IBM's 'smart transportation, smart planet' scheme

IBM's Smarter Planet scheme

Computer corporation, technology innovator, eco-warrior? Apparently so, because IBM have said they are to focus on 'Smarter Planet' initiatives that aim to focus on the problems of ever growing cities and the challenges that go with them.

One of the main focuses of IBM’s “Smarter Planet” is looking at traffic, congestion and what’s known as Intelligent Transportation Systems and finding ways to deal with the fact that for the first time in history, the majority of humanity lives in cities.

As such, IBM has been organising events to discuss this on-going problems and last week a forum was held in Washington DC, focused on improving transportation systems through technology as done by certain European countries.

Speaking at the forum, entitled “A Smarter Transportation System for the 21st Century", were Dr. Leo Kroon of Netherlands Railway and Gunnar Soderholm of Stockholm, Sweden.

Fossil fuel free

In the Netherlands, the rail service is of great importance. As Kroon said at the forum, "16 million people make it extremely dense" and as such, rail market share between some Dutch cities reaches 50 percent, an amount that would be unheard of in the United States.

To get people to give up their cars for rail, Kroon says the Netherlands Railways “seduces” them instead, through continued technological improvement that makes travel convenient and a commitment to reliability and affordability.

For instance, Netherlands Railway has introduced a SmartCard system and is improving its monitoring systems to pinpoint its flow of passengers and accommodate them as efficiently as possible.

Sweden have gone even further. According to Gunnar Soderholm, head of the city’s Environmental and Health division, the country's decision to implement a congestion charging scheme was seen as the “biggest political suicide ever in Sweden." However, since it was implemented, charging drivers for bringing autos into the business district during peak hours, it has been embraced by all parties.

“It was free flow all the time,” he said. Stockholm saw a 20 percent reduction in traffic, a 30-50 percent reduction in travel time and a 10-14 percent reduction in carbon emissions. Many more Stockholm residents are combining auto use with more walking and bicycling. Revenues from the charge are directed toward transportation infrastructure. As such, Stockholm aims to be fossil fuel free by 2050.

Can America learn from the EU, and will IBM be able to push such innovative ideas in the US?

Relevant articles:

How a city changes in two centuries | GE CEO: Smartgrid essential for US | Megacities: Benefits or burdens?

Timon Singh

Timon Singh is a graduate of Liverpool University where he received a degree in Social and Economic History. He has previously worked for BBC Magazines on BBC Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, the publication for the popular genealogy show.

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