ASEAN countries have enjoyed a golden age of growth. The population in ASEAN countries is the third-largest in the world behind China and India and rapid urbanisation of these countries as the trade block grows means that as of 2016, nearly half of people living in ASEAN countries are in highly urbanised areas.
Transportation is vital in urban populations and play a significant role in bringing together other crucial elements such as infrastructure and facilities to handle and enable sanitation efficiently, schools, banking, hospitals, business, trade and much more.
According to PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) transport infrastructure investment will grow around 5-per cent globally by 2025, with the largest transport infrastructure market located in Asia Pacific (APAC) itself.
Within APAC, in the Southeast Asia region, transportation infrastructure is expanding, no doubt to keep up with demand for not just intra-connectivity among ASEAN countries, but also inter-connectivity within each of these countries.
Fifty-one kilometres of safety and productivity
Malaysia is a prime example of the boom in transportation infrastructure. The public rail transportation represents a key part of Malaysia’s economic development programme in the Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley area.
To carry out the construction of the country’s first Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line, is a four-year endeavour that requires comprehensive planning and coordination for productivity, safety and minimal traffic interruption all along the 51 kilometres of the SBK line and the surrounding affected vicinities.
When it is completed, the SBK line comprising 31 stations; seven of them underground; would be part of a larger integrated mobility project that enables seamless urban transportation for 1.2 million residents in the Klang Valley region.
This goes a long way towards increasing mobility between Greater KL’s business districts, as well as to and from urban areas. It also addresses the issue of pretty severe traffic congestion during peak hours, especially under heavy tropical rain conditions.
Significant benefits are to be had from this project, one of which is greatly improved transport services. And as technology partner to the APLG consortium which is was awarded this project, Motorola Solutions will deliver a very secure and reliable TETRA two-way radio communications network for this landmark rail project.
Motorola Solutions Malaysia’s Country President, Datuk Mohd Rauf Nasir said, “Throughout the project’s four-year construction and into its daily operational use, our communications network will provide security, safety and convenience for workers and users of the urban transportation system.”
What this will involve, is supply, design and installation of the complete, digital two-way radio communications network for the new MRT line, including more than 500 TETRA radio devices and base stations.
Motorola Solutions has supported over 80 rail projects in the APAC region the past 40 years, but this particular project is significant because it is the first time an all Malaysia-based team of engineers will manage an entire project end-to-end.
This is also a showcase of knowledge transfer and expertise-sharing at its best, something that this region requires as it gears up for expansion of its transportation infrastructures.
Intelligent surveillance and safety
With countries within Asia Pacific experiencing continued growth, Motorola Solutions is also experiencing increased demand for its services. Countries including Thailand, China and Malaysia are among those with investing in rail projects to connect cities in support of urban renewal and growth. In an environment where rail operators need to maintain reliable performance and safety for passengers and rail staff, Motorola Solutions has a broad range of solutions that can help rail operators meet their objectives.
Besides a communications network to enable effective running of services every day and quick response to issues, video surveillance to monitor public areas in real-time can allow rail operators to maintain safety and security of its operations, its employees and rail passengers.
Last March, Motorola Solutions has added significant new capability in their technology portfolio to complement and enhance their existing offerings. Among the trusted security solutions that Avigilon provides to a global market, is the design, development and manufacture of sophisticated video analytics solutions.
Datuk Rauf said, “Advanced video and video analytics technology is becoming paramount in rail operations. Keeping passengers and rail workers safe, increasingly depends on having high resolution capabilities and video analytics to help detect things including the unusual movement of people or things which may indicate a potential safety issue.”
For example, Avigilon’s new H4 Multisensor camera line provides more comprehensive visual coverage than what is currently in the market. Combined with its artificial intelligence (AI) video search engine, Avigilon Appearance Search, and Avigilon Control Centre (ACC) video management software, rail operators can monitor and verify surveillance video, whilst minimising blind spots and save time if ever the need for critical investigations arise.
The immense potential of Southeast Asia
According to the American Chamber of Commerce, more than half of US companies surveyed, reported that ASEAN markets have become more important to their worldwide revenue over the past two years.
“We are experiencing a boom in demand for metro systems which is very much in line with the continued growth in infrastructure projects across the region. Modern rail transportation systems are vital to economic growth, Datuk Rauf said.
Urbanisation comes with progress, but a strong, connected infrastructure and advanced communications systems help to ensure a more even flow of passengers combined with greater safety overall.
Southeast Asia has always worked towards creating better connectivity between countries in this region. This effort formalised via the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN, has kickstarted many initiatives, the most recent and significant of this being the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.
This is significant because it recognises the more than 630 million strong ASEAN citizens that live here, and the USD2.6 trillion market opportunity that they represent.
ASEAN has stated its intention to play a larger role in Southeast Asia’s economic renaissance with a seven-year plan for tighter integration. Should the ten-member trading bloc succeed, the region will be headed towards an era of supergrowth.
The economic growth seen in ASEAN countries will drive demand for robust transportation infrastructure. The expertise and experience that companies such as Motorola Solutions can bring has never been more significant, to ensure connectivity is able to scale efficiently and sustainably for a future that will be powered by intelligent technology.
