ITS Australia attracts international heavy hitters for September event
June 21, 2013
An academic involved in the world’s largest trial of technology to allow vehicles to ‘talk’ to one another will be a keynote speaker at this year’s Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Summit in Sydney.
Dr Peter Sweatman from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute will speak at the September event, along with noted experts from New Zealand, Japan and Taiwan.
Sweatman is currently involved in a trial of cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS) on the streets of Ann Arbor. The trial involves fitting in-vehicle technology to trucks, cars and buses to enable them to communicate with surrounding vehicles and infrastructure.
C-ITS can inform motorists of potential hazards in advance, such as if there is an accident up ahead, if it is unsafe to overtake or if a vehicle in front brakes suddenly. Road users can also be notified when they are approaching school crossings, road works and level crossings.
Run by ITS Australia, the summit will be held at the Australian Technology Park from September 18 to 20.
ITS Australia CEO Susan Harris says the international input will help the group formulate a national plan for ITS in the country.
Harris says ITS Australia is aiming to develop a core set of transport priorities broadly acknowledged across all government jurisdictions and actively supported by researchers and the private sector.
“Building on previous national summits, the 2013 event will focus on the national ITS action agenda plus update the current status of ITS in Australia and debate the challenges facing the ITS industry in the current climate,” she says.
New Zealand Ministry of Transport CEO Martin Matthews will be at the event to update delegates on his country’s transport policy as it impacts ITS and review the nation’s latest ITS developments.
ITS Japan President and CEO Hajime Amano will provide an overview of ITS trends in Japan’s transport network and provide a preview of the 2013 ITS World Congress in Japan.
Professor SK Jason Chang from National Taiwan University is due to highlight the next stage of Taiwan’s ITS plan, which incorporates the telematics industry, and review Taiwan’s ITS developments, including smart card ticketing systems, advanced public transport, travel information services and traffic management systems.
The event will also play host to Dr Reinhard Pfliegl, who chaired the most recent IT World Congress event held in Vienna and will update the ITS Summit on the latest developments out of Europe.
Meanwhile, Craig Moran from the New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) will speak about the C-ITS trial currently underway in the State involving heavy vehicles.
Trucks travelling on the south Sydney to Port Kembla truck corridor have been fitted with in-vehicle devices to trial C-ITS in real world conditions.
Funding is also being provided for a trial of the technology to allow truck drivers to locate rest areas.
