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1st eCall Interoperability testing event - Follow it live!

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:58:08 +0200

ERTICO - ITS Europe and ETSI’s Centre for Testing and Interoperability (CTI) are organising the first eCall Interoperability event which will take place from 22 to 24 May 2012, in Nuneaton, UK.

This blog is intended to share the general proceedings of this eCall interoperability event in a dynamic way. So don't hesitate to leave your comment/questions below or on Twitter (@ERTICO and #eCallIT12).

Monday, 21 May 2012

Opening of the eCall interoperability event live blog

From tomorrow on, innovITS Advance will host three days of eCall interoperability testing at their facilities in Nuneaton. Several companies - vendors of In-Vehicle Systems (IVS) and/or Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) systems - are expected to participate in the event co-organised by ERTICO - ITS Europe and ETSI - Center for Testing and Interoperability. It is supported by the European Commission and the EU co-funded project HeERO.

The objective of these three days is to provide a realistic environment for the vendors to test their implementations with each others: IVS vendors will be able to test the interoperability of their product with the different PSAP implementations, and vice-versa. Following several tests covering realistic scenarios, participants will monitor the behaviour of their products in the different phases of the transmission of an eCall, and assess whether it worked properly or not.

The tests will be performed over the innovITS ADVANCE GSM/3G private network, allowing IVS units to make 112 based eCall to the PSAP.

RACC Infotransit receives several prizes

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:39:45 +0200

"RACC Infotransit" has been recently awarded two prizes at different national and international events for its free iPhone/Android application for traffic information. Specifically, RACC, an ERTICO Partner, won the best project in ITS award for interurban traffic during the last Spanish ITS Congress held in Madrid (24-26 April 2012). In addition, it has been awarded second prize in the "FIA Region I Innovation Council Award 2011"; the award was given during the "FIA International Club Conference - Spring Meeting 2012" held in Belgrade (Serbia) 7-11 May 2012.

RACC Infotransit is a completely free new traffic and travel information service available for iPhone and Android smartphones. It provides real time and predictive traffic flow information in Spain and 17 other European countries. Other features available in Spain include journalistic data (congestion alerts, weather events, roadworks, etc.), around 1 100 traffic cameras and all static speed cams at interurban and local level, and more than 8 000 petrol stations with daily updated fuel prices.

RACC Infotransit can contribute to road safety by providing accurate info on traffic incidents such as accidents, road closures, etc. on the user’s route. The app encourages user participation to continually improve (by alerting wrong or non-accurate information) and increase the information provided (users can report traffic incidents as they spot them on the road), as well as having social networking features to help to spread the word through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and others.

App implementation started in mid July 2011 and it was launched live in the Apple Store and Android Market on 14 November 2011. It has been downloaded more than 130 000 times since then.

For more information visit RACC website.

ITS Network meetings in Copenhagen

Mon, 14 May 2012 14:09:59 +0200

The Network of National ITS Associations were recently warmly welcomed by ITS Denmark and the City of Copenhagen for two days of stimulating presentations and discussions.

The Workshop on the first day was very well attended with around 100 participants from Denmark and across Europe. The Workshop was held in the City of Copenhagen’s premises on 26-27 April and consisted of three parallel workshops on:

Door to Door Traffic
Road Pricing
Urban Traffic Management

Presentations in all sessions were given by speakers from both the private and public sectors. Within the session on Door to Door Traffic, the audience learnt about travel planning in Denmark, seamless mobility in the Czech Republic as well within multi-modal transport systems. In addition examples were given of spontaneous ridesharing and traffic monitoring. Participants in the session on Road Pricing heard about toll collection in the Czech Republic, GPS truck tolling in Slovakia, the Danish approach to interoperable solutions as well as lessons learnt, issues relating to road pricing such as privacy and security and current trends and guidelines for the future. Finally in the Urban Traffic Management session, there were presentations on interoperability, historic and real time traffic data, Bluetooth data in addition to providing urban mobility solutions, cooperative systems, the view from the EU expert group and a platform for ITS and traffic signals in Copenhagen.

The presentations can be found here.

The workshop was followed by an enjoyable Networking dinner at the Café Sundet, the journey to which involved a boat journey where participants were delighted by a commentary on local landmarks given by Steffen Rasmussen, our host from the City of Copenhagen.

The Network Plenary meeting on the second day, also held at the City of Copenhagen premises, was well attended with 15 Network members present. During the meeting, the Chairman, Jennie Martin and Vice Chairman, Norbert Handke were re-elected for another 2 year term in addition to Reinhard Pfliegl, elected to sit on the Coordination Committee. ITS Lithuania presented itself to the meeting and their membership of the Network was approved. The Network now has 27 members from across Europe. Discussions were held on the subject of potential participation in projects and possible activities to support the ITS Directive and it was agreed to establish a sub-committee to discuss these issues further.

The next meeting will take place in Dublin, 8-9 November, kindly hosted by ITS Ireland.

For more information, please contact Anna Limbrey.

Moveuskadi implements on the cloud model for transit data interconnection

Fri, 04 May 2012 15:30:45 +0200

Moveuskadi implements on the cloud model for transit data interconnection as basis for a global information service for public transport

The Basque Government’s Transportation Department has moved forward the Spanish Royal Decree 662/2012, of 13th of April, and has already developed an integrated system for offering transit data to citizens through value added services.

Transportation reality is complex and heterogeneous (various competence levels, diverse data source systems and technological maturity in service providers, multiple actors). Giving citizens unified transport data options requires high levels of investment, large time to market and large amount of resources in production. The Cloud and the new SaaS models, besides the new technologies for transport and geo-positioning data and the new system architectures based on them, offer new more efficient, more scalable and optimum solutions.

Project Moveuskadi integrates all the Basque Country’s transport data in only 3 months, with a very low investment, thanks to these new technologies; offering different information services to citizens, and having the data always updated.

INTRODUCTION
Royal Decree 662/2012 establishes the framework for the implementation of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) in road transport and for interfaces with other transport modes.

The countless international experiences show that the only efficient way to deal with the continuing increase in demand is the use and application of information technology and communications in the field of road transport.
To solve this situation, on 7 July 2010, the European Parliament and Council adopted the Directive 2010/40/UE, laying down the framework for the implementation of intelligent transport systems in the field of road transport.
This Royal Decree establishes, among other things, that ITS should be based on interoperable systems, open and public standards and available without discrimination to all providers and users of applications and services.
In addition, it sets out several priority areas and activities. One of the Priority actions is the provision of multimodal travel information and real time traffic information.

Moveuskadi (www.moveuskadi.com) is completely aligned with this Directive. Moveuskadi integrates information about 40 transit agencies in the Basque Country (what supposes 400 routes and more than 4000 stops). All this information is integrated and homogenised in a Saas platform. This platform is provided by i2MApp Innovación en Movilidad S.L. company (specialised in ITS technologies for citizen’s information). MoviTransit platform (as it is called) automatically integrates all transit information and provides it through different value added services for citizens. MoviTransit has been adapted to Moveuskadi platform. Thanks to it, the Basque Government offers a high quality information service, with very low cost and very short time-to-market. Information has been standardised (GTFS format), and allows interoperability among systems.

BASQUE COUNTRY’S TRANSPORTATION REALITY
The Basque Country (Euskadi) is made up of 3 provinces, 258 municipalities and has more than 2.000.000 inhabitants. It is one of the 17 Autonomies that form Spain. Municipalities are responsible for urban transport, the provinces for suburban and interurban road transport; the Basque Government is the manager of the Basque railways and the Spanish Government of the national rail system. This disaggregation of responsibilities makes it difficult to generate a unique and centralised platform to integrate all agents.

On the other hand, there are more than 40 public transport companies. Their technological capabilities vary from each other strongly. Each transport company offered their own information in their own formats. Public Transport information was partial, incomplete, and not easy to understand. Transfers between two agencies were difficult to plan for citizens because of this lack of information. Definitively, the information was very fragmented, and it was difficult for citizens to manage their own mobility in public transport.

Moveuskadi system (“Green mobility in Euskadi”) have had to manage to go through proprietary systems and defined a platform that includes systems, models and new technologies in order to integrate all agents implied in public transport.

The Transport Department of Euskadi, conscious about this fact, proposed the integration of all agents through an integrated system developed in Moveuskadi project.

THE PROJECT
In order to offer up-to-date transit information, to make possible for all transit agencies in Basque Country integrate in the platform, all optimising time and costs, there were some requirements to accomplish:
Companies with IT infrastructure shouldn’t need to make special work for integrating in the platform. It was necessary to offer mechanisms to capture from their systems their data in a not intrusive way, so as the daily processes of the company were not affected.

Companies with no IT infrastructure also must be integrated in the platform, so it was necessary to provide means to let them digitalise and provide their data and allow them to be integrated in the platform the same way “big agencies” are.

The data should always be up to date (to provide credible information and gain citizens’ trust), but the human intervention for that needs to be the least. This way, the production and maintenance costs are minimised.
Integrated data should be used as an input to generate services in different formats and platforms. Data should be independent from its representation. These are services to be offered: multimodal trip planner (Google Transit), schedule planner, guided service for smartphones, interest points service.

All the costs must be related to specific transport parameters (like number of routes or stops) and to the proper services; not to passive elements (like servers, bandwidth, etc.).

METHODOLOGY
The first step was to define and choose the adequate technology. MoviTransit platform offers:

Intelligent connections for interconnecting data sources. These connections connect to agencies’ IT systems in a not intrusive way, and capture required transit data (routes, stops, trips, fares, schedule, etc.). This information is integrated in the interconnection central node. The connections detect any modification made in the data source (modifications made by the agency through their IT systems), and communicate it to the central. This way, the whole system is always updated.

TransitEditor® Online Transportation GIS service for allowing small agencies (or agencies with no IT infrastructure) digitalise and manage their data. It provides a very easy and intuitive service for managing transportation data. This data is integrated in the central interconnection node. Any data update made through TransitEditor would be automatically communicated to the central.

Central interconnection node: homogenises and stores the information. Provides the required data to the services.

Information services: multimodal trip planner, customisable schedules, smartphone apps, etc .

The entire platform implements an On The Cloud technology, and permits to accumulate and scale the interconnected data, avoiding access limitations, proper of Public Administrations.

Figure 1. System Model

The system is formed by 5 components: (1) Intelligent Automatic Connection. (2) Interconnection Node. (3) Transportation GIS. (4) Exporter. (5) Services.

RESULTS
The most important result is that nowadays Basque Government has a “On the cloud system” that interconnects all Euskadi’s agencies, and feeds a number of services. This permits for the first time to have all the information about lines, routes, schedules, itineraries organised and completed for all the public agencies, and citizens are given the proper information.

Agencies provide their data in their own format, having none penalties or cost for them. This connection model is extensible for further services. The model is easy to understand, and eliminates main barriers for participating. The connection model is easy to adapt if changes appear, and is not intrusive.

Data is updated automatically. This means no costly data dump is needed anymore. So the development of the platform is made only once, with the subsequent optimisation of resources and maintenance.

Basque Government reached an integration of 40 different agencies in 3 months and with a very little budget (annual license based on the number of routes integrated in the system).

PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Thanks to the data integration, it is possible for the Basque Government to offer a website that centralises public transport information offering it through different value added services for citizens:

Multimodal trip planner: Google Transit Platform is used to give this service. The data is converted to General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) format automatically.

Customisable schedules service: allows to generate customised schedules to travel between two locations. These schedules can be downloaded, printed and saved, so as the user can always carry them.

Applications for smartphones: A guided application for smartphones has been deployed. It consists on a public transport GPS Navigator that guides the user to travel in public transport between two locations. The application detects if the user arrives late, or if he has to drop off in the next stop, and emits a warning.

Getting to interest points: Service to get to the interest points using public transport.

Services for developers: in order to reach the traction other sectors, and to gain value with no new investments, the Basque Government releases the data in two different ways:

Developers API: In order to permit open development of further services and to maintain Google Independence, a Developer’s API was deployed.

GTFS data liberation: the data from all the companies’ has been released in GTFS standard format in order to permit third party developments.

Services for Feeding Public Administration systems: The global transportation data is transformed to GIS compatible data (ESRI Shapefile), so Public Administration can acquire it and use it for further mobility studies and decisions.

CONCLUSIONS
Heterogeneity of transportation data has demanded a solution that integrates all transport data and makes a common treatment of them in order to offer to the citizens the services that allow them to manage their own mobility in function of their needs.

Gathering and standardising information in the Interconnection Node permits a common process of data and generation of multiple value-added services.

Making the connection automatic avoids the need of sending any update, so as human intervention is minimised and cost of maintenance and public resources destined to this are optimised.

This model is extensible for other areas, including broader areas like 2 states or two regions, for example, and build broader trip planner with little cost. Basque Government’s aim is to spread it in the whole Spain. There is no need of a very high technological profile in order to offer advanced services to citizen. Nevertheless, the biggest challenge is not technology but are the people. Only with the collaboration of all the involved agents it is possible to develop a project to integrate, unify and keep updated all the transportation data.

For more information, contact Mikel Díez Sarasola or Leire Bardají, authors of this article.

TRA 2012: Greener, safer and smarter surface transport for Europe

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:08:06 +0200

On 23 April 2012, the Transport Research Arena opened the way to ‘sustainable mobility through innovation’ with a four-day conference that brought together surface transport stakeholders from all over Europe. In the Greek city of Athens, this year’s edition of TRA focuses on finding solutions to a sustainable integrated transport system – including rail and maritime transport – in order to bring about trans-border commercial opportunities and ensure sustainable mobility of goods and people within the Union.

The Transport Research Arena aims to foster excellent research, share ideas and find solutions to the challenges of this era in an area that represents 5% of Europe’s GDP. With Horizon 2020 in mind, stakeholders will take this opportunity to develop smart, green and integrated transport systems across Europe and across all transport modes in order to guarantee sustainable, efficient and clean transport for the future.

