Business

Today, Atkins, a member of the SNC- Lavalin Group, started a White Paper entitled Re-imagining Transport and Mobility for a SustainableEconomic Recovery. The White Paper, which is produced by Atkins advisory business arm, Atkins Acuity, describes the COVID-19 impact on the transportation industry and presents a necessary framework to transition from short term rehabilitation to a medium-to-long-term conversion to gain flexibility and sustainability.

With lockdowns and constraints on business and social activity lifting, the difficulty is how to keep re-opening safely, restore company and customer confidence and give the right economic and fiscal incentive which will promote the early stages of a viable recovery towards the end of the year and into 2021. However, the transportation industry in the GCC has the chance to re-shape its base, services and operations through the choice of diagnostic tools, data analytics, planning principles and digital engineering to deliver enhanced outcomes and a better future.

Johan Hesselse, Managing Director, UAE, at SNC-Lavalins Atkins, commented: In the UAE, we have seen an extended focus behind COVID-19 on building sustainable infrastructure and transportation systems that improve the wellbeing of residents and reduce environmental impacts. We are operating jointly with our clients to drive current challenges and reach their long-term goals by giving our engineering, design and project administration expertise coupled with digital capabilities.

Ian Redmayne, Managing Director, KSA at SNC-Lavalins Atkins, added: Despite the difficulties caused by COVID-19, the crisis has strengthened the need for business diversification in the Kingdom to foster socio-economic growth in line with Saudis Vision 2030. With a demonstrated track record in Saudi Arabia, we are happy to support this concept by sharing our market knowledge and expertise and working collectively with the public and private sectors to shape sustainable communities of the future.

Through the collaboration of SNC-Lavalins transport planning and strategic advisory experts across the world, the White Paper offers a three-phase model: Reopen Recover Reimagine. This outlines how the transport sector should return to the original socio-economic shock inflicted by COVID-19, as well as consequences of low oil prices on GCC exports and finances. Looking past the immediate crisis, SNC-Lavalins reimagined way to the future of transport brings together a more extensive agenda connecting three pillars of land use, physical mobility and digital connectivity and includes eight cross-cutting structure blocks.

Jonathan Spear, the Director, Strategic Transport Policy and Planning at SNC-Lavalins Atkins Acuity, commented: Across the world and the GCC, COVID-19 remains to cause short-term interruption to transport base and services, and pose difficulties to companies within the sector.

However, the pandemic also offers the chance to reimagine a new paradigm for a more sustainable, equitable and resilient transport system and practice. Through our eight building blocks, and by utilising innovative mobility and connectivity concepts, technologies and service models, the business in the GCC has the opportunity to take strong decisions around planning, delivery, collaboration and control and reshape the transportation of the future.

The White Paper is the second edition of COVID-19 and Transport series by SNC-Lavalin. In May 2020, The company announced the first edition of the White Paper entitled Keeping our World Moving Before and After the Crisis. Currently, SNC-Lavalins Atkins is promoting various clients in the transport sector in the Middle

East by implementing end-to-end business advisory, design and engineering, and project management services underpinned by digital tools and innovative solutions.

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