Intelligent transport systems as generators of built form: towards the design of a transport interchange in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Abstract

Rapid urbanisation in the last century resulted in a more urban population although some countries and continents still have higher rural population. It is estimated that by the year 2050 more than 75% of the world‟s population will be living in urban areas (WB, 2013; OECD, 2015). Most of this increase in global urbanisation is forecast to take place in the emerging, developing and less developed, or third world Africa, Asia and South America (Pojani & Stead, 2015). Transport plays a critically important role within urban areas in ensuring that urban dwellers gain access to resources and socioeconomic opportunities. The transport systems in most urbanized and urbanizing areas of developing nations are largely unsustainable and cause numerous problems that directly affect the quality of social, economic and environmental urban systems. With limited access to financial capital and strong institutional structures these nations struggle to develop their urban infrastructures to keep up with the increasing human populations and demands of safe, reliable and sustainable transportation services. The information and communications technology (ICT) sector has recorded unprecedented growth in Africa over the last decade. In Zimbabwe, for example, telecommunications technology, in the form of an electronic mobile payment system, has enabled the sustainable growth of the informal economy by creating a cashless society. The system has enabled the poorest of citizens access to financial and credit facilities and helped them start up and run profitable small businesses (www.econetwireless.com). It provided a sustainable solution for managing the financial crisis in the country. With more than 75% of the population now owning mobile telephones and wireless devices technologies like the payment systems can be used to improve other sectors of the economy currently under stress and strain. This research study intends to investigate the use of advanced transport systems and technologies in improving transport in the major urban centers of Zimbabwe. The study will investigate intelligent transport systems as tools of improving urban transport and how their operational and functional requirements can be used by design professional to create sustainable and meaningful urban built form.