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Smarter infrastructure at Shell
The number of people and goods on the move is growing. More individuals are gaining the freedom to travel, but this will add pressure on the world’s transport networks. We are working to better understand how to alleviate this, for example by finding out more about driving patterns across the world. We are also helping to build roads with fewer CO2 emissions and designing more energy-efficient ships.
By 2050, three-quarters of the world’s projected 9 billion people will live in cities, according to the UN. For the individuals involved, moving to a city can be a great opportunity to find new jobs. But for city planners, rapid urbanisation represents a major challenge, as growing cities need water, energy, food, effective transportation systems and other services.
At Shell, we are working hard to understand how these challenges can be addressed in the longer term. For example, we have recently conducted research into the differences in driving patterns between the USA and Europe, helping to inform the development of more effective mass transit systems.
New ways to build new roads
The number of cars worldwide is growing fast: in China, for example, the International Energy Agency says that the vehicle fleet could more than triple in the next 20 years to around 600 million vehicles. To accommodate these new vehicles, the world will need new roads.
Shell has developed a simple, affordable road surface to build roads quickly in developing countries. It can quickly replace unsafe roads which become unusable in bad weather. Unlike conventional concrete or hot asphalt mixes, Shell Instapave is manufactured on sire, using binder transported cold in drums, and can be ready to carry traffic just 30 minutes after being laid.
Another innovative product is the Shell WAM Foam process, a new technology which means asphalt surfaces can be laid at temperatures up to 60% lower than for conventional melted asphalt. This helps to reduce energy consumption and can cut the CO₂ emissions, dust and fumes created when building new roads.
Ship of the future
Shipping lanes are becoming increasingly busy and more ships add to global CO₂ emissions. Shell has designed a new, streamlined vessel that would better cut through waves using less energy. It would also be able to run on a variety of fuels for maximum efficiency.