The CSIR Smart Mobility Cluster presented its research on various transport systems and operations at Southern African Transport Conference (SATC) – a premier conference in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) annual calendar.

The CSIR Smart Mobility cluster provides a critical core of transport infrastructure engineering, and transport systems and operations technology knowledge and expertise through research, development and implementation of technologies and applications in South Africa and the continent.

This knowledge enables the South African transport industry to improve its global competitiveness and expand its market share.

This year’s conference, held under the theme: Disruptive Transport Technologies: Is South and Southern Africa ready? – was held on 8 to 11 July 2019 at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria.

Smart Mobility Acting Executive Cluster Manager, Kenny Kistan, who served as the Chairman of the Board of SATC, said the conference provided an opportunity for young researchers to present their research work. Speaking at a joint conference with the Minister of Transport, Mr Fikile Mbalula, Kenny stressed the importance, role and value of finding innovative technologies and solutions to improve the quality of life of all commuters.

A number of researchers from the Smart Mobility Cluster presented at the conference.

Commenting on the conference, CSIR researcher Dr Karien Venter, said that the SATC 2019 provided an ideal platform that facilitated discussions and interactions with and between industry, research institutions and relevant government departments. “The papers presented, in line with the conference theme, showcased research and innovations that reflect the transformation that will soon be seen in the South African transport domain,” she said.

Another young researcher, Muzi Nkosi, said the conference granted researcher the opportunity to get insights into some of the challenges being faced by the government departments like the Department of Transport when planning and implementing the programmes.

“This is vital, as it allows us to direct research to unlock constraints, so as to ensure that the system is operating efficiently and sustainably across the value chain.”

Researcher Lana Kemp added that as a young researcher, for her SATC provided the opportunity to present ones research, interact with experts in the field, mature as researcher and build important relationships with industry, other research institutions and government bodies, in the transport and transport infrastructure domain.

Another researcher Dingaan Masango commented: “The future of sustainable transport infrastructure provision will be achieved by how well the evolving challenges are addressed and by harnessing the power of expanding opportunities.”

According to Dingaan, the country is currently striving to build adequate capacity in order to serve the demand and supply of any services that require movement of goods and services.

“As a country we are moving closer to the smart transport provision and infrastructure management to facilitate timely and cost-effective interventions that will, amongst other things, reduce the cost of doing business and improve trade,” he concluded.