifecycle emission factors	GREET model, JRC well-to-wheels studies

1.5 Infrastructure Condition & Asset Data

Data Type	Description	Key Sources
Pavement condition	IRI (roughness), PCI, rutting, cracking	Profilometers, visual surveys, road agencies
Bridge condition	Structural ratings, load capacity, deficiencies	Bridge management systems (NBI in US)
Rail infrastructure condition	Track geometry, rail wear, ballast condition	Track inspection vehicles, rail agencies
Port condition/capacity	Berth depth, crane capacity, throughput capacity	Port authorities, UNCTAD
Airport condition/capacity	Runway condition, terminal capacity, ATC capacity	ACI, ICAO, national CAAs
Asset inventories	Complete lists of infrastructure elements with attributes	Asset management systems, GIS

1.6 Trade, Shipping & Logistics Data

Data Type	Description	Key Sources
Container trade volumes	TEU throughput by port, trade lane	UNCTAD, Drewry, Alphaliner, port authorities
Bulk commodity trade	Volumes by commodity, route, vessel type	UN Comtrade, ITC, commodity exchanges
Freight rates	Cost of shipping by mode, route	Drewry (container), Baltic Exchange (dry bulk, tanker)
Vessel tracking (AIS)	Real-time position, speed, destination of ships	IMO AIS, MarineTraffic, VesselFinder
Port performance	Dwell time, turnaround time, productivity	World Bank CPPI, port authorities
Logistics performance	Composite logistics quality indicators	World Bank LPI, Agility Emerging Markets Index
Supply chain visibility	Shipment tracking, ETA, status	TradeLens (discontinued), GSCP, proprietary platforms
Trade facilitation	Border crossing time, documentation, costs	WTO TFA database, World Bank Doing Business

1.7 Financial & Investment Data

Data Type	Description	Key Sources
Government transport spending	Capital and maintenance investment by sub-sector	National budgets, ITF, OECD
MDB transport lending	Multilateral development bank project data	World Bank, ADB, AfDB, EBRD, IDB project databases
Private investment	PPP deals, private equity, corporate investment	PPI Database (World Bank), IJ Global
Climate finance for transport	GCF, GEF, bilateral climate finance	OECD DAC, climate fund databases
Fare/tariff data	Public transport fares, toll rates	Operator websites, regulatory databases
Vehicle cost data	Purchase price, TCO by vehicle type	Manufacturer data, research reports

1.8 Policy & Regulatory Data

Data Type	Description	Key Sources
National transport policies	Strategy documents, master plans	Government publications, SLOCAT tracker
NDC transport measures	Climate commitments for transport	UNFCCC NDC Registry, SLOCAT analysis
Vehicle standards	Emission standards, safety regulations by country	ICCT, UNECE WP.29, national regulations
International conventions	Transport treaties and agreements	UN Treaty Collection, UNECE, IMO, ICAO
Urban mobility policies	SUMP documents, congestion pricing, LEZ/ZEZ policies	C40, UITP, TUMI, city governments

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2. Data Standards & Schemas

2.1 Public Transit Standards

Standard	Full Name	Scope	Format	Maintainer	Adoption
GTFS	General Transit Feed Specification	Static transit schedules: stops, routes, trips, calendars, fares	CSV in ZIP	MobilityData (Google origin)	Global: 2,500+ agencies
GTFS Realtime	GTFS Realtime	Real-time transit updates: vehicle positions, trip updates, service alerts	Protocol Buffers	MobilityData (Google origin)	Global: growing
GTFS-Flex	GTFS Flexible Services	Demand-responsive transit, flexible routes, dial-a-ride	CSV extension to GTFS	MobilityData	Emerging
GTFS-Pathways	GTFS Pathways	In-station navigation, accessibility of stations	CSV extension to GTFS	MobilityData	Emerging
GTFS-Fares v2	GTFS Fares v2	Complex fare structures, fare products, rider categories	CSV extension to GTFS	MobilityData	Emerging
NeTEx	Network Timetable Exchange	Comprehensive public transport data exchange (stops, lines, timetables, fares, accessibility)	XML (CEN TS 16614)	CEN TC278 WG3 (EU)	Europe primarily
SIRI	Service Interface for Real-time Information	Real-time public transport: vehicle monitoring, stop monitoring, situation exchange	XML (CEN TS 15531)	CEN TC278 WG3 (EU)	Europe primarily
TransXChange	TransXChange	UK bus registration and timetable data	XML	UK DfT	UK
IFOPT	Identification of Fixed Objects in Public Transport	Stop place and point-of-interest identification	CEN standard	CEN TC278	Europe
TCRP TCIP	Transit Communications Interface Profiles	US transit ITS data exchange	Multiple	APTA (US)	United States

2.2 Shared Mobility Standards

Standard	Full Name	Scope	Format	Maintainer
GBFS	General Bikeshare Feed Specification	Real-time shared mobility: station status, vehicle locations, pricing	JSON	MobilityData (NABSA origin)
MDS	Mobility Data Specification	Regulatory data for shared mobility: trips, events, policy, metrics	JSON REST API	Open Mobility Foundation (OMF)
TOMP-API	Transport Operator MaaS Provider API	Standardized MaaS operator integration	OpenAPI/REST	TOMP working group (EU)
GOFS	General On-demand Feed Specification	On-demand ride services (proposed)	JSON	Emerging

