THE DISCUSSION SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT

By Romilly Madew AO, Chief Executive Officer, Engineers Australia

Australia’s transport system underpins our economy and the wellbeing of our communities. It’s vital that there is continued investment to provide safe, sustainable and efficient movement of people and freight throughout Australia and the world.

This is particularly important as the population grows and consumer behaviours change. For Australia to thrive, we need a robust and reliable transport system, adjustable to the unknown and ready to meet the demands of the future.

So how do we move the dial? As a starting point, greater collaboration will be needed between policy makers, planners, engineers and governments to ensure we are moving towards a shared vision of the future.

This vision needs to be bi-partisan, have consideration of the challenges and opportunities, and needs land-use planners, transport planners, engineers and others, collaborating to help lessen the reliance on inefficient transport modes and creating more locally sustainable communities.

There are nearly 20 million vehicles registered in Australia with 20 per cent of these registered as freight vehicles. In addition, Australia has some of the world’s busiest domestic air travel routes and being that we are an island, has a heavy reliance on ports. Transport in Australia accounts for over 18 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. This includes emissions for the combustion of fuels by road, rail, aviation and shipping. In addition to this, the built environment globally accounts for 40 per cent of emissions annually. Reducing emissions in the transport sector will be needed to help Australia reach the legislated emissions reductions targets, which include a 43 per cent reduction on 2005 emissions levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050. Technological advancements will play a part, however future projects will need to focus on the impacts of climate change, and how sustainability and resilience principles will be embedded. Planners and engineers will need to come together to build communities which lessen an individual’s need to travel and for necessary travel, pivot the system away from a heavy reliance on less efficient transport modes, such as cars. Achieving this will require collaboration, a greater use of technology, social engineering and a bold vision for what can be, rather than what has been done.

Engineers Australia’s Future of transport discussion paper puts forward ideas on how this can be achieved to elicit discussion and shape a way forward for the sector. Better use of urban informatics, developing land as mixed use, integrating and prioritising more efficient transport modes, and planning and modifying streets and neighbourhoods to be more connected are some areas identified which should be prioritised. Land development plans may currently exist; however, they don’t always provide sufficient attention to the transport networks and funding required to connect these developments.

Systems engineering principles also need to be applied. In many cases, projects are currently planned incrementally, instead of being viewed as a component of a greater system. Utilising a systems approach will aid in planning and managing the transport system in a holistic manner. By applying systems thinking the network is examined as a whole, understanding the relationships and interconnection between transport modes, infrastructure, the community, government policy and regulations. It will further allow for consideration of all the stages of the systems lifecycle, from design through to construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning. This is particularly important as we move to a more sustainable infrastructure sector and transport system.

In conjunction with this, the transport system will be aided and challenged by rapidly changing technology. Engineers will be at the forefront of this, both developing these new and emerging technologies, whilst also integrating them into the system. Take micromobility for example. Integrating micromobility into the system has multiple benefits. These new modes are shifting the first mile/last mile conundrum often facing planners. Integrating them will also require a change in transport infrastructure which can have positive effects on society if designed and integrated correctly.

Another area identified was the importance of embracing the concept of universal design, supporting planners and engineers to help to future proof the system. Universal design allows for more equitable participation in the transport system and therefore should be embraced to allow for the creation of environments which can be used by more people. The theory of universal access allows for a system which can be used by everyone taking into consideration the needs of people with disabilities and other mobility challenges as well as financial constraints and those who face additional socioeconomic barriers.

The benefits of applying universal design principles is that it improves people’s quality of life and their independence. It can also facilitate a system which can integrate more modes of transport. For example, the integration of micro-mobility mentioned previously. In some instances, this will require more spacious pathways, ramps and a focus on safety by design. This has benefits for parents with prams, greater wheelchair access and mobility devices used by the elderly. This is just one example of how applying a systems thinking approach, collaborating, being more inclusive and designing based on future trends, can benefit the system.

Engineers will be at the forefront of the future of transport in Australia. Through greater collaboration, new funding models, better integration of technology and by viewing transport as a complex and interrelated system, we can ensure transport continues to contribute to Australia’s economic and social prosperity.