For more information, visit iCar Support website.

	Vice-President Siim Kallas TRA 2012 Opening Ceremony
	Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn (Research, Innovation and Science) visited the iCar Support stand
	iCar Support stand

More pictures available here.

eCoMove at TRA conference in Athens

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:46:13 +0200

The Transport Research Arena Conference, the bi-yearly top transport research event in Europe, took place from 23 to 26 April 2012. The Conference reflected the multidisciplinary nature of the transport sector and focused on all aspects of all surface transport modes with the exception of overseas shipping.

eCoMove was present with a demonstrator on the European Commission stand and two papers presented in the conference programme. On 23 April, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research & Technological Development, enjoyed a test-drive on the joint eCoMove-Freilot simulator which showed her the potential fuel savings to be realised thanks to these future applications.

TRA 2012 was co-organised by the European Commission, the Greek Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks, the Conference of European Directors of Roads, the European Road Transport Research Advisory Council, the European Rail Research Advisory Council and the European Technology Platform WATERBORNE.

DG RTD Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn with RTD Transport Director Andras Siegler and RTD Surface Transport Head of Unit Liam Breslin) and driving the simulator

InfoMobility projects and “Smart Cities” workshop held in Turin

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:39:20 +0200

On 19 April TTS Italia participated in the workshop "An open architecture for mobile information: from cities to the regions" in Turin organised by the City of Turin and Piedmont Region with the technical coordination of 5t, TTS Italia ordinary member. The workshop focused on the presentation of some national projects devoted to the issues of traffic management and InfoMobility. In particular, the event presented the results of the SIMo.Ne project (funded by the first call of the ELISA program - Program Innovation System of Local Bodies Department of Regional Affairs at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers) and the Infocity projects (funded by the third call of the program ELISA).

The event aimed to initiate a discussion on the issues of traffic management and mobility; the design capacity of the territories in this area; and the opportunities arising from the use of Intelligent Transport Systems Technology (ITS), with particular attention to the needs of Local Authorities. The event rep[resented also an occasion for the launch of a working table on "Smart Mobility Cities" initiated by TTS Italia, which was signed by the councillors present in the event. The table will be an opportunity to discuss and compare the demand and supply on mobility and smart cities.

For the press release (available only in Italian), click here.

Instant Mobility multimodal services acceptability study delivers its preliminary results

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:42:58 +0200

Instant Mobility is a 2‐year research project in the Future Internet Public‐Private Partnership (FI‐PPP) that is exploring the potential of Future Internet technologies to bring a revolutionary improvement to the mobility of people and goods, and to the operation of transport networks and systems.

The first of two user surveys, one targeted at citizen travellers and the other one for professional drivers, was organised online in three partner cities of the Instant Mobility project: Rome, Istanbul and Nice. In a second phase, and in parallel with the professional drivers’ survey, new surveys for citizen travellers will be conducted in other partner cities, Toledo, Trondheim and the Basque Region.

Close to 5000 answers had been received at the end of March 2012. The complete analysis of the results is not yet finalised but a preliminary report has already been released (for multimodal services acceptability).

In this first survey, participants were questioned on the most critical criteria for the acceptance of the technical solutions needed by Instant Mobility for multimodal travels organisation: (1) being localised in real time, anytime and anywhere during a travel; (2) personal data usage implied by customised services according to the traveller’s specific needs and expectancies; and (3) the ranking of these services. Indeed, to take advantage of Instant Mobility services, travellers and professional drivers would be part of a new kind of social network – urban area mobility network – where everyone could evaluate solutions and people (in the context of ride sharing) for everyday sustainable transport optimisation.

The aim was to evaluate under which conditions citizen would accept to benefit from the Instant Mobility services. Participating citizens were thus first asked about their current behaviour: how they find information to prepare their travel and manage their journey; if they ever register personal preferences and what are their actual practices and uses of their mobile and navigation system in that context.

The proposed options corresponded to different levels of privacy conditions to test how far they are ready to consider the "selective disclosure" and how they would like to manage it (medium commitment with only limited information until low commitment with completely anonymous information). Participants were also asked to express themselves about the conditions under which they would accept their previous travels and preferred means of transport to be recorded.

A majority of respondents (between 60% and 65%) would be willing to accept the transmission of their location under some conditions The main condition to accept the transmission of the location is to remain anonymous. The main other conditions are the preliminary approval by the user, the limitation of this transmission during the trip and that it is not recorded. The trust in the service only arrives in third or fourth position.

The study seems to confirm the need, for the daily travels, to get information frequently or regularly (between 60 to 94%), and that the mobile phone is already the main source to get it today (50 to 90%). However it seems that people don't often give feedback on the service they have just used and they are not used to register their preferences.

The full analysis report should be available within one month and the launch of the survey in Trondheim, Norway, is scheduled for the end of April 2012.

For more information about the project, visit Instant Mobility website.

Instant Mobility Stakeholder Workshop

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:17:47 +0200

On 20 March 2012, the Instant Mobility project held its second public workshop, hosted by ATAC SpA in Rome, Italy. The aim of this workshop was to present Future Internet features and their potential to help solving mobility and transport issues, as well as to verify with local key actors and stakeholders that these systems and solutions would really meet users’ requirements. Finally, the floor was open to discuss with potential participants the opportunity of the second phase of the FI PPP programme, where a number of cities will be selected to host a pilot implementation of Instant Mobility scenarios. The workshop brought together 85 participants, including representatives from ATAC, the public transport company of the city, as well as Rome Mobility agency, public authorities, logistics and ICT companies, and other businesses from the Capital City and other parts of Italy.

Instant Mobility project aims to optimise and enhance the way people and goods are moving in urban areas. Whereas today people simply drive or travel with little assistance or information, in the future, we can help travellers to cooperate and become partners in mobility, while respecting still security and privacy principles. The value of information is mostly the topic of this project: how would we manage mobility if we had complete information about how many travellers there are, where they are and want to go in real time?

Instant Mobility has developed different scenarios of mobility services and analysed the technical and non-technical requirements in relation, which will be delivered to the next phase of project for prototype development. The workshop focused largely on confirming these requirements with candidate cities for large scale experimentation of Instant Mobility services in Phase II.

Access to data from public transport and road operators is seen as a critical point since generally difficult to obtain, but Instant Mobility will not only make use of “passenger floating data”, i.e. information about disruptions collected directly from individual passengers; the project also sees this as a mutually beneficial exchange: multimodality in return for data.

Rome clearly sees benefits in implementing Instant Mobility platform to tackle its mobility challenges, such as congestion, real time transport information, road network usage optimisation, ecological sustainability and operation costs savings. But who is going to pay for these solutions? What is the business model? The revenue from increased ticket sales to travellers preferring public transports over personal car? Also the ecological sustainability implied by Instant Mobility applications means cost savings, as do specific services proposed by the project such as ride sharing. So there is for sure a market share for this type of solutions but the investment for cities alone is too high hence public-private partnerships will be necessary.

Other issues raised regarding the future use of such systems include heterogeneity, financial implications of security or licensing, legal implications of proprietary systems and political support from European authorities; but the main issue remains organisational: there are existing services already, what is needed is one system that integrates them.

The next stakeholder workshop of Instant Mobility will be held on 26 June 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey. The same exercise of discussing and understanding the specific interests of potential users for the Future Internet-enabled transport and mobility applications will be repeated in Toledo, Spain, in October 2012 and in Helsinki, Finland, in January 2013.

Moreover the project will organise a larger workshop on 21 October 2012, targeted at a more international audience, as the prelude to the ITS World Congress in Vienna, Austria, where an Instant Mobility prototype platform will be demonstrated.

To register your interest for any of these events, please contact Julie Castermans.

The presentations and full meeting notes of the Rome workshop are available here.

Greek Minister for Transport visits Viajeo stand at TRA 2012

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:29:28 +0200

Athens demo site leader INFOTRIP demonstrated traffic information service

On 24 April Mr Makis Voridis, the Greek for Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Networks, visited the Viajeo stand at the Transport Research Arena in Athens. Viajeo Athens demo site leader INFOTRIP gave a demonstration of the traffic information service (flows, road incidents etc) based on processed real-time traffic information taken from fixed measurements points (Athens Traffic Management Centre) and FCD (Floating Car Data). This service was presented to the Minister on the mobile application. Users can observe on a map which roads are congested or less congested and possible traffic alerts that may happen at that time. The aforementioned service is also available via web. For more information, visit Viajeo website.

From left: Minister Makis Voridis with George Sarros from Infotrip

EU and USA announce plans for a joint showcase at the 19th ITS World Congress

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:16:17 +0200

In April, Shelley Row, ITS Joint Programme Office Director, and Juhani Jääskeläinen, Head of Unit "ICT for Transport" - DG Information Society and Media, announced plans for creating a showcase to share the achievements of the cooperation between EU and USA with the international ITS community at the 19th ITS World Congress.

In a joint message Mr Jääskeläinen and Ms Row stated that the successful cooperation so far accomplished in areas such as connected vehicles safety, standards harmonisation and sustainability in particular, will be exhibited during the Congress in October. In addition to demonstrations, interactive events and technical sessions will be organised, and a presentation of the collaboration with the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Road Bureau will be also given, where applicable.

This international cooperation started in 2009, with the EU-USA agreement on cooperative research in ICT for transport application.

To read the full statement, click here.

The latest FOT-Net newsletter now available

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:48:23 +0200

FOT-Net, FP7-funded networking platform for Field Operations Tests activities, aims to gather European and international stakeholders in a strategic networking platform to present results of FOTs and to promote the deployment of their results.

You can read the latest FOT-Net newsletter here.

For more information, please visit the FOT-Net website.

FOT-Net Stakeholder Consultation

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:40:03 +0200

FOT-Net wants to learn more about stakeholders’ opinions and attitudes towards FOTs.

Deadline: 10 May 2012

FOT-Net, FP7-funded networking platform for Field Operations Tests activities, aims to gather European and international stakeholders in a strategic networking platform to present results of FOTs and to promote the deployment of their results.

FOT-Net is currently carrying out a Stakeholder Consultation. Stakeholders are people and organisations that are involved in or connected to FOTs, for example by giving support to FOTs or benefitting from their results. With this consultation FOT-Net would like to learn more about stakeholders’ opinions and attitudes towards FOTs.

This is an activity fully endorsed by the European Commission. A letter of support by Mr Juhani Jääskeläinen, Head of Unit, ICT for Transport, DG INFSO can be found here.

Your experiences are very valuable and we invite you to take part in this consultation which is open until 10 May. Should you be interested in taking part in this survey please contact the FOT-Net team, 0032 2 400 07 30.

ITS interoperability testing events: a new way to make business

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:47:43 +0200

With one interoperability event successfully conducted in 2011, and two already planned for 2012, the ITS sector is picking up on a deployment enabler that has so far been under utilised: interoperability testing. This is happening because suppliers need to ensure that their products communicate correctly with each other, and interoperability testing events represent an essential step towards launching products on the market and towards commercial success.

Over the past few years, interoperability events have become a well-known practice within several high-tech sectors, such as telecommunication, as they provide an exceptional opportunity to test a product and pledge its interoperability before placing it on the market. Even if interoperability events do not certify products and services, they allow engineers to spot problems in the product development process early enough to limit financial consequences. Such events ideally take place early on in the progress of the implementation of a standard, and have proven to create great excitement among participant operators, equipment manufacturers, standardisation bodies and interest groups.

Indeed, interoperability events have a great deal of benefits for companies and standardisation organisations; they offer instant feedback on possible errors in a product and on ambiguity of a standard (often due to different interpretations of the same standard) allowing early corrections which, if implemented without testing, would cost extra time and money. The advantages of ensuring interoperability are undeniable and therefore the collaboration between participants prevails over the risk of sharing products and services among competing companies. The added value of the approach is demonstrated in the increasing numbers of participants at these events; each participant company can test its own product and technology against competitors and find errors that would have been impossible to find otherwise.

ITS Interoperability testing events are a recent success story. In November last year ERTICO - ITS Europe and ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) joined forces to launch the first ever ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) interoperability event. The week was very important for ERTICO and it was closely followed via a live blog by Sébastien Mure which allowed the ITS community to participate virtually in the event.

This first 5-day interoperability event focused on cooperative mobility services and gathered over 50 people from 14 organisations (technology providers, research institutes, car manufacturers and international organisations) who brought their ITS units and tested their interoperability. The early results of the event were shared and discussed at a workshop hosted by ERTICO Partner TNO Mobility in Helmond (the Netherlands) and supported by the European projects DRIVE C2X and eCoMove whose implementations were tested and successfully proved to be interoperable.

The high attendance and impressive results obtained (90% of the 750 executed tests confirmed interoperability), prove the maturity of the implementation of cooperative ITS devices and highlight the great interest of the ITS community in testing, as well as the necessity for companies and institutions to certify the interoperability of products and services and their compliance with standards.

Additionally, this first experience paved the way to future ITS interoperability testing events. The next milestone is the eCall Interoperability event, the first of its kind, hosted by ERTICO Partner innovITS ADVANCE in the UK (21-25 May) and supported by the eCall deployment project HeERO, led by ERTICO.

HeERO is the pilot project co-funded by the European Commission under the ICT Policy Support Programme that addresses the pan-European in-vehicle emergency call service (eCall) based on the common European emergency number 112.

According to Andy Rooke, HeERO project coordinator, "the implementation of the eCall service at European level should take into account two major conditions: interoperability and cross border continuity and harmonisation". Interoperability means that any vehicle from any European country can travel across Europe and use the eCall service in case of incidents and count on assistance. In order to make this possible, interoperability needs to be accomplished not only from a technical point of view, but it needs to cover all of the operational aspects. On the other hand, the eCall service can work only if developed in a harmonised way in all European countries. The HeERO project will use the European standards as defined by ETSI and CEN - European Committee for Standardisation, and with this project the European Commission is aiming to facilitate the deployment of a pan-European service by 2015.

