In this issue:
ERTICO Strategy
new Supervisory Board & vision of new Chairman, Jean Mesqui, ASFA
Intelligent Transport Systems in Japan
a Farewell to a Renaisance Man Interview with:
Prof. Dr Orhan AlankuĹ&#x;, Okan University July 2012
contents 2
Welcome!
3
The ERTICO - ITS Europe Partnership
6
Intelligent Transport Systems in Japan
9
A Farewell to a Renaisance Man
12 Interview with: Prof. Dr Orhan Alankuş, Okan University
The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are solely those of the authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of ERTICO or its Partners.
Welcome to the July edition According to surveys, Belgians are the happiest workers in Europe – although La Libre has an alternative explanation. Whatever the truth, we’ve taken great pleasure in producing this July edition of the ERTICO eMagazine, the last before the summer holidays. But never fear, we’ll be back in September. In this issue, we take a look at the future for the ERTICO Partnership following the election of a new Supervisory Board and Chairman. ERTICO will continue to evolve to better serve its Partners, and to achieve our common goal of bringing intelligence into mobility for people and goods across Europe. We also continue our occasional series of articles on international cooperation in ITS, this time looking at long standing partner Japan – the
relationship between ERTICO and ITS Japan goes right back to the early years of the ERTICO Partnership; the most visible manifestation is the ITS World Congress (also with ITS America), but there is much more! Speaking of the Congress, we would like to remind you that our video competition is fully operational, with already 18 ITS videos submitted! You can submit as many ITS videos as you have; the winning videos in each category will be shown during the closing ceremony of the ITS World Congress in Vienna. Submissions are open until 7 September, to find out more, click here or visit the i-Mobility Network homepage. Following last edition’s article on ITS and Turkey, we are pleased to interview a new ERTICO Partner from Turkey this month – Okan University, who have big plans and ambitions. Finally, on a sadder note, we have a tribute to the late Job Klijnhout by Eric Sampson. Job contributed so much to ITS over the years, not least his infectious enthusiasm – he will be sadly missed.
The Editorial Team
3
The ERTICO - ITS Europe Partnership A new chairman, a new supervisory board and new thoughts for the future by Henry Wasung and Rasmus Lindholm Much has happened in the 21 years that ERTICO has existed. Countries have appeared and disappeared, history ended, a new cycle of terrorism begun, a single European currency launched, China became the world’s second largest economy, mobile phones became ubiquitous, England were expelled from many football tournaments on penalties, flares came back – and went out again, televisions became flatter while the population seems to be going in the other direction… …and we have become connected… ERTICO was set up to drive forward Intelligent Transport Systems, a new industry made possible by ever faster and cheaper computing – and made desirable by ever increasing transport challenges. With about 1 car for every other person in the EU1, and taking into account the
the improvements are incremental and the number of actors limited. ITS is not only a whole new ball game, but also involves many different stakeholders from widely divergent sectors, many of whom have no traditional transport experience and limited experience in working across sectors.
concentration of population in cities, ITS offers a new path
And it is here that ERTICO comes into its own. ERTICO
to tackle the ensuing congestion, safety, logistical and
is a public-private platform for cooperation between ITS
environmental consequences. As an example, according
stakeholders, working to ensure that Europe achieves
to Belgian’s Le Soir, in Brussels by 2015 the average
its political goals concerning safer, smarter and greener
journey time will have increased by 45% (compared to
transport - as underlined in the recent Transport White
the 2001 figure) and the average speed of a car will be no
Paper from the European Commission. The ERTICO
more than… 15km/hour!
