Nestled by the picturesque Victoria Harbour in the heart of Hong Kong, the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) is poised to become one of the largest cultural quarters in the world. This ambitious project harmoniously blends art, education, and open spaces, fostering a vibrant cultural hub where the local arts scene can interact, develop, and collaborate.
Spanning 23 hectares of public open space and a bustling two-kilometer harbour-front promenade, WKCD will feature a variety of new arts and cultural facilities. These spaces will facilitate the production and hosting of world-class exhibitions, performances, and arts and cultural events.
Throughout the WKCD’s development, environmental sustainability has been a paramount priority. To promote convenient mobility, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability, AECOM was commissioned by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority to propose and implement an Environmentally Friendly Transport System (EFTS).
AECOM was commissioned to deliver a comprehensive Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) solution including the establishment of the overall traffic operation strategies for WKCD.
To help deliver an ITS, we analyzed and evaluated various potential EFTS options and proposed recommendations based on several considerations, including our forecast of the EFTS patronage, a detailed assessment of the financial implications brought by the EFTS in terms of initial costs, operational costs, and maintenance costs as well as the specifications of the functional and technical requirements for the operation of the autonomous vehicle within WKCD, including range, capacity, turning radius, maximum gradient, etc., considering specific landscape features inside the campus.
To realize the operation plan, we supported our client’s tender procurement by preparing tender documents, inviting tender, and engaging in tender assessment.
To facilitate field trial and performance evaluation, we helped our client apply for corresponding permits for the autonomous vehicle field trial within the campus. We also developed a series of tests to assess the autonomous vehicle’s operational performance during the field trial, focusing on safety and its responses to human bodies, and moving and stationary objects. In the end, we indicated the concerns, constraints, and requirements for the future implementation of the autonomous vehicle.
In designing this project, AECOM aims to facilitate safe and smooth mobility for visitors within the district, reduce energy consumption, and encourage environmental protection, contributing to the vision of WKCD as a sustainable cultural hub. The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute will conduct a trial to further operate the first autonomous bus on public roads at a wider area around WKCD.