Introduction
The Asia-Pacific cities are facing challenges to expand and integrate urban public transport systems and improve the efficiency of their services to meet increasing demand created by rapid urbanization. Many cities are operating a combination of different forms of urban public transport systems to meet mobility needs and enhance accessibility of the urban residents. Besides, the utilization of digital technologies can help significantly to further enhance the operational efficiency of urban public transport systems and smart mobility particularly utilizes digital technologies to make transport more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. This includes optimizing traffic flows, integrating various transport modes, and encouraging the use of cleaner vehicles which are also essential for smart cities as it enhances the environmentally-friendliness of transport services by using sustainable transport modes (e.g., electric mobility) and user’s convenience by providing efficient and flexible services tailored to user’s demands.
The projects, “Building capacity for the integration and application of digital technologies in urban public transport systems in Asia-Pacific cities” and “Strengthening the capacity of the Pacific subregion to utilize smart mobility technologies for the fast transition to sustainable smart cities”, initiated to help build the capacity of selected cities in the region to enhance overall sustainability of urban public transport systems and to increase the capacity of the Pacific subregion in utilizing smart mobility technologies for the fast transition to sustainable smart cities, respectively. In more detail, these projects aim to evaluate the existing state of urban mobility in pilot cities and countries, and make recommendations for innovative solutions, including application of digital technologies, in planning, development and operation of integrated public transport systems, as well as to access to a set of policy guidelines and capacity building activity for smart mobility to address transport challenges for the development of sustainable smart cities.
The national workshop for Fiji, planned in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, Transport & Meteorological Services in Fiji, will provide a platform to share result of mobility assessment and stakeholders survey and discuss ways to enhance safety and social inclusion of operation of public transport systems and use of digital technologies for the transition to sustainable smart mobility and smart cities in Fiji.
Urban transport policy makers and national experts, representatives of private transport and telecommunication operators, and international organizations and development partners working in the areas of urban transport and smart mobility are expected to participate in this national workshop.
Objectives
The key objectives of the national workshop are to:
- highlight the importance of integration and application of digital technologies, including smart mobility technologies, to enhance overall sustainability of urban public transport systems;
- share experiences of Fiji on mobility assessment using SUTI, integration and use of digital technologies, implementation of smart transport systems, and present the result of stakeholder’s survey to enhance the sustainability for the transition to sustainable smart mobility and smart cities;
- present a methodological guideline and compendium of best practices on planning of integrated urban public transport systems and use of digital technologies;
- share policy considerations towards a sustainable smart transport systems in the Pacific;
- share experiences of public transport operators, private entities and development partners on planning, development and operation of sustainable urban public transport systems and smart mobility technologies; and
- discuss the way forward for improvement of urban public transport system and smart mobility in Fiji.
Contacts
Contact person in Bangkok: Ms. Tham Lu, [email protected]