The first eCall interoperability event planned in May is part of this harmonisation process. The organisers estimate that between 7 and 10 different companies will be represented with a total of 30 to 40 participants. The focus of this event will be on testing the end-to-end eCall chain (from In-Vehicle System – IVS - to Public Safety Answering Point – PSAP), following a defined series of test scenarios. For each test session, couples composed of one IVS test device and one PSAP test device will be formed. The duos will then test the transmission of the eCall under different scenarios, and verify that all information is properly transmitted and that the protocols are respected. The test descriptions and specifications have been written by a group of selected experts, in collaboration with the participants in the tests. The tests will be performed via a mobile network provided and controlled by innovITS ADVANCE.

Additionally, a workshop titled "From interoperability testing to certification" will be held during the testing operations where the first results will be shown. The workshop is open to a wide audience and attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about interoperability testing and eCall, and to visit the testing area and meet the participants.

In terms of benefits for the standardisation process, the event is expected to provide feedback to ETSI on the maturity of the standard, to spot potential errors as well as providing some feedback on the testing procedures. For suppliers and manufacturers, a feedback on the interoperability of their technologies against other suppliers will be given and, according to the final results, they can consider what can be done to improve them.

In the same way, François Fischer, Project Manager at ERTICO, who is leading the organisation of the eCall interoperability event, acknowledged that these events are also pivotal for projects that have the unique opportunity of testing their products and technologies before they are actually implemented; "the positive results obtained with the first interoperability event on cooperative mobility services convinced us that projects can greatly benefit from such events".

A second interoperability testing event on cooperative mobility services is already planned to take place in June 2012 in Versailles (France).

Interview with Ramiro Quintero, FICOSA

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:18:46 +0200

ERTICO had the pleasure to talk with Ramiro Quintero, Product Engineering Director - Advanced Communications Department at FICOSA. FICOSA is a new ERTICO Partner.

Can you describe FICOSA activities in the ITS field?

R. Quintero: FICOSA is, nowadays, one of the worldwide leaders in the development of in-vehicle systems integrated in vehicles. A firm commitment to innovative solutions to our clients has led FICOSA’s technology to be chosen already by several customers, and several projects awarded for worldwide deployments of several million units in 2013. Our automotive customers are already benefiting from the advanced integration capabilities in telematic modules to meet their demands, as several car platforms have been integrating FICOSA’s telematic modules inside since several months ago.

With today’s automotive worldwide market and customer changing needs, wireless access is expected to lead to dramatically multiband applications that take advantage of ubiquitous mobility and location. Several years ago, FICOSA was qualified to understand those trends in the ITS field by working in close cooperation with its customers. In that sense, it was clear that the number of available communication services within a vehicle was constantly increasing. As the users appreciate the utility of new services, it was not only the manufacturers of portable devices, but also car makers themselves, who wanted to have these services integrated in the vehicles. The proper functioning of those services, such as GSM, UMTS, DCS, GPS, Glonass, etc relied on good antenna reception.

The antenna is one of the most definitive elements of a wireless device. Without it, wireless systems would not be wireless. Some years ago, FICOSA decided to address the aforementioned new market trends through a portfolio of innovative antenna solutions in all the different services used in automobile. It started with the search of antenna technologies that could provide more than conventional solutions. Through research, FICOSA led notable advances in the design of two kinds of traditionally difficult antennas: the multiband and miniature. FICOSA committed to support wireless data communications by providing specialised and unique antennas.

That commitment to provide with state-of-the-art antennas benefited FICOSA’s customers, since FICOSA’s IPR portfolio ensures a competitive advantage to our partners and clients. Needless to say that the benefits of FICOSA’s expertise do not end there, however. FICOSA electronics know-how in the communications and automotive sectors also led to the development of innovative telematic units. Now FICOSA is a full-service Tier-1 supplier in the telematic arena that offers full development of hardware / software solutions, proprietary integrated antennas, specialised manufacturing and mass production capabilities, in-house testing and state-of-the-art measurement equipment, and a strong IPR portfolio that ensures a competitive advantage. Currently, FICOSA’s engineering group is a team of 20+ years experience in several areas, such as RF, software development, 3G/4G communications, GNSS communications, etc.

Why have you joined ERTICO - ITS Europe? What are your expectations for this Partnership?

R. Quintero: FICOSA has several expectations in joining ERTICO. In a world where increasingly intelligent smart vehicles and ITS are hitting the roads, FICOSA cannot stress highly enough getting in contact with the right partners. In that sense, one of the major expectations from FICOSA is to participate with other European partners in projects where we can provide with the right experience in the fields of in-vehicle systems (telematic units), and proper integration of those systems in the vehicle by means of our technology. FICOSA is a Tier-1 supplier with 60+ years experience in dealing with automotive makers. In order to be successful, it is key to establish strong links with the ITS community, and ERTICO is a platform that really encourages that cooperation among the partners.

Are there any projects, activities or sectors that you are particularly interested in?

R. Quintero: FICOSA is well recognised because of its excellence in technology. There are several areas where FICOSA is leading the innovation field and, therefore, where we would like to keep the lead through partnership. Looking towards the future, FICOSA’s aim is to be a natural partner for companies that are starting to realise that wireless integration is a crucial issue. In that sense, FICOSA wants to strengthen its leading position by participating in projects that require innovative solutions in the telematics area, such as 3G/4G telephony and GNSS satellite communications, DSRC, M2M solutions for car manufacturers and aftermarket solutions, etc.

About FICOSA:

FICOSA is an industrial group based in Spain and a global leader in research, development, production and marketing of automotive systems and parts. Founded in 1949, the company, with headquarters in Barcelona (Spain), holds a team close to 8,000 employees and manufacturing plants, technological centres and offices located throughout 19 countries in Europe, North America, South America and Asia.

The Group invests 4% of its income in R&D, and operates one of the top technology development centres in Spain addressed to the automotive, electronics, energy and communications industries. FICOSA has positioned itself for the future as a world leader in electronic systems with a global and more diversified business agenda and an expanded added value product line.

For more information, visit FICOSA website.

News from TISA

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:51:06 +0200

New Joint-Chairman of the TISA Technical and Standardisation Committee appointed

On 20 March 2012, TISA Steering Board announced the appointment of Dave Francis (INRIX) as Joint-Chairman of the Technical and Standardisation Committee. Dave Francis succeeds Heinz-Werner Pfeiffer (Bosch) who stepped down as Chairman last December.

Dave Francis will be chairing the Technical and Standardisation Committee together with Teun Hendriks (ClearChannel). Dave has been very active within TISA for several years, and he is an expert on TMC and TPEG standards as well as on broadcast and connected services.

TISA wishes to thank Heinz-Werner for his dedication to TISA as well as Dave for ensuring continuity in the Chairmanship of the Committee.

For more information on TISA, click here.

euroFOT - Data Analysis: A Gargantuan task

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:47:53 +0200

In June 2012, the results of the first large-scale European Field Operational Test on active safety systems – euroFOT – will be unveiled. With the aim of showing the public the positive impact active safety systems can bring when it comes to safety, traffic and fuel efficiency. Several of the 28 euroFOT project partners are currently analysing hundreds of terabytes of data collected on European roads over the course of 12 months. Preliminary results already look positive, especially when it comes to user acceptance and traffic safety.

Although project partners faced difficulties when first recruiting drivers and vehicles, they managed to reach the 1000 vehicle target successfully – with a total number of 1200 drivers. From February 2010 to February 2011, cars and trucks equipped with active safety systems and data loggers travelled a total of 18 million kilometres throughout Europe, gathering huge amounts of data.

The preparation (installation, data acquisition systems, extra sensors, etc. in vehicles) and data collection phases being over, experts were able to focus on processing the data. Data quality checks, project monitoring and data analysis: For the first time 33 researchers belonging to 15 different institutions and organisations across Europe have joined forces to assess the impact and hypotheses tested in this unique FOT in Europe.

With the help of software tools that were specifically produced during the project – in order to have a tool chain that not only provides specific modules for euroFOT, but also a framework that can be re-used in future FOTs –, experts are currently assessing the impact of active safety systems on traffic safety and efficiency as well as on the environment. Driver behaviour and acceptance are two important parameters experts also have to take into account. Therefore, user answers to interviews and questionnaires also need to be analysed and translated into results.

The amount of data gathered within the Field Operational Test is so important – and there is so much one can learn from the project – that discussions are already ongoing on a follow-up project. But for now, and before euroFOT comes to a close, researchers have a gargantuan task at hand: They need to get the most information they can from the terabytes of data at their disposal by June 2012, when the results of this unprecedented large-scale Field Operational Test on active safety systems will be unveiled to Europe, its citizens, experts and authorities.

For more information, visit euroFOT website.

euroFOT: Bringing Intelligent Vehicles to the Road

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:53:23 +0200

In June 2012 the first large-scale European Field Operational Test of active safety systems – euroFOT – will come to a close and unveil unprecedented results. For twelve months, 1200 drivers travelled European roads in 1000 vehicles equipped with eight safety and fuel efficiency features. Aria Etemad, euroFOT Project Coordinator, explains how euroFOT results will impact traffic safety and efficiency, and invites us to take part in a unique experience at the euroFOT Final Event.

What does euroFOT stand for?
Aria Etemad: euroFOT stands for European Field Operational Test: it is the very first large-scale Field Operational Test (FOT) in Europe that assesses the benefits of active safety systems on traffic safety and efficiency. For 12 months, 1000 cars and trucks equipped with active safety systems (8 functions were tested, one of them focussing on fuel efficiency) travelled European roads. During that period of time, over 100 terabytes of data were collected, which we are now analysing.

What is the added-value of carrying out such studies?
A. Etemad: When active safety systems are developed, the testing is usually done considering the system itself, whereas an FOT allows you to study how ordinary drivers interact with these systems in real traffic conditions. Therefore, through sound scientific studies, not only can we assess the impact of the systems per se, but also their impact on users and their behaviour.

What is the expected outcome of euroFOT?
A. Etemad: Carrying out this study will help us measure the benefits of the tested systems on traffic safety and efficiency. Furthermore, we will be able to assess driver acceptance of these functions. Some preliminary results are already available in this regard: for instance, we have used a ‘time-based’ questionnaire for drivers to report whether they think the system is helping them in their driving task and whether they feel it has an impact on their safety. The questionnaire was issued 3 times: at the beginning of the study, after a few months, and finally after the 12 month period for which the test was running. We consequently noticed that, if at first users didn’t think the systems to be helpful, after 12 months of using them, over 70% reported that they believe the tested functions increased their safety. What’s more, results have shown that there are positive secondary impacts to using active safety systems: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), for instance, proved to help reduce fuel consumption by 7% overall – the added value of the system therefore, extends beyond traffic safety.

When will the final results of the study be available?
A. Etemad: The project will come to a close in June this year. The results will be presented for the first time at the euroFOT Final Event that will be held at the Autoworld Museum, in Brussels, on 26-27 June 2012.

What can the public expect to discover?
A. Etemad: Our intent for this event is twofold: first of all we wish to discuss the lessons learnt and the technical achievements with regard to analysing and assessing huge amounts of data; second of all we will show the benefits of active safety systems through cost-benefit analyses and therefore promote these systems. We can already state – based on our experience within the project – that these systems clearly increase traffic safety. All of this will be presented to the public – alongside technical experts, decision-makers, industry representatives, etc. – in a two-day conference and exhibition that will guide them through every step of the study – from the definition of use-cases to the analysis of data and the execution of the FOT. Simulators and cars will even be available for attendees to test some of the functions that were evaluated within the project. As I said before, euroFOT is the very first large-scale European FOT on active safety systems, and it is also the first time that stakeholders will be able to discover and experience the scientific results of a European Field Operational Test which will help bring intelligent vehicles to the road.

Register for the euroFOT Final Event and discover the results of a unique study

The euroFOT Final Event will take place at the Autoworld Museum in Brussels, on 26-27 June 2012. On this occasion, the project results will be unveiled to an audience of approximately 300 stakeholders (decision makers, industry representatives, experts, OEMs, dealers, etc.) who will have the opportunity to discover and discuss the conclusions of the first large-scale FOT of active safety systems in Europe.

euroFOT’s findings will be showcased in a two-day final event. We invite you to participate in a conference and exhibition where the benefits of active safety systems will be demonstrated: this event represents a unique opportunity for you to discover the project’s technical achievements and results, as well as to experience them by getting behind the wheel of vehicles equipped with the systems tested within euroFOT. Save the date and look out for the latest updates on www.euroFOT-ip.eu.

Search engine IDOS among the winners of the 1st Smart Mobility Challenge

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:32:57 +0200

The Czech search engine IDOS.cz was selected as one of two winners in the category of existing travel search engines in the 1st Smart Mobility Challenge competition held by the European Commission. Among the substantial advantages of IDOS.cz can be mentioned particularly:

extensive database in which IDOS.cz searches and which covers trains in the Czech Republic, in Slovak Republic, as well as in a major part of the EU, buses in the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, city public transport in all Czech cities and flight schedules

door-to-door navigation operating flawlessly particularly when searching travel connection in major cities of the Czech Republic

speed of searching and short response time of the application.

What is the background of this unique project that interested the European Commission so much?
The most important milestones:

1995 – the first version of online search engine available on the internet

1998 – based on the Act no. 111/1994 Coll., on road traffic, was legislatively established a National timetable information system (furthermore NTIS)

1999 – spreading of travel information service in the form of SMS and assistance services of mobile operators

2001 – the IDOS search engine is selected by an agreement between CHAPS the and Ministry of Transport as the official outcome of the NTIS

2002 – mobile version of IDOS optimised for viewing web pages in mobile phones

2010 – integration of maps (Google Maps) into the search engine and creation of a special map version

Basic principle
As the basic building block of IDOS can be considered the participation of the Ministry of Transport on the project and the status of "National timetable information system" itself, which IDOS is an important component of. Firstly it was important to secure and guarantee that the users would find through IDOS connections of all carriers, disregarding their size or the price at which they offer their services. Also to guarantee users that the connection found and offered by IDOS will actually arrive the next day to the station or stop at the stated time. These tasks were accomplished by adoption of laws which stipulate an obligation to carriers to provide timetable data to the NTIS. Thereby has IDOS, which derives from the NTIS, become a truly important assistant for travel planning.

