WSP’s Intelligent Transport Executive, Pascal Felix, presented on the key challenges and opportunities in technology for WA freight productivity. Alan Rimmer, WSP’s Regional Director WA, played a critical role in facilitating the discussion and highlighted the importance of the event.

Mr Rimmer says “A critical part of the developing infrastructure is recognising the need to have innovative solutions for moving people and freight. It’s also about providing solutions that fulfil the demands of today and future generations. This roundtable discussion was a good opportunity to further investigate how we can increase the productivity of freight in WA, and assess what impact those changes would have on trade within the region. We also discussed solutions that are underpinned by technological advances and utilisation of big data.”

With more than 60 million tonnes of freight passing through metropolitan WA each year, Mr Rimmer added, “WA has the potential to become a centre for excellence with road freight as we operate in a reasonably flexible environment with expansive road networks.”

Key insights from the discussion included, the opportunity for Government agencies, the private sector and academia to work collaboratively to encourage suppliers and manufacturers to view the region as a test bed for innovative trials. It was also agreed that improvements in productivity need to align with improvements in driver safety for the heavy vehicle industry and other road users.