PIEP NCR successfully conducted its six-unit CPD webinar entitled “Fundamentals of Traffic Impact Assessment for Planners” on 24 June 2023, in partnership with the University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies (UP NCTS).

UP NCTS Director and UP School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) Professor Dr. Jun Castro set the tone for the day-long webinar, presenting an overview of the different modules to be discussed, and the objectives to be achieved after the event.

The modules

UP SURP Professor Dr. Ma. Sheilah Napalang discussed Module 1 (Fundamentals of Traffic Impact Assessment or TIA) and Module 2 (Familiarization with TIA Report Components). She emphasized on the importance of transportation in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable), and the role that TIAs play to achieve this.

UP Transportation Management Office Director Engr. Aileen Mappala discussed Module 3 (Transportation and Traffic Survey for TIA). She presented an overview of several survey methodologies commonly used in writing TIA reports.

UP College of Engineering Department of Computer Science Chair Dr. John Justine Villar discussed Module 4 (Traffic Modelling and Traffic Simulation Analysis), providing mathematical models to predict traffic flow. He demonstrated the use of LocalSim, a DOST-funded locally-developed traffic simulation software. LocalSim is designed for local government units to support evidence-based traffic management.

On the one hand, Chapter President Jayson Edward San Juan thanked UP NCTS for this partnership. PIEP National President Maria Ana Pulido underscored the timeliness of the topic given the continuing pressure to our transport system given the demands of economic development.

Around 200 professionals participated in the webinar, coming from the NCR Chapter, other PIEP chapters, and some from other professional organizations.