Innovation for Better Mobility Systems: Highlights From the IRF Annual Conference 2023
The IRF Annual Conference 2023 proved to be once again an enlightening experience for the road and transport community, welcoming participants from 105 countries, and 40 distinguished speakers from leading organisations including the IDB, UNECA, the World Bank, ERTICO, ASECAP and many more.
In celebration of World Sustainable Transport Day and under the theme “Innovation for Better Mobility Systems” the conference explored ground-breaking ideas around five thematic sessions, addressing road assets management, road pricing, safety, ITS and big data, and CCAM. Completing the rich programme, the conference hosted a parallel session in Spanish in collaboration with the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) and a special session for the Start-up Label, where finalists of the 2023 Edition pitched their solutions.
The high-level opening session of the conference welcomed leading figures from the transport industry to sketch the salient features of innovation that can help us deliver better mobility systems that leave no one behind. This included Anouar Benazzouz, President of the International Road Federation (IRF) and General Manager of the National Highway Company of Morocco; Joost Vantomme, CEO of ERTICO-ITS Europe; Arianna Legovini, Director of Development Impact (DIME) at the World Bank; Ana María Pinto, Transport Division Chief, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); and Robert Lisinge, Chief of the Energy, Infrastructure & Services Section in the Private Sector Development & Finance Division at UNECA.
“We need to leverage digital systems to support and drive innovation. Governments need to create the right conditions for that to happen” said IRF President in his opening speech. “As we continue our journey into the future of transportation, let us remember that each revolution in transportation has not only shaped the way we move but has also transformed the world around us” Mr Benazzouz added.
Mr Benazzouz stressed that the conference theme was in line with and inspired by the anniversary tagline chosen to celebrate IRF 75th Anniversary.
Sustainable Transportation in Latin America
The dialogue extended to the Latin American audience through a parallel session hosted in collaboration with the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) and conducted in Spanish. Titled "Towards Resilient and Sustainable Mobility: Latin America in Perspective," the session offered insights into the recently-launched IDB report, "Transportation 2050: Pathways to Decarbonization and Climate Resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean" and welcomed distinguished speakers from the Argentina Road Association, the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) of Colombia, and ASIMOB. The panel discussion examined the current landscape of sustainable transport in Latin America and the role of innovation.
Where is innovation most needed?
Through an interactive poll that delved into the crucial question, "Where is innovation most needed?", the audience also actively provided useful food-for-thought for the conversation. The poll results were further discussed witha distinguished guest – Magali Anderson, former Chief Sustainability and Innovation Officer of Holcim. Infrastructure planning and design, along with policy and regulation emerged as the as the critical areas most in need of innovative interventions.
“Whether is procurement, policy and regulation, or the workforce, a change of mindset is crucial. Innovation does not just mean embracing technology, it’s about changing the process. This will not happen if people continue to think the same way” stated Ms Anderson.
Special Announcements
Recognising the pivotal role that start-ups play in driving innovation, particularly within the road transport sector, on the second day of the conference the IRF welcomed the finalists of the 2023 edition of the IRF Start-up Label: Lane Patrol, Svarmi, BANF and Measure. Each pitched their solutions before the south korean-based start-up, BANF, was announced as the winner of this third edition.
In closing the event, Mr Hamdi Aydin, Board Member of the Turkish Road Association (TRA) and of IRF, introduced the landmark event of 2024: the IRF World Congress 2024 to be hosted in Istanbul on 15-18 October.
The IRF would like to extend its gratitude to all the speakers, its sponsors, Northern Marmara Motorway and Road Trace by Aisin, and its partners, the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) and the China Highway and Transportation Society (CHTS), for their invaluable support in making the IRF Annual Conference 2023 a resounding success.
For a first-hand look at the event, featuring the recordings and insightful speaker presentations, please visit www.irfnet.ch or contact the IRF at info@irfnet.ch.
PE Roads of Serbia New Educational Road Safety Campaign
PE “Roads of Serbia” continues to perform activities related to the improvement of traffic safety and systematically influences the raising of traffic participants’ awareness level by conducting two new campaigns:
“Do not block the emergency lane, do not stop life”
By conducting the educational campaign “Do not block the emergency lane, do not stop life”, PE “Roads of Serbia” wishes to influence the behaviour of drivers on the motorways and raise awareness about the significance and the use of the emergency lane.
The campaign is conducted to influence the unlawful behavior of traffic participants when using the emergency lane, for the purpose of educating road users on the proper use of the emergency lane, exclusively for stopping of vehicles due to a malfunction or sudden inability of the driver to drive, and to point out the risks and consequences of unsafe stopping in the emergency lane.