Scheduled improvements
Among plans for development of the application we put primarily the need to improve the operation of IDOS with flight schedules from the Galileo system. Presently we do not work with a complete database of flight schedules and we do not combine flight connections with other means of transport.

We will further attend to adjustments related to the collected information on the location of means of transport (particularly current delay of trains). We strive to connect IDOS with the main electronic reservation systems of personal public transport and EFM systems (Electronic Fare management). On European level we would like to see IDOS as a basic stone of a future European wide MMJP system and are ready to participate on joint actions in the field of mutual timetable data exchange and its validation.

Last but not least we are also aware of the need to keep up with the development of operation systems for mobile phones and to try to cover at least the most commonly used platforms with the currently popular special applications with travel search engines (presently we are spreading versions for iPhone/iOS, Android and Windows Phone 7).

Basic links to the application
http://idos.cz/vlakyautobusymhd/spojeni/?lng=E – English version of IDOS (combined travel timetable train-bus-city public transport)
http://map.idos.cz – Czech version of the map version of IDOS
http://m.idos.cz – version of IDOS optimised for access from web browsers of mobile phones

For more information, please contact Roman Srp.

Peek Traffic/Imtech comes out on top in the coveted Intertraffic Innovation Awards

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:46:55 +0200

As Intertraffic Amsterdam opened its doors for the 21st time, five organisations in particular had reason to celebrate, having been put in the spotlight by the jury for the Intertraffic Innovation Awards. During the opening ceremony at Amsterdam RAI, 27 March, 2012, the winners of the traffic industry’s most sought-after prizes were finally revealed. Awards were presented in five separate categories: ITS/Traffic Management; Parking; Safety; Smart Mobility and Infrastructure. Intertraffic Amsterdam 2012 runs from 27-30 March 2012 in Amsterdam RAI.

The winner in the ‘ITS/Traffic Management’ category, Peek Traffic/Imtech, was also recognised as the ‘Overall Winner’ for its ImFlow policy-based adaptive urban traffic control system that is easy to configure and builds directly on city policies. The uniqueness of ImFlow is its real-time adaptive algorithm that automatically translates newly-configured policies into optimal flows. The judges saw it as a simple tool for controlling urban traffic management on the basis of policy priorities, so closing the gap between decision-making urban authorities and the operators of their control systems.

The winner in the ‘Smart Mobility’ category was DTV Consultants with its mobility ‘game’ From5to4 that stimulates employees to commute one working day in an alternative, smarter way. By travelling and working more smartly, employees can secure points. This new way of approaching personal mobility choices has had positive effects on the travel behaviour of contestants and raised awareness, as well as generating a travel behaviour database. According to the jury this innovative idea integrates serious gaming technology and social media into the mobility decision-making process. Using peer pressure within and between companies and departments, it encourages people to be imaginative in changing their travel behaviour.

The winner of the ‘Safety’’ category was Kapsch TrafficCom AG, with ACC. Automatic Incident Detection (AID) specialists at Kapsch have introduced ACC as a new and easy way of calibrating on-highway cameras, in tunnels or open-road tolling contexts, for Kapsch’s Incident Detection System. Calibrating AID cameras has traditionally been a complicated, lengthy and costly process. Not only is this system much quicker (10km of tunnel can be calibrated in just two hours as opposed to 35-40 hours), but accuracy is claimed to be 10 times greater. The jury felt that this affords significant speed, accuracy, cost and safety benefits in the calibration of incident detection cameras, particularly in hazardous locations eg tunnels. It involves mounting specially-developed equipment, capable of fitting into a flight case-sized container, onto a vehicle running through the road section being calibrated.

The trophy in the Parking’ Category went to the SCANaCAR ScanScooter system for enforcement of parking regulations by scooter. It gives reliable scans of 600-1,200 cars an hour, regardless of how they are parked (left or right of the ScanScooter). The solution is ideal for enforcement in inner cities as well as outer areas, and for immediate follow-up by parking staff who are visible and accessible to the public. The jury found this a worthy winner enabling greater efficiency in parking enforcement and enhanced safety for enforcement personnel, affording easier access and real-time connection with central databases, and reflecting current developments in enforcement regulation.

The ‘Infrastructure’ category award went to Langmatz GmbH with their Bluemove light pole. This e-mobility charging point is installed directly onto a street lighting system, the result being that no brickwork or additional housing is required. The system contains intelligence to connect to an outside charging pole management system and is able to manage the light on-off settings where needed. A power enhancement tool for increased electric power distribution via the lighting infrastructure is also available. For the jury, it addressed the challenge of developing sufficient EV charging infrastructure to meet the anticipated growth in EV production. Installation into existing roadside furniture is cost-effective, and avoids planning regulation issues and visual impacts on the urban environment.

The prizes were presented to the winners by Awards chairman Fred Wegman, managing director of SWOV, the Dutch national traffic safety research institute, The international awards jury, meeting on Monday 26 March, put the five winners at the top of a shortlist of 14 exhibitors from ten countries, which it selected in January.

Source: Intertraffic

NAVTEQ® Maps Power Audi Connected Car Technology Research

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:15:24 +0200

Agreement enables Audi to develop connected car technologies that reduce congestion and improve safety.

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world, is joining with Audi and three leading USA universities to further the Audi Urban Intelligent Assist (AUIA) project. The goal of the project is to develop connected car technologies that reduce congestion, improve safety and make driving less stressful in increasingly chaotic and rapidly growing urban centers around the world. The universities will be supplied with NAVTEQ® Map data to support their pursuit of developing state of the art innovations and solutions for the connected car.

NAVTEQ Maps include data which can specifically support Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), such as Geometry, Slope and Height. Relying on these ADAS capabilities, future Audi models could be able to help drivers better detect and avoid dangerous situations. The universities will also have access to NAVTEQ Map data such as Traffic Patterns™, Speed Limits, Enhanced 3D City Models, Enhanced Junction Views and POIs. This broad offering supports Audi's vision of developing models that will know preferred destinations, routes the motorist's have most commonly traveled and the time needed to reach appointments. The Audi Urban Intelligent Assist project will run through 2013.

"NAVTEQ Maps were a clear choice to power the Audi Urban Intelligent Assist research initiative," said Mario Tippelhofer, Electronics Research Laboratory. "The automotive grade quality of the data, as well as their commitment to development and innovation in the automotive industry, demonstrates why they are a trusted and valued supplier." To stay at the forefront of in-vehicle technology, Audi is engaging the best universities to solve tomorrow's challenges. The Audi Urban Intelligent Assist project, a research initiative launched by Audi together with its Electronics Research Laboratory in Silicon Valley and three top USA universities – the University of Southern California, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of California at San Diego - will develop technologies to take the connected car, driver assistance and infrastructure electronics to the next level. Audi envisions that future connected Audi vehicles will take care of all the things that make driving in the city tedious and dangerous, so that motorists can enjoy the drive and get to where they want to go efficiently, safely and comfortably.

"We are dedicated to providing the highest level of automotive grade quality data to support research development and innovation in the industry," said Dave Dale, Vice President of Americas Sales, NAVTEQ. "Projects such as these reinforce that NAVTEQ Maps and our premium content not only add value to the automotive industry today, but will continue to play a significant role in automotive solutions of the future."

About NAVTEQ
NAVTEQ is the leading global provider of location content in the form of maps, traffic and places data that enables navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world. NAVTEQ supplies precise, comprehensive location content to power automotive navigation systems, portable and wireless devices, Internet-based mapping applications and government and business solutions. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has approximately 5,500 employees located in 202 offices in 53 countries.

For more information, please visit NAVTEQ website or contact Stefanie Schumann or Bob Richter.

Source: NAVTEQ

Smart Mobility Challenge event podcasts

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:46:52 +0200

On 26 March, the four winners of the first Smart Mobility Challenge, intiated by Vice-President Siim Kallas, Commissioner for Mobility and Transport, were celebrated at the European Parliament before the members of the Transport Committee. The Committee meeting was followed by a cocktail sponsored and organised by ERTICO - ITS Europe.

	Hermann Meyer CEO, ERTICO - ITS Europe Welcome speech
	Brian Simpson MEP Chair of Transport and Tourism Committee European Parliament
	Dieter-Lebrecht Koch MEP Vice-Chair of Transport and Tourism Committee European Parliament
	Ernesto Sicilia Head of Strategic Planning Division, Trenitalia 1st Smart Mobility Challenge winner
	Maxim Nohroudi Co-founder and CEO, Door2Door GmbH 1st Smart Mobility Challenge winner
	Petr Stribny CHAPS 1st Smart Mobilit y Challenge winner
	Yves Tyrode CEO Voyages-sncf.com 1st Smart Mobility Challenge winner
	Roman Srp Vice-President, Czech and Slovak Intelligent Transport Systems & Services (ITS&S)

Smart Mobility Challenge winners celebrated at the European Parliament

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:17:35 +0200

Brussels, 27 March 2012. Yesterday Vice-President Siim Kallas, Commissioner for Mobility and Transport and the members of the Transport Committee of the European Parliament congratulated the winners of the first Smart Mobility Challenge.

The four winners of the first Smart Mobility Challenge on European multi-modal journey planners, initiated by Vice-President Siim Kallas in 2011, were announced on 12 March 2012 and had the opportunity to present their projects before the honourable Members of the European Parliament during the Transport Committee meeting today. The two winners in the category of "operational journey planners" were CHAPS with its proposal IDOS, a door-to-door journey planner for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Trenitalia with SIPAX, a service which provides train, bus and ferry connections in Italy and neighbouring countries. German company Penelope Ventures GmbH (now named Door2door GmbH) won for its journey planner idea Zlyck while French SNCF was rewarded for its Mytripset idea. Both Penelope Ventures GmbH and SNCF won in the "innovative ideas" category.

Brian Simpson, Chair of the Transport Committee and member of the jury within the "innovative ideas" category, welcomed the Committee and introduced the winners. "I was highly impressed by the range of innovative ideas submitted for consideration in the Smart Mobility Challenge. The winning ideas not only met the criteria of the competition but also demonstrated real possibility for practical use. The development of a European multimodal journey planner should encourage faster, cheaper and easier travel and I am confident that the winning ideas have the potential to meet the needs of passengers across Europe".

Vice-President Siim Kallas also spoke during the Committee session. Mr Kallas presented the initiative and shared thoughts on political issues related to co-modal travel. "I am happy to see that the Challenge helped to give a great push to the development of such integrated multimodal and cross-border planners, yet there are still many difficulties to overcome. Let's work together to make this vision a reality".

Other members of the jury, chaired by Meglena Kuneva, Special Adviser to Vice-President Kallas on passengers' rights, included Henrik Hololei, Head of Cabinet of Vice-President Kallas and Hermann Meyer, CEO of ERTICO; Dr Katrin Dziekan, from the Technical University of Berlin also provided her expert knowledge.

The Committee meeting was followed by a cocktail sponsored and organised by ERTICO - ITS Europe. Hermann Meyer, ERTICO CEO, welcomed the guests on behalf of ERTICO and its Partnership. Dr Meyer highlighted the importance of deploying ITS for a sustainable mobility which should be safe, smart and clean; real-time multi-modal journey planners represent a landmark for this purpose. "The ERTICO - ITS Europe Partnership very much welcomes this competition and congratulates the winners. European co-modal travel planners will contribute to a further integrated Europe and integrated, intelligent mobility".

In addition to this special event held at the European Parliament, the four winners have received an invitation to participate in the 19th ITS World Congress in Vienna (22-26 October) and to showcase their projects at the Congress at the European Commission stand (C20).

For more information please contact Henry Wasung.

Download the full ERTICO Press Release here.

The Smart Mobility Challenge winners presented their proposals during the Transport Committee
Meeting

Hermann Meyer, ERTICO CEO, and Vice-President Siim Kallas

Viajeo presented at EU-China Links Thematic Meeting on Urbanisation

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:10:22 +0200

The event was held on 21 February in Beijing at the Science, Technology and Environment section of the European Union Delegation to China and Mongolia, with the support of EURAXESS Links China. Focusing on knowledge sharing between China and Europe about urbanisation research activities, the meeting gathered approximately 60 stakeholders from both sides.

The meeting aimed at shaping concrete ideas to support a more coordinated European approach to the cooperation between EU and China, following the decisions on urbanisation matters adopted during the EU-China summit held on 14 February 2012.

EU-China Partnership has been approved as a perfect platform to foster the discussion on urbanisation-related issues and to develop the cooperation between China and EU. The meeting mapped the different initiatives and activities, identified any remaining gaps and potential synergies.

In this context Viajeo, a European FP7 project, actively participated in the discussions under the topic “Mass transit systems in cities and electric mobility”. This participation through representatives from Thetis, the leader of Beijing demo site, and Beijing Transportation Research Centre (BTRC), a key partner of Beijing demo site, helped to feed discussions aiming to strengthen the EU-China Partnership in urbanisation research.

Important results have emerged leading to the implementation of the Partnership in urbanisation research and the next steps will potentially contribute to maximise the benefits of this cooperation.

For more information, visit Viajeo website.

Automobile manufacturers call for change of direction in EU trade negotiations

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:37:54 +0100

The European automobile manufacturers call on the European Commission and Member States to change their approach in conducting trade negotiations. EU trade policy should help strengthen its domestic manufacturing industries rather than giving up on them for reasons that are unfit.