Partnership has evolved greatly in the past two decades,
ITS is not only a way to combat these transport challenges, but also is economically attractive. Investing in ITS produces a clear return, and provides skilled work for Europe’s workforce.
with new Partners from new sectors, but has always had at its core the public-private principle. It is this successful marriage of the public sector and the private sector(s) that has proved
However ITS is not straightforward. A public authority
to be the key to ERTICO’s –
can, for instance, build a metro line, roll-out a bike
and its Partners’ – success.
sharing scheme, expand a motorway in a comparatively
The goal? Deploying ITS
straightforward manner. To take the latter example,
not for its own sake but
roads have been built for millennia, and while they have
to achieve societal and
improved, being able to bear ever greater weights etc.,
political goals, strengthen
1 Rates vary significantly between countries and counting methods, with Luxembourg generally top of the list – 7 cars/10*capita – Eurostat pocket book, Energy, transport and environment indicators, 2010 edition
the
competitiveness
industry
and
of
optimise
services for the user. How? Through creating win-win situations for all stakeholders - or at least appropriate solutions which take all positions into account. Indeed, the reason that the ERTICO Partnership
has
evolved
is
that
ITS itself has evolved. ITS is in an important transitional phase from deployed island solutions with very limited
data
exchange
networks
and lack of interoperability towards a
comprehensive
exchange
co-modal
network
and
data
seamless
mobility services, where people, goods and vehicles are continuously and ubiquitously connected receiving or sending useful data/information. Likewise, ITS is highly advanced with respect to most technologies
Gunter Zimmermeyer wished the best of luck to Jean Mesqui, his successor as Chair of the SB by saying “chairing the ERTICO Supervisory Board is a great honour and responsibility, ERTICO is increasingly taking on the role of providing a bridge between development and deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems. We have made important steps towards realising ITS to the benefit of users and society”. projects are still a very important part
existing activities and identify short
of ERTICO’s service offering, ERTICO
and medium term goals.
is addressing the need to enhance cooperation both within the different sectors and between them through the
Sector
Platform
initiative,
through its Fora and workshops, and through its productive relationship with the European Commission.
Another related initiative already bearing fruit is ERTICO’s efforts towards certification, standardisation and international harmonisation. In this regard, ERTICO teamed up with ETSI for the first Cooperative Mobility Services (CMS) Interoperability event
to collect, provide, process and use
Deployment issues are not neglected
in November 2011, the success of
vehicle, traveller and infrastructure
either, through the ERTICO hosted
which inspired the recent second
data/information. Many ITS services
TISA and ADASIS organisation, and
CMS Interoperability gathering in
already
supporting
traffic
through new deployment platforms
June 2012 ERTICO’s portfolio of
providing
driver
such as the Cooperative Mobility
MoU’s with its international peers
navigation and traveller information.
Alliance.
has
is also impressive, with cooperation
These
further
recently established Task Forces on
agreements signed with Russia and
improved and will have substantial
ITS issues of note, such as the Task
China in 2011, to add to the existing
additional
Force on ITS for ElectroMobility,
agreements with Japan and the
which is charged with developing
United States. These agreements not
an ITS roadmap for ElectroMobility
only work towards the development
and an implementation work plan
of
for the ERTICO Partnership, or the
certain specific areas of interest,
Task Force on Safe and Secure Truck
such as eCall / ERA GLONASS, but
Parking, initiated in 2012 to map
also provide opportunities for ERTICO
exist
management, services
can
potential
be for
serving
customers. With the evolution of the ERTICO Partnership,
it
should
come
as
no surprise that ERTICO itself has evolved. While European (co-)funded
Likewise,
ERTICO
Sector Platform Successes The eight Sector Platforms were successfully launched in 2011, providing Partners with the opportunity to discuss issues within their sector, identify focus areas as well as to work with other sectors. All sectors met a number of times throughout the year with active participation from Partners. For many of the Sector Platforms, priorities focus around the issues surrounding eCall whilst the Public Authorities worked together with the Network of National ITS Associations in support of reporting activities for the ITS Directive
international
standards
and
Partners. Along with international cooperation, ERTICO
is
also
developing
partnerships with public authority associations, such as EUROCITIES, with whom a Forum on ITS for Urban mobility was organised in May 2012, and with public authorities generally, recognising their importance in the deployment of ITS. Not to mention the European and World ITS Congresses, which not only
5
Jean Mesqui stated: “I feel very privileged to have this opportunity and I thank my colleagues for their trust; it is clear that the ERTICO publicprivate Partnership is most essential for Europe to succeed with the development and deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems. The one major challenge I see is for ERTICO to use all the motivation and skills existing within the Partnership to achieve effective deployment on a European scale and this will lead to saving lives, reduce congestion and protect the environment.”