Considering the high prevalence of traffic accidents in the emergency lane on the motorway, the educational campaign is specifically aimed at the drivers of freight vehicles, bus drivers who pick up passengers, drivers of passenger vehicles who unlawfully stop in the emergency lane to carry out various activities.
“Do not destroy a traffic sign – a sign means life”
By conducting the educational campaign “Do not destroy a traffic sign - a sign means life”, PE “Roads of Serbia” wishes to point out the impact of damaged, stolen traffic signage and equipment on traffic safety and appeals to all those destroying, stealing or damaging the traffic signage in any way not to do that, because in that way traffic accidents could be prevented.
Inability of traffic participants to promptly respond and make a decision due to deficient or missing traffic signage is, first and foremost, a consequence of third persons’ vandalism, which could result in traffic accidents with fatal outcome.
Led by the principle that road accidents can be prevented, PE “Roads of Serbia” will systematically act to raise the level of traffic participants’ awareness.
For that purpose, an educational video and a radio spot have been prepared, as well as social network announcements, informative flyers and posters….
The basic goal of educational campaigns is raising awareness about the problem of traffic-related fatalities, i.e., bringing the attention of the public to the significance and possibilities of improving the level of traffic safety, as well as reducing the level of traffic-related fatalities through education of all traffic participants.
Watch the educational video:
Be responsible to yourself and others!
“Do not block the emergency lane, do not stop life“
“Do not destroy a traffic sign - a sign means life“
IRF Unveils Winner of the 2023 Edition of the IRF Start-up Label
In a landmark announcement during the virtual IRF Annual Conference 2023 on 21-22 November, the International Road Federation (IRF) announced BANF as the winner of the third edition of the IRF Start-up Label. As a South Korean start-up, BANF has emerged as a beacon of innovation in the transportation sector, offering a groundbreaking solution to address tire-related issues and enhance fleet efficiency.
In its third iteration, the IRF Start-up Label continues to be a driving force in supporting and propelling prominent start-ups within the transportation sector. Launched by the IRF in 2021, this initiative is committed to providing a much-needed boost for innovation and change in the transport industry. The label grants winners exclusive access to the IRF's invaluable assets for a year, including unique knowledge and expertise, broad networking capabilities, and extensive exposure.
BANF: Revolutionising Road Safety and Enhancing Road Management
The BANF team shared with us more about their background and goals for the future, here are some key insights:
What is the problem BANF is trying to solve and how are you doing it?
Based on the most recent data from AAA, 44 million drivers had to fork over money last year for vehicle repairs after an unwelcome encounter with a pothole. Drivers across the nation fall victim to these asphalt atrocities, but some states present a bigger pothole problem than others.
CCTV and Lidar are currently employed for pothole detection, with a primary focus on assessing the location of the potholes. If a pothole is shallow, vehicles can traverse it without leading to significant accidents. Consequently, Road Managers utilse these technologies to detect numerous potholes along various routes. However, determining which potholes pose a greater risk or should be prioritised for repair remains a challenge. The BANF tire sensor, however, provides valuable information by accurately measuring the depth of potholes and determining the coefficient of friction as a mu(µ) value.
This capability allows real-time detection not only of pothole depths but also of critical situations such as black ice and asphalt overheating. As a result, the BANF tire sensor contributes significantly to road safety by enabling timely identification and response to potential hazards on the road.
What is motivating the BANF team to grow and scale rapidly?
Our company name, BANF, is actually an acronym for ‘Begin A New Future.’ If we call the seatbelt the first generation for vehicle safety, and the airbag the second, BANF wants to make the tire safety system the third generation. After 3 years, we want to expand to each major region (China, USA, and Europe) and achieve a 0.5% market share of the entire trucking market.
Where do you see BANF in the next years?
BANF is currently in the process of building and developing partnerships with companies and significant players in the automotive, autonomous vehicle and tire industries. BANF seeks to be a global leader in the Autonomous Truck Tire Monitoring System collaborating with international partnerships.
North America accounts for 50% of the global share of self-driving trucks. BANF is actively marketing in the US Market and looking for potential US-based partners to share its Autonomous Truck Tire Monitoring System with the world.
BANF's victory in securing the 2023 IRF Start-up Label marks a significant milestone in their journey to revolutionise road safety and fleet efficiency. The collaboration with the IRF is poised to amplify the impact of BANF's innovative solution, contributing to a safer and more efficient future for the transportation industry.