Debating with European Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht at the 3rd European Business Conference at the College of Europe in Bruges, ACEA President Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat, put the existential dilemma on the table that Europe needs to solve on behalf of its citizens. “Globalisation is disruptive, but it can also be transformative, offering new opportunities to sell, to source and to grow”, Marchionne said. “The test ahead of us is to adapt to new competitive realities while preserving and strengthening the values that are the foundation for the European Union.”

The ACEA President, speaking on behalf of all European vehicle manufacturers, stressed that the
long-term economic prospects of the automobile industry require the further liberalisation of markets and the reduction of barriers to trade and investment.

However, he argued, “In choosing liberalised markets, it is critical that Europe foster an internal economic framework that is more competitive than the one that exists today. In parallel, Europe needs to push for the world to become more of a level playing field, with equal access and opportunities for all of the players involved.”

Restraints on competitiveness
Unfortunately we are, at present, far from such competitive conditions and even further from such equilibrium, said Marchionne. “In fact, we find ourselves in the bizarre situation in which Europe is pushing for one Free Trade Agreement after another – and not always with mutual benefits – while internally, we’re suffering from inflexibilities and other restraints on our competitiveness.”

Marchionne: “A recognition of the importance of strategic sectors must determine our trade policy and approach to trade negotiations. Manufacturing creates high wages, fosters research and development and helps maintain a trade surplus. In short, manufacturing industries are key to sustaining economic growth and prosperity in Europe.”
The ACEA President emphasised that other countries recognise the importance of a strong automotive sector as a powerful engine for growth. “It makes zero sense for Europe to use the auto industry as a bargaining chip to give away in return for doubtful benefits for other sectors.”

Equal conditions
Potential FTA partners regard the EU as a big fish to catch. Entry is easy, and the market is made up of 500 million affluent people. In contrast, for example, India’s government takes an interventionist approach to protect its domestic market, and there is no indication that this strategy will change any time soon.

A guarantee of equal conditions for all is the one fundamental principle that must apply, argued Marchionne. “We have the tools to get there and they begin with tariff dismantling on both sides, until tariffs are brought to zero. In specific and limited cases, we are open to an asymmetric dismantling of tariffs.”

Non-tariff barriers also need to be eliminated. Fair trade will require the monitoring of domestic legislation that unfairly tilts the playing field. “The way the EU has dealt with South Korea is an example of how it should not be done, casting shadows over the negotiations with Japan and India where the stakes are even higher.”

For further information, please contact Sigrid de Vries.

About ACEA
The European automotive industry is key to the strength and competitiveness of Europe. The ACEA members are BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler, FIAT S.p.A., Ford of Europe, General Motors Europe, Hyundai Motor Group, Iveco S.p.A., Jaguar Land Rover, MAN Truck & Bus, Porsche, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault Group, Scania, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Group. They provide direct employment to more than 2.3 million people and indirectly support another 10 million jobs. Annually, ACEA members invest over €26 billion in R&D, or 5% of turnover.

Source: ACEA - European Automobile Manufacturers' Association

CityMove and CityLog workshop

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:51:20 +0100

The CityMove workshop brought together 23 persons from various stakeholder groups including industry (freight operators, OEMs), local authorities and research organisations to discuss vehicle development to increase the efficiency of urban freight delivery operations in European cities. CityMove works on the development of an innovative vehicle for urban freight delivery. It reconsiders logistics operations, the whole vehicle architecture, its propulsion (considering hybrid and full electric options), and various benefits from technology.

Participants to the workshop also discussed developments of the CityLog project which aims to contribute to the improvement of overall city logistics efficiency through a combination of several measures including Info-telematic support functionalities and new vehicle solutions as well as process improvements related to vehicle-to-vehicle transhipment and innovative and interoperable load units.

The city of Stockholm presented its efforts to deploy a fleet of clean vehicles and led a discussion on the challenge of defining criteria for cleaner vehicles for urban freight delivery for public procurement.

CityMove’s progress towards cleaner, safer and more efficient vehicles for better urban freight operations was debated. The cities of Trondheim and Birmingham among others exchanged their challenges and expectations for improving urban logistics operations.

All presentations are available on the CityMove website.

For more information about CityLog, click here.

COMPASS project launched

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:21:27 +0100

The COMPASS Project (optimised CO-Modal PASSenger transport for reducing Carbon emissions) started in November 2011.

The 25 month project, coordinated by Edinburgh Napier University, is deeply rooted in European Transport Policy (ETP) in the first decade of the 21st Century, with a look towards the new challenges of the incoming second decade of the century. In particular, three topics must be addressed: challenges from key socio-economic trends, challenges from environmental concerns, challenges from technological changes.

The project involves 9 partners: Transport Research Institute (TRI), Edinburgh Napier University, Project Coordinator, Istituto di Studi per l'Integrazione dei Sistemi (ISIS), Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds; Mcrit S.L.; MKmetric Gesellschaft für Systemplanung mbH; TRT Trasporti e Territorio; TTS Italia; Technical University of Vienna (TU Wien); Uniwersytet Gdanski.

The general objectives of COMPASS are: to provide an overall picture of future travellers’ needs in light of key socio-economic trends; to analyse how ICT and ITS applications can meet the new demand, favouring the integration of multi-modal transport solutions; to assess how these solutions can contribute to the de-carbonisation of transport activities.

In such a framework, the following collateral and important objectives will also be addressed: the potential of the ICT and ITS applications to provide behavioural data and information to improve travel surveys and to foster harmonisation; the validation of the ICT solutions with stakeholders rooted in the national contexts.

To find out more about the project and the consortium behind it, please visit the COMPASS website.

The iMobility Forum launches the Automation Working Group

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:47:39 +0100

The Automation Working Group was formed under the iMobility Forum, with the initial high level aims of exploring and promoting the potential of highly automated vehicles and applications and working towards the development of a roadmap for the deployment of automated systems.

Achim Beutner, Specialist for Automation & Active Safety at VOLVO Group Trucks Technology, Advance Technology & Research and Maarten Oonk, Market Manager of Transport and Mobility at TNO (working on behalf of the ERTICO Research Sector Platform) were elected as co-chairs of the Automation Working Group. For Achim, the Working Group “provides a unique opportunity to bring together stakeholders from throughout the ITS community to work on a common goal of assessing the steps which must be taken before automation can be a reality of everyday life”.

In October 2011, the European Commission DG INFSO held a workshop on automation for road transport, with the aim of exploring and promoting the potential of highly automated vehicles and applications for intelligent and sustainable mobility. Additional requirements for automation including HMI, user acceptance, standardisation and certification, liability and legal aspects were presented and discussed, in addition to application areas such as cooperative systems, urban and inter-urban mobility, platooning and freight and logistics. The high level of participation and broad range of conclusions from this event demonstrated a clear remit for further work to be carried out, therefore encouraging the creation of a dedicated Working Group by the iMobility Forum.

On 7 March 2012, the Automation Working Group kick off meeting thus took place in Brussels, with around 30 attendees from over 25 different organisations, ranging from research institutes to suppliers and other membership associations.

Discussion was focused on defining the aims of the Working Group - in itself no simple task, given the wide and complex range of issues to be solved on the journey towards the deployment of automated driving technologies! Questions such as how to define a common terminology, how to assess the state of the art, and how best to work with relevant experts on the legal and liability aspects of automation, were debated.

As Maarten summarised, “the level of interest and the range of different perspectives offered at the kick-off meeting clearly demonstrates that figuring out how to solve these problems is a valuable and worthwhile task to take on”.

The Automation Working Group will focus its initial efforts on agreeing on terminology and structuring the work plan by mapping the components and aspects of automation. And the first steps towards cooperation with other stakeholders, notably its fellow iMobility Forum Working Group dedicated to legal issues in ITS, will be made.

The next meeting will take place in Brussels on 22 May 2012.

For more information, please visit the Working Group webpage on iCar Support website or directly contact Maarten or Achim.

TNO tests cooperative adaptive cruise control vehicles at innovITS ADVANCE

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:17:23 +0100

Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) technology offers the prospect of a practical solution to increase road space utilisation based on ad hoc, real-time cooperative driving allowing inter-vehicle distances to be safely reduced while improving the experience for drivers.

The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, TNO, is in the process of developing its own low cost and highly practical CACC technology. This is being demonstrated in a test fleet of Toyota Prius cars in which factory-fitted long-range radar is used together with wireless vehicle to vehicle communications (802.11p and ETSI Geonet) and GPS based location, to enable CACC. Control of each of the CACC equipped vehicles is achieved through interaction with the CAN bus in order to manage acceleration and deceleration directly through the hybrid powertrain’s own control system. The CACC control strategy aims to optimise the collective behaviour of participating vehicles in order to safely allow significant reductions in inter-vehicle spacing while providing a comfortable experience for drivers. This includes, for example, the avoidance of oscillations of the ad-hoc platoon and the management of issues of signal degradation and of merging in and out at junctions.

In order to test and demonstrate this advanced system and consider the potential for its further development, three of TNO’s Prius vehicles equipped with CACC were evaluated at innovITS ADVANCE in early March 2012. “We were pleased to be able to host these CACC tests,” commented innovITS ADVANCE business development manager Steven Warner. “With our private communications networks including GSM and Wi-Fi systems and SkyClone GNSS system, we can model almost any urban scenario of signal attenuation, interruption or denial of service. As such innovITS ADVANCE is the ideal environment for the testing and development of this type of advanced cooperative vehicle technology.”

Source: innovITS

iCar Support Questionnaire on ITS Standardisation

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:33:44 +0100

Do you want to be part of the Standardisation process? How well informed are you about the latest happenings in the ITS standardisation arena? What are the standardisation needs of your projects?

Fill in the questionnaire!

Intelligent Car Support aims to support the implementation of actions and recommendations resulting from the work of the iMobility Forum and the Intelligent Car Initiative. One of these recommendations is focusing on analysing and gathering the standardisation needs stemming from ITS stakeholders on safe smart and clean road mobility.

Deadline for submissions: 23 April 2012

For more information, visit iCar Support website.

ITS United Kingdom makes Awards for excellence in Intelligent Transport Systems

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:51:14 +0100

ITS (UK), the Intelligent Transport Society for the United Kingdom, has made four Awards for excellence in ITS:

The Rees Hills annual award for personal contribution has been given to Professor Phil Blythe of Newcastle University.

The Scheme of the Year award went to Dorset County Council for the Weymouth Showcase Programme.

The Forward Thinking award for innovation was made to Transport for London for Countdown.

The Young Professional of the Year award went to Martin Mildenhall of Transport for Greater Manchester.

The awards are open to any organisation or individual with a UK business office and that has a significant UK telematics or other ITS content.

The nominations were judged by an eminent panel of ITS professionals chaired by ITS (UK) President and former Transport Minister, Steven Norris.

The Panel Members were:

Simon Jones, Atkins
Kevin Borras, h3b media
Dr Alan Stevens, TRL
Janet Cooke, London TravelWatch
Neal Skelton, ITS United Kingdom

The awards were presented by Steven Norris at the ITS United Kingdom President’s Dinner at the Charing Cross Hotel in London on 13 March 2012.

For more information, click here.

2nd MULTITUDE-NEARCTIS Summer School - 6 to 8 June 2012

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:09:05 +0100

The European Commission Joint Research Centre, together with the COST Action MULTITUDE and the Network of Excellence NEARCTIS is organising the 2nd MULTITUDE-NEARCTIS Summer School on the "Assessment of ITS Solutions".

The school will be hosted by the EC JRC in Ispra, Italy, over the period 6-8 June, 2012.

Over three intensive days, attendees will be provided with training on the evaluation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) measures, including the core methodologies for the quantification of the impacts, multi-criteria analysis and the management of uncertainty.

Several case studies will be presented and a practicum will guide attendees through the application of the whole assessment process.

The school is targeted at graduate and PhD students, engineers, researchers, consultants and government employees who wish to improve their understanding of the assessment of ITS solutions.

For more information, please visit http://www.multitude-project.eu/its-school.html

First Smart Mobility Challenge. And the winner is…

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:42:43 +0100

On 12 March 2012 Vice-President Siim Kallas, Commissioner for mobility and transport, announced the winners of the first Smart Mobility Challenge on European multi-modal journey planners. In the category of 'operational journey planners' the two winners are Idos and Trenitalia, and in the category of 'innovative ideas' the winners are Penelope Ventures GmbH and SNCF. The initiative aimed to promote the development of all-in-one journey planners, going beyond national borders and offering travel options combining different transport modes.

Commenting on the results of the vote, Vice-President Kallas said: "I strongly believe that these winners, but also all other participating projects, will help to widen the choice of multi-modal travel for all Europeans. This contest has also confirmed the remaining challenges ahead, and most notably the need for opening up access to travel data".

The number and quality of submitted projects and ideas were impressive. So was the participation in the e-vote that helped selecting winners in the 'operational journey planners' category. The two best entries in this category are Idos (from the Czech Republic, provided by Chaps spol. s r.o.) and Trenitalia journey planner (from Italy, provided by Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane SpA). In the category of 'innovative ideas' the following winners were selected: Penelope Ventures GmbH, for its idea of Byebyehello journey planner, and SNCF for its idea of Mytripset journey planner.

The winners in the 'operational journey planner' category received the highest number of votes out of the 12 planners that participated in the e-vote:

Idos is a door-to-door journey planner for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It also provides other cross-border travel connections around Europe by bus and train. It has 66 million online views per month.

Trenitalia's journey planner – SIPAX – provides train, bus and ferry connections in Italy and a number of its neighbouring countries. It is complemented by the Viaggiatreno tool for real-time traffic monitoring. It has 3 million daily visits.

The winners in the 'innovative ideas' category caught the jury's attention by their acute understanding of the nature of the challenge and development of projects that cover all prospective needs of travellers, including services such as ticketing:

The journey planner idea Byebyehello, presented by Penelope Ventures GmbH, convinced the jury with its many innovative elements and a strong team of stakeholders that could make this vision a reality. The company intends to launch the planner in May 2012, starting in Germany.