Visit the latest ERTICO corporate publication online
showcase the latest developments
(SB) from now on. In addition a new
in the ITS world but are also full of
Chairman of the SB, Jean Mesqui from
demonstrations, highlighting to all
ASFA, was appointed. The expansion
and sundry not just what could
be
of the SB will further guide
achieved
the activities of the
ERTICO through the ERTICO Partnership exists to serve deployment w h i l e its Partners. To of ITS, but maintaining what can be the necessary further discover how achieved focus to ERTICO can help meet now… ensure that your companies goals, or tasks are This year’s to discuss possible new met and goals G e n e r a l initiatives, contact achieved. Assembly on Rasmus Lindholm 20
was
June
2012
ERTICO
particularly
significant
as
it
is
initiative is
the first year following the
stakeholders
The ERTICO Activity book 2012 - for full information on the whole range of ERTICO activities
an
of
ITS
who
are
willing to work together, share
modification of the ERTICO Statutes.
information and develop common
All eight Sectors of the ERTICO
positions. The combination of a
Partnership will be represented in
broad partnership base, targeted and
the newly elected Supervisory Board
integrated activities as well as broad involvement in related ITS initiatives is the basis of its success in supporting the development and deployment of ITS. ERTICO is the initiative to enable
effective
stakeholders
cooperation
towards
of
intelligent
mobility. ERTICO’s professional team are there to facilitate and support effective
cooperation
of
ERTICO
Partners and ITS stakeholders. The ERTICO initiative has as its ultimate goal to bring intelligence into mobility.
The ERTICO Annual Report 2011
Intelligent Transport Systems in Japan ITS lessons from the land of the rising sun by Henry Wasung “The information and communication technology (IT) revolution is in essence a revolution of sovereignty over information” - Japan’s New Strategy in Information and Communications Technology. Japan is facing interesting transport
2011, a vested interest in energy
the failure of cooling systems in the
challenges. Of course, every country
diversification
management.
Fukushima nuclear power plant –
in world is facing transport challenges,
So perhaps “interesting” is the mot
although some have restarted, as of
especially if you consult those working
juste.
July 2012. However, Japan generated
in the transport industry, and perhaps Japan’s challenges, like those in other developed countries, cannot compare in
sheer
countries,
scale where
with
developing
urbanisation
is
occurring at an unprecedented rate. However, Japan does have a declining
and
A technologically advanced country with a strong manufacturing base, and a coherent and resilient society, Japan has bounced back from the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, although much has changed.
yet ever more urbanised population in
Perhaps the most prominent change
a country with few natural resources
is the fact that all of Japan’s nuclear
and thus, especially following on
power plants were shut down, due
from
to widespread public fears following
the
earthquake
in
March
“By 2020 a smart grid network shall become a common practice. We shall also see the home and business sectors spearheading the reduction in CO2 discharge as the IT-aided zero-energy architecture becomes a reality in typical new homes and in all new public buildings. Also by 2020, we shall accelerate reduction in automotive CO2 emission through the use of the intelligent transport systems (ITS) while aiming at reducing traffic congestion on major highways by 50% of the current level.” New Strategy in Information and Communications Technology (p3)
30% of its electricity through nuclear power, so clearly this has had a huge effect, giving rise at one point to speculation that there would be rolling
“brown-outs”
–
thankfully
avoided. Energy was first on the list of transport challenges faced by Japan, according to Hajime Amano, President of ITS Japan, who notes “in addition to the reduction of CO2 emissions, diversification of energy sources and supply management are immediate challenges”. Mr Amano went on to underline that the electrification of vehicles poses additional challenges in this regard; “cars are no longer simple consumers of energy but an integral part of smart grid systems”. This is an interesting insight, as the full scale electrification of all
vehicles would, if all other factors
should come as no surprise that even
increased age of Japan’s
remain the same, actually decrease
with a good record in road safety, Mr
rural communities mean
energy diversity – the switch from
Amano brings our attention to it.