2.3 Road & Traffic Standards

Standard	Full Name	Scope	Format	Maintainer
DATEX II	Data Exchange standard (v2/v3)	Road traffic and travel information: events, measurements, parking, electric charging	XML/JSON (CEN 16157)	CEN TC278 WG8 (EU)
TMDD	Traffic Management Data Dictionary	US road traffic management data exchange	XML	NTCIP / AASHTO (US)
NTCIP	National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol	Communication between traffic management devices (signals, DMS, sensors)	SNMP, STMP	NEMA / AASHTO / ITE (US)
OpenLR	Open Location Referencing	Dynamic location referencing for road networks	Binary/XML	TomTom (open standard)
TPEG	Transport Protocol Experts Group	Traffic and travel information delivery via broadcast and IP	Binary/XML	TISA
SAE J2735	Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Message Set	Connected vehicle V2X messages (BSM, MAP, SPaT)	ASN.1	SAE International
ETSI ITS-G5	EU Cooperative ITS standards	European C-ITS message sets	ASN.1	ETSI (EU)
OpenDRIVE	OpenDRIVE	Detailed road network description for simulation and HD mapping	XML	ASAM
OpenSCENARIO	OpenSCENARIO	Driving scenarios for simulation and testing of ADAS/AD	XML	ASAM
GDF	Geographic Data Files	Standard for road and related geographic databases	ISO 14825	ISO TC204

2.4 Maritime & Shipping Standards

Standard	Full Name	Scope	Format	Maintainer
AIS	Automatic Identification System	Vessel identification, position, course, speed, cargo type	VHF radio / NMEA 0183	IMO (SOLAS)
LRIT	Long Range Identification and Tracking	Global vessel tracking (security-focused)	Proprietary	IMO
S-100	IHO Universal Hydrographic Data Model	Framework for maritime geospatial data (charts, tides, etc.)	Multiple (GML-based)	International Hydrographic Organization
S-57 / S-101	Electronic Navigational Charts	Digital nautical chart data	ISO 8211 / S-100 GML	IHO
BAPLIE	Bayplan/Stowage plan	Container vessel stowage plan	UN/EDIFACT	SMDG
EDI (IFTMIN, etc.)	UN/EDIFACT Transport Messages	Booking, shipping instructions, status, customs	UN/EDIFACT	UN/CEFACT
PortCDM	Port Collaborative Decision Making	Port call process synchronization	JSON/XML	STM Validation Project / IMO FAL
IMO FAL Forms	Facilitation Convention digital forms	Ship reporting to ports (crew, cargo, waste, health)	Standardized forms (digital transition)	IMO FAL Committee
DCSA Standards	Digital Container Shipping Association	API standards for container shipping (track & trace, eBL, etc.)	REST API (JSON)	DCSA

2.5 Aviation Standards

Standard	Full Name	Scope	Format	Maintainer
AIXM	Aeronautical Information Exchange Model	Aeronautical information (airports, airspace, procedures)	GML/XML	EUROCONTROL / FAA
FIXM	Flight Information Exchange Model	Flight data exchange between ATM systems	XML	ICAO / EUROCONTROL / FAA
IWXXM	ICAO Meteorological Information Exchange Model	Aviation weather information	GML/XML	ICAO / WMO
ADS-B	Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast	Aircraft position and identification broadcast	1090 MHz / 978 MHz	ICAO
IATA NDC	New Distribution Capability	Airline product distribution to travel agents	XML/JSON	IATA
IATA ONE Order	ONE Order	Simplified airline order management	XML/JSON	IATA
ACARS	Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System	Data link between aircraft and ground	VHF/satellite	ARINC / SITA
NOTAM	Notice to Airmen (Digital NOTAM)	Information about aviation hazards and procedures	AIXM-based	ICAO

2.6 Freight & Logistics Standards

Standard	Full Name	Scope	Format	Maintainer
GS1 Standards	GS1 (barcodes, GTIN, SSCC, EPCIS)	Product/shipment identification, tracking events	Various (XML, JSON-LD)	GS1
UN/EDIFACT	United Nations Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport	Electronic trade documents (invoices, customs, transport)	EDI	UN/CEFACT
eFTI	electronic Freight Transport Information	EU regulatory framework for digital freight info exchange	XML	EU Commission
eCMR	electronic Consignment Note	Digital road freight consignment note	Various	UNECE / IRU
e-AWB	electronic Air Waybill	Digital air cargo documentation	IATA Cargo-XML	IATA
eBL	electronic Bill of Lading	Digital maritime bill of lading	Various (DCSA, Bolero, essDOCS)	Multiple initiatives
FEDeRATED	FEDeRATED	EU federated platform for logistics data sharing	Semantic web/linked data	EU CEF project
PEPPOL	Pan-European Public Procurement Online	Cross-border electronic procurement and invoicing	UBL XML	OpenPEPPOL

2.7 Geospatial & Infrastructure Standards

Standard	Full Name	Scope	Format	Maintainer
OSM	OpenStreetMap	Collaborative global mapping (roads, rails, buildings, etc.)	PBF, XML, GeoJSON	OSM Foundation
GeoJSON	GeoJSON	Simple geographic feature encoding	JSON (RFC 7946)	IETF
GeoPackage	GeoPackage	Portable geospatial data container	SQLite	OGC
CityGML	City Geographic Markup Language	3D city models (buildings, roads, terrain)	GML/XML	OGC
InfraGML	Infrastructure GML	Civil infrastructure models (roads, rail, bridges)	GML	OGC / buildingSMART
IFC	Industry Foundation Classes	BIM data exchange for infrastructure	EXPRESS/XML/JSON	buildingSMART
LandInfra	Land and Infrastructure Conceptual Model	Conceptual model for land and infrastructure	OGC standard	OGC
WKT/WKB	Well-Known Text / Binary	Geometry representation	Text/Binary	OGC / ISO

