Changing face of transport technology
More than 400 industry leaders will debate infrastructure of the future at the NZCID Building Nations Symposium in Auckland today.
“With the world in a constant state of change, there has never been a more poignant moment to look to the future and see what it means for infrastructure,” says NZCID chief executive, Stephen Selwood.
“Digital technologies provide a platform for an array of opportunities we are only beginning to understand. Autonomous vehicles have received plenty of attention, but just as important are the systems which will connect driverless cars to each other, to traffic signals and to authorities monitoring and operating the road network.”
He says the shift away from fossil fuels will revolutionise movement as well as electricity demand, and leading energy companies are already preparing for a future where solar and batteries complement transmission and distribution.
“Increasing digital communication capabilities are already shortening the distance between New Zealand and the world, and opening up new industry opportunities to supplant employment in sectors soon to see a robotic revolution.
“Bringing all these technologies into the built environment and smartening up our cities is going to be a rapidly evolving public sector.”
Selwood says tailoring procurement, attracting investment and removing regulatory impediments to social, economic and environmental progress will be key challenges for public agencies over coming decades.
A fantastic line up of speakers at the symposium will seek to inspire visionary thinking and examine the infrastructure implications of future mobility, infrastructure funding, the future of work, smart cities and smart infrastructure, he says.
Keynote speakers at New Zealand’s peak infrastructure industry conference include:
Deputy Prime Minister Bill English who will set out Future Capital Intentions for the New Zealand Government
Transport Minister Simon Bridges and Secretary-General of the International Transport Forum, Jose Viegas, who will discuss transport infrastructure of the future.
Dave Ferguson, President Nuro and former Principal Engineer, Computer Vision and Machine Learning Lead for Google Self-Driving Cars, who will present on future mobility and the impact of driverless cars.
Chief executives of the major public and private sector infrastructure companies in New Zealand will discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by global trends in technology, demographics, energy and climate change.
Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Little, who will present Labour’s vision for infrastructure
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff who will set out his plans for the super city.
The NZCID Building Nations Symposium is being held at the ANZ Viaduct Events Centre. Executive Editor: Fran O’Sullivan Writers: Bill Bennett, Tim McCready, James Penn, Aimee Shaw, Graham Skellern Subeditor: Isobel Marriner Design: Isobel Marriner Digital layout: Aimee Shaw Advertising: Neil Cording, Nathan Laing, Megan Stevens nzherald.co.nz