As COVID impacts the future of work it also impacts the future of mobility in our cities. Better ground mobility will lead to better upward mobility for its people. Joseph Kopser shares his industry-expert insight on the future of mobility in a post-COVID world, including: Automation in transportation; Car dependency; Contact tracing; Privacy concerns; Delivery of Goods. Article originally published: https://www.josephkopser.com/future-of-mobility-and-work-in-cities-covid/ Joseph Kopser of Grayline Group is host of Catalyst TALKS. A series of live, interactive interviews with thought leaders, subject matter experts and operators with first hand experience in the skills needed to lead the workplace in a changing world. His talks focus on the technology, agility, leadership, knowledge, and strategy needed to build teams in a changing world. Joseph is also co-founder of the non-profit USTomorrow focused on workforce readiness. Joseph’s focus is to help people adapt to the changing future of work. Grayline Group knows that technology is changing faster than business models, and globalization has magnified the threat surface for companies, investors, and governments. Change creates opportunity and risk. It requires the skills of new leadership and strategy in the workplace. Grayline Group brings together experts, data, and solutions to help business and government leaders manage transformation resulting from technological and socioeconomic catalysts.

1. JOSEPH KOPSER
Future of Mobility
Post COVID
Automation, Car Dependency, Contactless Tracing, and Privacy
JosephKopser.com•2020
01

2. 5 Topics
for the
Future of
Mobility Post
COVID
AUTOMATION IN
TRANSPORTATION
CAR DEPENDENCY
CONTACT TRACING
PRIVACY CONCERNS
02
02Joseph Kopser
DELIVERY OF GOODS

3. Automation in Transportation
ELIMINATING TOUCH POINTS IN LONG LINES AND TRANSIT
The transportation sector will most likely make a shift towards contactless
accessibility that may end up eliminating most, if not all of the touchpoints that
have existed up until now
Operators are expected to roll out strategies that will support automation
Elimination of doors with handles in favor of more advanced gesture-based
ones
Gesture-based interactions with payment kiosks
Robots or cleaning systems capable of sanitizing surfaces continuously
Efforts to make transportation safer and cleaner would also require the
involvement of public health officials and governments across all levels
03Joseph Kopser

4. Car dependency in a post-COVID world
People who used public transport were about six times more likely to seek care for
an acute respiratory sickness
UK research, 2008 - 2009
Risk of obesity increases by up to 6% with every extra hour spent in a car, each day
2004 study on public health and transportation
Obesity, in turn, increases susceptibility to diabetes and heart disease, both of
which also increases an individual’s vulnerability to COVID-19 complications
Feeling like we're in a Catch-22
MASS TRANSIT OF PEOPLE IN GROUPS INCREASES THE RATE OF
SPREAD OF INFECTION
04Joseph Kopser

5. Contact Tracing
ALERTING PASSENGERS IF THEY'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH OTHER
RIDERS WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID
Paramount to getting people to feel more comfortable with the thought of leaving
their homes
There is nothing that will replace preparation
China already uses a similar technology to manage road traffic
This technology can help passengers avoid crowded buses and reduce traffic
congestion both of which will be expected in a post-COVID world
05Joseph Kopser

6. Privacy Concerns
SURVEILLANCE AND PRIVACY CHALLENGES WITH MANY OF THE
SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY
06Joseph Kopser
China, Singapore, South Korea, and many of the other countries that have achieved
success with contract tracing do so because the constitution allows tracking credit
card history, cell phone location, and other details about an infected person
Debate as to whether giving this much priority to public health and safety is worth
relinquishing one’s privacy

7. Delivery of Goods
SOCIAL DISTANCING WITH USE OF ROBOT-DELIVERY SERVICES
Adoption of autonomous delivery robots and driverless delivery vehicles for point
to point delivery of goods
Technologies and players in this sector of the transport industry have been around
pre-COVID.
The pandemic caused a shift and driven more attention towards them
Being used to deliver essential supplies for healthcare professionals
07Joseph Kopser

8. TRANSPORTATION WILL
NEVER BE THE SAME
Start new conversations and develop strategies around automation, infection-
proofing, contract tracing, health checks, assessment, etc.
Develop a safer and effective way to transport people and goods
Consider alternatives that could range from private cars, ride-hailing, biking, or not
even commuting at all as is the case with most employees who are able to work from
home
The coronavirus pandemic will open new possibilities and challenges
08Joseph Kopser

9. Joseph Kopser is a serial entrepreneur and expert in energy and
national security issues. Currently he serves as an Executive-in-
Residence at the McCombs School of Business at the University of
Texas. In addition, he is President of Grayline after he co-founded and
served as CEO of RideScout before it was acquired by Mercedes.
He served in the U.S. Army for 20 years earning the Combat Action
Badge, Army Ranger Tab and Bronze Star.
He is a graduate of West Point with a BS in Aerospace Engineering
and also received a Masters from the Harvard Kennedy School.
In 2013, he was recognized as a White House Champion of Change for
his efforts in Energy and Transportation. In 2014, RideScout, won the
U.S. DOT Data Innovation Award and co-authored the book, Catalyst.
He is the Chairman of the Board of Advisors for the CleanTX
Foundation, an economic development and professional association
for cleantech. Joseph is also co-founder of the non-profit
USTomorrow focused on workforce readiness. Joseph’s focus is to
help people adapt to the changing future of work.
Joseph Kopser, President - Grayline Group
Joseph Kopser