2.8 Multi-Modal & Emerging Standards

Standard	Full Name	Scope	Format	Maintainer
Transmodel	European Reference Data Model for Public Transport	Conceptual reference model underpinning NeTEx/SIRI	UML	CEN TC278
MaaS Alliance	MaaS Alliance Technical Standards	Interoperability for MaaS platforms	Various	MaaS Alliance (EU)
OCPI	Open Charge Point Interface	EV charging station data exchange (roaming)	JSON REST	EVRoaming Foundation
OCPP	Open Charge Point Protocol	Communication between EV chargers and management systems	JSON/SOAP	Open Charge Alliance
OICP	Open InterCharge Protocol	EV charging roaming and interoperability	JSON	Hubject
CDS-M	City Data Standard - Mobility	Urban mobility data for city planning (Netherlands origin)	JSON	Dutch initiative

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3. Key Indicators & Metrics

3.1 SDG-Linked Transport Indicators

The following SDG targets have direct transport relevance:

SDG Target	Indicator	Description	Data Source
3.6	3.6.1	Death rate due to road traffic injuries (per 100,000 population)	WHO Global Status Report
7.3	7.3.1	Energy intensity measured in terms of primary energy and GDP	IEA
9.1	9.1.1	Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road	Rural Access Index (World Bank)
9.1	9.1.2	Passenger and freight volumes, by mode of transport	National statistics, ITF
11.2	11.2.1	Proportion of population with convenient access to public transport (by sex, age, disability)	UN-Habitat
12.c	12.c.1	Amount of fossil fuel subsidies per unit of GDP	IEA, IMF
13.2	13.2.2	Total greenhouse gas emissions per year	UNFCCC, national inventories

3.2 Safety Indicators

Indicator	Definition	Unit	Source
Road fatality rate	Deaths from road crashes per population	Per 100,000 population	WHO
Road fatality rate (exposure-based)	Deaths per distance traveled	Per billion vehicle-km	IRTAD/ITF
Killed and seriously injured (KSI)	Combined fatal and serious injury count	Absolute count	National databases
Aviation accident rate	Accidents per departures	Per million departures	ICAO
Maritime casualty rate	Total losses and casualties	Per fleet size	IMO, Allianz
Rail fatality rate	Deaths from rail operations	Per billion passenger-km or train-km	ERA, FRA, national agencies

3.3 Accessibility & Equity Indicators

Indicator	Definition	Unit	Source
Rural Access Index (RAI)	% of rural population within 2 km of all-season road	Percentage	World Bank
Public transport accessibility level (PTAL)	Composite measure of PT access at a location	Score (0-6b)	TfL model, adapted globally
Proximity to public transport	% of population within 500m of PT stop	Percentage	UN-Habitat (SDG 11.2.1)
Transport affordability	Transport spending as % of household income	Percentage	Household surveys
Jobs accessible within X minutes	Employment reachable by mode within time threshold	Number of jobs	GIS-based analysis
Gender gap in mobility	Difference in trip rates, access, safety by gender	Various	Household surveys, research
Universal accessibility compliance	% of vehicles/stations meeting accessibility standards	Percentage	Operator/agency audits

3.4 Environmental & Climate Indicators

Indicator	Definition	Unit	Source
Transport CO2 emissions	Total CO2 from transport sector	Mt CO2 / year	IEA, national inventories
Transport CO2 per capita	Transport emissions per person	t CO2 / capita / year	IEA, SLOCAT
Transport emission intensity	CO2 per unit of transport activity	g CO2/passenger-km or ton-km	IEA, research
EV share of new sales	% of new vehicle sales that are electric	Percentage	IEA GEVO, national registries
EV share of fleet	% of total vehicle stock that is electric	Percentage	IEA GEVO
Renewable energy in transport	% of transport energy from renewable sources	Percentage	IEA, IRENA
Fleet average CO2	Average CO2 emission rate of new vehicles	g CO2/km	ICCT, national regulations
Shipping carbon intensity (CII)	Operational carbon intensity of vessels	Annual Efficiency Ratio (AER)	IMO DCS
Aviation CO2 per RPK	CO2 per revenue passenger-km	g CO2/RPK	ICAO, IATA

3.5 Operational & Performance Indicators

Indicator	Definition	Unit	Context
Travel time index	Ratio of peak to free-flow travel time	Ratio	Road congestion
Vehicle-km traveled (VKT)	Total distance traveled by vehicles	Billion veh-km / year	Road usage
Passenger-km (PKM)	Passengers multiplied by distance	Billion PKM / year	All passenger modes
Ton-km (TKM)	Tonnes multiplied by distance	Billion TKM / year	All freight modes
Mode share	Proportion of trips by mode	Percentage	All modes
Public transport ridership	Annual boardings or passenger-km	Boardings or PKM	Transit
Transit cost recovery ratio	Fare revenue / operating cost	Ratio	Transit finance
Port container throughput	TEUs handled per year	TEU / year	Ports
Airport passenger throughput	Passengers per year	PAX / year	Airports
Dwell time	Time cargo/vessel spends at port or border	Hours or days	Trade facilitation
Logistics Performance Index (LPI)	Composite trade logistics performance	Score (1-5)	World Bank
Container Port Performance Index (CPPI)	Port efficiency ranking	Score/ranking	World Bank / S&P Global

3.6 Infrastructure & Investment Indicators

Indicator	Definition	Unit	Source
Road density	Road length per land area or per population	km/km2 or km/1000 pop	National statistics, IRF
Rail density	Rail track length per land area	km/km2	UIC, national statistics
Infrastructure quality index	Composite road/rail/port/airport quality	Score (1-7)	WEF Global Competitiveness
Transport infrastructure investment	Annual capital investment in transport	% of GDP or USD	ITF, OECD, national budgets
Maintenance spending gap	Difference between actual and needed maintenance	USD or % of replacement value	Asset management studies
Paved road percentage	% of total road network that is paved	Percentage	IRF, national statistics
Bridge sufficiency rating	Structural and functional rating of bridges	Score	National bridge inventories

