Exploring the Integration of NREL’s Mobility Energy Productivity Metric with StreetLight

Addressing key shortcomings in existing accessibility calculations, researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed the Mobility Energy Productivity (MEP) metric, which captures the quality of mobility available in a given location while taking into account the time, cost, and energy efficiency of modes that provide access in that location. 

Partnering with StreetLight — the leading provider of on-demand mobility analytics — NREL researchers explored the potential for wider adoption of the MEP metric, especially among key stakeholders in the urban planning space. 

The work involved computing the MEP metric using StreetLight’s data alongside open-source network and land use data (OpenStreetMap). Specifically, MEP metrics by mode and activity type were calculated for Tulsa, OK, and Orlando, FL. A web dashboard was also developed to visualize the resulting MEP maps.

Outreach was then conducted to demonstrate the StreetLight-powered MEP metric with various stakeholders in a series of focus groups. Information about participants’ interests, planning goals, and recurring challenges were gathered to help assess the viability of the metric to aid in transportation planning processes.