Emerging technologies that could have major impacts on transportation

A recent report by US Volpe experts identifies eleven emerging technologies and innovative applications that may have significant impacts on our transportation systems within three to five years. The report, 2015 OST-R Transportation Technology Scan: A Look Ahead, identifies technological advances and innovative concepts, along with their associated benefits, challenges and risks that could fundamentally alter the transportation landscape:
January 29, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
RSS

A recent report by US 8306 Volpe experts identifies eleven emerging technologies and innovative applications that may have significant impacts on our transportation systems within three to five years.

The report, 2015 OST-R Transportation Technology Scan: A Look Ahead, identifies technological advances and innovative concepts, along with their associated benefits, challenges and risks that could fundamentally alter the transportation landscape:
These include: Additive manufacturing (3D printing); Advanced analytics and machine learning; Automated vehicles; Hyperloop; Infrastructure inspection robots; Innovative concepts for protecting pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists; The Internet of Things; Materials science in infrastructure; On-demand ride services (transportation network companies); Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS); Wireless power transfer.

“Advances in just the past decade have dramatically changed the way Americans travel and deliver goods, and the pace of change is something we cannot dictate,” writes US DOT assistant secretary for research and technology Gregory Winfree in the report’s foreword.

“This is why we must be proactive and look to new technologies that have clear applications for transportation. However, new technologies can also introduce new risks, and we must anticipate the full range of potential impacts.”

The report also notes external factors that could maximise or hinder potential, such as the growing role of data and connectivity, changes to the workforce, and the uncertain impact of these technologies on travel behaviour.

Location Based Systems

Related Content

  • January 14, 2022
    No compromise on workzone safety
    The National Work Zone Memorial is a sobering reminder of the dangers of working on US highways. More accurate and timely information can help reduce risks, explains One.network’s Simon Topp
    Read More
  • May 29, 2014
    The role of GIS in climate change resiliency
    Climate change will pose global and local challenges and that includes risks to the transportation infrastructure. Climate change adaptation and resiliency has captured the attention of the transportation community for some time now. Because transportation infrastructure is often designed to last for 30, 50, or 100 years or even longer, transportation professionals are concerned not only about the impact on our existing investments, but also how to design more durable transportation systems for the future
    Read More
  • March 12, 2015
    Global number of car sharing users to reach 650 million by 2030
    Car and ride sharing is just one example of the new on-demand economy allowing real-time matching of supply and demand through connected smartphone applications. According to ABI Research, successive forms of vehicle sharing approaches represent paradigm shifts in uptake and popularity; each new generation seeing adoption rates at least an order of magnitude larger than the previous: Car sharing 1.0 - street rental service: Cars parked on the street can be located, unlocked, used, and left behind. Examples
    Read More
  • December 14, 2021
    EVs: Time for a rethink
    Given a growing body of evidence that EVs are not the clean, green machines they are made out to be, Andrew Bunn suggests they can only be part of the puzzle – not the answer to environmental problems
    Read More

Highlighted Content