Intelligent mobility the future of African transport | Infrastructure news

Kevin Pillay - Vice President for Mobility at Siemens Africa

Kevin Pillay – Vice President for Mobility at Siemens Africa

Africa’s transport sector is preparing for an infrastructure revolution as more countries are embracing the concept of intelligent mobility.

This is the sentiment of Kevin Pillay Vice President for Mobility at Siemens Africa. Pillay says that despite the continent’s transport infrastructure lagging behind global standards for decades, Africa has already begun setting the wheels in motion to create interconnected, more modern and efficient African transport networks that keep economies on the move, rather than hindering them.

Intelligent mobility involves the electrification, automation and digitalisation of existing transport infrastructure, and gives every citizen access to safe, reliable and efficient modes of transport.

Intelligent traffic systems

“The adoption of intelligent traffic systems (ITS) will keep Africa’s busiest cities as fast-moving investment destinations,” Pillay notes. ITS solutions include the deployment of smart sensor systems with intelligent algorithms to automatically adapt to improve traffic flow.

Nigeria’s Edo State government recently announced its intention to upgrade to a technologically-advanced ITS system that provides real-time traffic information in Benin City. As part of the integrated solution, motorists and commuters will be informed about travel times, weather conditions and traffic jams on radio or online.

Other intelligent traffic solutions include automated technology like automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and Average speed over distance (ASOD) technology which can be used to improve the safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

These systems also minimise the risk of corruption, while promoting best practice among traffic enforcement officers who are exposed to a new skillset when trained in operating these new systems.

Automated rail infrastructure

Prasa's Gauteng Nerve Centre

Prasa’s Gauteng Nerve Centre

Another effective means of reducing congestion on overburdened and under maintained roads in Africa is through greater investment in upgrading passenger rail networks according to Pillay.

A clear case in point is the Gauteng Nerve Centre (GNC) in South Africa. The 3400 m2 state-of-the art control centre for centralised rail traffic management in South Africa’s economic hub of Gauteng accommodates 35 train control operators in one place, and constantly monitors Gauteng’s rail traffic where over 600 trains carry more than 500 000 commuters on a daily basis.

“The GNC boasts world-class automation capabilities and can immediately respond to any operating failures, accidents and other incidents, thereby enabling greater efficiencies in rail operations and train safety, while offering a more reliable service through higher infrastructure utilisation,” he explains.

The time for intelligent mobility is now

“If Africa truly wants to unleash its full potential, then sufficient funds must be responsibly invested in upgrading existing transport and logistics infrastructure like road, rail and ports, in addition to new concepts that include electric bus rapid transport and ferries, to name a few,” Pillay concludes.

 

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