An Introduction to Curb Data Standards — Populus

An Introduction to Curb Data Standards

Sep 5

In the ever-evolving landscape of urban mobility, cities are faced with the increasing challenge of managing their curb space for improved utilization. The rising demand for various transportation modes, from Uber and Lyft to delivery services, has intensified the need for cities to advance digital solutions that allow them to more easily communicate with connected vehicles to enhance transportation safety, sustainability, and efficiency.

Building on the success of prior data standards, including the Mobility Data Specification (MDS), the Curb Data Specification (CDS) was introduced by the Open Mobility Foundation (OMF) in 2022. With the rapid growth of new mobility services and the increasing importance of data-driven decision-making in city planning and operations, the CDS offers a unified framework that streamlines the collection and exchange of curb data to support key use cases such as digital smart zones.

In this post, we provide an overview of the data standard, examples of how cities are currently using it, and opportunities for the future.

The Curb Data Specification (CDS): An Overview

The CDS standard is designed to help cities map their curb and parking regulations in a consistent format, publish their regulations for connected fleets, and gather new data about how their curbs are being used. CDS facilitates interoperability among various stakeholders in the urban mobility ecosystem, including cities, mobility operators, and technology providers. It standardizes the data elements required to effectively manage curb space, offering cities the tools they need to make informed decisions and optimize the use of their valuable curbside assets.

CDS is a set of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that allow cities to digitally represent their curb and parking spaces and communicate them to users. The standard includes the following APIs:

Curbs API: The Curbs API is a standard way for cities to digitally publish curb locations and associated regulations, which can be shared with a variety of stakeholders, from the general public to connected fleets using curb space (e.g. delivery companies, Uber or Lyft).
Events API: The Events API is a standard way to share real-time and historic commercial events happening at the curb. Event data can come from a variety of sources including GPS devices on connected vehicles or sensors.
Metrics API: The Metrics API is designed to standardize how curb usage details are gathered, and define common calculation methods for dwell time, occupancy, and other key curb utilization metrics.

The Populus team was part of the Founding Steering Committee that launched the Curb Data Specification (CDS) in 2022, and continues to serve on the CDS Working Group committee to refine the standards to meet city needs. Our Curb Manager platform is designed to support cities’ implementation of CDS, from digitally representing their curbs in a common language to bringing in new data from fleet operators.

The Benefits of CDS for Cities and Communities

The adoption of the Curb Data Specification brings various benefits to cities and their communities:

Reduced Congestion: Efficient curb management reduces traffic congestion by ensuring that mobility services are well-coordinated and do not create bottlenecks on city streets.
Increased Revenue: Cities can unlock new revenue streams by effectively managing their curb space and charging appropriate fees for its use.
Safety and Accessibility: CDS helps cities prioritize safety and accessibility, ensuring that curbs are accessible to everyone, including pedestrians and cyclists.
Environmental Impacts: By optimizing curb space and promoting sustainable transportation options, cities can reduce emissions and contribute to a cleaner, greener urban environment.

The Curb Data Specification (CDS) is an important building block for enhancing the digital infrastructure in cities to manage the future of mobility. Populus is a dedicated partner of public sector agencies, supporting the digital transformation of leading cities, including Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, and Miami.

As cities continue to evolve and adapt to the changing landscape of transportation, Populus remains committed to helping them make the most of their curbside assets through innovation and the adoption of digital tools that improve the sustainability and safety of our streets. Contact us to learn more about how we are partnering with cities to digitize their curbs and launch Digital Smart Zones.