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4. Data Sources & Platforms

4.1 Global Data Platforms

Platform	Scope	Data Type	Access
ITF Transport Statistics	OECD + partner countries	Multi-modal transport statistics	Open (OECD.Stat)
IEA Transport Data	Global energy/transport	Energy consumption, emissions, EV data	Partial paywall
World Bank Transport Data	Global development	RAI, LPI, CPPI, PPI, project data	Open
WHO Road Safety Data	Global	Road fatality statistics	Open
UNCTAD Stat	Global trade/maritime	Shipping, port, trade statistics	Open
ICAO Data+	Global aviation	Safety, traffic, economic, environmental data	Subscription
IMO GISIS	Global maritime	Ship data, incidents, conventions	Partial access
UN-Habitat Urban Data	Global urban	SDG 11.2.1, urban transport indicators	Open
SLOCAT Transport & Climate Tracker	Global	Climate/transport policy tracking, emissions	Open
OpenStreetMap	Global	Road/transit/rail/building geospatial data	Open (ODbL)
MobilityData / Transitland	Global transit	GTFS/GBFS feed catalog and archives	Open
AIS (various providers)	Global maritime	Vessel tracking	Free (basic) to paid
ADS-B Exchange / FlightRadar24	Global aviation	Aircraft tracking	Free to paid
Global BRT Data (BRTData.org)	Global BRT	BRT system statistics and characteristics	Open
UITP Statistics Brief	Global urban transit	Urban mobility statistics	Member access
IEA Global EV Outlook (GEVO)	Global EV	Electric vehicle sales, stock, charging	Open
Climate Watch / CAIT	Global emissions	GHG emissions including transport	Open

4.2 Regional & National Data Platforms

Platform	Region	Scope
EU Transport in Figures (Eurostat)	Europe	Comprehensive EU transport statistics
National Access Points (NAPs)	EU member states	MMTIS, SRTI, SSTP data (EU ITS Directive)
BTS (Bureau of Transportation Statistics)	United States	Comprehensive US transport data
UK DfT Transport Statistics	United Kingdom	UK transport data and publications
ATAG / ACI databases	Global aviation	Airport and airline statistics
Lloyd's List Intelligence	Global maritime	Vessel and port data (commercial)

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5. Data Gaps & Challenges

Key gaps in the global transport data ecosystem:

Gap	Description	Impact
Informal transport	Little systematic data on paratransit/informal transport in developing countries	Billions of trips uncounted; planning blind spots
Walking and cycling	Very limited data on NMT trips, especially in low-income countries	NMT modes invisibilized in policy
Freight (road)	Road freight data is fragmented, often proprietary	Incomplete freight flow understanding
Sub-national data in developing countries	Many LDCs have limited transport data below national level	Cannot plan or target investments effectively
Gender-disaggregated data	Most transport data is not disaggregated by gender	Gender equity gaps hidden
Disability/accessibility data	Limited data on accessible infrastructure and services	Barriers to inclusion persist
Real-time data in developing countries	Few cities in LDCs have real-time transit data	Limits innovation and service quality
Climate risk data for transport	Transport infrastructure exposure to climate hazards poorly mapped	Adaptation planning gaps
Emissions at sub-national level	City/regional transport emissions often not measured	Local climate action hampered
Integrated multimodal data	Few jurisdictions have integrated data across all modes	Siloed planning and governance

Emerging data opportunities:

Opportunity	Description
Mobile phone data (CDR/GPS)	Anonymized mobile data for OD matrices, mode detection
Satellite/Earth observation	Traffic monitoring, infrastructure detection, air quality
Crowdsourced data	OSM, Mapillary, Waze for network data and real-time conditions
IoT sensors	Low-cost sensors for traffic, air quality, noise monitoring
Digital payment data	Fare collection and e-payment data for ridership analysis
AI/ML processing	Automated extraction of transport data from imagery, text, and sensor streams
Open data mandates	Growing policy push for open transport data (EU, US, others)

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Last updated: February 2026. This catalog is not exhaustive -- the transport data ecosystem is continuously evolving with new standards and data sources emerging regularly.

Global Transport Challenges by Region and Context

Overview

Transport challenges vary dramatically across geographies, income levels, and urban/rural contexts. This document maps the major global transport challenges relevant to the UN Decade of Action on Sustainable Transport (2026-2035), organized by theme, region, and development context.

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1. The Five Pillars of Sustainable Transport Challenge

Drawing from the SuM4All Global Roadmap for Sustainable Mobility and the SLOCAT framework, the global transport challenge can be organized around five interconnected pillars:

                    SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
                           |
    +----------+-----------+-----------+----------+
    |          |           |           |          |
  ACCESS    SAFETY    EFFICIENCY   GREEN     EQUITY
    |          |           |        MOBILITY     |
  Universal   Zero      Optimized  Net-zero   Inclusive
  mobility    deaths    systems    emissions  for all

Pillar	Global Target	Current Status (approx.)
Universal Access	All people have access to safe, affordable, reliable transport	~1 billion lack all-weather road access; ~50% of urban residents in developing countries lack convenient PT access
Safety	Zero road deaths and serious injuries (Vision Zero)	~1.19 million road deaths/year; 93% in LMICs
Efficiency	Optimized, congestion-free, well-maintained transport systems	Congestion costs 2-5% of GDP in many countries; massive infrastructure maintenance backlogs
Green Mobility	Net-zero transport emissions by 2050	Transport ~25% of energy-related CO2; growing faster than any other sector in many countries
Equity	Transport serves all regardless of gender, age, income, disability	Women, elderly, disabled, and poor disproportionately underserved

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2. Challenge Deep-Dives

2.1 Road Safety Crisis

Scale: Approximately 1.19 million people die in road crashes annually (WHO 2023). An additional 20-50 million suffer non-fatal injuries. Road traffic injury is the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29.

