We are delighted to share with you the successful outcomes of the 11th International Travel Demand Management Symposium, held at the Amonoo Neizer Conference Center, KNUST, from September 18th to 20th, 2023. This three-day event brought together experts, researchers, and enthusiasts to explore and discuss the latest advancements and strategies in travel demand management.
The symposium, organized by TRECK in collaboration with Edinburgh Napier University, was a success, marked by engaging sessions, thought-provoking discussions, and fruitful networking opportunities. Over 100 participants joined the symposium from over 20 countries across Africa, Asia, North and South America, Australia, and Europe, further enhancing the event's diversity and global representation.
Throughout the symposium, distinguished keynote speakers captivated attendees with their insightful presentations, shedding light on emerging trends and pressing challenges in transport and travel demand management. Their expertise and leadership provided a solid foundation for constructive conversations and knowledge exchange.
A wide range of topics was covered during the parallel sessions and panel discussions, with over 60 papers presented across ten distinct technical sessions, addressing key themes such as TDM in the age of new mobility options, strategies for enhancing traffic safety through TDM, the intersection of climate change and TDM, the evolving landscape of public transportation in an era of digital innovation, the influence of TDM on emerging travel patterns among women, the expansion of TDM's scope beyond conventional transportation issues, addressing transport poverty, modelling travel behaviour in the context of the internet of things, and a comprehensive exploration of travel behaviour itself.
Participants actively shared their research findings, practical experiences, and success stories, enriching the collective understanding of travel demand management.
Notable Presentations
Prof. Gift Dumedah, delivered a presentation titled "Public Transport Terminals and Routes: Their Impact on Equitable Access to Socioeconomic Opportunities in Ghana." The presentation focused on an investigation into the allocation of paratransit terminals and routes within the Oforikrom municipality of Ghana. In his presentation, Prof. Dumedah highlighted significant findings. Specifically, he pointed out that the allocation of paratransit services in the Oforikrom municipality demonstrated a high degree of inefficiency. This inefficiency was attributed to fragmented routes and inadequate connectivity, resulting in varying travel distances to paratransit services, ranging from 1 to 2800 meters. The presentation also emphasized that paratransit service routes in Oforikrom municipality exhibited spatial disparities based on the specific route and service type. This geographical differentiation raised concerns regarding equitable access to public transportation. In light of these findings, Prof. Dumedah underscored the pressing need for a systematic route planning and allocation program. Such a program should prioritize equitable access for all residents, while also factoring in capital costs and operational expenses associated with the vehicle fleet.
Dr. Ismail Abdillahi Guirreh from Le Centre d'Excellence Africain en Logistique et Transport (CEALT), University of Djibouti, made a presentation titled “Comparative study of urban transport and accessibility patterns: a case study of three African port cities”. His presentation provided an assessment and comparison of urban transport and accessibility patterns in the port cities of Tema, Lome, and Djibouti. It aimed at providing insights into how people in these cities travel, how long it takes them to reach their destinations, what modes of transport they use, and their access to essential services. The study further sheds light on the challenges and opportunities related to urban transport and accessibility patterns in these African port cities. It emphasized the importance of strategic improvements to create more efficient, equitable, and satisfactory urban environments in the face of rapid urbanization and increasing trade activities.
Stellah Namulindwa, a PhD student at Kyoto University, Japan, presented her research on "crowd estimation and prediction using Wi-Fi sensor data: an on-campus experiment." In her presentation, she acknowledged the challenges associated with crowd management and mobility in medium to densely populated areas. Namulindwa highlighted how technological advancements, including the widespread use of mobile devices and increased computing power, have given rise to new data sources, particularly Wi-Fi sensor data. This data, as her research revealed, has the potential to be a valuable resource for understanding various aspects of crowd traffic, such as presence, density, and movement. Furthermore, Namulindwa emphasized that the findings from her study served as a proof of concept for the proposed methodology. She demonstrated the considerable potential of Wi-Fi sensor data in estimating and predicting crowd patterns, offering valuable insights for facility management across a broad spectrum of scenarios.
In his keynote address titled "What do we mean by climate action? Your role in making a change," Prof. Glenn Lyons, a distinguished professor in Future Mobility at the University of the West of England, delivered a compelling message. He expressed deep concern about the pressing and deteriorating climate crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate action. Prof. Lyons passionately stressed the importance of a collaborative effort from all sectors of society, including the transport sector, to confront the challenges posed by climate change and its far-reaching consequences. He underscored that climate action can take multiple forms, such as direct action, including protests and disruptions, as well as personal behavior changes and the crucial role of individuals in challenging established power structures within their professional roles to drive forward the decarbonization agenda. He drew attention to a sobering reality, stating that 2023 is expected to set a new record as the hottest year in recorded history. He also pointed out a disheartening paradox: despite mounting climate concerns, certain oil companies have continued to amass substantial profits. Perhaps most alarmingly, Prof. Lyons highlighted a grim prospect, which was that, if we continue on our current trajectory, there is a significant potential for the world to warm by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the year 2100, a scenario characterized as catastrophic and nightmarish. Throughout his address, Prof. Lyons underscored the ethical responsibility that falls upon all of us to act in a manner that safeguards the well-being of future generations, who will inevitably bear the consequences of our actions, or inaction, in the face of climate change.
These presentations, along with many others, contributed to the rich tapestry of discussions and knowledge sharing that took place during the symposium.
