Back to the future…of mobility: The evolution of transport technology | WSP Skip to content
  • Who We Are

    We are the sum of our collective passion, vision and expertise.

    Discover our people, purpose and stories that have helped shape the organization we are today and are inspiring the one we will become.

    Who We Are
    • What We Stand For
    • Our Story
    • Corporate Responsibility
    • Our Leadership
    Corporate Responsibility
    • Communities
    • Corporate Governance
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • Ethics and Integrity
    • Health and Safety
    • Sustainability
    Featured Content

    Future Ready

    With Future Ready we see the future more clearly and challenge our teams across the world to advise…

  • What We Do

    We shape the communities of tomorrow and help society thrive.

    With an intimate sense of local realities, we look at complex problems from different angles and deliver solutions that break paradigms.


    View All

    • Sectors
    • Services
    • Projects
    What We Do
    • Property and Buildings
    • Transport and Infrastructure
    • Environment
    • Energy, Industry and Resources
    Featured Content

    Rapid Responses to the Impacts of COVID-19

    Helping clients globally to prepare, respond and recover

  • Insights

    Our global experts offer compelling insights that provide new perspectives.

    Read inspiring articles that challenge the status quo by reframing current issues, sparking fresh conversations and finding new solutions.

    View all
    Insights
    • Climate
    • Mobility
    • Places
    • Resources
    • Society
    • Technology
    Featured Content

    Digital Twins Contribute to Infrastructure…

    Driving optimal outcomes for projects and communities

  • Careers

    Help us shape the future

    Join a collaborative team of experts that thrives on complex challenges and unconventional thinking.

    See more
    Careers
    • Join Us
    • Early Career
    • Experienced Professionals
    • Why Choose WSP
    Featured Content

    WSP is hiring in power

    Care to join us in doing purposeful, sustainable work that helps shape communities and the future?…

  • Who We Are
    • What We Stand For
    • Our Story
    • Corporate Responsibility
      • Who We Are
      • Accountable for Tomorrow
        • Communities
        • Corporate Governance
        • Diversity and Inclusion
        • Ethics and Integrity
        • Health and Safety
        • Sustainability
    • Our Leadership
  • What We Do
    • Property and Buildings
    • Transport and Infrastructure
    • Environment
    • Energy, Industry and Resources
  • Insights
    • Climate
    • Mobility
    • Places
    • Resources
    • Society
    • Technology
  • Careers
    • Join Us
    • Early Career
    • Experienced Professionals
    • Why Choose WSP
Back

We are locally dedicated with international scale.

Malaysia - English

International

  • Global
    English - Français

Americas

  • Canada
    English - Français
  • Chile
    Español
  • Colombia
    Español
  • Mexico
    Español
  • Panama
    Español
  • Peru
    Español
  • United States
    English

Africa

  • South Africa
    English

Asia

  • China
    中文(简体) - English
  • Hong Kong
    English
  • India
    English
  • Malaysia
    English
  • Philippines
    English
  • Singapore
    English
  • South Korea
    한국어(대한민국) - English
  • Thailand
    English

Europe

  • Denmark
    Dansk
  • Finland
    Suomi
  • France
    Français
  • Germany
    Deutsch
  • Greenland
    Kalaallisut - English
  • Netherlands
    Nederlands
  • Norway
    Norsk
  • Poland
    Polski - English
  • Romania
    English
  • Spain
    Español
  • Sweden
    Svenska - English
  • Switzerland
    Deutsch - English
  • United Kingdom
    English

Middle East

  • Kuwait
    English
  • Oman
    English
  • Qatar
    English
  • Saudi Arabia
    English
  • United Arab Emirates
    English

Oceania

  • Australia
    English
  • New Zealand
    English
Worldwide Offices
    • Investors

      Discover our diverse business, financial results and strategic ambitions.

      We are committed to delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and exceptional professional services to our clients.