Geographic distribution of road fatalities:

Region	Fatalities/100,000	Share of Global Deaths	Share of Global Vehicles
Africa	19.5	~20%	~2%
South-East Asia	17.1	~28%	~15%
Eastern Mediterranean	16.1	~10%	~5%
Western Pacific	13.1	~25%	~35%
Americas	12.3	~12%	~25%
Europe	7.3	~5%	~18%

Key patterns:

• 93% of road fatalities occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
• Vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists) account for over 50% of global road deaths
• In Africa, pedestrians account for ~40% of road deaths
• In South-East Asia, motorized 2/3-wheelers account for ~43% of deaths
• Alcohol, speed, distraction, and non-use of helmets/seatbelts are primary risk factors
• Infrastructure design deficiencies (lack of sidewalks, crossings, barriers) are systemic causes

UN Decade targets: The Second Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030) targets 50% reduction in road deaths by 2030, aligned with SDG 3.6.

2.2 Transport Emissions & Climate Change

Scale: Transport accounts for approximately 25% of global energy-related CO2 emissions (~7.7 Gt CO2 in 2022). Transport is the fastest-growing emissions sector in many developing countries.

Emissions by sub-sector:

Sub-sector	Share of Transport CO2	Trend
Road passenger	~45%	Slowly declining in some OECD countries; rising in LMICs
Road freight	~30%	Rising globally
Aviation (international + domestic)	~12%	Rising (pre-COVID, rebounding)
Maritime (international + domestic)	~11%	Slowly rising
Rail	~1%	Stable to declining
Other (pipeline, inland waterway)	~1%	Stable

Key challenges by region:

Region	Key Emission Challenge
North America	High per-capita emissions from car dependency; heavy truck emissions; aviation emissions
Europe	Reducing emissions from trucking; aviation growth; shifting to EVs at scale
China	Massive vehicle fleet growth; freight emissions; but leading EV adoption
India	Rapidly motorizing; 2/3-wheeler emissions; freight inefficiency
Sub-Saharan Africa	Imported used vehicles (high emitting); rapid motorization from low base
Latin America	Urban sprawl driving car dependency; deforestation for biofuels (complex)
MENA	Very high per-capita emissions; fossil fuel subsidies; extreme heat
SE Asia	Motorcycle-dominated; rapid motorization; maritime emissions
Pacific Islands (SIDS)	Near-total fossil fuel import dependence for transport; shipping emissions

Decarbonization pathways (Avoid-Shift-Improve framework):

Strategy	Description	Examples
Avoid	Reduce the need for motorized travel	Compact cities, telework, digital substitution, logistics optimization
Shift	Shift to more efficient modes	Public transport, cycling, walking, rail freight, coastal shipping
Improve	Improve vehicle/fuel technology	Electrification, hydrogen, biofuels, SAF, efficiency standards, operational improvements

2.3 Access & Connectivity Deficit

Scale: Approximately 1 billion people globally live more than 2 km from an all-season road. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the Rural Access Index (RAI) is approximately 30-40%, meaning 60-70% of rural populations lack reliable road access.

Access challenges by context:

Context	Challenge	Scale
Rural Sub-Saharan Africa	Lack of all-weather roads; seasonal impassability; no public transport	~450 million people lack road access
Rural South Asia	Last-mile connectivity gaps; limited bridges; seasonal flooding	~300 million people affected
Urban informal settlements	No formal transit access; narrow unpaved roads; flooding	Hundreds of millions in informal areas
Small Island Developing States (SIDS)	Inter-island connectivity dependent on costly air/sea transport	~65 million people
Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)	Transit dependency on neighboring countries; high transport costs	32 countries, ~500 million people
Mountainous/remote areas	Geographic barriers; expensive infrastructure; seasonal isolation	Central Asia, Himalayas, Andes, etc.
Conflict-affected areas	Destroyed infrastructure; insecurity on transport routes	Syria, Yemen, DRC, Myanmar, etc.

Key indicators:

• Rural Access Index (RAI): global average ~70%, but <35% in many African countries
• SDG 11.2.1 (convenient access to public transport): only 50% of the global urban population
• Transport costs as % of GDP: 30-40% in some landlocked African countries vs. 6-12% in OECD

2.4 Urban Congestion & Mobility

Scale: Urban congestion costs an estimated 2-5% of GDP in many countries. The global urban population is projected to grow from 4.4 billion (2023) to 6.7 billion by 2050.

Congestion levels by city type:

City Category	Typical Congestion Level	Key Driver
Megacities (>10M) in developing countries	Severe (60-100% additional travel time)	Rapid motorization outpacing infrastructure
Large cities in developing countries	Severe to moderate	Mixed traffic, lack of traffic management
Megacities in developed countries	Moderate to severe	Car dependency, limited transit capacity
Medium cities in developed countries	Moderate	Suburban sprawl, limited alternatives
Fast-growing secondary cities	Rising rapidly	No transport planning, leap-frog motorization

Most congested cities (typically by travel time index): Cities like Dhaka, Lagos, Lima, Cairo, Mumbai, Bogota, Mexico City, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Manila consistently rank among the most congested globally.

