The Department for Transport’s Head of Road Infrastructure Technology says ensuring highway engineers have the skills to embrace rapidly evolving technology will be one of his key priorities as he takes over as President of the Institute of Highway Engineers.
Mr Capes, who also serves as manager of the Transport Technology Forum, formally took up the presidency on Friday 3 July at a ceremony in North Lincolnshire, bringing together one of the UK’s leading advocates for transport technology with the professional body representing highway engineers.
For the Transport Technology Forum, which is driving collaboration on connected vehicle services, digital traffic regulation orders, data standards and the wider digital transformation of the highways sector, the appointment underlines the growing importance of ensuring engineering skills develop alongside technological innovation.
Setting out his vision for the Institute, Mr Capes said: “Our vision is to be the Institute of choice for Highway Engineers and a leading advocate for the highways sector. Our mission is to provide professional development opportunities, support and leadership for individuals to achieve and maintain professional recognition.
“As new technologies change the jobs we do, and the sector welcomes an increasingly diverse workforce, we will work to ensure the opportunity for professional growth and development is available to all.”
Speaking as he takes office, Mr Capes said he sees a significant opportunity to align government ambitions around workforce development with the needs of the wider highways sector, ensuring engineers are equipped to deploy emerging technologies while continuing to support the industry’s traditional responsibilities.
He explained that success during his presidency would involve not only continued growth in the Institute’s core role of developing and accrediting highway professionals, but also helping members adapt to technologies that are already transforming everyday highway operations. He points to advances such as AI-enabled gritting vehicles, connected maintenance equipment and increasingly intelligent construction plant as examples of technology becoming commonplace across the sector, rather than remaining confined to research projects.
Mr Capes stressed that while innovation is accelerating, the industry’s foundations remain unchanged. “The highways sector will always need skilled engineers to design, maintain and operate the network”, he said, “but those professionals will increasingly be supported by digital tools, automation and data-driven decision-making. My aim is to ensure the Institute helps both existing and future engineers develop the skills needed to thrive in this changing environment.”
(Picture Paul Hutton/TTF)