      Read more
      Investors
      • Corporate Governance
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
      • Stock Information
      • Shareholder Information
      • Presentations and Events
      Corporate Governance
      • Audit Committee
      • Board of Directors
      • Business Conduct Hotline
      • Constating Documents
      • Governance Documents
      • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
      • Mandates
      Reports & Filings
      • AIF
      • Annual
      • Information Circular
      • Quarterly
      • SEDAR Filings
      • Sustainability
      Stock Information
      • Analyst Coverage
      Shareholder Information
      • Acquisitions
      • Dividends
      • Drip
      • FAQ
      Featured Content
      Thn-Web-Q12021-Results

      WSP's 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

      This year again, the Corporation will be holding its Meeting as a completely virtual meeting, which…

    • Investors
      • Corporate Governance
        • Investors
        • Corporate Governance
          • Audit Committee
          • Board of Directors
          • Business Conduct Hotline
          • Constating Documents
          • Governance Documents
          • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
          • Mandates
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
        • Investors
        • REPORTS & FILINGS
          • AIF
          • Annual
          • Information Circular
          • Quarterly
          • SEDAR Filings
          • Sustainability
      • Stock Information
        • Investors
        • Stock Information
          • Analyst Coverage
      • Shareholder Information
        • Investors
        • Shareholder Information
          • Acquisitions
          • Dividends
          • Drip
          • FAQ
      • Presentations and Events
    • News

      Progress happens quickly.

      Stay up to date with our latest global news, events, awards and more.

      News
      • Latest News
      • Press Releases
      • Events and Webinars
      Featured Content

      Scaling Up Healthcare Capacity At Speed

      With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, our global healthcare network and specialist teams have…

    • Contact us

      We are dedicated to our local communities and driven by global talent.

      Contact us to find out how our diversified offering, world-class expertise and geographical reach can assist you in achieving your vision.


      Follow us

      Contact us
      • Send a Message
      • Offices
    • Investors

      Discover our diverse business, financial results and strategic ambitions.

      We are committed to delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and exceptional professional services to our clients.

      Read more
      Investors
      • Corporate Governance
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
      • Stock Information
      • Shareholder Information
      • Presentations and Events
      Corporate Governance
      • Audit Committee
      • Board of Directors
      • Business Conduct Hotline
      • Constating Documents
      • Governance Documents
      • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
      • Mandates
      Reports & Filings
      • AIF
      • Annual
      • Information Circular
      • Quarterly
      • SEDAR Filings
      • Sustainability
      Stock Information
      • Analyst Coverage
      Shareholder Information
      • Acquisitions
      • Dividends
      • Drip
      • FAQ
      Featured Content
      Thn-Web-Q12021-Results

      WSP's 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

      This year again, the Corporation will be holding its Meeting as a completely virtual meeting, which…

    • Investors
      • Corporate Governance
        • Investors
        • Corporate Governance
          • Audit Committee
          • Board of Directors
          • Business Conduct Hotline
          • Constating Documents
          • Governance Documents
          • Governance Ethics and Compensation Committee
          • Mandates
      • Press Releases
      • Reports & Filings
        • Investors
        • REPORTS & FILINGS
          • AIF
          • Annual
          • Information Circular
          • Quarterly
          • SEDAR Filings
          • Sustainability
      • Stock Information
        • Investors
        • Stock Information
          • Analyst Coverage
      • Shareholder Information
        • Investors
        • Shareholder Information
          • Acquisitions
          • Dividends
          • Drip
          • FAQ
      • Presentations and Events
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Press Releases
      • Events and Webinars
    • Contact us
      • Send a Message
      • Offices
  1. We are WSP
  2. Insights
  3. back to the future...of new mobility: the evolution of transport technology

Back to the future…of mobility: The evolution of transport technology

In Victorian times, the streets of London were clogged up with traffic as horse-drawn vehicles and pedestrians vied for space amongst the multiple roadworks sites for the new sewer and railways systems. A railway engineer, John Peake Knight, devised the solution – a traffic signal based on his familiarity of railway signals.

map marker United Kingdom | Monday, 5 November, 2018

[Insert your title here]

By Ian Patey, Head of Profession Intelligent Transport, WSP in the UK

The gas light signals, installed in 1868, experienced mixed success but were short lived due to an explosion that injured a policeman. It wasn’t until 1925 when the next generation of traffic lights were installed in London and based on a system invented in the U.S. that used red, amber and green lanterns.  

This is a great example of engineers using experience from one sector (rail) to solve a problem in another (road) – in this case safety and congestion. Whilst the light source (from gas to electric) and method of control (from a person to automation) has evolved as new techniques have become available, the system has remained relatively unchanged for almost 100 years. The success of the signals still relies on drivers to understand and obey.

When the M6 Preston Bypass opened in 1958, safety and congestion didn’t need to be managed as there were too few cars and lorries to make them problems. The first use of technology on a motorway was developed in 1965 in response to crashes in foggy weather.  The “Motorwarn” signal had a simple design that provided a visual warning of fog ahead, and relied on drivers proceeding with more care and adapting to the conditions. As traffic increased across the motorways, technology was developed to improve safety and manage congestion – nowadays, technology is a familiar and expected sight on motorways.

