Skip to main content

Infrastructure projects ‘should be software-ready as well as shovel-ready’

In his blog in The Hill, Siemens president of Infrastructure & Cities Sector, Daryl Dulaney claims that, while physical improvements to transportation systems are essential, more consideration needs to be given to incorporating more intelligent technologies. He claims, “Significant improvements in mobility can be made, with minimal investment as compared with large-scale physical transportation projects, by utilising intelligent transportation software in our cities and municipalities. Integrating the us
May 21, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
In his blog in The Hill, 189 Siemens president of Infrastructure & Cities Sector, Daryl Dulaney claims that, while physical improvements to transportation systems are essential, more consideration needs to be given to incorporating more intelligent technologies.

He claims, “Significant improvements in mobility can be made, with minimal investment as compared with large-scale physical transportation projects, by utilising intelligent transportation software in our cities and municipalities. Integrating the use of smart technology into a city transportation system can simplify modernisation without requiring cities to completely rebuild.”

He says it’s not only big systems or large urban areas that realise the impact software technology has on transportation and cites several projects in the US such as the improvements to the world's largest train control system in New York City, new electric computer-enhanced 2008 Amtrak locomotives and traffic-control software in Tyler, Texas, which has significantly reduced downtown congestion.

He concludes: “It’s hard to imagine a world in which we can gather information at the touch of a button, but our transportation infrastructure is operating on systems in place before the invention of the internet. Software can provide affordable, effective solutions that encourage economic growth, support city resiliency efforts, and help the US transportation system finally move into the 21st century.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Buttigieg 'to put $150bn' into public transit
    January 20, 2021
    Cash part of proposed $1 trillion infrastructure package from new US administration
  • EVs & smart cities: Tritium keeps things moving
    December 3, 2018
    Electric vehicles are widely expected to play a major role in the smarter, cleaner cities of the future. Paul Sernia explains why – and looks at the place of ultra-rapid chargers as part of a versatile public infrastructure Electric vehicles (EVs) are widely expected to play a major role in the smarter, cleaner cities of the future. With no dirty tailpipe, EVs can help improve the polluted air of inner cities. And when deployed as widely shared assets – through car clubs, ride-sharing services and taxi
  • Road user charging - replacing the gas tax with a mileage based fee
    January 19, 2012
    Oregon Department of Transportation's James Whitty discusses his state's progress with VMT fee-based charging. Back in 2001, the state of Oregon stole a lead on the rest of the US when it decided to address the need to do something about the gas tax and its decreasing ability to fund highway construction and upkeep. Recognising that a dwindling pot of money could only shrink further as vehicles became more fuelefficient, Oregon's Legislative Assembly passed laws which led to the setting up, by the state's g
  • USDOT to fund New York, New Jersey transit systems upgrades
    September 23, 2014
    US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has announced that 40 projects have been competitively selected to receive a share of US$3.59 billion in federal disaster relief funds to help public transportation systems in the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy to become more resilient, in order to withstand the impact of future natural disasters. Approximately 90 per cent of the funds will be invested in resilience projects primarily in New York and New Jersey, where transit systems sustained the worst of the