Without innovations in technology across a broad range to industries, we would not be where we are today when it comes to transportation. When I consider how rapidly our profession and the modes we utilize and operate have advanced, I think about my own great grandmother, who was born in 1888 when the primary mode of personal transportation was the horse and buggy. She died in 1985 at the age of 97, having witnessed the evolution of the personal automobile, bullet trains, supersonic airplanes, and humans walking on the moon.As we in the profession know, transportation is a foundational component of society that contributes to the safety, security, and prosperity of global economies. The action of getting into a vehicle to drive to work on smooth roads with minor interruptions while arriving safely is undertaken millions of times each day without a second thought by most drivers. Moreover, millions of journeys by bus, train, micromobility, bicycle, or walking occur every day with travelers forgoing the hassle of driving themselves. In our connected society, commuters likely book trips and reserve mobility options via technology, and conduct business or handle personal matters via wireless devices along their journey. Consumers shop for products without considering how they got from the field, plant, or factory to the shelf in the store, or how the various components originally arrived at the factory. With the click of a button, their online purchases arrive at their doors in only a few days, or even hours.
展开▼
