First year apprentice Leora Wilson, who studies at Leeds College of Building as part of her apprenticeship with Mott MacDonald, has won the ITS (UK) Essay Award for her entry around the use of ITS to improve the environmental impact of transport.
Entrants were asked to write an essay around “The Innovative Application of ITS Solutions to Achieve De-Carbonisation Goals”. Leora’s essay “Changing Perceptions and Going Green with Intelligent Transport System Solutions” was rated top by the judges who noted how her submission was well referenced and contained a range of ideas.
In the essay Leora wrote about changing behaviour by gaining public support, using technology such as real time information and smart ticketing to make public transport more attractive to use, and the importance of ITS in the implementation of Low Emission and Clean Air Zones. She also analysed electric vehicles, micro mobility and incentivisation.
“The transport industry will change as we move closer to our targets and as there is modal shift from single occupancy private car trips to more sustainable journeys,” she wrote. “We are well on the way, but intelligent transport system solutions will help us bridge the gap and move towards a sustainable future.”
“Having been in the classroom at school this time last year to now doing my dream job, I am truly honoured to be the recipient of the 2021 ITS (UK) Apprentice Essay Award,” said Leora. “Every day technology is developing, making intelligent transport systems more and more important in achieving our modal shift goals and changing behaviours to go green. I look forward to being part of this journey and seeing how our decisions can shape a better future.”
Michael Richardson, a Transport Planning Technician Apprentice at Tees Valley Combined Authority was runner up for his essay written as “A Message From the Future” in which he wrote of transport solutions as seen from someone in 2050.
Leora’s essay is available to read here.
ITS (UK) is an independent membership society of private and public sector transport technology-related organisations plus academia. To join the network of more than 150 members large and small, please click here.
(Picture – courtesy Leora Wilson)