that “…public transport
petrol or diesel to electricity simply means that more electricity has to be produced at source. This may well be good for a number of reasons, not least city air quality and noise levels, but would be an additional – albeit manageable – factor in energy supply. Safety is second on Mr Amano’s list of transport challenges, which bring a wry smile to Amaury Cornelis’ face. Mr Cornelis, project manager at ERTICO, having lived in Japan for several years through his time at Toyota, was kind enough to give his insights and anecdotes regarding transport, ITS and Japan for this article. Mr Cornelis
7
operators stop services one route
Observing these challenges (see main text), ITS Japan defined its mission for the current midterm action plan (2011-2015) as follows:
• Accelerate innovation in transport with rapid progress of the mobile network and its penetration in the society • Establish sustainable and enhanced mobility in line with changes in energy sources for automobiles and supply structure • Lead international collaboration among existing regions and emerging countries, who have crucial potential for the entire world to grow • Create competent and efficient mobility to support affluent and vigorous society with diversified styles of life
stressed the uniqueness of many of
after another because of financial
the safety related regulations to be
Specifically, Mr Amano, acknowledging
found in Japan, including the fact
the success in continually bringing
that every car sold there must have
down
an electronic speed limiter, albeit at
identifies
a generous 180kph, or the mandatory
(pedestrians and cyclists, especially
third mirror for vans, MPVs and SUVs.
the elderly) as an area for action,
Logically, drink driving is a strict no-
as they make up about half of road
no.
casualties. “Market penetration of
But Mr Amano is upbeat. “With
already available safety technologies
new
is important to bring the full benefit
as
to society” underlines Mr Amano,
Personal Mobility Vehicles, coupled
who further highlighted that the
with efficient management of the
scope of cooperative services must
multimodal network, we will be
be expanded to include people, as
able to provide all the population,
only in this way could VRUs – who by
with decent and sustainable means
definition are not in connected cars –
of transport for a better quality of
can benefit from the proven potential
life and the revitalisation of those
of these services. The promotional
communities.
“We shall also advance the adoption and deployment of cooperative driving safety support systems using IT to reduce traffic accidents.” New Strategy in Information and Communications Technology (p14)) On the other hand, this is far from a paradox, as Mr Cornelis goes on to
the
number vulnerable
of
fatalities,
road
users
film for the 2013 ITS World Congress, to be held in Tokyo, gives some nice examples of the latter.
difficulties.” This has a downward spiral effect for those communities, and seriously affects the standard of living of their remaining populace, who
may
have
other
transport
limitations.
modes on-demand
of
transport, bus
services
such and
Fourth on Mr Amano’s list is another direct consequence of the March 2011 earthquake, that of resilient transport
explain that, certainly in comparison
An interesting consequence, also to
chains. The whole world had another
with many European countries, Japan
be found elsewhere in the developed
wake-up call about the dangers in
prioritises safety, with companies
world, of urbanisation, especially to
relying on just-in-time delivery and
organising road safety meetings and
Tokyo, and an aging population, is
supplier concentration, although of
trainings on a frequent basis, and
third on Mr Amano’s list, under the
course Japan was most affected. Mr
road signs exhorting the driver to
title “enhanced mobility”. What does
Amano emphasises that “rebuilding
drive in a conscientious manner. So it
this mean? The depopulation and
global
supply
chains…
will
also
strengthen agile global operations to
roadside antennas installed along
respond to top radical fluctuations of
the highways. To further expand the
the global market. Dependable and
applications
efficient transport networks is one of
mitigation, government and industries
ITS
the key factors”.
are conducting field evaluation tests”
technological evolution helps
explains Mr Amano.
create
In this regard, Mr Amano highlighted
congestion
has to play. “ITS is the key technology to effectively and efficiently manage such global systems and international harmonisation is a very essential enzyme for the systems to evolve. Cooperation between ERTICO and ITS Japan will play substantial roles to sustain such development.” The Japanese government is also
enters
a
safe,
new
stage:
comfortable,
sustainable societies
“The ITS World Congress in Tokyo 2013 will be the best opportunity for you to experience the new set of connected vehicle applications on the field” Hajime Amano, President of ITS Japan
the role that ERTICO and ITS Japan
responding to these challenges, set
including
ITS World Congress 2013 - Tokyo
The theme for the 20th ITS World Congress Tokyo 2013 is “Open ITS to the Next.” While retaining a focus on resolving transport problems, this theme aptly conveys the expansion of next-generation ITS into new domains. We hope to welcome as many participants as possible from
An integrated ITS information service
emerging countries in Asia
platform is also being developed,
and elsewhere, which face
drawing on the lessons learnt in the
a growing array of transport
Great East Japan Earthquake.