Learn more: https://www.banf.co.kr/
Valerann Wins the 13th Sacyr Foundation Global Innovation Award
On 21 November, Valerann was announced as the winner in the roads category and the overall winner of the 13th Sacyr iChallenge. The recognition was presented by the Sacyr Chairman at the awards ceremony in Madrid.
This year, this prestigious annual competition has seen over 200 submissions from 34 countries addressing various challenges in the transportation sector.
On a yearly basis, the Sacyr Foundation acknowledges the best initiatives submitted by the innovation community in Sacyr iChallenges, our open innovation programme. Sacyr iChallenges is one of the drivers for our innovation and transformation strategy, which is based on a bid on teamwork and co-creation with the innovation ecosystem globally.
Valerann’s proprietary AI platform, Lanternn by Valerann™, ingests and processes data streams of any scale or structure from all available disparate sources to deliver best-in-class data fusion. The platform's advanced analytics and AI capabilities enable accurate detection and identification of road incidents, allowing road operators to assign resources more accurately and efficiently.
The technology, successfully deployed across locations in the world, plays a pivotal role in enhancing road safety, optimizing road operations efficiency, reducing congestion, and contributing to a reduction in carbon footprint.
ASIMOB Awarded by the European Commission Through the GoVTech Connect Programme
On Friday 20 October, the European Commission, through its GovTech Connect programme, bestowed ASIMOB with the award for the best startup in Southern Europe. The competition included companies from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, and Serbia, competing in categories such as inclusive and accessible services, transparent and open government, and community participation and collaboration.
The event was held at the School of Civil Engineering of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, serving as a closing to the five weeks of work in which 24 entities from northern and southern Europe shared activities to discuss market dynamics of GovTech solutions, the resources available at European level for the evolution of solutions aimed at Public Administrations, the investment dynamics in our sector and the difficulties to be solved in a GovTech market.
The GovTech Connect project is a project funded by the European Commission to promote the digitalisation of the public sector through the use of an innovative European GovTech platform. The project is led by Intellera Consulting, together with its partners Public.io, Lisbon Council and Politecnico di Milano, with the aim of supporting public administrations in the adoption of profitable and flexible digital solutions.
Advancing Sustainable Urban Mobility at the Tomorrow Mobility World Congress
The International Road Federation (IRF) joined the transport community on 16-18 November in Barcelona for the third edition of the Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress.
Supported by IRF and organised by EIT Urban Mobility and Fira Barcelona, Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress is a unique event focused on accelerating the delivery of sustainable and intelligent urban mobility. A gathering of experts and leaders of the mobility and transport industry where to exchange ideas and foster business. Hosted in the framework of Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC), this year’s edition saw the participation of over 134 countries, 800 cities, 577 speakers, and 25,300 in-person attendees.
From Micromobility to Public Transport, Mobility Service Providers, Automotion, Last Mile Logistics & E-Delivery, Seamless Transportation, Smart Infrastructures, and Energy Transition & Efficiency, the congress provided an opportunity for global experts, leading organisations, and innovators to delve into the future of mobility.
IRF was on the main stage for the session “Extreme Weather Events Call for Extreme Action in the Mobility Sector” to discuss solutions and strategies for cities to become climate change resilient and adaptive. “We need system thinking and leveraging digital systems to support and drive innovation and change” said Susanna Zammataro, IRF Director General. “Governments need to create a conducive environment for that to happen” she added. Mrs Zammataro mentioned obsolete procurement procedures, lack of adequate skills and knowledge, and project-by-project approach as the greatest barriers to the implementation of effective solutions that already exist.
Gonzalo Alcaraz, Deputy IRF Director General contributed to discussions around the transformative impact of smart road technology on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs). Alcaraz took on the role of moderator during the session "Revolutionising Mobility: Role of Physical and Digital Infrastructure for CAVs”. The defining features of a "smart" road within the CAV framework, the challenges associated with seamlessly integrating physical and digital infrastructure for CAVs, and tangible real-world examples aimed at expediting the transition were some of the critical issues addressed during the session. Notable projects discussed included the groundbreaking AUGMENTED CCAM Project, of which the IRF is a partner, and the Online Training Planning for Autonomous Mobility, organised by the IRF in conjunction with FACTUAL and EIT Urban Mobility.
The International Road Federation is proud to partner with an event that aligns with its vision of an affordable, sustainable, and intermodal urban mobility accessible to all.