The journey planner idea Mytripset, presented by SNCF, appealed to the jury with an innovative use of social networks to provide content and traffic updates. It also relies on a strong team of partners. The launch is planned in autumn 2012, starting in France.

The winners of the first Smart Mobility Challenge will be invited by the Commission to present their ideas and solutions at a meeting of the European Parliament's TRAN Committee on 26 March 2012. They will also be invited to the upcoming ITS World Congress in Vienna (22–26 October 2012), in order to foster further discussion about the opportunities and challenges of European-wide multi-modal travel solutions.

The promotion of innovative, multi-modal journey planners is a priority. In 2011, the Commission conducted a study "Towards a European Multimodal Journey Planner". Its final report was also published.

The challenge, launched by Vice-President Kallas on 6 June 2011, invited industry stakeholders and European citizens to submit either solutions of European (at least cross-border) multi-modal journey planners, or innovative ideas that would allow the development of such truly European and multimodal tools.

In the first category, 28 journey planners were proposed out of which the 12 most promising were put to an electronic public vote between 5 December 2011 and 13 January 2012. In parallel, an expert jury evaluated the 22 submitted 'innovative ideas'.

For more information, contact either Helen Kearns or Dale Kidd.

Source: European Commission

ERTICO welcomes New Staff

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:10:05 +0100

Enrica Francesconi

Before joining the ERTICO team in March 2012 as Executive Assistant to the CEO, Enrica worked at various international companies and European organisations for 25 years.

Since the turn of the century, Enrica worked as a PA in an international sugar manufacturing group, and then moved to EuSalt - the European Salt Producers' Association, as Office Manager in Brussels for 7 years. She dealt with stakeholders in the salt and chemical industry and European decision makers. After that she briefly worked at the Marketing department of GS1, the standards developing non profit organisation.

TTS Italia signs MoU with ERF

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:06:37 +0100

In February 2012 TTS Italia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ERF – European Union Road Federation for mutual collaboration on ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) and telematics for mobility. ERF is a non-profit association which coordinates the views of Europe’s road sector and acts as a platform for dialogue and research on mobility issues. The MoU especially foresees the collaboration between TTS and ERF in the organisation of events of interests for the above mentioned sectors as well as in European projects relevant to the two association members.

Olga Landolfi, Secretary General of TTS Italia, and Christophe Nicodème, Secretary General of ERF

For more information, visit TTS Italia website.

First eCall Plugtests event

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:38:04 +0100

eCall is a European Commission initiative to save life and reduce the social burden of road accidents. eCall is a 112 emergency call, triggered by the vehicle occupants or automatically, which transmits a minimum set of data (MSD) and establishes a voice connection with a public safety answering point (PSAP).
For more information, click here.

Interoperability and eCall service harmonisation are critical challenges for successful deployment and operation of the eCall service.

ERTICO and ETSI are joining forces in an effort to organise the first eCall Plugtests event at the innovITS ADVANCE testing facility at Nuneaton (UK) from 21 to 25 May 2012. The purpose of this event is to reinforce interoperability by enabling the identification of areas for possible improvement within the current standards at the earliest possible stage, and to speed up the process of releasing products on the market.

This interoperability event will give participants the opportunity to check their implementation during test sessions in a dedicated GSM network provided by InnovITS ADVANCE.

In order to prepare and support the event, ETSI is looking for technical experts for the following tasks:
•    development of a selection of interoperability tests
•    scheduling of test sessions for the event
•    technical support during the event, e.g. for questions relating to the test specification, test results, etc
•    managing the test result reporting and evaluation
•    preparation of the final technical report of the event.

The skills required include an expert knowledge of eCall standards, as well as a good knowledge of ITS and Mobile 3G equipment. Ideally the applicant(s) should be familiar with ETSI interoperability testing methodology. Working experience in interoperability testing as well as technical aspects surrounding the organisation of interoperability events would be an advantage.

Applications are due by 15 March 2012 at the latest and must be sent to plugtests@etsi.org mentioning “eCall Plugtests Event”.

Event Partners

A TISA first... - a TPEG first... - two Members first!

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:15:44 +0100

Toyota UK have recently shown off two cars, about to enter the retail market, fitted with TPEG based Navi systems using the INRIX UK TPEG service delivered by Digital Radio (DAB).

As far as we know this is an in-vehicle first: to install and sell to retail customers TPEG based Navigation system capability, to be used with on-air TPEG services and facilitated by several other TISA Members working behind the scenes to make all this possible.

Here we see some displays – photos taken by TISA Members, Mark Sutcliffe from Arqiva and Dave Francis from INRIX - showing the Navi system screen renderings.

Landcruiser display – showing there is Traffic info (TPEG-TEC) and Traffic prediction (TPEG-TFP) is possible.

It is also possible to receive Parking information (TPEG-PKI), but it is not received at the current time/location.

Prius display – showing road events delivered by TPEG-TEC – rendered by icon display. TEC is used for Live incidents and current Congestion.

Landcruiser display - the system is capable of displaying prediction data, by rendering road-aligned colour codes; although this is not currently part of the UK live service.

For more information, contact Amaury Cornelis.

Flexible charging solution puts electric cars in the fast lane

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:10:31 +0100

Through an innovative research project across several industries, Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) will bring mobile connectivity to electric cars and put choice and control over the charging schedule into the hands of drivers.

The new architecture allows drivers to control charging of cars while they are plugged into any ordinary power outlet. Additionally, the system directs energy costs to the car owners' bill. The driver sets the time and amount to charge on a console in the car or remotely via a smartphone or tablet.

Using the mobile network, the car then communicates with the grid so that charging is scheduled based on energy prices on the grid, reducing user costs. For the energy utilities, coordinating the charging of cars across the grid is more efficient and sustainable.
To provide a range of perspectives the concept was developed in a consortium involving Volvo Car Corporation, Göteborg Energi, the leading utility in western Sweden, Ericsson and Viktoria Institute, a non-profit IT research institute.

Per-Åke Olsson, CEO at Viktoria Institute, said: "Our mission is to take knowledge to market as innovations. This is a successful example of cross-industry collaboration with great business potential. We believe that this project will support global market penetration of electric vehicles, thus helping society towards sustainable mobility."

Göteborg Energi is taking an interest in the digitalisation of the charging infrastructure, and the strategies and possibilities it creates. "Electric vehicles will be a key component both for a sustainable society and for a smart grid. We are committed to make the charging of the vehicles easy, as well as optimising the use of the power grid at the same time," says Lotta Brändström, CEO Göteborg Energi.

The Volvo Electric C30, now in low-scale production for leasing customers in Europe, has been used during the project and equipped with the in-vehicle meter and software. Lennart Stegland, Vice President Electric Propulsion Systems, Volvo Car Corporation, said: "Our basic view is that the owner of an electric vehicle shouldn't have to sacrifice any of the properties he or she expects from a luxury car. This smart technology for charging in any outlet, and paying automatically via your own electricity bill, is an excellent example of how we do everything to make the daily use easier for the customer."

Ericsson's contribution to the project is to understand and influence how existing and future mobile networks, services and terminals can support new business concepts as well as services that benefit society. Ericsson is providing IT and communications expertise.
Paolo Colella, Head of Consulting and Systems Integration at Ericsson, says: "New solutions like these need to seamlessly and reliably coordinate multi-party machine-to-machine and human-to-machine interactions, where both people and machines are mobile, while allowing secure financial transactions. Our job is to make that simple."

Key points of the project include:

Using existing mobile networks and the grid

Having the electricity metre in the vehicle which allows control of charging, either immediately or on a schedule set by the driver, with the costs being allocated against the driver's bill.

A flexible model to adapt to different regulations around the world, and support for a variety of novel business models - some with new actors like over-the-top application providers.

The project has been financed by the four partners as well as the region of Västra Götaland and the research foundation of Göteborg Energi.

For more information, contact Ericsson Corporate Public & Media Relations or visit Ericsson website.

Kapsch TrafficCom receives order for a nationwide electronic toll collection system in Belarus

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:23:56 +0100

Contract value for implementation of the system at 267 million Euros

Kapsch TrafficCom AG listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange in the prime market segment, received the order for the implementation and operation of a nationwide electronic toll collection system in Belarus.

The agreement signed by Mr Erwin Toplak, Chief Operating Officer of Kapsch TrafficCom AG, and Mr Ivan I. Shcherbo, Minister for Transport and Communication of the Republic of Belarus, today extends over a total road network of 2,743 km and contains both the implementation of a dedicated short-range communication based system as well as the operation over 20 years. The total contract value for the implementation of the system reaches approximately 267 million Euros, out of which 158 million Euros fall upon the first two phases within the next two years.

The first phase of the system shall start operation on 1 July 2013. Each phase will be financed and implemented by Kapsch TrafficCom and reimbursed within three years from the start of the operation. “The introduction of such advanced toll collection system shows a serious approach to make a substantial contribution for infrastructure development to support the growth of economy of the Republic of Belarus,” says Erwin Toplak, Chief Operating Officer of Kapsch TrafficCom AG.

For further information please contact Marcus Handl.

About Kapsch

Kapsch TrafficCom is an international supplier of superior intelligent transport systems (ITS) and primarily supplies electronic toll collection (ETC) systems. With its end-to-end solution portfolio, Kapsch TrafficCom covers the entire value creation chain of its customers, from products and systems to integration and operations, as a one-stop shop. Kapsch TrafficCom also offers solutions for urban access management as well as for traffic safety and security. Add-on applications to these solutions complement the offering. With references in 41 countries in all five continents, Kapsch TrafficCom has positioned itself among the internationally recognised suppliers of intelligent transport systems. Kapsch TrafficCom AG is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and represented in 27 countries.

Kapsch TrafficCom with EUR 25 million contract award in France

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:26:22 +0100

Kapsch TrafficCom AG, listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange in the prime market segment, reports a contract award in France worth more than 25 million Euros

Kapsch TrafficCom has concluded an agreement with Axxès, a leading French toll service provider, for the supply of on-board units (OBUs) and central solutions for the charging system based on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology, in view of the operations of the French truck taxation project called Ecotaxe, and with possible future extensions to other European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) domains. The total contract value is above 25 million Euros.

"This is the largest win in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology in the history of Kapsch TrafficCom," says André Laux, member of the Executive Board of Kapsch TrafficCom AG. "This initial contract award also secures a significant contribution of Kapsch TrafficCom to the Ecotaxe project," Laux adds.

For more information please contact Marcus Handl.

Cloud technologies for traffic monitoring and control

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:22:54 +0100

Road congestion is increasing and costs the EU about 1% of GDP. The daily congestion on today’s roads requires an innovative solution of traffic management systems. In order to provide such a solution, the ITS applications for traffic control, transport management, environmental monitoring and multimedia mobility information need to cooperate fully in order to implement traffic management strategies. The Instant Mobility (IM) project is developing and exploring a concept for transforming the mobility of persons and goods in the future through the application of advanced Internet Technologies. In the Instant Mobility vision, every journey and every transport movement is part of a fully connected and self-optimising ecosystem. Whatever the traveller's situation, Instant Mobility will deliver useful Future Internet enabled information and services.

The IM project kicked-off in April 2011. During the first 10 months of the Instant Mobility project, many technical agreements have been reached within the consortium, which is a basic and fundamental achievement that will allow the start of conceptual prototyping work. One of the most important results of the project is the definition of three Development Scenarios:

Personal travel companion. This scenario intends to provide to travellers, surface vehicle drivers and transports operators the benefits of dynamic planning and follow-up of multimodal journeys in urban and interurban areas

Smart city logistics operations. This scenario intends to provide benefits to actors and stakeholders involved in, affected by or dependent on the transportation of goods in urban environments

Transport Infrastructure as a Service. The main objective of this scenario is to carry out a study of the conditions needed for dynamic traffic management & integrated urban space, on how to use Future Internet technologies such as cloud data storage, cloud computing virtualization or services‐in‐the‐cloud. In particular, it is aimed at the specification of functional and non‐functional requirements of the different services envisioned for urban traffic management systems, in order to take advantage of the core platform Future Internet enables.

In the last scenario, the specific innovation proposed by Instant Mobility is to use the cloud capabilities of Future Internet to create innovative services that reside in-the-cloud or that use the core platform capabilities. These emerging hybrids of proprietary and cloud applications will result in a new class of distributed applications, and will reduce costs by eliminating the need to buy specific platforms. Transport agencies will be able to use all existing infrastructure-based technologies for data collection. Alongside this data, they will also have access to information from other sources, as all of this data will be available in-the-cloud.

The Transport Infrastructure as a Service scenario will be implemented in the city of Trondheim, one of the IM pilot cities. Trondheim has 176.000 inhabitants (3rd city in Norway, with a growth rate of 15% in the last 10 years). The Public Roads Administration is responsible for utilising the priority requests from the buses and to give priority to public transport through 70 signalized intersections fitted with adaptive signalling . The adaptive signalling is mainly based on inductive loops and CCTV. All these data sources provide a comprehensive basis for estimating the travel times within the road network for Trondheim. In order to effectively use this large amount of data and to achieve efficient urban traffic management, the city deployed an integrated supervision platform, capable of interacting with existing monitoring and surveillance systems. In order to go beyond the-state-of-the-art and to get advantages from the outcomes of Instant mobility project, the city of Trondheim, together with Mizar, proposed two main use cases in the IM project: Virtualised intersection intelligence and Area-wide optimisation strategies. In Virtualised intersection intelligence, traffic control operations are hosted on the Internet, in secure virtual traffic signal controllers (Virtual Road Side Units) and a virtual traffic centre, leaving local systems the task of providing safety controls and communications. On the other hand, adaptive technologies allow the traffic controller to adjust its red/green cycle in real time, depending on actual traffic conditions. Virtualised components require effortless intervention to repair in comfortable environment (e.g. server-farms) and are characterised by seamless configuration, with easy installation and upgrade possibilities, thanks to a web-based virtual desktop interface. Only a robust and reliable communication service is required.

