China’s 2030 Plan to Transform Transport Network – Newsweek

Report on China’s AI-Powered Transportation Initiative and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The People’s Republic of China is strategically advancing the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its national transportation network. This initiative aims to establish a more intelligent, efficient, and safer transportation system, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The government’s objective is to achieve global leadership in AI technology by 2030, leveraging this to build resilient infrastructure (SDG 9) and create sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11).

Strategic Framework and National Goals

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

China’s AI-driven transportation strategy directly supports the following SDGs:

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: By developing a technologically advanced and resilient transportation infrastructure, the initiative fosters innovation and promotes sustainable industrialization.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The project aims to make transportation systems safer and more efficient, reducing congestion and improving urban mobility, which are key targets for sustainable cities.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Enhanced traffic safety and significantly faster emergency response times contribute to reducing road traffic accidents and fatalities.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The development and deployment of AI technologies stimulate economic growth and create high-value employment in the technology sector.

Government Mandate and Roadmap

In September, several government ministries issued a comprehensive set of guidelines outlining a national roadmap. This plan establishes a clear path toward technological self-sufficiency and scalability.

1. Key Areas of Focus: The roadmap identifies four key areas for development.
2. Target Tasks: A total of 16 specific target tasks have been defined to guide implementation.
3. Long-Term Vision: The ultimate goal is for China to become a world leader in independently developed core AI technologies by the year 2030.

Implementation and Pilot Programs

Public-Private Collaboration and Innovation

A Ministry of Transport-backed initiative has fostered a collaborative ecosystem to accelerate progress. This partnership includes over 50 leading technology companies, research institutes, and universities. The collaboration has successfully identified 860 distinct AI application scenarios across the transportation sector, from logistics to traffic management, providing a broad foundation for testing and deploying new technologies that support sustainable infrastructure (SDG 9).

Technological Applications in Pilot Zones

Twenty pilot zones have been established to trial these innovations. Key applications include:

• Baidu “Smart Hub”: A large AI model piloted in over 10 cities, accessible to more than 1 million vehicles with Level 2 driver-assistance systems. This system enhances traffic flow, contributing to the efficiency goals of SDG 11.
• Baidu AI Cloud: Provides real-time, second-level alerts for traffic anomalies along major expressways, improving safety in line with SDG 3.
• China Logistics Group Model: A large-scale model covering over 40 scenarios, including warehouse scheduling and multimodal transport, optimizing supply chains for greater economic and environmental efficiency.

Reported Outcomes and Sustainability Impact

The implementation of AI solutions in these pilot areas, covering over 37,282 miles of highways and 4,660 miles of waterways, has yielded significant improvements.

1. Traffic Efficiency: An approximate 20% increase in traffic efficiency has been observed, reducing congestion and fuel consumption.
2. Emergency Response: Emergency response times to incidents have improved by 30%, enhancing public safety and well-being (SDG 3).

Future Projections and Global Implications

Official Milestones

The government’s guidelines set forth a clear timeline for AI integration:

• By 2027: AI will be widely applied across typical transportation scenarios, and a comprehensive transportation large model system will be established.
• By 2030: AI is projected to be deeply integrated into the transportation sector, solidifying China’s leadership position.

Global Strategy

According to analysis by the Rand Corporation, China is promoting open-source AI platforms and models. This strategy is designed to accelerate industry progress and potentially shape international AI standards. By offering low-cost, open-source solutions, China aims to influence the global development of innovative and sustainable infrastructure, aligning with the principles of SDG 9.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article’s emphasis on creating a “safer transportation network” and improving emergency response times directly relates to reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: This is a central theme, as the article details China’s efforts to upgrade its transportation infrastructure through significant investment in advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, big data, and autonomous driving.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The development of a “smarter” and more efficient transportation network, including “integrated mobility services,” contributes to creating sustainable, safe, and accessible urban environments.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.6: By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents. Although the 2020 deadline has passed, the goal’s spirit continues. The article’s focus on building a “safer transportation network” and using AI for “second-level alerts for traffic anomalies” directly supports the objective of reducing accidents and improving safety.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being. The entire article discusses China’s initiative to build a technologically advanced and “smarter” transportation network, covering “more than 37,282 miles of highways and 4,660 miles of waterways.”
• Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. The article explicitly states that AI implementation has made traffic in pilot areas “roughly 20 percent more efficient,” which is a direct measure of increased resource-use efficiency.
• Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries… encouraging innovation. The article highlights China’s goal to be a “leader in independently developed key core technologies” by 2030 and mentions the involvement of “over 50 leading tech companies, research institutes, and universities” in a Ministry of Transport-backed initiative.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all. The development of “integrated mobility services,” “multimodal transport,” and a “smart hub” accessible to over a million vehicles are concrete steps towards creating a more accessible and sustainable transport system as described in the article.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 3 Targets

• Implied Indicator for Target 3.6: The article provides a specific metric for improved safety: “emergency responses to unexpected incidents are 30 percent [more efficient].” This serves as a direct indicator of enhanced capacity to manage and mitigate the consequences of traffic incidents, contributing to better health outcomes.

Indicators for SDG 9 Targets

• Indicator for Target 9.1 & 9.4: The article provides a direct quantitative indicator of efficiency gains: “traffic in these pilot areas is now roughly 20 percent more efficient.” It also quantifies the scale of the infrastructure being upgraded, covering “more than 37,282 miles of highways and 4,660 miles of waterways.”
• Indicator for Target 9.5: Progress in innovation is measured by the number of stakeholders involved (“over 50 leading tech companies, research institutes, and universities”) and the identification of “860 typical AI application scenarios.”

Indicators for SDG 11 Targets

• Indicator for Target 11.2: The scale of deployment for new transport solutions is an indicator. The article mentions that a “smart hub” developed by Baidu “is accessible to more than 1 million vehicles equipped with Level 2 driver-assistance systems.” The development of systems for “multimodal transport” is also a qualitative indicator of progress.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: newsweek.com