How can the world prepare the transportation sector for the fourth industrial revolution? This revolution is coming as evident in the plethora of wearable devices, smart vehicles, and integrated systems that we now enjoy. Who would have ever thought that we will live to see a street with automated cars? This is more than just a dream. It is more than just a thing we see in the movies. It is now possible to see a world that’s driven by machines, technology, and the internet of things (IoT).
There are signs that the world is about to enter into a transportation revolution like never before. Technology is at the core of these changes. And more than that, industrious and innovative leaders are making it a point to lead the sector into a more modern world.
Change in Leaderships
Gone are the days when leaders are like kings in their secluded and enclosed offices. Today, they mingle with the workers and make sure they know what’s happening in the ground. This is what SMRT CEO Neo Kian Hong makes sure of when he took over the company that runs Singapore’s rail transit. For a “crash course” into the world of railways and systems, he spent his first three months visiting and talking to staff on the ground. He said there’s no point in staying in the office, so he might as well go down to see the real issues.The Coronavirus Pandemic
The pandemic is another sign that things are changing. Passengers cannot commute the same way they’ve been traveling in the past. They now have to be more careful of how they ride, what they do when they ride public vehicles, and how they interact with the other passengers. There will be big changes in public transportation because of the pandemic with special emphasis on social distancing, special routes, schedules, and sanitation areas.Ride-hailing Services
How do you call a cab today to reach your destination? Do you call? Or, do you open an app on your smartphone and book a ride? Ride-hailing platforms have forever changed the taxi industry. Today, passengers can even share a cab with strangers provided they are going the same way. Of course, this will change because of the pandemic, but ride-hailing services show no signs of slowing down.Autonomous Vehicles
Elon Musk is not the only one who’s building autonomous vehicles. Other car manufacturers are following suit because there is a strong demand for self-driving cars. While we’re still years away from fully automated vehicles, there are now semi-autonomous vehicles on the road that can guide drivers on how to park and drive cars better.
Climate Change
There’s already a push from environmental advocates and progressive governments to eliminate gas-powered vehicles from the road. Older cars are no longer being allowed because of the high levels of carbon dioxide they emit. This is pushing automakers into a corner where they will no longer produce affordable cars that rely on burning fossil fuels for power.Population Growth
The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that seven out of 10 people will be living in cities by the mid-century. This means there will be massive pressure for the transportation system to come up with innovative ways to serve these people. They need to add routes, expand their capacities, and address the climate concerns that fall on the transport sector.Internet of Things
The world is hyper connected, and this interconnectedness is seen in the way vehicles “communicate” with each other. Cars can share information. They can analyze the preferences of the drivers. Cargo trucks can “communicate” with tollgates, pay fees, and “report” mechanical problems. The revolution in the transportation industry is happening first and foremost because of IoT.Robots
Passenger transport is changing, but so does the shipment of deliveries. Amazon uses drones and robots for its same-day delivery. Other companies are following suit. In warehouses, robots are loading and unloading shipments and making it easy for warehouse workers to manage and organize the storage unit.Air Mobility Service
Retail companies like Amazon are using air mobility to transport and deliver shipments. This is especially helpful in creating a new market in far-flung and remote islands. It is expected that over time, even air mobility services will be pilotless. The ground crew will be able to control these vehicles remotely in the future.Traffic and Safety
Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) will provide traffic management solutions in the modern world. Road accidents account for 1.35 million fatal accidents each year, while 20 to 50 million suffer non-fatal injuries. Often, these result in long-term disabilities. With the ITS, vehicles and traffic lights will “communicate” with each other. Road sensors can be installed and prevent accidents from happening by sending warning signals to the drivers.Every aspect of the transportation industry will undergo massive changes in the next decade. Maybe the pictures of flying cars will not be too far off when that day comes. It’s about time, too, as technology is bound to explode and take with it outdated systems and processes.
