Day Two - World Future Roads ForumTuesday, 2 December 2025 - AT (Arabian Time, GMT+03:00)

With the abundance of new tools and methods to traffic management, we have often overlooked fundamental traffic control and engineering principles. This presentation critically examines the rise of numerous data-driven and AI-based approaches that have brought only limited benefits to traffic management. It will revisit proven adaptive control methods and highlights their effectiveness in addressing traffic congestion and variations.

• Evaluation of modern data-driven and AI-driven traffic management methods
• Review of traditional adaptive traffic control techniques for arterial roads
• Overview of adaptive functionalities that help mitigate traffic oversaturation
• Case study demonstrating how adaptive control performs under fluctuating traffic demand

Road safety is the cornerstone of successful mobility infrastructure development and transportation systems. Explore the challenges and opportunities in embedding safety as a core value in infrastructure projects, while balancing cost, efficiency, and sustainability.

• Key challenges in implementing safety-focused technologies, and how can these be overcome?
• Addressing the role of government funding in road safety features
• What role do contractors play in ensuring that safety measures are not compromised during project execution, especially under tight deadlines?
• How can data-driven insights be used to inform safer road designs and maintenance

By rethinking how we design, manage, and operate transport corridors, we have the opportunity to create cities that are not only more inclusive, but also more liveable, resilient, and equitable for everyone.

• Integrating gender-sensitive design principles to transform public spaces and mobility systems
• Design features that can address neurodiversity and sensory processing needs
• Best practice in road and street design for enabling active mobility

Road safety is no longer just about reactive measures—it requires a proactive, systems-based approach that integrates engineering, education, enforcement, and emerging technologies. This session will highlight the role of advanced crash testing, vehicle safety technologies and the integration of safety features in road design and urban planning.

• How are modern crash testing protocols evolving to reflect real-world driving conditions in Saudi Arabia and the region?
• What are the most effective road design features (e.g., roundabouts, speed-calming measures, pedestrian zones) for reducing crash severity?
• What role does smart infrastructure—such as connected traffic signals and real-time hazard alerts—play in preventing accidents?
• How can public awareness campaigns be tailored to different demographics to promote safer driving behaviours?

This session will explore innovative approaches to traffic enforcement, the role of technology in monitoring and managing traffic violations, and strategies for fostering public trust and cooperation.

• How can AI be integrated into traffic management?
• Effective methods for enforcing traffic laws to reduce accidents and improve road safety
• How can law enforcement agencies use data and analytics to identify high-risk areas and make target enforcement efforts more effectively?
• Insights into technologies to enhance traffic enforcement efforts

Achieving net zero requires a fundamental rethink of how cities design and build their infrastructure. Roads are no longer just transit corridors — they are the foundation of sustainable, resilient, and connected urban environments. This session explores how innovative materials, energy integration, and forward-looking planning can transform roads into key enablers of a city’s climate and sustainability goals.

• Integrating low-carbon and circular materials into road construction to reduce lifecycle emissions.
• Leveraging renewable energy solutions such as solar-powered lighting and energy-harvesting infrastructure.
• Balancing safety, mobility, and environmental objectives in sustainable urban design.
• Aligning national and municipal infrastructure strategies with long-term net-zero and climate resilience targets.

We explore the future of traffic management with AI and visual data taking the front seat. We discuss the importance of real-time analytics combined with historical data, and gain some insights into the critical role of visual capabilities in traffic management, how data-driven & AI-driven insights aid city planners, and the ways these technologies promote sustainability.

• Key challenges to efficient and effective traffic management
• The role of digital infrastructure – making them “talk” & its significance
• Smart traffic Lights & Congestion prediction / prevention – case study (USA)
• Cooperative ITS & its role in accident prevention / response – case study (Italy)

Parking is often seen as a static, logistical concern—but in reality, it plays a pivotal role in shaping urban mobility, land use, and environmental sustainability. Learn how smart, data-driven parking solutions can transform both on-street and off-street parking into strategic assets for connected, liveable cities.

• The hidden impacts of parking on city performance.
• Promising technologies for smart parking—such as sensors, mobile apps, and automated systems—and how are they being deployed?
• Dynamic pricing and demand-responsive parking management
• How public-private partnerships are redefining the future of parking?

As KSA continues its rapid expansion, urban infrastructure must evolve to meet the needs of a modern, resilient, and well-connected city. This panel explores how data-driven insights and connectivity solutions can guide the development of road networks, bridges, tunnels, and scalable infrastructure to support city growth, enhance mobility, and align with Saudi Vision 2030.

• Using traffic flow data, congestion analysis, and predictive modeling to enhance safety, efficiency, and connectivity.
• Leveraging demographic, land-use, and mobility data to shape future roads and transit corridors.
• Bridges vs. tunnels: Data-informed engineering, cost, and urban design considerations for Riyadh.
• Applying analytics to anticipate population growth, urban expansion, and economic development needs.