The area-wide optimisation strategies use case is focused in the provision of a modular solution that can collect data from different sources and mash‐up it by applying different strategies of aggregation. This service will concentrate on providing data from different perspectives and summarising it in a way that can feed algorithms and strategies of traffic management. Self–learning strategies and algorithms for traffic network flow prediction will be applied, linking to any 3rd party data in a city that directly or indirectly collects traffic information and creating specific APIs that link cloud content providers, making use of mash-up technologies.

Figure above: Innovation in traffic supervision and forecasts

The most important benefits for the stakeholders of this use case are linked to the complete representation of traffic conditions over the network, for defining precise strategies at area wide level and control level, and the possibility to have precise dynamic macro & micro routing info, traffic recommendations, signal control and speed advices. The efficient utilisation of 3rd party data will reduce the costs for monitoring equipments, also providing high quality and high availability data, suitable for network forecasts (e.g. traffic flows or travel time).

The next steps of Instant Mobility project will be the finalisation of the definition process for the low-level architecture, in order to identify the Specific Enablers needed by each Development Scenario. In addition, the implementation of a conceptual prototype, which will demonstrate all the benefits given by Instant Mobility to all the aspects of the traveller’s experience. The project will prepare a plan for trial implementations (Phase 2), using a Transport and Mobility Internet platform as a subset of the full FI-PPP core platform. Finally, the project will put forward its research for support to standardisation, either for FI standards and for standards in the Transport and Mobility domain.

For further information, visit Instant Mobility website or contact Marco Bottero.

Draft Summary of findings from consultation with international organisations on Seamless Transport

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:32:16 +0100

Each year the International Transport Forum invites recognised international organisations to participate in a consultation process that supports the development of the Annual Summit programme and sessions. The objective of the consultation is to gather opinions and data in relation to priority issues for enhancing transport connectivity that could be brought forward in the debate at the Annual Summit.

ERTICO - ITS Europe participated in the meeting and highlighted the important role of Intelligent Transport Systems in achieving seamless transport and co-modality.

Draft summary of findings from consultation with international organisations (20 January) available here.

Individual position papers are now also available here.

Swedish ITS council Report released

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:44:39 +0100

In 2010 the Swedish Government appointed an ITS Board in order to speed up the process of introducing ITS in Sweden. The Board has three tasks, the first task is to develop forms of cooperation between public authorities and enterprise, the second task is to provide advice on and accelerate the Swedish Transport Administration and other authorities' process of implementing the action plan "Multi-modal strategy and action plan for the use of ITS". The third task is to promote increased Swedish action in the EU in the area of ITS.

In this report, the ITS Board and ITS Secretariat report the ITS Board's commission to the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications. The annual report from the ITS Board and ITS Secretariat describes what has been done, what challenges exist, what shall be done and what support may be needed from the Ministry.

Download the report here.

ERTICO news get a new look

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 09:33:49 +0100

As of March 2012 the i-Mobility monthly newsletter will have a new look! In order to improve the quality of our articles and to better serve our readership we will restructure our monthly newsletter by shortening it and focusing on specific topics.

ERTICO will keep posting new stories on its website; therefore cooperation with the ERTICO Partners and i-Mobility Network Members will continue to be fundamental for assuring a constant information flow.

Meanwhile, the new, shorter, sharper ERTICO magazine will focus more on specific topics. In addition to our usual section dedicated to interviews, the ERTICO editorial team will select stories and write articles and reports on current trends and events of the ITS world, centre attention on EU policy decisions and initiatives, and investigate industry developments.

Just like the newsletter today, the magazine will be sent out monthly directly to your in-box. The email will of course also contain all the month’s ITS news, whether from ERTICO Partners, the i-Mobility Network, the EU or national authorities, or others.

The first edition will be published at the end of March; if you already receive the i-Mobility newsletter, the magazine will be sent to you automatically. However if you do not receive the i-Mobility Newsletter but you would like to receive the new magazine, please send an email to Nicolas White.

News from TISA

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:37:09 +0100

TISA Community meets in Singapore

On 15 and 16 February 2012, TISA held its quarterly Committee Meetings in Singapore. The meetings were hosted by Quantum Inventions and the Land Transport Authorithy, two local TISA-Members. This was an opportunity for TISA to meet its Members from the Asia-Pacific region.

The first day started with a short introduction to TISA, immediately followed by a review of the Open Use Cases and more specifically the two latest ones raised by the Singapore market: Road Pricing Gantry & Holiday Status informing the driver in real time about the Road Pricing Scheme in the city-centre. The rest of the day consisted of the traditional Committee Meetings: Content and Service Provision Committee, Technical and Standardisation Committee, Product Committee. In addition to the Working groups and Task Force reports, presentations were also given by Gewi and Quantum Inventions on the provision of Quality Traffic and Travel Information in the Asia-Pacific Region. Jonathan Burr, TISA President then emphasised the need to make data from Public Transport available to allow future MultiModal Travel Information services to take place, with a practical example from the UK. Finally, Bev Marks, Executive Director of TISA, presented the terms and conditions of TISA’s future plans to make its products more widely available.

On the second day, several presentations from the Land Transport Authority, Quantum Inventions and the TISA Executive Office, followed by a visit of the ITS Centre of Singapore contributed to a sharing of knowledge and experience with a wider community of organisations.

***

TISA welcomes new Members

TISA welcomes two new international Members: the Department of Transport and Main Roads (Queensland Government agency) and Telmap.

The Australian Department of Transport and Main Roads is responsible for planning, managing, and delivering Queensland's integrated transport environment to sustainable transport solution for road, rail, air and sea. You can find more information about it here.

Telmap is a mobile location-based services company based in Israel with expertise in navigation, mapping, routing, content exploration and discovery. As part of its product development in the traffic arena, Telmap joined TISA to take part in standard definitions of the future traffic products. More information can be found here.

For more information, visit TISA website.

New Chairman for ITS United Kingdom appointed - Public Transport Interest Group

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:37:34 +0100

The ITS (UK) Public Transport Interest Group has elected a new Chairman, Gary Umpleby who is General Manager, Hogia Transport Systems Limited The outgoing Chairman, Dr Chris Querée, founded the Group in 1999. The PTIG has around 200 participants and covers travel information, ticketing, control, safety and security systems. It provides a neutral forum for public and private sector representatives with an interest in the use of Intelligent Transport Systems for public transport.

Gary Umpleby said: “I very much look forward to working with the Members of the Group through 2012 and beyond. I would also like to thank Chris personally for his sterling stewardship of the PTIG over the last twelve years during which time the PTIG has come to be a centre of excellence in the UK and also internationally for public transport related technology. Chris, will be an impossible 'act to follow' but together with the two Honorary Secretaries of the Group Daniel Hobbs of Aecom and Debo Shopade of Centro, I will endeavour to continue the good work and to deliver benefit where we can to the PTIG membership.

For my part I have a specific 'mission' - partly driven by my work at Hogia, but also by a developing personal passion to introduce into the UK some basic changes to the way in which we manage public transport data, which I believe, and a number of colleagues in the industry also believe, could deliver a step-change in the usability of public transport - in particular use of the bus and its interaction with other public (and private) transport modes.”

For more information, please contact Jennie Martin.

4th ETSI TC ITS Workshop

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:38:31 +0100

The 4th ETSI TC ITS Yearly Workshop, was held from 7 to 9 February 2012 in Doha, Qatar. The Qatar University Wireless Innovation Centre (QUWIC) hosted this event with the support of the Qatar National Research Fund. More than 160 participants were invited to this ITS workshop to understand and share views about Cooperative ITS, with regards to the standards development, the trials and lessons learned, as well as application and technology issues.

Mr Soeren Hess, ETSI TC ITS chairman, opened the workshop with an introduction, followed by the keynote speeches. The first sessions presented the situation of the ITS standardisation at CEN and ETSI in relationship with EC Mandate M/453. The following sessions enabled participant to learn about ongoing research and deployment activities for the Cooperative ITS. Presentations about trials, communication functionalities, applications, radio and security were provided by many experts and provided fruitful debates.

Mr Hermann Meyer (in the photo), CEO of ERTICO, presented ERTICO activities during the keynote session. He put special focus on the of the ERTICO Partnership to ensure effective deployment of priority ITS applications in Europe and thanked ETSI for its most essential work concerning related standardisation to ensure interoperability. Mr Sebastian Müller, Technical Coordinator at CTI (Centre for Testing and Interoperability) and Mr Francois Fischer, ERTICO Project Manager, made a presentation of cooperative ITS testing activities, organised jointly by ERTICO and ETSI, in the scope of the EC funded projects DRIVE-C2X and EcoMove. He also introduced the ERTICO-ETSI cooperation programme on ITS Plugtest events related to cooperative ITS and eCall.

In this context of the host country, the participants learned that the deployment of cooperative ITS in Qatar forms part of efforts for innovation and technology development. Qatar will face critical challenges in the field of transport in the future, being the host of the FIFA world cup in 2022 and an applicant for the 2020 Olympic Games. To address these challenges, Qatar will develop, test and deploy innovative cooperative ITS solutions.

The event host, QUWIC, is leading the research and development of cooperative ITS in Qatar and demonstrated its results using the QUWIC’s connected car in the exhibition hall. The Qatar National research Fund (QNRF), supporting education and research through different partnership programmes, sponsored this 4th ETSI TC ITS workshop. Partnership and research funding opportunities with Qatar were also discussed with ERTICO.

Conclusions of the worshop are available on the ETSI website.

BMW Drive Now car sharing programme for the Netherlands

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:26:02 +0100

BMW has announced that it intends to introduce its car sharing programme Drive Now to the Netherlands, although no timescale has been given for this. Norbert Reithofer, CEO of BMW AG announced this during the recent presentation of the new BMW i-Series concept. At the same event, BMW’s head in the Netherlands, Christiaan Koenders said that his company believed that by 2020 the overall market share for electric vehicles and hybrids would be between, 5 and 15%. The BMW i3 is set to arrive on the market in 2013.

Source: Smart-Mobility Management

TEN-T Info Day – Recording available

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:00:08 +0100

Priorities for the 200 million Euros available in the 2011 TEN-T Annual Call were presented in Brussels, to over 400 stakeholders who attended the event.

The priorities and their allocated budget include:

Development of an integrated and multi-modal transport system (25 million Euros)
Infrastructure development contributing to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change and the reduction of the impact on the environment (35 million Euros)
Implementation of TEN-T projects (100 million Euros)
Support of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and innovative financial instruments (15 million Euros)
Support of the long term implementation of the TEN-T network (25 million Euros)

The event was available in web streaming and a recording with slides is available online. The deadline for submission of proposals is 13 April 2012.

Find more information on the 2011 TEN-T Annual Call.

iCar Support - Call for Tenders

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:54:13 +0100

iCar Support has issued two call for tenders on the following topics:

iCar - implementation status survey by use of OEM data - 2012

iMobility Area/Topic: Deployment status in EU Member States Implementation of vehicle based eSafety priority systems according to the implementation road map list.
Description of the objectives: To estimate the market penetration and coverage of the vehicle based priority eSafety systems in all EU Member States based on reliable figures.
Launch date of the study (expected): 1 April 2012
Duration of the study in months (expected): 4 months
Download the call: iCar - implementation status survey by use of OEM data - 2012
DEADLINE for the call for tenders: 23 March 2012

iCar - implementation status survey by use of data acquired at dealers, workshops, or PTI - 2012

iMobility Area/Topic: Implementation of vehicle based iMobility priority systems in Member States according to the implementation road map
Description of the objectives: To estimate the market penetration and coverage of the vehicle based priority iMobility systems in the EU Member States by collecting information from the Member States with the highest numbers of vehicles.
Launch date (expected): 1 April 2012
Duration of the study in months (expected): 4 months
Download the call: iCar - implementation status survey by use of data acquired at dealers, workshops, or PTI – 2012
DEADLINE for the call for tenders: 23 March 2012

ATTENTION: The study could be either tendered to one or to three different companies/organisations for the 3 lots.

For more information on the calls for tenders, please contact iCar Support.

7th annual Texas Transport Forum kicks off with record attendance

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:42:51 +0100

ITS America President and CEO Scott Belcher joined roughly 1,300 policymakers, business, finance and transport professionals in the Alamo City last week to discuss ways to meet Texas’ transport challenges at the 7th Annual Texas Transportation Forum.

Hosted by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Texas Good Roads Transportation Association, Associated General Contractors of Texas, and Texas Transportation Institute, the Forum featured a general session entitled “Transportation, Technology & You” moderated by Scott Belcher with Leo McCloskey, Vice President, Airbiquity, Sean O’Sullivan, CEO, Avego; and Steve Kenner, Global Director of Automotive Safety Office, Ford Motor company.

Click here to listen to a podcast of the session.

For more information, visit ITS America website.

This article has been published in cooperation with ITS America.

Interview with Cees de Wijs, ACS

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:37:59 +0100

Craig Waters, Eurotransport Editor, speaks exclusively to Cees de Wijs, Group President of International Transportation and Local Government Group, ACS

As the largest provider of transportation services to governments worldwide, with projects in over 35 countries, ACS, a Xerox Company, is focused on making the transportation experience simple by improving the customer and commuter experience with innovative mobility solutions. “We see an extremely important trend towards satisfying the need for more seamless passenger services ensuring that there is an intermodal travel experience from a passenger perspective,” explains Cees. “We also see things from a transport operator perspective where there is an extreme pressure, even in today’s economic environment, to become more inventive in allocating investments for new infrastructure whilst at the same time driving down the operation costs.”

