EVENT REVIEW

IRF MEETING CALLS FOR CONSENSUSBUILDING AND SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

IRF World Meeting showcased relevant knowledge to a wide cross-section of road mobility stakeholders and focused on delivering solutions to the world’s pressing mobility questions

he 18th edition of the Inter-

Tnational Roads Federation’s World Meeting & Exhibition held in Dubai from 7-10 November highlighted a renewed call for consensus-building and knowledge partnerships in our industry to address key sustainability and mobility challenges.

More than 250 papers and presentations were delivered by authors from 58 countries, representing an immense body of knowledge for policy makers and transportation stakeholders to utilise in the months and years ahead.

The IRF World Meeting & Exhibition was also characterised by an enhanced focus on new mobility services whose emergence will continue impacting, challenging, and inspiring the industry.

In the closing ceremony, Senior Vice Chairman Dr. Bill Sowell noted that the event, which brought together 2,500 delegates from around the world, achieved several objectives, from gathering professionals for in person face-to-face meetings; to specifically addressing current challenges in the sector; to charting a forwardlooking strategy for the next decade.

About 80 international companies and start-ups participated in the accompanying exhibition to showcase the latest technology trends, services and solutions related to roads.

On the final day, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) arranged technical tours for the participating delegations to some of Dubai’s iconic projects namely the Intelligent Traffic Systems Centre, Dubai Water Canal, Improvement of the Dubai-Al Ain Project, and a footbridge at the Marina.

VISION ZERO

The technical programme was assembled by a team of renowned specialists from 36 partner universities, and it comprised numerous sessions that addressed the next generation of road mobility, resilient transportation services, ‘Vision Zero’ road traffic injury strategies, and policy instruments to decarbonise the road sector.

“As demand recovers from the pandemic, it is our role to continue identifying models that reduce the footprint of the sector and fully prepare it for future mobility”, said C. Patrick Sankey, IRF President & CEO.

“This means greening our road networks, making them forgiving and self-explaining, more resilient to climate change, and readying our city streets for connected and electric vehicles.”

IRF Chairman H.E Eng. Abdullah Al-Mogbel stated: “These questions, and others, require a level of cross-industry consensus, which IRF is perfectly situated to address by building on the solid foundations of the 18th IRF World Meeting & Exhibition.”

AWARDS AND MERITS

The event also recognised professionals for their outstanding contribution to the industry. Eng. Khalid Al-Hogail, the President of the International Association Public Transport (UITP) and CEO of the Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO), received the International Road Federation’s highest individual recognition. Established in 1951, IRF’s Man of the Year award recognises eminent public, private and education sector professionals with an outstanding track record of leadership and commitment to the road transport industry. Over the years, the award has distinguished some of the world’s most influential transport leaders for their work in the field of advocacy, policy, research, and educational programmes in support of better, safer, and more sustainable road networks globally. “AS DEMAND RECOVERS FROM THE PANDEMIC, IT IS OUR ROLE TO CONTINUE IDENTIFYING MODELS THAT REDUCE THE FOOTPRINT OF THE SECTOR AND FULLY PREPARE IT FOR FUTURE MOBILITY.”

Additionally, IRF announced the winners of 2021 Global Road Achievement Awards. The winning projects this year ranged from the world’s longest mid-span suspension bridge recently completed in Turkey, to an original urban cooling pavement programme launched by the city of Los Angeles, to a 6D road scanning technology reliant on LIDAR.

Oleg V Pekerman, CEO & CIO, Fortis Consulting Services Corp. who accepted the award in the “Asset Preservation & Maintenance Management” category, stated: “If you want to know which companies are going to change the world soon, I strongly recommend reviewing the list of IRF members and GRAA winners.”

FedEx Express

STUDY REVEALS THE UAE IS FUTURE-READY

RESIDENTS OF THE UAE ARE READY TO EMBRACE A DYNAMIC, EXPERIMENTAL, AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and the world’s largest express transportation company, revealed the findings of its ‘Future is Now’ study* that offers insights into the UAE’s readiness to embrace the future.

The UAE is at the cusp of change, with the pandemic accelerating the country’s digital transformation. From healthcare to education, banking to manufacturing, technology is transforming every sector, giving rise to a future full of possibilities.

According to the study, which surveyed more than 750 respondents across the UAE, 96% stated that they believe the country is prioritising technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Blockchain to deliver a future-ready world. Approximately 96% also believed technology they¬’d seen in science fiction movies is either already a part of their daily lives, or likely to be in the next few years.

With the trend of technology-led change likely to continue, future-forward industries were identified as major drivers in shaping the cities of the future. Roughly 96% respondents believe that the eCommerce sector will need to be more technologically driven to meet their needs better in the future, and 93% consider tech-enabled logistics important in a futuristic world. Jack Muhs, Regional President of FedEx Express Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa, said, “At FedEx, our past, present, and future is driven by innovation. We constantly look for new ways and ideas to meet our customers’ expectations and needs at the right time through the right channel, no matter where they are in the world.

“With digital transformation accelerating rapidly, technologies and innovative services with a focus on sustainability are expected to drive the future of business. Technologies like Blockchain, IoT, Robotics, and Automation are emerging as crucial elements in helping to future-proof prominent economic sectors and helping ensure business success.”

The ‘Future is Now’ study focused on three main views: being dynamic, how the UAE is open to experimentation and innovation, and to what degree the country is sustainability conscious. The findings indicated that future success will likely rely on businesses structuring their approach around these three outlooks.

The Future is dynamic

Regardless of the industry, companies must monitor the pulse of their consumers, anticipate their needs, and stay one step ahead of their rapidly evolving expectations. The pandemic accelerated change in almost every aspect of life, from how we live and work, to how businesses interact with their customers, and how customers purchase products and services.

The FedEx study shows that businesses are already working to keep pace with this change. Approximately 90% of respondents stated that over the past year, companies demonstrated their ability to understand ‘What’s next?’ and present possible solutions.

An openness to experimentation

The UAE ranked first in the Gulf region and 33rd globally in the Global Innovation Index2and is considered as one of the top innovative economies. In an increasingly dynamic environment, success for businesses hinges upon pushing the envelope and fostering a culture of experiment-led innovation. A majority of 95% of those polled in the FedEx survey believe that organisations, communities, or even individuals who experiment and adopt change are better equipped to navigate through future challenges.

Consumers today are growing more conscious of the impact their choices have on the world around them - whether it pertains to the environment or their communities. Even their purchasing decisions are increasingly influenced by their perception of an organization being sustainable and responsible.

According to the FedEx study, over 88% of respondents agreed that individuals, communities, etc. that have a ‘futuristic’ outlook are more environmentally conscious. In fact, 93% claimed that, as decision-makers in a futuristic business, sustainability would be crucial and their top priority.

The response from the study participants is clear: organisations must continue to reevaluate and revamp their sustainability strategies to ensure relevance to their customers and resilience for the long term.

As the world keeps evolving, technology and trends will likely drive changes in lifestyle, behaviors, and attitude. For both businesses and individuals, embracing a future that offers endless possibilities and having a mindset that is dynamic, experimental, and sustainable will be imperative to staying one step ahead of the curve.