Urban mobility challenges:

Challenge	Description
Motorization	Rapid growth in private vehicle ownership, especially 2-wheelers and cars
Inadequate public transport	Limited coverage, poor quality, overcrowding, unreliable
Informal transit dependency	Majority of trips served by unregulated/semi-regulated minibuses
Sprawl	Low-density expansion requiring car-dependent travel patterns
Parking	Valuable urban land consumed by parking; poor pricing
Air quality	Urban air pollution from traffic (WHO estimates 4.2M premature deaths/year from outdoor pollution, transport a major contributor)
First/last mile	Gap between transit stops and origins/destinations
Freight in cities	Growing urban freight (especially e-commerce) competing for road space

2.5 Infrastructure Gap & Maintenance Deficit

Scale: The Global Infrastructure Hub estimates a global infrastructure investment gap of $15 trillion by 2040, with transport accounting for the largest share. Maintenance backlogs are even more acute than new build needs.

Region	Infrastructure Quality	Key Gaps
Sub-Saharan Africa	Lowest globally; many roads unpaved	Only 25% of roads paved; low rail connectivity; port congestion
South Asia	Low to moderate; improving	Rural roads, urban transit, logistics facilities
Southeast Asia	Moderate; rapidly improving	Urban transit (except Singapore), intermodal connectivity
Central Asia	Low to moderate; Soviet-era legacy	Rail modernization, road maintenance, border infrastructure
Latin America	Moderate	Urban transit, road maintenance, intermodal freight
MENA	Varies (high in Gulf, low in conflict areas)	Post-conflict reconstruction, public transport
East Asia	High (China, Japan, Korea)	Maintenance of massive networks
Europe	High (Western), moderate (Eastern)	Rail modernization, EV charging, cycling infrastructure
North America	Moderate to high (maintenance deficit)	Bridge rehabilitation (45,000+ structurally deficient US bridges), transit state of good repair
Pacific Islands	Low	Climate-resilient ports, coastal roads, inter-island connectivity

2.6 Climate Resilience & Adaptation

Transport infrastructure exposed to climate hazards:

Climate Hazard	Transport Impact	Most Affected Regions
Sea level rise	Coastal road/rail flooding, port inundation	SIDS, low-lying deltas (Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nile), coastal cities
Extreme heat	Road pavement damage, rail buckling, aviation performance	MENA, South Asia, Southern US/Europe, Australia
Flooding (riverine)	Road/bridge washout, rail disruption, port disruption	South/SE Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Europe
Tropical cyclones	Infrastructure destruction, port/airport closure	Caribbean, Pacific Islands, Philippines, Mozambique, Bay of Bengal
Permafrost thaw	Road/rail foundation instability	Russia, Canada, Alaska, Tibetan Plateau
Drought	Inland waterway navigability reduction	Rhine (Europe), Mississippi (US), Parana (S. America)
Wildfire	Road closure, rail disruption, air quality impacts on aviation	Western North America, Australia, Mediterranean, Siberia
Landslides	Road/rail blockage in mountainous areas	Himalayas, Andes, East Africa, SE Asia

Adaptation finance gap: Less than 2% of climate finance goes to transport adaptation in developing countries.

2.7 Gender & Social Equity

Transport is not gender-neutral:

Dimension	Challenge
Safety	Women face sexual harassment on public transport (globally documented); 60%+ of women in many cities report fear of harassment
Mobility patterns	Women's trips are more complex (trip-chaining: work + care + errands), shorter, more multi-modal, at off-peak hours
Employment access	Women's job accessibility is often 20-30% lower than men's due to transport constraints
Vehicle access	Women are less likely to have a driving license or car access in many countries
Decision-making	Women are underrepresented in transport planning and governance worldwide
Infrastructure design	Transport infrastructure often designed for commuter patterns (male-dominated) rather than care/errand patterns
NMT dependency	Women and girls walk more and further for essential services in rural developing areas

Other equity dimensions:

Group	Transport Challenge
People with disabilities	Inaccessible vehicles, stations, sidewalks; lack of paratransit services
Elderly	Declining mobility, inaccessible systems, isolation risk
Children	Road safety risk, school transport gaps, independent mobility restrictions
Low-income populations	Unaffordable fares, transit deserts, forced to live far from employment
Indigenous peoples	Remote connectivity, culturally inappropriate planning
Migrants/refugees	Limited access to transport systems, documentation barriers

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3. Regional Profiles

3.1 Sub-Saharan Africa

Dimension	Status
Road safety	Highest fatality rate globally (19.5/100,000); pedestrians most at risk
Access	Lowest RAI (~34%); 70% of rural Africans lack reliable road access
Public transport	Dominated by informal minibuses (matatus, dala dalas, etc.); BRT in ~15 cities
Freight	High transport costs (40-60% of delivered price for landlocked countries)
Rail	Limited and often deteriorated; some new investments (SGR Kenya, Ethiopia-Djibouti)
Emissions	Low per capita but growing rapidly; imported used vehicles are high-emitting
Infrastructure	Only ~25% of roads paved; low rail density; port congestion in major hubs
Finance	Major investment gap; donors and MDBs significant funding sources
Key corridors	Trans-African Highway network, Maputo-Limpopo, Northern/Central Corridors (E. Africa)
Priorities	Rural access, road safety, urban transit, regional connectivity, climate resilience

3.2 South Asia

Dimension	Status
Road safety	High fatality rates (12-17/100,000); India alone has ~150,000+ road deaths/year
Access	Significant rural connectivity gaps despite progress (PMGSY in India)
Public transport	Rapidly expanding metros (India: 15+ cities); rail critical (Indian Railways carries 8+ billion passengers/year); informal transit dominant
Freight	Road-dominated; overloaded trucks; low rail freight share in India
2/3-wheelers	Dominant vehicle category; major safety and emissions concern
Emissions	Growing rapidly with motorization; India 3rd largest transport emitter
Infrastructure	Massive highway construction (India); flood-vulnerable (Bangladesh, Nepal)
Climate risk	Extreme flooding, cyclones (Bay of Bengal), glacial lake outburst (Himalayas)
Priorities	Road safety, freight modernization, urban transit, electric 2/3-wheelers, climate adaptation

