The applications of intelligent transport systems (ITS), ranging from freight management to in-vehicle navigation and road tolling technologies in Australia, have evolved from technical mysteries to productive networks contributing to the safety, security and productivity of the nation's transport infrastructure.
Intelligent Transport Systems Australia (ITS Australia) president Dr Norm Pidgeon said these technologies are not just talking maps stuck on the car's dashboard.
"Intelligent transport systems are now used to keep public transport on schedule, track freight deliveries and manage peak time traffic flow," said Norm Pidgeon.
"As ITS technologies quietly perform a wide range of tasks on our transport infrastructure, they make dramatic improvements to the safety and security of pedestrians, passengers and vehicle drivers. They also make significant improvements to transport productivity. People and goods get to their destinations faster and more economically thanks to Australian developed ITS solutions," he said.
All of this has been achieved in the past 10 to 15 years. ITS industry thought leaders believe it is now appropriate to examine progress and they have called the second Australian Intelligent Transport Systems Summit, to be held from 20 to 22 September, 2011 on the Gold Coast, to progress industry input to a strategy for national ITS development.
Like the inaugural summit in 2009, the ITS 2011 Summit will be a roll-up the sleeves working session with the theme ‘Strategy into Action’. It will bring together all ITS stakeholders – the entrepreneurs, the manufacturers and the users, including vehicle and component manufacturers, transport businesses and government bodies responsible for transport infrastructure.
National ITS strategy objective
"As we continue to align technology standards among ITS producers, and apply identical technical regulations across Australia's state and territory borders, we will bring even greater safety, security and productivity benefits to the nation's transport infrastructure," said Mr Pidgeon.
"With significant input from the internationally renowned ITS pioneers speaking at the ITS 2011 Summit, this meeting will share experiences about the development and implementation of major projects. This will benefit future applications by enabling synergies across projects to be identified and capitalised upon, and will reveal potential overlaps to be avoided," he said.
Keynote speakers from Australia, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Korea, Norway, South Africa, United Kingdom, and United States of America will inspire debate over two days, including a full day workshop leading to the summit objective of capturing industry input to a strategy for national ITS development.
That strategy will cover transport operations, vehicle and freight technologies, traveller information, a national ITS architecture, and the roles of academia, industry and government. ITS Australia is committed to working with Austroads and other stakeholders to deliver an integrated national strategy.
Maximum stakeholder participation sought
Norm Pidgeon said Australia is an internationally recognised intelligent transport systems innovator. "We export sophisticated electronic technology, including navigation and electronic enforcement systems. As a nation, we can do better in applying our skills and experience to improving our own transport infrastructure," he said.
"The ITS 2011 Summit is our most ambitious project. The summit outcomes will help set the national agenda for the development of technologies to further improve the safety, security and economic performance of Australia's transport infrastructure for the coming decade.
"We welcome the participation of representatives from all Australian ITS stakeholder groups at this summit. We thank the Queensland Government for hosting this important national meeting," he said.
In addition to contributing to an integrated national ITS strategy, this event will provide excellent networking opportunities with government and industry ITS leaders. The ITS 2011 Summit program and registration form are at www.itssummit.com.
Organisations interested in sponsorship and exhibition opportunities should telephone +61 3 9320 8675 or email sponsorship@itssummit.com.
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