ERTICO eMagazine - July 2012

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

www.ertico.com

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

For further information, please contact us: Avenue Louise 326 B-1050 Brussels Belgium t +32 (0)2 400 07 00 f +32 (0)2 400 07 01 pr@mail.ertico.com

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