issues.
and emphasises that “…under the
“We are building regional information
“The ITS World Congress 2013
strategy, national projects on ITS have
centres in some model cities. In
in Tokyo is not a Japanese
been initiated targeting deployment
addition
world congress but an Asia-
around 2014 in the following areas:
centres, a platform is being set
Pacific
up where other information, such
Transport network investment
as weather, public transport and
Decision makers from all the
infrastructure status is also shared
Asia-Pacific member counties
on a cloud network system. Daily
and regions will get together
services are provided by both public
to
sector and private sector. Dynamic
ITS visions to maintain the
route guidance for shortest time
growth of their society, which
Japan has been quick to deploy ITS
or
consumption,
is driving the world economy.
technologies. Mr Amano highlights
promotion
events,
I
the relatively quick development
other local community services are
encourage
our
of
sector
anticipated. In an emergency, the
colleagues
to
cooperation as key factors, thanks
information network is turned into
share your technologies and
to the uniform nature of Japanese
crisis
experiences with participants
society. In Europe, consensus building
government takes control to deliver
from
takes longer, as befitting a club of 27
evacuation
countries.” Hajime Amano,
sovereign countries.
shelters, information on safety of
out in a New Strategy in Information and Communications Technology on 11 May 2010 followed by its roadmap on 22 June 2010. Mr Amano explains
• cooperative driving safety support systems • greening the transport of people and goods • consolidating and distributing wide-area road traffic information • advancing traffic control technology”
standards
and
private
“We are working hard on connected vehicle systems using vehicle-to-
to
lowest
traffic
energy of
local
management
community
management
mode.
orders, members,
and
Local
guidance and
to
relief
goods supplies” explains Mr Amano.
world
share
would
congress.
challenges
like
rapidly
to
and
strongly European
join
and
growing
President of ITS Japan “Call for Papers” for Tokyo 2013 is now open!
and
For more information on the benefits
communication.
of ERTICO-ITS Japan cooperation,
EU-Japan Cooperation Workshop on
The first phase of deployment was
please contact Vincent Blervaque.
ITS and ITS Spot Demo, click here
completed in 2010, with about 1,600
For more information on the recent
infrastructure
communication
vehicle-to-vehicle
9
A Farewell to a Renaisance Man Job Klijnhout 1941 - 2012 by Eric Sampson Many people are able to tell you exactly where they were when they heard the news of President Kennedy’s assassination. I can tell you exactly where I was when I first met Job Klijnhout and where I was when I heard the news of his terrible illness and the awful inevitability. Richard Harris and John Miles have written a lucid account of Job’s numerous contributions to transport; this note records some more personal memories.
Way back in 1987 I had gone to the
money as the Netherlands project in
Job would lead the dissection and I
old Berlaymont building for my first
this area showed that you spend lots
would break pencils taking notes to
meeting of a Transport Officials
and get littles(sic) “ It was signed
write up the results as a “bout de
Working Group and over coffee before
‘J J K’. Armed with this I grabbed
papier” to be given to the Commission
the start had committed the UK Civil
the microphone at a suitable point
officials the next day. During this time
Servant crime of having a public
and torpedoed the proposal saying
I became aware of Job’s love of the
argument with another Department.
loftily “And I believe the Netherlands
English language and in particular
I was unimpressed by support for a
Government has conducted some
English humour and television comedy
proposal to fund a particular line of
trials in this area which support my
shows. I doubt there are many Dutch
work on the grounds that it would
point of view”.
folk who today could recite the words
contribute little if successful and
of the Monty Python “Cheese Shop” or
I was certain that I had seen some
Afterwards I went to thank him and
“Dead Parrot” sketches. Some years
results from similar work elsewhere
we ended up sitting together in a
later I introduced him to the works of
but I hadn’t been able to find any
group over dinner and formed a
Tom Stoppard and he telephoned me
evidence.
started
friendship that lasted 25 years. For a
at home to enthuse about the section
and after a short time an envelope
lot of that time we served on various
in “Travesties” where four characters
travelled round the room addressed to
EC Committees and I would like to
each make sensible coherent speeches
me c/o the UK delegation. Inside was
think we enabled progress in many
but they are interleaved so that the
a note saying “hope you don’t mind
difficult areas by assembling small
result is a series of limericks. “You
but I heard what you said earlier. You
groups of experts outside the formal
can only do this in English!”
are quite right; a waste of time and
proceedings to take problems apart.
