Bruno Spandonide

Research Associate, Ph.D

School of Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics

Flinders University

Ninti One

Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation

Innovative transport options for enhancing

liveability in Australia’s Rangelands

Transport Research in the Rangelands 2

The Transport Futures research investigates a variety of current transport systems and future alternatives in a demographic, economic, climatic, technological and socio-cultural change context.

Transport Significance in the Rangelands

• Transport systems are essential for Rangelands economy influencing economic participation and lifestyles.

• As a complex process transportation impacts livelihoods on multiple levels.

3 Bush mechanics

Key Non-Transport Challenges in the Rangelands

• The Rangelands are affected by structural challenges impacting transportation:

Geographic (very long distances, extreme climatic conditions),

Historic (less developed regions, incomplete networks, history of segregation),

Socio-cultural (inequalities with direct impacts on transport access, differences of travelling needs, land and time uses), and

Financial (low cost-recovery, high supply chain costs).

This reduces the competitiveness of business and social enterprises and results in a situation of informal transport segregation in the Rangelands: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represent a very significant majority of the people affected by transport inequalities (>90%).

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Key Transport Challenges in the Rangelands

• There are different types of challenges for the Rangelands’ transport systems:

Demand-based (intense regional mobility needs of the ATSI population, population turn-over of the non-ATSI population, high number of people with low mobility),

Operational (restricted cooperation and integration, poor coverage, frequencies, and information access, and inappropriate transport policies), and

Technological (lack of access and design of appropriate technology/integrated infrastructures, vehicles and services).

Stephen Codrington. (2005) Alice Springs ridge,

Planet Geography 3rd Edition

Demographic Changes in the Rangelands

• Demographic, economic, climatic, technological and socio-cultural changes will occur in the Rangelands.

• The population in remote areas is growing at a macro level with variations that need to be understood (aging, nature of mobility, etc).

Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Census of

Population and Housing, 2011,

ATSI as a percentage of the population.

Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Census

of Population and Housing, 2011,

People in need of assistance in a core activity as a

percentage of the total population.

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Economic Changes in the Rangelands

• Asia’s share of Australia’s total exports is expected to exceed 80% by 2030.

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Australian Bureau of Statistics , 2014, Ten of Australia’s top 12 goods

and services export markets were in the Asian region in 2013–14

Trade data on DFAT STARS database, ABS Cat. No. 5368.0.55.003

and ABS unpublished data (released 20 November 2014); Austrade

Climatic Changes in the Rangelands

• In 2050 extreme climatic events occur in north-central Australia and an increase in heat wave intensity and frequency can be anticipated (+ floods, droughts, storms, bushfires).

• By 2030, temperatures are anticipated to increase by 0.6 to 1.4˚C.

Morris, 2013, NSW Rural Fire Service/The Associated Press

Fire at Deans Gap, Australia, crosses the Princes Highway

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CSIRO, 2014, Median Projected Changes in Temperature (in ˚C) in

each Season, for 2080–2099 relative to 1986–2005 under RCP8.5

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Technological Changes

• Medicine (stem cell, genetics),

• Robotics (3D printing, Artificial Intelligence),

• Advanced IT systems (Virtual Reality, telepathy,

mind reading technologies), and

• Biotechnologies.

FutureTimeline.net

Advanced communication technology

Joule Technology,

Engineered photosynthetic process to produce fuel from CO2

RioTinto’s driverless truck

• Passenger transport and freight are expected to triple by 2050. Electric vehicles will dominate the market.

Transport Futures in the Rangelands 10

Bureau of Infrastructure Transport and Regional Economics

(2014). The Evolution of Australian Towns Report 136, p. 155

Characteristics of Preferable Transports in the Rangeland

• Robust and durable technologies

• Protecting and healthy transports

• Transport integration and portability

• Low cost options

Affordability Accessibility

Sustainability Safety

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• Integration of transport services, higher frequencies, unified fare policy.

Future Operational Adaptation in the Rangelands

Northern Territory Department of Transport (2012)

FaHCSIA (2008) Prescribed Areas –

Aboriginal Land and Community Living Area

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The Ghan

Future Technical Adaptation in the Rangelands

• Ride and car parts sharing

Existing vehicle pooling, bush driving and bush mechanics practices could be developed. Governmental agencies, mining, gas extraction projects, or the cattle industry could benefit from such systems.

• Appropriate vehicles

Fuel efficient, robust easy-to-maintain

and affordable vehicles

Mobius 1,

Mahindra Bolero

Centre for Appropriate Technology, 2010

Infrastructure Housing Guide 13

Future Transport Innovations

• Electric cars, buses, planes

Integrated with solar recharging systems.

Deal-breaker factor: battery technology

and infrastructures.

• Innovative vehicles

Fuel efficient, lightweight, self-driven,

auto-maintenance, connected, personal mobility

and drones. Deal-breaker factor: IT access

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Drone and Personal Mobility Vehicle, Future timeline Hirschberg’s Aerofoil

Mitsubishi PHEV

Solar Tuk

Solar Sailer

Ford C-Max

Envision Solar Carport Veefil electric fast charger

The Whill Type-A

Timeline

Timeline 2015 2025 2035 2045

Appropriate and smart fleet

service

Appropriate and smart

transport service

Appropriate and smart

transport vehicle

Appropriate and smart low-

powered transport

Innovative transport

vehicles

Innovative low-powered

transport

Innovative transport fuel

Non-remote

Large Remote

Very remote

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Fast Tracking Innovations in the Rangelands

• Prioritising technological innovations leveraging lower supply chain costs in remote Australia (e.g. improved internet -> telework/medicine/education, 3D printing, driverless technologies, smart planning and transport services, remote drone management).

• Supporting governance models with increased local participation / collaboration (governmental organisations, NGOs, remote enterprises, and community stakeholders).

• Fostering culturally appropriate low-cost grassroots developments of technological innovations (adaptation frameworks).

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Acknowledgements

This research is conducted by Flinders University, Ninti One and the Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation.

For further information: Mobility Report CW015 http://www.crc-rep.com.au/resource/CW015_ReconceptualisingMobility.pdf Dockery M.A. 2014 Reconceptualising mobility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. CRC-REP Working Paper CW0017. Ninti One Limited. Alice Springs. Transport Futures Report CW017 http://www.crc-rep.com.au/resource/CW017_TransportCostsInRemoteCommunities.pdf Spandonide B. 2014. Transport systems in remote Australia: Transport costs in remote communities. CRC-REP Working Paper CW0017. Ninti One Limited. Alice Springs.

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