In times of public sector cut backs there are many difficult decisions to be made by regional development and regeneration professionals as to where funding is prioritised.
Transport has a significant role to play in economic growth on both a national and local level and must remain a core priority.
With more people now mobile, the UK’s transport networks need to remain efficient and cost effective while working towards our national targets for carbon reduction.
For regeneration professionals, getting people to and from work and goods to market cost-effectively, efficiently and with minimum disruption will improve the competitiveness of a location and help to attract further investment in the local economy.
Creating a more efficient transport system which is fit for purpose does not necessarily involve large investments of money and resources in an overhaul of infrastructure. Instead we need to think innovatively about using new technology and innovation to better manage our transport systems.
‘Intelligent mobility’ describes a joined-up approach to the development and management of highly effective transport systems and is an approach which professionals throughout the transport sector should be considering.
With rapid developments in communications and data technology there is now more information than ever available to aid with decision making and day to day management in the transport sector. These examples show how better use of information can help to effectively manage complex transport systems:
• Real time management of transport networks, adapting traffic signals to ease congestion as it builds up
• Providing better links between different transport systems allowing for improved connectivity
• Maintaining optimum traffic flow by modelling transport use across different times
• Contingency planning in case of incident or unplanned event.
A central principle of this approach is there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to developing transport networks. The problems citizens currently face on their day-to-day journeys will be different depending on the location, as such it is clear that a regional requirements in transport development are taken into consideration.
By first evaluating the main concerns around transport on a local basis, regional developers, planners and regeneration professionals can then use this expertise to introduce more effective management systems.
“If we are to address the issues facing the UK’s transport system,
a joined-up approach and delivery will be needed.”
Work done by Coventry University engineering students working in collaboration with the city council offers a good example of how this can be done.
In the city centre it was identified that there was a particular roundabout which was notorious for congestion. Using real-world data students were able to model traffic flow at the roundabout across peak and off-peak times. From this base model a traffic signalling system was put in place to see how this would impact traffic flow.
The students found that, on this roundabout, use of traffic lights during peak hours helped to reduce build up of congestion and that also these signals were not required during peak times to maintain traffic flow. Basing a traffic signal pattern on evidence and data means that congestion in that area is reduced, having a knock on effect on the amount of fuel consumed by vehicles and the level of pollution and carbon emissions emitted from stationary vehicles.
If we are to address the issues facing the UK’s transport system, a joined-up approach and delivery will be needed. This approach requires collaboration between a variety of industry sectors including information systems, transport manufacturing, communications technologies, electronics, logistics and infrastructure management; across both public and private sectors.
What’s more the global market for intelligent transport systems and services is expected to more than triple to US$65bn by 2020 with over 1.2bn Euros identified over the next three years for projects addressing transport challenges.
The UK has the expertise and experience needed to take full advantage of this both in industry and in academia. There is no reason why our transport networks cannot become world leading examples of how to move people and goods efficiently, cost effectively and with minimal impact on the environment.