Perspectives on Urban Transport in South Africa with specific reference to OR applications

The paper will give a high level outline of problems faced in the urban transport arena in South Africa. Some aspects will be highlighted that flow from the BESTUFS project. This is a European Union funded project, with the primary focus on sharing best practices in the urban freight transport environment. CSIR was one of the partners in this project. Urban consolidation centres is one of the potential solutions flowing out of this project. The use of OR in the establishment of UCC's will be presented as well as other OR applications within the urban transport area.

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The CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) is the largest R&D organisation of its kind in Africa and currently undertakes approximately 40 per cent of all research and development work, on the African continent. The CSIR is a statutory scientific research council established in 1945 and controlled by an Act of Parliament. The CSIR Built Environment Unit is one of five business units of the CSIR. The Unit's main focus is to enhance the impact of the built environment, infrastructure-related economic operations, transport and logistics, and the construction industry on the sustainable development of South Africa and Africa. The Unit's business focus includes undertaking projects and studies that relate to broader roads, transport and logistics issues within South Africa and internationally. The organisation continues to play a key role in the development of South Africa, the southern African (SADC) region, and the African continent, as a key provider of infrastructure- related solutions.  The CSIR has a turnover in excess of R 1 Billion and employs around 2300 scientists, engineers, technologists, technicians, sociologists and support staff, and is at the forefront of development and implementation as part of the global scientific and technological community. It is an organization that works in partnership with the private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and delivers scientific and technology services in areas where industry, parastatals and government require support as well as innovative solutions.  www.csir.co.za