The
meeting
He was also an enthusiastic fan of A
sonatas were rewarded with “I think it’s time for another visit to the UK. Where have you been hiding him?” He was very knowledgeable about art and history too. When we had the ITS World Congresses in Chicago A Milne and could recite long tracts
and Turin those of us intending to
signalling system, the section control
from “Winnie the Pooh” with no
make cultural visits asked Job first
system
difficulty. He was fascinated by what
for recommendations and among the
in
the
Netherlands,
the
he saw as the precision of English
treasures he revealed are the ‘canal
national
architecture
experiment
and said to me once “The Inuit are
boat’ trips and Monet collection in
that developed into the European
supposed to have 30 different words
Chicago and the underappreciated
standard. The Netherlands excellent
for snow but only in English are there
artist Morandi in Turin.
road safety record rests hugely on his
30 ways to write something nice about
for
speed
enforcement small
innovations.
someone while being rude in a way they do not understand”. From time to time an e-mail would arrive from Job asking me to look at his English and if necessary change it so that he
let’s try it. If it turns out not to work as we predict then we stop it
Job believed in cooperation especially international cooperation and he was a founding member of ITS America, ERTICO and ITS Netherlands. During a spell working with Minnesotan
could be apparently nice to someone while delivering a severe reprimand.
I haven’t mentioned his professional
colleagues
He relished puns and I borrowed his
work. As Richard and John have
ITS Congress in Colorado where a
official envelope routine in an FP4
illustrated he was a pioneer; a
surgeon explained the benefits from
meeting sending the Netherlands
visionary; an evangelist for a new
immediate trauma help after traffic
Delegation
“What’s
way of thinking. In a world where too
accidents and introduced the term
I returned his
many are worried about the trivial
‘Golden Hours’ – no trauma help
reply “Hunny” [a Winnie the Pooh
consequences of failure he focused
within 2 hours is invariably final.
quote] and he laughed out loud to
on the much larger benefits from
Job
the Chairman’s bewilderment after
success and constantly argued “let’s
significance of this which led him
he read “No; a stick”.
try it. If it turns out not to work as
to press the case for changes to the
we predict then we stop it”. And it
management of emergency services
did work: the standard Netherlands
which we all now take for granted
intersection controller, the Motorway
and which are visible as the globally
the
question
brown and sticky?”
I can’t recall when I became aware of his love of music. He followed the Royal Concertgebouw and Haitink around the world and I remember sitting in the Festival Hall in London waiting for their concert to begin when my wife whispered “there’s a man with amazing hair waving at you as if he knows you”. I used to think that he listened only to Bruckner and Marler and occasionally would send him a CD to widen his tastes. He responded to receiving Hilary Hahn
he
attended
immediately
a
recognised
Rural
the
accepted 911 and 112 numbers. The ITS World Congress was his idea as was “ITS in Europe”. He was disappointed that the original title as used in Amsterdam of “IT’S in Europe” was suppressed on the grounds that it didn’t translate into French. His comment was the somewhat acerbic “French isn’t the language of Europe; English is”.
and the Bach Partitas with “I used
And suddenly he is no longer with
to think only American men could
us. He announced last year that he
play the violin properly; now I know
intended to retire “properly” so
better”.
would not work on the Austrian World
Paul
Lewis’s
Beethoven
11
Congress and we sent him off with our
His funeral / cremation was a sad
best wishes. He was planning various
but not a despondent event. Karen
trips with Tineke including tastings
and Inger, his daughters, each gave
at selected Scottish distilleries and
a short address about “my dad” –
we exchanged mails about which
and huge thanks to whoever secured
ones should be included and in which
their texts and translated them for
civilised moment to pay personal
order. Suddenly in early May we had
the considerable number of overseas
respects with Bruckner’s Fifth, one of
the news that he was “seriously” ill
mourners – accompanied by a short
his favourites, in the background.
