ITS: Insights on systems
Transport leaders from around the world have provided insights as to how they view intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and the value they see it bringing to the networks in their own countries. Common themes at the 13th ITS Asia Pacific Forum in Auckland were integrating technology, growing consumer demand for real-time information, the greater need for collaboration and agreement on the almost unlimited opportunities technology presents to help solve some urgent issues. Martin Mathews, chief executive officer of the Ministry of Transport (MoT), said his department’s role was to help set government priorities for ITS to help New Zealand “thrive”. To this end, the MoT would be advising on ITS policy, regulation and investment. He said the government’s ITS Action Plan, to be released within the coming weeks, would seize on the opportunities offered by ITS. Looking ahead, he said there was a need to promote effective leadership and develop an ITS leadership forum. There was also a need to identify and remove legal barriers to ITS, and ensure open and efficient markets to help accelerate the uptake of ITS. “We want to create value and double performance.” Dr Bambang Susantono, Vice-Minister of Transportation in Indonesia, said his country’s situation presented a formidable challenge. Jakarta has a population of 28 million, Indonesia has 13,000 islands and 100 cities with populations in excess of 100,000, and there are also vast rural areas. He said congestion was growing and there was a need for better transport options. “There’s also a huge demand for real-time traffic information to avoid congestion.” As hand-held devices became more affordable, they presented a means of bringing about greater urban mobility, said Bambang. Rural communities also wanted traveller information to better transport. “ITS provide huge opportunities to meet the public’s needs.” David Warburton, chief executive officer of Auckland Transport, said ITS would help realise the city’s vision to deliver transport choices where and when people wanted them. Areas where ITS would be useful included event and incident management, parking, minimising congestion and better predicting what might cause problems. Using the road network was a priority with variable lanes, as on the harbour bridge, a possibility. Superintendent Carey Griffiths, New Zealand Police’s national road policing manager, said ITS needed to help support safer journeys, safer roads and safer speeds. “We see ITS helping manage the largely compliant drivers so we can focus on high risk drivers, in particular speed and alcohol.” Technology could also help prove offences in courts, which he said would be important to determine how best to handle issues related to privacy. “ITS will deliver significant benefits to law enforcement in providing better road safety and efficiency.” The president of ITS Taiwan, John Sun, said his country had re-examined the role of ITS to focus not only on transport but to also create smart cities and smart living. In the future, he saw every citizen with a smartcard in their pocket, a smartphone in their hand and a smartcard on every vehicle. Using the cloud platform, he predicted a 100 per cent integration of information systems and 100 per cent coverage of all cities. In achieving this, he saw strong partnerships between the public and private sectors. “Taiwan will be a full scale, full service and smart society.” FOR MORE ON THE FORUM, SEE THE NEXT ISSUE OF AUTOFILE
