Specialist Areas

The pandemic has been incredibly challenging and difficult, but CIHT has aimed to continue engaging with members during this period. There were plans already underway to move forward with how CIHT works with its members to develop knowledge in terms of policy and technical outputs. The Technical Panels have been incredibly valuable, but Covid-19 has provided a further opportunity for reflection on how CIHT works with its members.

One aspect that has changed is the implementation of more digital ways of working. This has been demonstrated with the visibility of webinars in 2020 and into 2021 but also with CIHT Connect.  CIHT Connect might have been viewed as a replacement for the Panels, but this was not the intention.  CIHT Connect should be considered more as a valuable member resource that can also be used for shaping technical and knowledge practice. 

The evolution of CIHT’s approach to working with members to develop knowledge, and your voice, is to take the best of both – the benefits of physical interaction as felt via the Panel meeting structure and the wider reach and faster deliverability of digital technologies and tools. 

This is part of the solution but with CIHT connect, specialist areas, and focus groups the aim is to get members together – both in-person and virtually – to shape and inform the work of CIHT Policy & Technical.

CIHT Policy & Technical have developed three specialist areas:  1) Planning Transport, 2) Infrastructure and 3) Technology and Innovation. These specialist areas will help deliver the business plan of the Learned Society and Technical Strategy Board. 

Further focus groups within these specialist areas will evolve and encourage members to be involved in activities at all levels to increase the impact of CIHT messages and develop collective national advocacy capacity/experience.

It will also promote membership involvement in processes for developing consensus on critical issues via consultation on guidance and through consultation.

What 2022 could look like for a member involved and contributing to CIHT Policy and Technical:

• Provide views on behalf of CIHT to help identify key policy and technical activities of CIHT – what objectives should CIHT focus on achieving? What should be focused on that might not be in focus currently?
• Contribute to CIHT Connect to make this a vibrant online community.
• Be a diverse and inclusive environment representative of CIHT membership.
• Focus groups – this will evolve – with the aim is to set up one / two focus group(s) per specialist area. This would involve either in-person, physical, and hybrid (a blend of both) to explore issues relevant to CIHT:
  • Infrastructure – road safety and resilience,
  • Planning – urban design and sustainable transport,
  • Technology and Innovation – CAVs and MaaS.
• Technical seminar – members will have the opportunity to attend a seminar in the specialist area:
  • These seminars will be an in-person event including presentations, workshops,` and networking opportunities.
• CIHT operates internationally – engaging more with regions and members overseas aiming to set up an international conference.
• Members apart of specialist areas, and focus groups, an objective is to support CIHT members to achieve their CPD targets.

Neil Johnstone, Chair of LSTSB, commented, “I have seen first-hand the significant impact that good, research-based consultation responses and guidance manuals can have for client authorities, individuals, and the public. This lies at the very heart of CIHT’s objects which proclaim what we aim to do is advance our science and art for the public benefit. We, therefore, have a timely opportunity to widen our knowledge pool, connect with new talent and bring the essential diversity of our membership to bear on the quality of our work.”

If you are interested in becoming more involved and contributing to CIHT Policy and Technical, please contact technical@ciht.org.uk.

Neil Johnstone, Chair of Learned Society & Technical Strategy Board