and it soon became clear that this
piece of music. They were followed
really meant “terminally”. I gather
by Tineke and Jette, a longstanding
How we miss him. He contributed so
that the doctors estimated three
family friend, who likewise spoke
much in so many areas. He was truly
or four weeks but Job was in good
with associated poetry and music.
a Renaissance Man.
general health and he had the last
And then at the end we were spared
laugh in proving them wrong by more
the artificial ‘transition’ involving
than doubling their estimate.
conveyor belts, curtains, descending
written by
coffins and instead had a quiet,
Eric Sampson 29 June 2012
ITS for Urban Mobility
at the 19th ITS World Congress, Vienna, Austria Wednesday 24th October 2012
ITS for Urban Mobility
Interview with: Prof. Dr Orhan Alankus, Okan University Can you describe Okan University
Logistics
activities in the ITS field?
transport
Okan University has an “Intelligent Transport and Automotive Systems Research Centre” (ITAS). In this
optimisation
and
optimisation
public systems
represent another area where Okan University engineers have a certain level of experience.
objectives. This will provide a unique
centre there is research going on in
The University collaborates also with
and innovative contribution to the
different areas.
Prof. Dr Umit Ozguner from Ohio
joint projects.
State University who is involved in
the
autonomous
vehicle
and
communicating vehicles projects of Okan University too.
Are there any projects, activities or
sectors
Partnership
within you
are
the
ERTICO
particularly
interested in? Which ones?
Why have you joined ERTICO - ITS
Cooperative mobility, autonomous
Europe? What are your expectations for this Partnership?
vehicles,
electromobility
and
comprehensive energy management
ITAS has a vision to be one of the
are subjects in which Okan University
The first area is autonomous vehicles.
best “Centre of Excellences” in the
can make a valuable contribution.
Using GPS information and the LIDAR
world on intelligent transport systems
Logistics optimisation and integrated
system, Okan University autonomous
by the end of 2020. Such a vision
personal transport in smart cities are
car can follow a certain path,
requires being in the network of the
also subjects that Okan University
checking for any obstacles on the
best companies and research centres
can
road. Today, the work is on-going
in the field. After investigating,
has
for the improvement of the system
we have seen that ERTICO is one of
technology and innovation strategies
for different traffic scenarios and
the best networks for intelligent
who can support the research and
the integration of environmental
transport systems that bring together
innovation activities of ERTICO and
perception.
the research performing companies
Europe.
Another
important
area
is
communicating vehicles, V2V and V2X systems. Okan University is participating
in
a
joint
project
between TOFAS-FIAT, Ford Otosan and
and universities. We intend to be actively
participate
at
meetings
and contribute to the sharing and extension of knowledge - and projects - in the field.
support. experienced
Okan
University
researchers
in
Okan University has recently organised and hosted a workshop on ITS which focused on research priorities in the ITS field. Can you tell us more about these priorities and
Koc System in Turkey. The University
As a university which has many
the future trends Okan University and
participated in the Grand Cooperating
departments
Turkey in general intend to invest in?
Driving Challenge, held in Holland in
in
May 2011.
engineering,
Electric vehicles are another area of Okan University research. There are joint projects with OEM companies for the development of efficient electric motors, drive systems and also energy optimisation control systems.
industrial
and
specialisations
engineering, computer
civil
science
engineering, mechanical, electrical/ electronic,
automotive
and
mechatronics engineering and who has a vision on Intelligent Transport Technologies, all related departments organise their research to support this field and achieve the related
Okan
University
is
part
of
National Automotive Technology Platform of Turkey. The Technology Platform has come up with a strategy plan in the Automotive Field for Turkey. Okan University ITAS has decided to detail the ITS part of the general strategic plan. We organised two workshops to develop the ITS
Strategy of Turkey. One in 9 December 2011 and the other on 15 May 2012. There were participants from around 50 different companies, state organisations, associations and universities to both meetings. On 9 December 2011, after the presentations from experts and the state organizations, working groups were formed and special sessions were organised to determine the strategic plan priortiies. The main results were: Research on • Energy efficient, effective, safe public
transport and logistics systems
• Full electric and hybrid vehicle technologies • Communicating vehicles and systems • Autonomous vehicle systems For the objectives of • Zero accidents • Safe and clean transport • Effective public and goods transport On 15 May with Paul Kompfner from ERTICO, Fraunhofer Inst, Siemens, TOFAS, and Ford, another workshop was organised.
