"Smart Tech Tyre: Akshaj Sharma's Vision for Sustainable and Smarter Urban Transport"

Can you give a brief overview of your project and its connection to SDG 11?

Smart Tech Tyre is an innovative system that enhances road safety by detecting tyre pressure, wear, and environmental conditions, alerting users via a Bluetooth module to prevent accidents and improve efficiency. It aligns with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by promoting safer urban mobility, reducing tyre waste, and making transportation more sustainable, contributing to safer and more efficient cities.

What motivated you to address issues related to urban sustainability and resilience?

I am motivated to address urban sustainability and resilience to create safer, smarter, and more efficient cities. Through tech-driven solutions like Smart Tech Tyre, I aim to reduce pollution, enhance mobility, and support SDG 11, making urban spaces more livable and sustainable for the future.

What were the main objectives of your project concerning SDG 11?

The Smart Tech Tyre aligns with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by enhancing road safety, reducing tyre waste, improving urban mobility, and lowering environmental impact. It prevents accidents by detecting tyre pressure, wear, and environmental conditions while promoting timely maintenance to extend tyre life. By optimizing vehicle performance and fuel efficiency, it reduces pollution, making transportation safer and more sustainable. These objectives contribute to building resilient and eco-friendly urban spaces.

How did your project contribute to making cities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable?

My Smart Tech Tyre project contributes to making cities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by enhancing road safety, reducing environmental impact, and improving urban mobility. It prevents accidents by detecting tyre pressure and wear, ensuring safer transportation for all. By promoting timely maintenance, it minimizes tyre waste and pollution, supporting cleaner urban environments. Its smart alerts help vehicles operate efficiently, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. These features align with SDG 11, fostering safer, smarter, and more sustainable cities.

Did your project target any specific urban challenges (e.g., access to housing, transportation, green spaces)? If so, can you elaborate on this focus?

Yes, my Smart Tech Tyre project specifically targets urban transportation challenges by enhancing road safety, improving vehicle efficiency, and reducing pollution. It addresses issues like accident prevention, traffic safety, and sustainable mobility by detecting tyre pressure and wear, ensuring timely maintenance, and minimizing tyre waste. By optimizing vehicle performance, it also contributes to lower emissions, supporting cleaner and more sustainable urban environments, aligning with SDG 11.

What were some of the obstacles you encountered while implementing your project, particularly in the context of urban development, and how did you overcome them?

While implementing my Smart Tech Tyre project in the context of urban development, I faced challenges such as technical difficulties in integrating sensors for accurate tyre pressure detection, scalability issues in making the solution cost-effective for widespread use, and low awareness and adoption of smart tyre technology. To overcome these, I refined the sensor selection through multiple tests, focused on using affordable components to enhance feasibility, and emphasized the benefits of improved road safety, reduced pollution, and sustainable mobility to encourage adoption. These efforts ensured that the project aligned with SDG 11, promoting safer and more sustainable urban transportation.

Can you share any specific outcomes or impacts your project had in relation to SDG 11?

The outcome of the Smart Tech Tyre project was enhanced road safety, reduced tyre waste, and improved vehicle efficiency. It led to fewer accidents due to better tyre maintenance, extended tyre life, and lower environmental impact through reduced emissions and fuel consumption, contributing to more sustainable urban transportation.

Did you collaborate with any partners or stakeholders during the execution of your project? If yes, how did these collaborations enhance your project's effectiveness in promoting urban sustainability?

No.

What were some key lessons you learned from working on this project related to SDG 11?

Working on the Smart Tech Tyre project taught me several key lessons related to SDG 11. I learned the importance of integrating sustainability into urban solutions, such as reducing tyre waste and optimizing vehicle efficiency, to create long-term impact. The project highlighted how technology can address urban challenges, improving safety and reducing environmental impact. I also realized that user adoption is crucial for making a difference, as educating people on the benefits of such innovations is essential. Additionally, ensuring that solutions are cost-effective and scalable is key to broadening their impact in urban environments. These lessons emphasized the need for combining innovation, sustainability, and practicality in addressing urban challenges.

Looking forward, how do you plan to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of the initiatives undertaken in your project to continue contributing to the goal of making cities more inclusive and sustainable?

Looking forward, I plan to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of the Smart Tech Tyre project by focusing on continuous innovation and adaptation. This includes upgrading the technology to keep pace with advancements in sensors and connectivity, ensuring that the solution remains effective and efficient. I will also work on scaling the project by making it more accessible and affordable, allowing it to reach a broader audience. Additionally, collaborating with urban planners and transportation authorities will help integrate the technology into city infrastructure, ensuring its continued relevance. To maintain environmental impact, I will explore ways to reuse and recycle components and promote sustainable practices. These efforts will contribute to the ongoing goal of making cities more sustainable, resilient, and safe.