Skip to main content

Report identifies innovations that will change transportation

Four new solutions based largely on existing technology could drastically improve the safety and efficiency of travel and transportation by 2025, according to a new report by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with The Boston Consulting Group. The report, Connected World: Transforming Travel, Transportation and Supply Chain, is the product of a cross-industry effort involving over fifty leading companies from the travel, transportation, and information and communications technology industries. It out
June 25, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Four new solutions based largely on existing technology could drastically improve the safety and efficiency of travel and transportation by 2025, according to a new report by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with The 4055 Boston Consulting Group.

The report, Connected World: Transforming Travel, Transportation and Supply Chain, is the product of a cross-industry effort involving over fifty leading companies from the travel, transportation, and information and communications technology industries. It outlines scenarios of how the world may look in 2025, reflecting potential socio-political, economic and environmental developments.

The four solutions, all of which have the potential to deliver solid social and economic benefits, are:

•    A traffic management system for megacities to integrate and process information from vehicles, travel infrastructure, individuals and the environment in real time to forecast and counteract congestion and reduce total vehicle emissions.
•    An intermodal travel ticket, enabling travellers to use one ticket per journey, regardless of the mode of transport, and providing real-time advice on congestion and route-change options.
•    A smart visa system for check-in, security and border control, to improve efficiency and security.
•    Real time logistics tracking, using RFID (radio-frequency identification) chips to track product locations and provide real-time shipping updates.

“Each of these solutions enables a transformation in global transportation systems that would drive economic growth and improve our daily lives. Each solution is entirely achievable. The technology is readily available; the main challenge is coordinating diverse stakeholders from multiple industries and government agencies,” said John Moavenzadeh, senior director, Mobility Industries, World Economic Forum.

The Forum is currently working with companies, governments and other stakeholders to develop roadmaps that would enable progress on all four solutions, or as Rupert Stadler, chairman of the Management Board of 2125 Audi, says: “The project encourages dialogue between politics, the industry and science on how to implement game-changing solutions.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • AI ‘won’t live up to the hype’, warns thinktank
    October 16, 2018
    Governments must gain the trust of their citizens when it comes to increasing the use of artificial intelligence (AI), warns a new report. The Centre for Public Impact (CPI) thinktank, which was founded by consultant Boston Consulting Group, said that public trust in AI is low. While AI has the potential in mobility to make public transport responsive to traveller needs in real time, for example, the influence of AI is viewed negatively by some. Launching an action plan for governments at the Tallinn Digi
  • ITS upgrade for George Washington Bridge
    June 29, 2015
    The electronic highway signage system and field devices that provide real-time travel information for the 300,000 daily users of New York’s George Washington Bridge are to undergo a major overhaul in a US$65.1 millio0n project. The Port Authority of New York has approved the project to replace the intelligent transportation system (ITS) which includes the upgrade and replacement of 11 existing variable message signs and the installation of seven new ones; the installation of a new overhead sign structure
  • Cost benefit: Toronto retimings tame traffic trauma
    July 19, 2018
    Canada’s largest city reckons that it is saving its taxpayers’ money simply by altering the way traffic lights work. David Crawford reviews Toronto’s ambitious plans to ease congestion Toronto, Canada’s largest metropolis (and the fourth largest in North America), has saved its residents CAN$53 (US$42.4) for every CAN$1 (US$0.80) spent over a 2012-2016 traffic signal retiming programme, according to figures released by its Transportation Services Division. The programme covered 1,275 signals (the city’s
  • Rating agency Standard and Poor Tolling sees a bright future for tolling
    September 6, 2017
    Few disruptions appear on the horizon for global toll road operators, with the US poised to become a better bet for major investment, according to ratings agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P’s) Global Ratings’ 2017 report, which rates toll road operators according to their ability to raise capital. The outlook is generally stable for business conditions and credit quality for toll roads worldwide. One positive exception is the US where the overall outlook is ‘positive’ as S&P expects traffic growth to increase