3.3 East Asia & Pacific

Dimension	Status
China	World's largest HSR network (42,000+ km); largest EV market; massive freight rail/road network; severe urban congestion
Japan/Korea	Advanced rail (Shinkansen, KTX); high auto industry; aging population mobility challenges
Southeast Asia	Motorcycle-dominated (Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand); rapid motorization; growing BRT/metro (Jakarta, Bangkok, Hanoi, Manila); maritime connectivity critical (archipelagic states)
Pacific Islands (SIDS)	Near-total import dependence for fuel; inter-island shipping is lifeline; climate-vulnerable coastal infrastructure; aviation essential for remote islands
Emissions	China dominates regional total; SE Asia growing fastest; shipping emissions significant
Priorities	Decarbonization (China: EV scale-up), urban transit (SE Asia), maritime resilience (Pacific), road safety (all)

3.4 Europe

Dimension	Status
Road safety	Lowest fatality rates globally (~4.7/100,000 in EU), but progress has plateaued
Public transport	Extensive networks; increasing investment in rail; modal shift policies
Rail	Dense network; TEN-T expansion; night train revival; freight rail target (30% of freight >300km by rail by 2030)
Decarbonization	EU Fit for 55 package; CO2 standards for vehicles; 2035 ICE ban for new cars; Fuel EU Maritime; ReFuelEU Aviation
EV adoption	Norway >80% EV share of new sales; EU average ~20%+; charging infrastructure scaling
Cycling	High mode share in Netherlands (~27%), Denmark (~18%); EU cycling strategy
Data/digital	Most advanced open data ecosystem (NAPs, MMTIS Delegated Regulation, NeTEx/SIRI mandates)
Challenges	East-West infrastructure gap; freight decarbonization; aviation growth; TEN-T completion
Priorities	Achieving 2030/2050 climate targets, completing TEN-T, EV infrastructure, rail freight shift

3.5 North America

Dimension	Status
Car dependency	Highest per-capita VMT globally; land use patterns lock in auto-dependency
Road safety	US fatality rate (~12.8/100,000) is highest among OECD countries; crisis worsened post-2020
Public transit	Limited in most cities outside NYC, Toronto, Montreal; ridership challenges post-pandemic
Rail	Freight rail strong (40%+ of freight ton-miles in US); passenger rail weak outside NE Corridor/Acela; new HSR projects (California, Brightline)
Emissions	~28% of US GHG from transport (largest sectoral source); light trucks/SUVs dominant
EV transition	Growing rapidly from low base; IRA incentives; charging network expanding
Trucking	Dominant freight mode; driver shortage; decarbonization challenge
Infrastructure	Significant maintenance backlog (US Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 2021 providing $550B+)
Priorities	Reducing VMT, transit investment, road safety, freight decarbonization, EV scale-up, infrastructure repair

3.6 Latin America & Caribbean

Dimension	Status
Public transport	Birthplace of BRT (Curitiba 1974); extensive BRT networks (Bogota, Mexico City, Lima, etc.); growing metro systems
Informal transit	Colectivos, peseros, combis remain dominant in many cities
Road safety	High fatality rates (12-15/100,000); motorcycle deaths growing rapidly (Brazil, Colombia)
Urban sprawl	Rapid urbanization with sprawl; gated communities creating access barriers
Freight	Road-dominated; limited rail freight; important for commodity export (mining, agriculture)
Climate	Hurricane-vulnerable (Caribbean); landslide risk (Andes); flooding (Amazon basin)
Innovation	Strong cycling culture growing (Bogota, Mexico City); cable cars (Medellin, La Paz)
Caribbean SIDS	Similar challenges to Pacific SIDS: maritime dependency, climate vulnerability, small markets
Priorities	BRT/transit expansion, road safety (motorcycles), freight efficiency, climate resilience, urban cycling

3.7 Middle East & North Africa (MENA)

Dimension	Status
Gulf states	Very high car dependency; extreme heat limits walking/cycling; massive infrastructure investment (metro in Dubai, Riyadh, Doha)
North Africa	Growing motorization; expanding metro systems (Cairo, Algiers); limited rail freight
Conflict zones	Syria, Yemen, Libya: devastated infrastructure; humanitarian access challenges
Fossil fuel subsidies	Among highest globally; distort transport choices toward private cars
Road safety	Moderate-to-high fatality rates; speed and behavior challenges
Emissions	High per-capita transport emissions (Gulf states among highest globally)
Climate	Extreme heat impacts on infrastructure and outdoor mobility; sandstorms
Priorities	Reducing subsidies, public transport investment, post-conflict reconstruction, heat adaptation, road safety

3.8 Central Asia & Caucasus (Landlocked)

Dimension	Status
Landlocked challenge	All Central Asian states (except none -- all landlocked or near-landlocked); high transit costs
Infrastructure	Soviet-era rail/road networks needing modernization; new corridors (China-Europe rail, Middle Corridor)
Transit corridors	Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian), Northern Corridor, and China-Europe rail freight growing
Climate	Extreme temperature range; permafrost (northern areas); earthquake risk
Road safety	Moderate-to-high fatality rates; limited enforcement
Priorities	Transit corridor development, infrastructure modernization, road safety, regional connectivity

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4. Development Context Typology

4.1 By Income Level

Context	Transport Characteristics	Priority Challenges
Low-income countries (LICs)	Very low motorization; walking/cycling dominant; informal transit; poor infrastructure	Basic access (rural roads), road safety, institutional capacity
Lower-middle-income (LMICs)	Rapid motorization (2/3-wheelers); informal transit; growing congestion	Road safety crisis, public transport, freight efficiency
Upper-middle-income (UMICs)	High motorization; formal transit growing; infrastructure expanding	Congestion, emissions growth, transit quality, EV transition
High-income countries (HICs)	Car-dependent; mature networks; aging infrastructure	Decarbonization, maintenance, mode shift, accessibility

