The development of innovative solutions to detect the state of infrastructures and their maintenance needs; and the design, construction and operation of resilient infrastructures that contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change are two of the priority challenges that the committee of specialists promoted by the Department of Territorial Policy, Public Works and Mobility and the Valencian Innovation Agency ( AVI) has identified in order to configure more secure, sustainable and intelligent mobility systems.
The multidisciplinary team, which has held its second telematic meeting this Wednesday, also advocates exploring innovative technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the life cycle of transport infrastructure and services, from the initial feasibility phases and design until dismantling.
Another of the relevant challenges for this Innovation Committee in Mobility, Transport and Infrastructures is the improvement of the service, experience and safety of public transport users.
Specifically, the group of specialists coordinated by the professor at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) Eugenio Pellicer is committed to incorporating innovations that allow users to regain the trust of users in public transport. For example, in the context of the current pandemic, new lines of action have been proposed to increase health security in the different public transport networks.
To design specific actions that increase the satisfaction of travelers, the use of tools such as data automation is also proposed, since it provides precise information on the needs of users. Furthermore, the development of technological solutions that enable the integrated payment of the different transport networks is considered preferred.
After defining and prioritizing these challenges, the team of specialists has worked to determine innovative solutions capable of being developed by research groups, technology centers and companies based in the Valencian Community in a horizon of two years.
For the Universitat Jaume I Professor, Joaquín Huertas, it is essential to develop and implement applications based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the management of mobility and the resolution of the proposed challenges, especially those related to the monitoring of infrastructures and the mitigation of the effects that climate change causes on the transport network.
For its part, the regional secretary for Public Works, Transport and Sustainable Mobility, María Pérez, who together with the director of the Metropolitan Transport Authority of València, Manuel Martínez, represent the regional Administration in this innovation committee, has highlighted the commitment of the Conselleria for incorporating innovation to the management of transport and mobility, thus improving the quality of our infrastructures and services to users.
“The Department of Territorial Policy, Public Works and Mobility participates in this group of experts, providing a practical vision of management needs and prospects for improvement”, stated María Pérez.
Public-private collaboration
As specialists in the research field participate, in addition to the coordinator himself, the professors Roberto Tomás (University of Alicante) Joaquín Huerta (Universitat Jaume I) and José Antonio Sobrino (University of València); while the technological institutes are represented by Vicente Cambra (Aitex), Javier Mira (ITC), Carmen Sánchez (Itene) and Ana Isabel Soria (ITE).
Likewise, the business perspective is provided, with the endorsement of the Business Confederation of the Valencian Community (CEV), Juan Manuel Díez (València Port Authority), Ezequiel Moltó (Vectalia Business Corporation), Ignacio Bertolín (Grupo Bertolín) and Juan Antonio Delgado (Stadler Rail Valencia).
The multidisciplinary team will meet again in December to propose the lines of action and incentives necessary for these developments to be carried out successfully, as a preliminary step to drawing up the conclusions document.
