Emerging mobility technologies have the potential to provide transformational benefits for cities, with successful integration requiring focus on smart urban planning, long-term investment and use of the latest solutions, according to Masdar?s report launched at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW)
The Masdar report on technologies for future smart city transit, which was prepared with support from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, has predicted that new technologies including electric and autonomous vehicles, the Internet of Things, data analytics, blockchain and smart roads will provide the building blocks to revolutionise urban transport in the next two decades.
The report has also suggests that countries with a relatively new urban transport network, such as the UAE and other Gulf states, may have an advantage compared to other countries because their transport infrastructure is newer and less sprawling.
Yousef Baselaib, executive director of sustainable real estate at Masdar, said, ?Urban transport is reaching a crossroads as emerging technologies come together, placing us on the cusp of a step-change which could revolutionise the sector, making it safer, more efficient and environmentally sustainable.?
?The Middle East is well placed to benefit from these developments but achieving these ambitions will require major investment over the next few decades. It will also be essential for the public and private sectors to work together to agree technology standards which govern the market and prioritise innovation and technology leadership,? he added.
The transport sector accounts for about 30 per cent of global energy consumption and has the lowest renewable energy share of any sector, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. It accounts for around a quarter of the world?s energy-related emissions of greenhouse gases. Emissions growth in the transport sector is the highest of all sectors, and is expected to increase by over one-third by 2030.
The Masdar report has highlighted some of the most promising technological advances in transport which could help solve or ease many of these issues, if planned and delivered effectively. It has also pointed out how emerging digital technologies are likely to change city transport systems, help countries meet targets for reducing carbon emissions and create new opportunities for city planners, automobile companies and technology businesses.
