Transport & Mobility Solutions and Opportunities in Singapore

What does the Industry Transformation Map reveal about the future of mobility in Asia?

Traffic jams and public transport frustrations are, for many, an inescapable reality.

But Singapore is endeavouring to change that. With the recent launch of the Industry Transformation Map (ITM), the government is implementing a series of strategies based around disruptive technologies and big data to manage the nation’s roads.

S$25 million [$18.72 million US Dollars] has been allocated for mobility-related research and technology trials over the next five years. The focal points of the strategy represent an in-depth portrait of how transport and mobility are poised to evolve throughout the Asia Pacific region.

Infrastructure Technology

Singapore has already successfully implemented the Intelligent Transport System (ITS), road management software designed to resolve transportation problems using revolutionary data communications technology. Japan and Korea have also adopted the technology.

Future road technology strategies will include a pay-per-use electronic road pricing gantry system, an electronic parking system for car parks, and an in-vehicle unit installed in all Singapore-registered vehicles allowing consumers to easily pay for these services.

Automation & AI

There are big hopes throughout Singapore that autonomous vehicle technology will transform how the nation commutes in the form of driverless public transport vehicles and on-demand autonomous mobility services.

In pushing for a society less dependent on cars, the Land Transport Authority is exploring self-driving vehicles as a new form of shared transport. Policymakers are already encouraging the concept of ride-sharing among drivers and commuters to reduce congestion.

When the technology is ready to be deployed, self-driving vehicles will offer shared mobility options to further reduce the number of vehicles on the road. An autonomous vehicle-enabled solution may serve as a new public transport system — the government is already discussing the deployment of autonomous buses to certain districts of Singapore starting in 2022.

There are also plans to automate the monitoring and maintenance of railway operations. Smart sensors, robotics and drones may help save substantial work hours and reduce human error by automating many of the repetitive maintenance processes and inspections of railways.

Data-Driven Solutions (and Opportunities)

Big data will be crucial in implementing each innovation. Documented trends in consumer purchasing, location details and browsing will be instrumental to develop new business models for the sharing economy and optimise the usage of resources in new and unexpected ways.

Real-time traffic data, for example, is currently collected via roadway cameras, monitoring systems and traffic scanners. It is then sent to a data processing centre to consolidate and broadcast real-time traffic information.

The benefits and applications of this data are manifold — from allowing identification and elimination of inefficiencies likely to create traffic congestion to allowing commercial service providers to develop apps or devices that provide smoother journeys for commuters.

In spite of the many perceived benefits of Singapore’s ITM strategy, some remain daunted by the prospect of disrupting longstanding processes and tactics. But, as with similar approaches unfolding in other Asia Pacific markets (notably Korea and Japan), it is clear these trends are growing to be popular and accepted.

One way or another, the future of mobility extends beyond the analogue.

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