4.2 By Vulnerability Category

Category	Countries	Transport Challenge
Least Developed Countries (LDCs)	46 countries (33 in Africa)	Basic access, institutional capacity, climate vulnerability
Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)	32 countries	Transit dependency, high costs, corridor development
Small Island Developing States (SIDS)	39 UN member states	Inter-island connectivity, fuel import dependence, climate resilience
Conflict-affected states	~25+ countries	Infrastructure destruction, humanitarian logistics, reconstruction
Rapidly urbanizing	Many LMICs and UMICs	Urban transit, congestion, air quality, informal settlement access

4.3 Urban vs. Rural

Dimension	Urban Challenge	Rural Challenge
Congestion	Severe and growing	N/A (low volumes)
Access	First/last mile; informal settlement access	Basic connectivity (all-weather roads)
Public transport	Capacity, quality, coverage	Nonexistent or very infrequent
Safety	Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists in mixed traffic	High-speed intercity crashes; poor road design
Emissions	Concentrated pollution; health impacts	Low absolute emissions but high per-trip
Freight	Urban delivery congestion; e-commerce	Agricultural/market access
Data availability	Growing (sensors, smart cards, etc.)	Very limited
Investment	Concentrates here	Chronically underfunded

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5. Mega-Trends Shaping Transport to 2035

Mega-Trend	Impact on Transport	Uncertainty Level
Urbanization	2.5 billion more urban residents by 2050; massive urban mobility demand growth	Low (highly likely)
Climate change	Physical risks to infrastructure; regulatory pressure to decarbonize; energy transition	Low (highly likely)
Electrification	EVs reaching cost parity; battery improvements; grid integration challenges	Low (trajectory clear, pace uncertain)
Digitalization	Connected vehicles, MaaS, digital freight, AI in operations	Low (trajectory clear)
Automation	Autonomous vehicles, ships, aircraft; workforce impacts	Medium (timing very uncertain)
Demographic shifts	Aging populations (OECD, East Asia); youth bulge (Africa); migration	Low (demographic inertia)
E-commerce	Growing urban freight demand; last-mile delivery explosion	Low (trajectory clear)
Geopolitical shifts	Supply chain reconfiguration; new trade routes (Arctic, Middle Corridor)	High (inherently uncertain)
Pandemic/health risks	Travel demand disruption; telework adoption; resilience focus	Medium
Energy transition	Fossil fuel phase-down; renewable integration; hydrogen economy	Low (trajectory clear, pace uncertain)
Shared mobility	Potential to reduce vehicle ownership; but may increase VMT	Medium (behavioral uncertainty)
Spatial restructuring	Remote work, 15-minute city concepts, decentralization	Medium (post-pandemic flux)

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6. Key Global Frameworks & Targets

Framework	Key Transport Target	Horizon
SDG 3.6	50% reduction in road deaths	2030
SDG 9.1	Develop quality, reliable, sustainable infrastructure	2030
SDG 11.2	Affordable, accessible, sustainable transport for all	2030
Paris Agreement	Net-zero emissions (transport ~25% of CO2)	2050
IMO GHG Strategy	Net-zero GHG from international shipping	2050 (revised)
ICAO LTAG	Net-zero CO2 from international aviation	2050
EU Fit for 55	-55% transport emissions; zero-emission new cars	2030 / 2035
Stockholm Declaration	Road safety as public health priority	Ongoing
Sendai Framework	Resilient infrastructure (including transport)	2030
New Urban Agenda	Sustainable urban mobility for all	2036
UN Decade of Sustainable Transport	Accelerate progress across all above	2026-2035
Africa Agenda 2063	Connected Africa: road, rail, air, maritime integration	2063
ASEAN Transport Strategic Plan	Seamless ASEAN connectivity	2025 (next cycle)

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7. Data & Knowledge Gaps for the Global Intelligence System

To serve the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport effectively, the Global Intelligence System must address these knowledge gaps:

Gap	Why It Matters	Potential Approach
No unified global transport mode taxonomy	Inconsistent classification across organizations and datasets	This taxonomy project (harmonize with ISIC, ITF, SuM4All)
Informal transport invisible	Billions of daily trips unrecognized in data and policy	Mobile phone data, crowdsourcing, DigitalTransport4Africa approach
NMT data deficit	Walking/cycling are the most equitable modes but least measured	Pedestrian/cycle counts, crowdsourced mapping, satellite imagery
Fragmented emissions data	No unified, granular global transport emissions database	Integrate IEA, EDGAR, national inventories, ICCT data
Climate risk for transport not mapped globally	Infrastructure adaptation needs unknown	Cross-reference climate projections with transport asset databases
Gender data gap in transport	Cannot design equitable systems without gender-disaggregated data	Mandate disaggregation in surveys; dedicated gender mobility studies
Investment tracking fragmented	Cannot assess finance gap without comprehensive tracking	Merge MDB, national budget, PPP, and climate finance databases
Real-time data mostly absent in LDCs	Cannot optimize what you cannot measure	Low-cost sensors, GTFS adoption, mobile data partnerships
No global freight visibility	Road freight especially opaque	Freight data partnerships, satellite monitoring, digital waybills
Policy effectiveness unknown	Policies adopted but impact rarely measured	Systematic policy evaluation framework with before/after data

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Last updated: February 2026. Sources include WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety, IEA Transport Sector Tracking, SLOCAT Transport and Climate Change Global Status Report, World Bank Transport Overview, ITF Transport Outlook, UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport, SuM4All Global Roadmap, IPCC AR6 WG III (Transport Chapter), and various regional transport strategies.