Mr Kompfner
made an interesting
presentation explaining the priorities of Europe in the ITS field. Other participants have also explained the strategies and applications. The workshop consolidated the strategic priorities developed previously. In Turkey the intelligent road infrastructure and effective exploitation of traffic information are also very important and a lot of work is being carried out in these fields. With these priorities in mind, who are the other stakeholders in Turkey that should be part of future ITS deployments? Okan University is keeping close contacts with stake holders in Turkey. The Transport Ministry is one of the main actors. The Istanbul Municipality also believes in intelligent transport and has many plans and investments in the area. Electronic and software companies, telecommunication companies, automotive industry both OEM’s and suppliers, logistics organisations and companies are all part of the stakeholders with whom Okan University is in contact. There are also many innovative companies in Technoparks in Turkey.
Okan University, one of the youngest and the most dynamic universities of Turkey, was founded in 1999 and began its academic life in 2003-2004. Since the 2006-2007 academic year, the rapidly growing university has been located in its new and modern Akfırat campus. True to its motto, “The University Closest to Business Life”, Okan University effectively combines theory and practice by employing an academic staff who are experts in their own fields, adopting a contemporary approach to education, and focusing upon practice-oriented studies which prepare the students for business life, starting from students’ very first year of study. The University, which had the pleasure of presenting its first graduates with their diplomas in 20062007, has fulfilled the promise of its motto, as all members of its first graduating class of graduates have found employment. Okan University aims to build a bridge between the academic and the business world. ITS enable elements within the transport system to become intelligent by embedding them with microchips and sensors and enable them to communicate with each other through wireless technologies. Interest in and development of this technology results from the problems caused by traffic congestion and a synergy of new information technology for simulation, real-time control and communications networks. Congestion reduces efficiency of transport infrastructure and increases travel time, air pollution as well as fuel consumption. ITS maximise the capacity of infrastructure, reducing the need to build additional highway capacity. Okan University has therefore decided to create an Intelligent Transport Technologies Research Centre in 2009 as the R&D potential is not sufficiently explored and must be activated to contribute to intense ongoing research activities in Turkey and in Europe in order to improve the efficiency and cleanliness of transport globally.
Okan University is located near to a
Basic
few big technoparks and is working to
intelligent
establish a research network in ITS. What policy/political issues do you think the European Union should address or need to consider in order to strengthen the cooperation with Turkey and other international actors?
science,
related
transport
to
Therefore
an
“open
innovation
and
system” is vital. Turkey should be
automotive systems exist. Now, the
involved in research projects to a
major challenge is the development
greater extent. An open innovation
of value added new technologies
channel
and innovative products. In order
established encompassing all actors
to satisfy the challenge, innovation
in the field from all over the world.
is very important.
Proprietary
For innovation,
and
network
rights
will
should
be
be
one
we have to tap all the innovative
important issue for such a system to
potential in different countries.
be addressed in detail.
ERTICO Partnership events ERTICO Events @ Vienna 10-12 September 2012
23rd October 2012
ERTICO-TISA TPEG TestFest - Munich, Germany
ERTICO – ITS Europe & ITS China Bilateral meeting
27th September 2012
24th October 2012
Public Authority Meeting
ITS for Urban Mobility
11th October 2012
26th October 2012
Strategy committee meeting
ITS Standardisation deployment
22-26 October 2012 ITS World Congress
for
harmonised
and
effective
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Open day for the public on 25 October 40 demonstrations on public road, closed demo area and parking zone 300 exhibitors from all over the world 3000 delegates to the conference 10000 international participants...
www.itsworldcongress.com
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