PolyU study urges smarter transport governance, with three recommendations to advance smart circular city development

A study led by Prof. Mike LAI Kee-hung, Co-Director of the Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement (RCESGA), Associate Dean (Academic Support) of the Faculty of Business, Interim Head of the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, and Chair Professor of Shipping and Logistics, points out that urban transport governance should no longer be confined to fragmented and reactive management practices.  Instead, it should adopt a more systematic and targeted, tiered policy approach to address transport issues at different levels.

The research further argues that promoting the development of a “circular city” requires going beyond a narrow focus on road congestion when addressing transport issues.  It requires a comprehensive response to six major challenges: traffic congestion, air pollution, inadequate public transport efficiency, poor connectivity between transport links, ageing infrastructure and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels.  Prof. Lai believes that urban transport governance should move away from a fragmented response model towards a tiered strategy based on the nature of different problems, supported by appropriate technological tools to enhance overall governance effectiveness.

Prof. Lai added that, compared with tackling congestion in isolation, issues such as air pollution and transport mode integration should be treated as more pressing priorities, as they directly affect the public’s daily travel experience, public health and quality of life.  The study suggests that artificial intelligence can be applied to traffic flow forecasting, real-time monitoring, demand analysis and multimodal connection optimisation.  Blockchain technology, meanwhile, can help facilitate transparent data sharing, emissions tracking, smart contract execution, and the establishment and development of carbon credit mechanisms.

At the policy level, the study proposes three recommendations.  First, policymaking should be guided by a problem-oriented approach, with appropriate matching of technologies to identified issues.  Second, a unified data platform should be established to strengthen collaboration across government departments and transport operators.  Third, procurement and performance evaluation mechanisms should be reformed, shifting away from a system that prioritises equipment acquisition to one based on outcomes.

Prof. Lai emphasised that cities seeking to advance smart mobility should adopt a pilot-first and progressive implementation strategy.  By integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, transport governance can evolve from a short-term, emergency-response model into a long-term, low-carbon and resilient circular city governance system.

一項由香港理工大學環境，社會，及治理促進研究中心聯席主任、工商管理學院副院長（學務統籌）、物流及航運學系署理系主任、航運及物流講座教授黎基雄教授領導的研究指出，城市交通治理不宜再局限於零散及被動應對的管理方式，而應採取更具系統性及針對性的分層施策策略，以回應不同層面的交通問題。

研究指出，面對日益嚴重的道路擠塞，單靠擴闊道路未必能從根本上紓緩交通壓力。若巴士、港鐵、單車、步行及共享出行等不同交通方式之間欠缺有效銜接，即使增加道路容量，市民的整體出行便利程度亦未必能獲得實質改善。

研究進一步指出，推動「循環城市」發展，不應僅將交通問題視為道路擠塞，而須全面應對六大挑戰，包括交通擠塞、空氣污染、公共交通效率不足、接駁系統不暢、基礎設施老化，以及對化石燃料的高度依賴。黎教授認為，城市交通治理應由碎片化的應對模式，轉向按問題性質分層施策，並配合適切技術工具，以提升整體治理效能。

黎教授續指，相較於單一處理交通擠塞問題，空氣污染及交通模式整合等議題更具迫切性，原因在於該等問題直接影響市民的日常出行體驗、公共健康及生活質素。研究認為，人工智能技術適用於車流預測、即時監察、需求分析及多模式接駁優化，而區塊鏈技術則有助促進數據透明共享、排放追蹤、智能合約執行，以及碳信用機制的建立與發展。

就政策層面而言，研究提出三項建議：第一，政策制定應以問題導向為本，並配合合適的技術方案；第二，建立統一數據平台，以促進跨部門及跨營運商協作；第三，改革採購及績效評估機制，由以往偏重設備採購的模式，轉向以成果為本的制度設計。

黎教授強調，城市在推動智慧交通發展時，應採取試點先行、循序漸進的策略，並結合人工智能與區塊鏈等新興技術，推動交通治理由短期應急模式，逐步邁向長遠、低碳及具韌性的循環城市治理體系。