INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS (ITS)
INTELLIGENT
TRANSPORT SYSTEM PROJECTS IN ACTION by ITS Australia
As the transport industry deals with the current COVID-19 pandemic, operations have changed dramatically. However, ITS Australia and its partners are still moving ahead with key ITS projects to ensure continued progress in the space, including connecting vehicle networks and unlocking shared mobility.
T
hese are peculiar and uncertain times for us all. As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc across the globe, the thoughts of all of us at ITS Australia are with our members and to the broader transport technology industry both here in Australia and around the globe. We recognise the tremendous work that is being done in our space as roads agencies across the nation work diligently, splitting their time between their offices and homes, to ensure that the nation's transport networks continue to operate effectively, and enabling essential and emergency services to be delivered throughout Australia. We also recognise freight operators and agencies who continue to move goods around the country to address the shortages that we have all witnessed; and public transport operators who have adjusted their operations enormously to ensure that their services are safe for all public transport users. Just a few short months ago, ITS Australia was preparing to deliver a full calendar of events in 2020, including an ITS Asia Pacific Forum. Now, at least for the next few months, all that activity is on hold. But, even now, our work goes on. Like everyone in the industry, we at ITS Australia spent March and April assessing how to move our activities online. Now we are focused on how to support our members through COVID-19, and how we will best serve the industry as it emerges from the immediate crisis. Recently we began running our webinars weekly, we believe that these will be an important conduit for information sharing across the industry. We are also ensuring that ITS Australia’s workshops and reference groups continue in the online space, this will ensure that our important project and policy work is able to continue. Right now, ITS Australia, along with our many partners, is leading two key projects.
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June 2020 // Issue 15
PUTTING THE CONNECTIVITY IN C-ITS ITS Australia and The University of Melbourne are partnering with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, IAG, Intelematics, and Transmax on this iMOVE project, supported by the Commonwealth Government, to investigate connectivity enhancing safety and network efficiency. There are currently few vehicles in Australia that are optimised for connectivity or equipped with Co-operative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS). The potential safety benefits from new connected vehicles are unlikely to be realised in the immediate future in Australia due to the age of our fleet and the limited connectivity of new vehicles. Vehicles arriving with C-ITS technology are likely to land in Australia with a mix of connective technologies, calling for a new set of interoperability standards to guarantee the intended communication and cooperation. Australasia’s authority on vehicle safety, ANCAP, undertook a recent analysis of the Australian registered light vehicle fleet, revealing: ♦ Older vehicles are over-represented in fatal vehicle crashes, and ♦ The average age of a vehicle involved in a fatal crash is increasing Connected vehicles can improve safety and network efficiency outcomes. In urban environments, increased connectivity of vehicles could enable improved network productivity and offer safety benefits for all road users. In rural and regional contexts, safety and productivity improvements could result in social equity and accessibility benefits. There is a mix of technology and levels of connectivity required and a range of use cases to consider for optimal outcomes. An evidence base is needed to better understand the options that can offer the most effective safety and efficiency benefits on Australian roads. www.infrastructuremagazine.com.au