IRF President Addresses IBTTA Tolling Summit 2023
The recent IBTTA Global Tolling Summit hosted in Athens, Greece on 11-14 November delved into the issues of sustainability, green mobility, and equity.
IRF President, Anouar Benazzouz joined other leaders from the sector including IBTTA President, Andrew Fremier, ASECAP President, Josef Fiala, and PIARC President, Nazir Alli, for the session “The Future of Mobility”. Moderated by Bill Halkias (incoming President of IBTTA), the session provided a space to discuss how to meet the challenges of providing sustainable mobility and maintaining the resilience of the road infrastructure.
Benazzouz called for more communication between different organisations, particularly in relation to the climate crisis: "We are fragmented - but we do agree on everything," he said. "But when we talk on our own, the message is not clear and not loud enough." It was important to share best practice, he added.
He stressed the role digitalisation plays and can play in accelerating the scale and pace of transformation in our sector. “Adopting and mainstreaming digitalisation and new technologies into planning, design and construction of infrastructure will be a game-changer for the industry. Roads are a fundamental piece of this multi-modal eco-system. But the sector still needs to learn to do things differently” he said. “Going forward we need to foster digitalisation to ensure efficiency and transparency of procurement processes, more effective asset management, and a more sustainable use of resources” he concluded.
The IBTTA Tolling Summit in Athens, hosted by Hellastron and in partnership with ASECAP, served as a platform for collaborative discussions, fostering a united front in tackling the multifaceted challenges and opportunities in the ever-evolving landscape of global mobility.
Commémoration de la Journée Mondiale 2023 du souvenir des victimes de la circulation routière
Chaque année, le troisième dimanche de novembre, le monde entier se rassemble pour se souvenir des millions de vies perdues dans les accidents de la route. La Journée mondiale du souvenir des victimes des accidents de la route (WDoR) a été lancée par Road Peace en 1993. En 2005, les Nations Unies l’ont approuvée en tant que journée mondiale célébrant chaque troisième dimanche de novembre le souvenir des victimes de la route et la souffrance de leurs familles.
Les accidents de la route sont un problème majeur de santé publique mondiale. Selon l’Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS), environ 1,35 million de personnes décèdent chaque année dans des accidents de la route, et 20 à 50 millions de personnes supplémentaires souffrent de blessures non mortelles, entraînant souvent une invalidité à long terme. Ces statistiques révèlent une vérité surprenante : les accidents de la route sont l’une des principales causes de décès et d’invalidité dans le monde.
La Journée mondiale du souvenir offre une plate-forme globale pour :
- Se souvenir. Honorer la mémoire de ceux qui ont perdu la vie dans des accidents de la route. C’est l’occasion de réfléchir au bilan humain de ces accidents et d’offrir un soutien aux familles endeuillées.
- Soutenir. Sensibiliser à la sécurité routière et à l’importance de prévenir les accidents routiers. La promotion de comportements sécuritaires, d’une conduite responsable et d’infrastructures routières adéquates sont les éléments clés de cet effort.
- Agir. Plaider en faveur de changements de politiques et d’améliorations de la sécurité routière. Les gouvernements, les ONGs et les particuliers utilisent cette journée pour appeler à une application plus stricte du code de la route et au développement de systèmes routiers plus sûrs.
Le 17 novembre à 14h00 CET, vous êtes invités à rejoindre le chat en direct organisé par l’OMS sur les réseaux sociaux sur ses chaînes Facebook, X, LinkedIn et YouTube. Le chat en direct mettra en vedette Etienne Krug de l’OMS, Afef Ben Ghenia, fondateur des Ambassadeurs de la Sécurité Routière en Tunisie ; Daniel Langenkamp, Chargé des affaires publiques, Département d’État des États-Unis ; et Celia Rodriguez, animatrice de jeunes et fondatrice de l’Asociación de Prevención y Atención de la Seguridad Integral en el Tránsito au Guatemala. Plus d’infos sur Journée mondiale 2023 du souvenir: https://www.who.int/groups/united-nations-road-safety-collaboration/world-day-of-remembrance/world-day-of-remembrance-2023
Une multitude de documents sont également disponibles dans de nombreuses langues pour marquer la Journée mondiale du souvenir, notamment des vidéos, des affiches ainsi que le logo de la bougie :
- Journée mondiale du souvenir des victimes des accidents de la route
- Journée mondiale du souvenir – FEVR
- L’IRVP
Soutenez cette action en publiant et en republiant sur les médias sociaux au sujet de la Journée mondiale du souvenir et en utilisant les mots-clés #RoadSafety #RememberSupportAct et #StreetsforLife.
