Case Study
TRA 2024
TRA is the Transport Reasearch Arena Conference, hosted every two years across Europe. The 2024 Conference was hosted in Dublin and marked the 10th edition of TRA, the first time it was held beyond mainland Europe. The Irish Minister of Transport, Eamon Ryan served as the TRA2024 President, with Minister of State, Jack Chambers, as Vice President, The Department of Transport as the official Host, supported by Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the European Commission. This event encompassed all modes of transport – road, rail, air, water, and cross-modality – in urban, inter-urban, and rural settings. Over 4250 delegates attended TRA2024 Dublin across a 160,000 m2 campus at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS).
Given the expansive nature of the TRA event, it was imperative to secure a venue capable of accommodating numerous concurrent sessions alongside extensive indoor and outdoor exhibition areas. Dublin, while rich in cultural offerings, presented a challenge due to the scarcity of venues equipped to host such large-scale conferences. Collaborating closely with the RDS, we transformed Simmonscourt into a versatile, multi-room session venue. This involved partnering with Gorilla Design to partition the space using draping, encompassing a total of 2km of fabric across Simmonscourt, Hall 2, and 3 within the main arena. Throughout the event, there were 19 concurrent sessions held at various intervals, encompassing a range of topics from technical discussions to poster presentations. Furthermore, Simmonscourt maximised our outdoor space utilization by repurposing the car parking area.
Production was a huge part of the success of TRA 2024. We worked with Creative Technology Ireland to bring TRA to life. Our main stage hosted an immersive backdrop of 30 metres of LED screen crafted from ROE Visual BP2v2 Screen tiles set the stage, delivering seamless, cinematic-quality visuals for every presentation and performance. Complementing this, a state-of-the-art audio system boasting the latest from NEXO and d&b audiotechnik, along with an assortment of industry-standard radio mics, ensured a consistently clear and seamless audio experience throughout each day. Bespoke video content took centre stage, celebrating Ireland’s status as a hub of transport innovation and design, spotlighting both its current achievements and illustrious transport history. Meanwhile, multiple HD TV installations strategically placed across various spaces and expo stands throughout the RDS showcased a captivating blend of static and dynamic event content. Orchestrating this technical symphony were over 80 crew members, expertly managing an array of specialist audio-visual technology and providing indispensable support day in and day out. This monumental feat was made possible by the dedication and expertise of a diverse team including live events specialists, creative content wizards, project managers, warehouse professionals, drivers, and freelancers, all working tirelessly to ensure flawless execution at every turn.
At CPI, we prioritize integrating sustainable initiatives into conference budgets to offset carbon emissions and demonstrate environmental responsibility. Our clients initiated a €600,000 peatlands rewetting project in County Wicklow. This restoration effort targets 100 hectares of degraded blanket bog in Wicklow Mountains National Park, uniting TRA2024, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Transport. Healthy peatlands are the most efficient, long-term and concentrated carbon stores and sinks in our planet’s biosphere. One hectare of restored blanket bog avoids 10 tonnes of carbon loss per year, and with a lifetime of thousands of years it will carry on capturing carbon long into the future.
Dr Albert Daly
Director of TRA2024 Dublin
