Dear UTSG colleagues,

I would like to extend an invitation to attend a workshop hosted by the Department for Transport on 16 November in London. Places are limited and need to be reserved by emailing Javier Caletrío - [log in to unmask] 

Full details are given below.

Best wishes,

Glenn



TRANSPORT AND TECHNOLOGIES: UNCERTAIN FUTURES FOR TRAVEL DEMAND 

A workshop hosted by the Department for Transport 

12.30pm to 4.30pm, 16 November 2012 

DfT, Great Minster House, Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR
 
Attendance is free of charge but places are limited - to reserve your place please contact Javier Caletrío - [log in to unmask]


 
This event is focused upon the findings from an ESRC-funded research project led by Professor John Urry from the Centre for Mobilities Research at Lancaster University and Professor Glenn Lyons from the Centre for Transport & Society at the University of the West of England, Bristol, which has been examining how non-transport technologies indirectly shape the nature and extent of travel demand through their influence upon evolving social practices. 

Consideration of the role of technologies is not new within the transport profession and within transport planning and policy. However, focus has tended to be on transport technologies which enable the operation and use of the transport system and seek to help improve efficiency or on substitution technologies which enable alternatives to travel such as teleworking and e-shopping. Yet a much greater array of technologies contribute to society in ways that could ultimately be highly significant for future travel demand and yet which are under-researched and poorly understood. 

This research project has sought to examine the challenges of assessing how non-transport technologies influence travel. It has chosen as its focus two spheres of technology in particular. The first concerns assistive technologies to support people in later life. As the population continues to age, the availability and take-up of assistive technologies is likely to play an important part in shaping where and how older people live and the associated patterns of support provided to them by other people. The second concerns the nature and extent to which 3-D printing or additive manufacturing is likely to become a dominant force in the production and consumption of goods. Supply chains as we have known them may be set to be transformed in a globalised setting where feedstocks for localized production and consumption may be the principal transport consideration for some goods.
 
The project has used scenario planning exercises to explore both of these case studies of non-transport technologies and travel. Important questions emerge as to whether we are equipped to makes sense of the accumulation of non-transport technology effects in formulating robust policies in transport; and whether this matters. 
The aim of the workshop is to share insights from the project and critically discuss their implications. 

PROGRAMME
 
12.30pm Arrival and buffet lunch 
1.15pm Welcome and introduction - John Urry 
1.45pm Care Miles - futures for living in later life - Glenn Lyons and Christa Hubers 
2.30pm Freight Miles - futures for manufacturing, transport and distribution - Thomas Birtchnell 
3.15pm Tea/coffee 
3.30pm Implications of non-transport technologies for transport policy - Peter Jones and Glenn Lyons 
4.15pm Summing up - Glenn Lyons and John Urry 
4.30pm Close
 
SPEAKERS 
Glenn Lyons is Professor of Transport and Society at UWE and founder of the Centre for Transport and Society. 
John Urry is Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director of the Centre for Mobilities Research at Lancaster University. 
Peter Jones is Professor of Transport and Sustainability at UCL. 
Dr Thomas Birtchnell is Research Associate at the Centre for Mobilities Research at Lancaster University. 
Christa Hubers is formerly a Research Associate at the Centre for Transport and Society at UWE.