What is the future of transport challenge?

Students from year 7, 8, 9 & 10 working in teams of 2 -5 students will learn to think like entrepreneurs. They will research real world transport issues, explore what global cities are doing to fight congestion and learn more about the new technologies that will drive our future mobility. Armed with this knowledge they will apply design thinking to come up with a new product or service AND create a pitch to sell the idea to potential investors. Think Dragon’s Den or Shark Tank!

Why is transport important?

Transport is the next major disruptor. Cities are struggling with traffic gridlock, with no places to park and dirty air to breathe. Meanwhile, Australians living in regional and rural towns lack the transport services they need to study, go to work and access medical services.

Congestion

Without major policy changes, the congestion costs in Australia are projected to reach between $27.7—$37.3 billion by 2030^[1]

Cost of transport

Staying mobile in Sydney is becoming more expensive with over $22,000 spent per year by a typical Sydney family to get around

Road crashes

Death and injury in NSW roads brings significant social trauma to families while costing the community $7.7 billion in 2015

Health & environment

Australian cars and light vehicles emit 57 million tonnes of greenhouse gases each year leading to 1,600 premature deaths a year

Safety

1200 people die annually in Australian road with 93% of all crashes happening due to human error rather than mechanical reasons

Transport inequality

People living in regional and rural areas are forced to own a car to allow them to seek employment, study or seek medical services

Students can choose from these questions or they can create their own….

How can cars connected to the internet and controlled by artificial intelligence make roads safer?

Is individual car ownership becoming a thing of the past?

Can money be made from getting people cheaply and easily from home to their nearest transport hub?

How can new transport technologies improve the lives of the disabled, the young and the old who are unable to drive?

What is mobility as a service and does it open opportunities for individuals to make money from providing this service?

What new car building technologies are just around the corner and do they promise to be more sustainable?

How can we make bike riding more popular to reduce traffic congestion and increase people’s health?

Students can choose from these questions or they can create their own….

Can technology like electric cars, cars connected to the internet and transport services ordered via a mobile phones improve the quality of our lives and reduce congestion in our cities?
Can autonomous vehicles (AV) reduce death and injury on roads? How do we create trust cars that are controlled by computers and artificial intelligence (AI)?
Why pay for a car that is parked for 22 hours a day? Is individual car ownership a thing of the past or are new transport products such as car or ride sharing what people now want? Is an individual with their own car living an unsustainable life in this congested world?
What stops people from using mass transport? How do we make it easier for people to use public transport? Is there money to be made from connecting people cheaply and simply to major transport hubs?
Can new transport technologies improve the lives of the disabled, the young and the old who are currently unable to drive? What technologies or transport products can help these groups fully participate in society through access to work, study and more enriching lifestyles?
What is mobility as a service (MaaS)? Would you use it if it were available to you?
What is the ‘last mile transport’ problem? How can you make it faster and cheaper for people to get from home to a nearby transport hub? Are there social, economic, health or environmental benefits to addressing this problem?
What new transport technologies are being tested in Australia and globally? Are driverless electric flying cars a false promise or a true reality? Are you excited or scared by 53 minute trip from Sydney to Melbourne in a hyperloop? Want new jobs and careers arising from this new technology?
Many cars today are be built using the production processes introduced by Henry Ford in the 1920s? Are there more sustainable ways to build cars? How does printing your own 3D print car sound?
Why do you need a whole car when an individual transport devise would do? What new powered devises are out there?
How can we make it safer, faster and move pleasant for cyclists of all ages to get from A to B? Can we incentive bike riding to reduce traffic congestion?
Research shows that the ‘shared economy’ is the way of the future? How do we encourage people to share transport resources? How do we educate people so they respect shared resources?
What is ‘transport disadvantage’? How can new transport technologies provide equity to Australian’s who are transport poor?
What is the link between obesity and the car culture in Australia? How can you increase people’s health and the mobility options?
What are the health and environmental benefits from electric vehicles (EV)? Why is the uptake of EVs in other countries faster than Australia? What infrastructure must we build to support EVs? How can we make it easy for people to switch from fossils fuels to EVs?

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