Challenges of sustainable mobility: Context of car dependency, suburban areas in Thailand

Pawinee Iamtrakul; Sararad Chayphong

doi:10.5937/gp27-42183

Pawinee Iamtrakul Assoc.Prof. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1362-2995
Sararad Chayphong Ph.D. student, Center of Excellence in Urban Mobility Research and Innovation, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8833-2613

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/gp27-42183

Keywords: Auto dependency, Peri-urban areas, Public transportation, Sustainable development, Transportation impact, Urbanization

Abstract

Urbanization and transportation have caused two critical issues in the challenge of sustainable development, particularly, challenges to sustainable mobility in the context of car dependency. This is due to all aspects of environmental, social, and economic has been continued influenced by transportation related issues. The challenges of sustainable mobility in the context of suburban areas have become aggravating situation due to massive migrations, thus Pathumthani province, represented as vicinity area of Bangkok, Thailand was selected as a case study. Data were collected from 1,998 respondents by questionnaire survey and analyzed using statistical analysis and visualization based on geographic information system, GIS application. The study results revealed that the urbanization process has led to an increase in urban development that attracts enormous migrations in searching for their opportunities (working and education trips). This phenomenon has positioned Pathumthani to serve as a supportive area for the spillover of rapid urbanization in the country's capital area which has led to the development of private car-dependent travel and public transport network, mainly concentrated in urban areas with exclusion to residents in remote areas. On the other hand, most areas sprawl with a scattered density of residential settlements, which existing transportation system development can no longer serve the continued rising travel demand as before. The findings confirmed that the current development pattern could not promptly meet the needs of suburban development, requiring the policymakers to launch an effective plan to meet appropriate transportation demands and promote good quality of travelling for the residents and commuters.

Author Biographies

Pawinee Iamtrakul , Assoc.Prof.

Assoc.Prof. Pawinee IAMTRAKUL, a Thai national, is currently working as a lecturer at the Department of Urban Environmental Planning and Development, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, THAILAND. She received her undergraduate degree of civil engineering from Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University and her master of infrastructure and transportation engineering from Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. She earned her Ph.D. in Urban and Transportation Planning from Saga University, Japan. Furthermore, with opportunity supported by Erasmus Mundus Mobility for Life Scholarship, she could pursue her postdoctoral position of the Department of Development and Planning, Faculties of Engineering, Science and Medicine at Aalborg University.

She has been working as a lecturer for 13 years before being appointed to her current position as the director of Center of Excellence in Urban Mobility Research and Innovation (UMRI), Thammasat University. She worked together with a multi-disciplinary team of planners and engineers for her research works and project experineces. Her research interest is on Urban and Transportation planning by considering all aspects related to urban transport; sustainable transport, road safety, public transport and nonmotorization. Furthermore, her expertise is also focusing on the integrated planning in view of the integration of all urban elements; land use, infrastructure, economics, social and environmental. She has published her research works in many international and local journals over 50 peer-reviewed articles.

She has also participated in many local firms and government organizations at national level related to urban and transportation planning, e.g. sustainable smart city, artificial intelligent (AI) city, circular village, smart mobility planning. As a director of center of excellence, she has put her efforts to take multiple projects at local and international levels which reveal her significant professional experiences by getting support from well-known agencies, e.g. the European Commission, the Rockefeller Foundation and Ministry of Education, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan, etc.

With her research capabilities, she has published many books on subjects ranging from urban and transportation planning to infrastructure and sustainable development. Her recent book “Sustainable urban planning and development” is available in bookstores across the country. In addition to the listed above, she also contributes herself to serve for academic activity as an editor in chief of Journal of International Journal of Building, Urban, Interior and Landscape Technology (BUILT). Her strong background in research has allowed her to keep up with latest development in urban development research as well as to manage her own focus to contribute also to society works and serving as a secretary of Thai Society for Transportation & Traffic Studies (TSTS). She has continued to develop her research knowledge and networks at national and international to identify new approach to enhance urban and transportation planning level in the country.

Sararad Chayphong, Ph.D. student, Center of Excellence in Urban Mobility Research and Innovation, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University

Sararad Chayphong, Researcher in Center of Excellence in Urban Mobility Research and Innovation (UMRI), Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, Thailand. Currently, her research interest is on Urban and Transportation planning by considering related to urban transport, road safety, urban planning and management.

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