The future Vision of iMobility in Arab region: Towards Unified Regional strategy, Muna Hamdi, iMobility: Future Vision Group & Virtual Research Centre Lead, University of Huddersfield, UK
When addressing the Arab Region, it is important to have General Arab States Policy/Plan that ensures the success of the future ITS Applications Market by harmonizing Arab State- Wide deployment of ITS. A futuristic harmonizing plan should take into account future technologies and the economic diversity of Arab Countries, thereby effecting the speed in which the ITS technology are deployed in these countries. Decisions of what to deploy next may not follow priority but available budget. Hence, the question is: How to make the most of the current infrastructure and where to invest to achieve harmonization and return on investment?
The Transport systems infrastructure over significant areas of the Arab region is still in the early stages of development thus providing an existing infrastructure that is open to a smoother process of change whilst avoiding the barriers of legacy systems, thereby providing the means to test and implement the Future Vision of ‘Seamless Travel’
The Future Vision of iMobility in Arabia project focuses on building, expanding and maintaining Intelligent Transport Systems and Services for people and goods as part of a wider Arab Regional Strategy and Vision for Intelligent Mobility.
A Regional Intelligent Mobility strategy will ensure the deployment of sustainable, integrated, cost effective Intelligent Transport systems and services that supports a growing economy and takes advantage of rapid changes in Transport Technology. Special emphasis will be given to the definition and adoption of an ITS framework architecture addressing long term multimodal infrastructure requirements and possible organisational structures that enables larger scale implementation in future.
The primary aim is to use innovative transport, travel and traffic management solutions to achieve the following benefits:
- Promoting social inclusion and regeneration leading to economic prosperity and demographic growth. This will be achieved by providing efficient transport links, multimodal travel choices and accessibility on a national and international level.
- Safer travel - to reduce traffic congestion and road fatalities.
- Healthier travel - to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improved network management thereby improving air quality.
The objective is to facilitate the widest diffusion and local exploitation of Worldwide Expertise and ICT Research Results, through the piloting and testing of solutions adapted to local infrastructures, service needs, users, culture, and business and social structures.
