Arif K. Rafiq: Building Safer Roads, One Map at a Time

Most of us don’t think much about roads—until something goes wrong. But for Arif K. Rafiq, roads are not just concrete and paint. They’re the difference between life and loss.

And making them safer has become his mission.

Arif works in transportation management, helping cities and governments plan and operate complex systems that move people safely. But as he explains, his passion isn’t rooted in technology alone—it’s deeply personal.

“I jump out of bed in the morning because I'm helping transportation systems get better,” Arif says. “It’s more about the safety.” His voice softens as he shares the loss of two family members—his nephew and brother-in-law—to traffic accidents.

“Whatever I can do… to help make our roads safer is something I'd like to work towards.”

The scale of the problem is staggering: 1.19 million lives are lost on the world’s roads every year. That’s over 3,200 people a day. But Arif’s approach is as grounded as it is visionary.

Drawing from 16 years in the transportation industry, including eight at Esri, he focuses on the third of what he calls the “three legs of the road safety stool”: infrastructure design.

The idea is simple but powerful—help governments build a “transportation digital twin,” a shared digital map that reflects the real-time state of our road networks. Not just lines and points on a screen, but a live, authoritative representation that enables better planning, faster decisions, and ultimately, fewer tragedies.

“Location is critical,” he says. “We want to help people collaborate on this massive system using geospatial data. It’s not about moving the data—it’s about aligning perspectives.”

He’s quick to acknowledge the challenges. Technical. Political. Human. “It takes a lot of tenacity,” he admits. “Very rarely will you find an organization where leadership and data stewards both understand the value of this work at the same time.”

But that’s where Arif shines—bridging those gaps with clarity and conviction. He makes a compelling case for breaking down silos, whether between departments or across jurisdictions. “That polyline you’re managing in GIS—it represents real people, real risk. If it’s wrong, someone’s ambulance might not arrive in time.”

And what about the future? With autonomous vehicles on the horizon, Arif’s vision becomes even more urgent.

“What happens when two vehicles have different digital views of the same road?” he asks. “We need a reliable source of truth—an authoritative digital twin that every system can trust."

That vision might take years to fully realize. Arif knows that. But he’s humbled and inspired by the many professionals working quietly behind the scenes—from GIS experts to engineers to safety advocates—each contributing their part to the journey.

“Never get too attached to the plan,” he offers as a final thought. “I’ve found passion by accident, through heartbreak and curiosity. So if what’s in front of you doesn’t match your grand life plan… maybe it’s still worth dipping your toe in.”

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