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Policy@Manchester Seminar on AI and transport

19 Mar 2024

Academics, local policymakers and experts in transport and urban planning met in February

AI and transport seminar

Experts agree that automated driving technologies will create perhaps the most significant transformation in urban and transport planning since the invention of the private motor vehicle. As automated driving technologies are introduced gradually into cities, urban planning has a critical role to play in predicting implications and mediating unwanted consequences with the transition.

On Thursday, 15 February 2024, Policy@Manchester’s GM Policy Hub hosted a seminar on this topic. Chaired by Professor Cecilia Wong, one of Policy@Manchester’s academic co-directors and Professor of Spatial Planning at the University, the event showcased work by Dr Ransford A. Acheampong, Senior Lecturer in Transport and Urban Futures, and Sam Li, Senior Innovation Officer at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

Ransford discussed the ways that AI applications in the transport sector could help unlock opportunities that are crucial to Greater Manchester’s long-term growth and prosperity and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality.

Automated vehicles will, he stated, add to existing public transport to support the ‘first mile and last mile’, connecting people from their home to public transport links, and from transport links to their final destination. One of the implications that Ransford discussed was safety for pedestrians and cyclists, specifically in relation to measures that will need to be put in place for automated vehicles to ‘see’ them.

Ransford’s recommendations were to enable constructive dialogue with stakeholders, overcome ‘uncertainty’ and act now, identify and prioritise the most beneficial use/application cases that help address existing inequalities of access, make sustainable transport plans and strategies, and engage in strategic planning and action.

Sam Li discussed TfGM’s approach of ‘learn by doing - applied innovation’ when looking at automated vehicles and AI. He shared examples of past and current projects, including a new Bolton transport link, and the current use of AI 5G smart junctions.

He went on to discuss the key areas of consideration for TfGM, which include social readiness for new technology, data-driven deployment of tech, agent-based modelling, developing connectivity infrastructure, and developing the digital twin/digital map for use.

If you would like more information on this topic, you can read Dr Ransford Acheampong’s Policy@Manchester article.