As industry and governments around the world continue to grapple with the challenges of vehicle automation, experts gathered in Sydney at the end of May to take stock of where we’re at on the global journey to a new era of mobility. From the US to Australia across Europe, India and Singapore, the experts present were unanimously in agreement that the enormity of the change that is coming behoves us all to work together to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible and delivers the most good for the global community.
The two-day 2018 Roads Australia (RA) – IRF Regional Conference for Asia and Australasia held in Sydney on May 31 and June 1 was a fitting stage for local and regional players to come together to look at how governments are addressing the raft of challenges that are being presented by connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), and what it means in practical terms for the international road industry, road users and society as a whole.
Roads Australia Chief Executive, Ian Webb, says Australia is no different to other countries in facing what he describes as a ‘mobility and transport revolution’. “We are keen to learn from other jurisdictions as to how they are preparing for driverless vehicles, and at the same time share what we are doing here in Australia,” he said.
Randall Iwasaki from Contra Costa Transportation Authority gave an overview of developments in California but also shared his thoughts on the future of mobility. Suzanne Murtha, VP for Aecom provided some very valuable insights on autonomous and electric vehicles landscape and whether and I what format those development should be regulated in a way or another.
IRF (Geneva) was represented by Mr Kiran Kapila, IRF Chairman and Mrs Susanna Zammataro, IRF DG. Mrs Zammataro animated a panel discussion on “Reshaping our Cities” where discussion ranged from futuristic and efficient cities architecture to how better engage people,citizens in understanding, helping shape and embrace this future.
The traditional John Shaw Medal dinner sponsored by Arup and hosted on 31st May gathered again this year a record number of industry representatives and was a joyful way to network with key decision makers and business leaders from the sector.
Some of the presentations and an image gallery for both the Conference and the John Shaw Dinner can be accessed on Roads Australia website: http://www.roads.org.au/event-details?EventId=1905