The shift from purely building motorways and managing them as assets towards the operation of a transport network requires more sophisticated tools and technology. This resulted in what we now know as smart motorways. The development of smart motorways relied on learnings from other sectors – the operational safety governance and safe system approach has roots in both railway and aviation. It also relied on an understanding of the root causes of problems, and harnessing the power of a system that integrates people, process and technology. 

As we consider the potential impacts and opportunities that connectivity and automation in vehicles will bring, we can draw upon the lessons of the past to give us the best outcomes. It is all too tempting to get excited about the technology and then look for a problem that it could solve rather than to start with the problems and then see where the technology might make a difference. Let’s make sure we adapt and use techniques that have served us well so far.

We also need to think about the various trends, changes in demographics and retail habits that will follow disparate yet linked trajectories. The future is unknown, so we have an increasing need to focus on what we can do today with the future in mind while also accepting uncertainty and working with models and frameworks that can be adapted.

Scenario planning doesn’t need to be scary, but we will need to accept that there may be more than one version of what the future will look like. When we have grasped that concept, we can carry on using our immense talents in engineering, technology and science to enable the future to be a successful and enjoyable one.

Read how WSP connects people for the futureRead our vision for digital transport infrastructure

Click here to learn more about Smart Places


More on this subject

thn-turning-the-tide

March 2021

Turning the Tide

Feature
Mobility , Places , Resilience , Resources , Climate
thn-the-future-water

March 2021

The Future of Water is Now

Feature
Climate , Resilience , Resources , Technology
Digital_Twins_Website-Thumbnail

March 2021

Digital Twin: Your Essential Partner in Water Management

Feature
Places , Resilience , Technology
Data-Management_Website-Thumbnail

March 2021

Focusing Data On Sustainable Water Delivery

Feature
Places , Resilience , Resources , Society , Technology
thn-reefer-trades

March 2021

Flexibility and Pandemic Proof – Future of Reefer Trade

Feature
Mobility , Resilience , COVID-19
thn-systems-integration-rolling-stock

March 2021

Bringing Systems Integration to Rolling Stock

Feature
Mobility
thn-wp-alliance-contracting

February 2021

Leveraging Project Procurement and Delivery Approaches for Positive Outcomes

White Paper
Mobility , Places , Resources , COVID-19 , Resilience
thn-Web-Maritime_Reefer

February 2021

Setting sail for more efficient and greener trade by sea

Feature
Climate , Mobility , Resilience
thn-mlk-street-closure-encourages-recreation

December 2020 | 3:00 minutes

WSP USA Study: Street Closure Encourages Recreational Activity During Pandemic

United States
White Paper
COVID-19 , Mobility
Thn-Web-VZ-ITS-Article6

December 2020

Creating Safe Road Ecosystems

Feature
Mobility , Technology , Places , Society
Thn-Web-VZ-ITS-Article5

November 2020

Designing Out Flaws Within Road Transportation Systems

Feature
Mobility , Places , Resilience , Society , Technology
Thn-Web-Insight-TI-Electric-Vehicles

November 2020

Continuing the Shift to Electric Vehicles

Feature
Mobility , Places , Technology

Share this page

  • Share on Facebook - Warning, this link will open a new tab.
  • Share on Linkedin - Warning, this link will open a new tab.
  • Share on Twitter - Warning, this link will open a new tab.
  • Share on Skype - Warning, this link will open your Skype application.


Related themes and tags

  • Technology (119)

  • Mobility (192)


  • Digital transformation (39)
  • Infrastructure (95)
  • Congestion Management (8)
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  • Who We Are
  • What We Stand For
  • Our Story
  • Future Ready
  • Our Leadership
  • Our Offices
  • What We Do
  • Sectors
  • Services
  • Projects
  • Insights
  • Climate
  • Mobility
  • Places
  • Society
  • Resources
  • Technology
  • Careers
  • Join Our Team
  • Spontaneous Application
  • Corporate
  • Sustainability
  • Health and Safety
  • Investors
  • Business Conduct Hotline
  • News
  • Corporate Governance
  • Ethics and Integrity
    ©2021 WSP
    • The WSP Logo
    • Privacy Policy
    • Anti-Spam commitment
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Use
    ©2021 WSP

    Exiting our Website

    You are about to leave WSP.com and are being redirected to a job opportunity at Louis Berger, which has been recently acquired by WSP in the US.