ACS addresses these market trends through a portfolio of solutions. For example, some major solutions that help optimising productivity and efficiency are automated fare collection and vehicle location and fleet management. “We are offering automated fare collection solutions to transit operators in many cities like Toulouse, Berlin, Milan and Zurich and we have also been delivering ticketing solutions for rail in the Netherlands, Norway, France, Austria and Switzerland. Moreover we provide automatic vehicle location and fleet management solutions which include a wealth of dynamic information needed to ensure that passengers experience fast, safe and reliable public transit,” said Cees. “We are currently rolling out an automated fare collection system for Abu Dhabi – a city with a vision to optimise the travel experience by improving the quality of service of the public transport network.” “Our project in Zurich, an interoperable and integrated ticketing service for all transport modes across eight transport operators, is still on going,” explains Cees. “And in Toulouse we are currently investigating how, on top of the existing automated fare collection system, we can move towards the open payment trends that we helped pioneer in successful pilots in the USA.” “I highlight this open payment trend as ACS is one of the market leaders in the US where we are witnessing a lot of the open card payment initiatives. We were part of a very important pilot project in New York testing an open payment credit card based solution and we do trust that this is the future for many cities.”

ACS has been recently selected by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to implement one of the first open fare payment systems in the US. SEPTA will be one of the first in the country to offer riders the ability to travel and digitally pay their fare with a quick tap or wave of their ‘contactless’ credit or debit card or even their smartphone. We expect to also see Europe move towards uniform seamless and open payment facilities in the coming years.” Behind the scenes, ACS is actively engaged in European initiatives to standardise services and together with ERTICO, ACS has provided proposals to the European Commission to start developments on an integrated platform that may be applied across Europe for pan-European reservation, information and payment services.

ACS transportation and Xerox experts from the Xerox Research Centre in Grenoble, France, frequently work in collaboration with their clients to solve current mobility challenges and to shape and create the future of transportation today.

ACS also continues to recognise the importance of presenting their products and solutions at industry trade shows. “We attend exhibitions such as Intertraffic, ITS World Congress and of course this year’s InnoTrans in Germany,” comments Cees. Cees explains that the future vision of ACS in the public transport marketplace can be summarised around three major pillars. “First of all we believe that we will see an increased trend around ‘converging infrastructures’. Telecoms, banking, transport and energy will start to interconnect. The second visionary pillar is what we call ‘embedded intelligence’. Improving the seamless travel aspect is all about ensuring that embedded intelligence starts to really interconnect vehicles, passengers and superior back-end systems for reservation, payment and customer service. The operators thereby reduce their cost of operations. The third pillar is ‘smart simplicity’. The passenger shall enjoy a seamless end-to-end mobility experience. Access to and the use of reservation, information and payment services will be made simple and comprehensive. The underlying technology and complexity will be made fully transparent for the passenger.” With these three fundamental visions of the future, it is clear to see that ACS is taking a strong hold on the public transport marketplace. “We do trust that even in today’s European economic climate, where there is a lot of pressure and a lack of funding and investment, ACS has the ability to open up large scale solutions and business models and also get our fair share of driving long-term efficient operations.”

(Source: Eurotransport magazine)

Vienna’s calling! Interview with Doris Bures, Austrian Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:47:33 +0100

The ITS World Congress 2012 in Vienna is only eight months away. The congress theme: 'smarter on the way' focusing on using ITS to better serve customers, connect seamlessly and encourage sustainability.

The global ITS community is excited about the upcoming ITS World Congress in Vienna. What are your expectations for the event?

Doris Bures: We expect over 3,000 delegates and 10,000 exhibition visitors, making this the largest ITS World Congress to date. Not only will the congress be an ideal place to learn new ideas, but attendees will also experience Vienna, one of the world’s smartest cities. Visitors will see firsthand how Vienna’s integrated transport system, lively culture, sustainable planning, and high quality of life are supported by smart city technology. They can also participate in hands-on demonstrations in a test area adjacent to the congress centre. Congress organisers are working closely with leading edge developers and companies including the Car2Car Communication Consortium, Kapsch, Swarco, Siemens, and Efkon as well as the Austrian highway operator Asfinag to create a demonstration programme highlighting the latest and most innovative new ITS technologies. The demonstrations will also be designed to allow members of the public to experience the benefits of ITS since they are actually the final users.

You want to make the Congress more political. What does this mean exactly?

Doris Bures: Mobility is an important political question because mobility is a basic need in today’s society. It is central to our individual well-being and to our common economic development. Mobility governs business location and makes it possible for us to share ideas and products with people from around the world. But these benefits have created exploding demand and led to problems ranging from traffic congestion to climate change. As policy makers our challenge is: How can we create a sustainable, environmentally friendly and socially responsible transport system given this rapidly increasing demand? One step in the right direction is expanding sustainable transport. We are doing this in Austria by strongly supporting public transport, bicycling, and sustainable development. But our future must also be intelligent. We need to create truly Intelligent Transport Systems.

From my perspective there are three requirements: first, Intelligent Transport Systems must be user-focused; these systems must be easy to use, helpful and increase safety. Second, ITS must be borderless. It shouldn’t matter what language you speak or where you bought your navigation device. We need standards to ensure compatibility, but without constraining innovation. Third, ITS must increase sustainability. Protecting the environment is our generation’s greatest challenge, and ITS must play a role. What’s needed now is to implement ITS in real transport systems. This requires excellent cooperation between all players and technologies, and that brings us back to the idea of making the congress more political. One way we’ll do this is with the Ministerial Round Table scheduled for 22 October. In this roundtable high-level political leaders from throughout the world will meet to develop recommendations for improving international cooperation. I am convinced this will be an important step towards better transnational collaboration.

Why are Intelligent Transport Systems important for Austria?

Doris Bures: Today’s transport policy challenge is to strike a balance between ensuring mobility for people and goods while at the same time ensuring transport system sustainability in the face of scarce resources and emission limits. The only way to successfully meet these complex and dynamic challenges is to move smarter, in other words, to use ITS to optimise system planning and operations. With this goal in mind I have launched the Austrian ITS Action Plan. This plan defines our strategy for implementing an Intelligent Transport System consistent with European guidelines. The plan defines Austrian priority areas and emphasises the main points for creating a viable mobility system.

What are your plans concerning future implementation of ITS in Austria?

Doris Bures: We need to ensure that Intelligent Transport Systems are designed and implemented seamlessly: they must work across city, regional, and national borders, and they must serve all transport modes. To meet the complex demands of our multimodal and multi-purpose transport system we must involve a broad range of stakeholders in the planning and development process. This type of integrated dialogue will help us identify and implement widely accepted services that optimise transport rather than proprietary solutions that make transport more difficult. We have started this broad stakeholder dialogue in Austria and the first success was the definition of six ITS action-areas: Traffic Management, Traveller Information, Freight Transport and Logistics, Vehicles, New Mobility Concepts, and Basic Functions (e. g. standardisation). In each area we have identified the key instruments needed to implement the necessary improvement measures. These instruments include funding programmes, innovative procurement processes, and standardisation. Importantly, the instruments are designed to ensure that ITS elements are fully integrated into the standard transport planning and development process.

What is, from your point of view, the most important aspect of ITS?

Doris Bures: The Austrian ITS Action Plan sets forth a vision for using ITS in three priority areas: safety, efficiency, and environment. ITS must help us achieve our “vision zero” goal in each of these areas. ITS must help us reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries to zero, ITS must help us provide smooth and uninterrupted traffic flow even in dense traffic, a vision that includes considering how to optimise traffic between modes, and, finally, ITS must help us reduce emissions and environmental impacts. These goals come directly from the European Commission’s Transport White Paper and are major objectives of our programme.

Another key goal for ITS, especially in times of economic difficulty, is in helping make transport systems more efficient and cost effective. In fact, ITS is a great way to increase mobility without new construction. ITS will help improve everyone’s daily mobility. For example, ITS already has been revolutionising many aspects of urban transport from helping people plan their trips to paying for services. Finally, ITS is an excellent driver for economic growth as we have seen in Austria. Many leading ITS producers are located here and are contributing to our economy.

One special focus of the ITS World Congress 2012 is attracting new talent. Why do we need more women in this field?

Doris Bures: ITS, like many technical fields, has traditionally been a male dominated profession. However, to achieve the real promise of ITS, we need everyone to participate in its development. Expanded participation means more creativity and innovation – and it’s especially important to involve women in transport because women often make more trips, use more different modes of transport, and make different types of trips than men. In short, they bring a whole set of new ideas, ideas we need to create effective transport systems.

We are proud that in Austria almost 29% of engineering graduates are female, but it’s not enough. We need to encourage more young women to study technical subjects and awaken their interest in emerging fields like information technology. Innovation only happens when we open our minds to new ideas and perspectives – minimising the input from over 50% of the population means less creativity, fewer ideas, and diminished potential. I should also note that studies have shown that companies with a good gender balance are more successful.

Any closing thoughts about the ITS World Congress 2012?

Doris Bures: It’s clear that transport faces many challenges, but it’s also clear that ITS can help us successfully meet these challenges. In Austria we long supported ITS Research and Development. We are now applying these technologies to create a more sustainable and equitable transport system. Taking up this spirit I encourage you to visit Vienna for the ITS World Congress 2012.

Take part – be smarter on the way!

For more information, visit the 19th ITS World Congress website.

AMITRAN project needs your opinion!

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:17:05 +0100

The AMITRAN project will define a reference methodology to assess the impact of intelligent transport systems on CO2 emissions.

The methodology shall be used as a reference by future projects and covers both passenger and freight transport through a comprehensive well-to-wheel approach. Different modes are addressed: road (receiving most of the focus), rail, and shipping (short sea and inland navigation).

For more information, read the fact sheet available at www.amitran.eu

We need your opinion!

We kindly invite you to contribute to AMITRAN’s development by letting us know about your needs and requirements regarding a CO2 impact assessment methodology for ITS.

Please find below the link to a survey, which will take about 20 minutes.

Thank you for your collaboration and for sharing this announcement with colleagues, partners or other stakeholders you find appropriate.

To answer the questionnaire, visit
https://app.lamapoll.de/AMITRANUserNeeds

Project co-funded by

Smart In Car Trial, car data real-time accessible to improve traffic flow and increase traffic safety

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:25:46 +0100

On Monday 30 January, the Dutch Minister Schultz van Haegen (Infrastructure and the Environment) launched the Smart In Car trial. A new trial for NXP Semiconductors, in cooperation with IBM, Beijer Automotive, NOKIA, TASS, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, TNO, ANWB, CibaTax, KPN and the Dutch Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management. The trial is expected to improve traffic flow and increase traffic safety. The new technology will help the region of Eindhoven to monitor and report dangerous road conditions in real time and warn drivers in the vicinity to avoid accidents.

Traffic must be seen as a system where individual actions can have major consequences for the system as a whole. Research has shown that small disturbances very quickly lead to full-blown traffic jams. For example, traffic jams often occur when one car breaks firmly, forcing the cars behind to break as well, causing a chain reaction that can impact the entire traffic system. Sudden breaking is often a result of bad road conditions caused by holes, loose stones or ice.

Today automobiles, and the roads they are driving on, are equipped with thousands of sensors. Cars are increasingly connected and create a vast amount of data that can be used to improve traffic conditions and driving experience. For example, currently sensors in cars alert drivers via their dashboard for low tire pressure, broken lights, or engine failures. Also, heavy breaking (ABS), strong acceleration and slippery roads will be registered by these sensors. To monitor traffic density road sensors, mobile phone data and data from navigation devices are already used.

What will we do?
NXP Semiconductors, IBM and its partners will equip all participating cars with a device, containing the NXP ATOP chip that gathers relevant data from the central communication system of the car (CAN-bus). This device bundles and translates all relevant car sensor data anonymously before sending it to an IBM Smart Traffic Center, along with GPS location data. IBM will use sophisticated analytics on car data to inform drivers and road authorities about dangerous road conditions, accidents or growing traffic density in real-time. The system reduces the number of accidents, time to clear the roads and related congestion. What is unique about the project is that by using Beijer Automotive technology, we can read these CAN-bus signals from over 90% of all existing cars on the road today.

Benefit for Traffic authorities
The anonymous information from the IBM Smart Traffic Center enables local traffic authorities to resolve road network issues (holes in the road, oil on the road, black ice). By receiving the information in real time, road authorities can act faster and immediately deploy emergency response teams and road workers to resolve issues. Traffic centres staff can promptly respond and manage traffic flows away from accidents and dangerous roads.

Benefit for Commuters
Commuters in the Eindhoven region with a Smartphone or connected navigation device can improve benefits from the trial by receiving personal information based on their specific location about road conditions in their vicinity. This information from the IBM Smart Traffic Centre will also be available for car navigation systems and Smartphone’s via the new SMART-In-Car App. With this App, commuters will be able to get real time notifications about dangerous traffic conditions ahead, slippery roads, accidents and roadwork. The first 10.000 installations will be provided for free.

Participation of cab company / fleet owners
A large cab company in the Region of Eindhoven, Cibatax, and the ANWB (Road Side Assistance service), will also participate in the pilot to better understand how they can improve their quality of service, efficiency and proactively maintain their fleet of vehicles. More than 100 cabs and 100 service cars of the ANWB will be equipped with a special on board unit for this project. This unit is connected to the Tass and IBM Smarter Traffic Center and gives the cab company and ANWB real time information on vehicle data and route data. This will help them proactively detect and repair issues, help improve driving patterns of the fleet and individual drivers, increase fuel efficiency and minimise environmental impact. The cab drivers will receive feedback on optimised safety and eco driving.

The Trial is another major milestone of NXP strategy to connect the car, click here for more information.

Successes in the past
This trial is one of several initiatives the Collaborative Region of Eindhoven (SRE) has begun to improve traffic flow in the region around Eindhoven. In an earlier six-month road pricing trial, also conducted by IBM and NXP, advanced congestion charge technology was successfully used to incentivize drivers to change their driving behavior. This reduced traffic congestion and contributed to a greener environment. In fact, 70 percent of drivers changed their behaviour to avoid rush-hour travel when presented with the right incentives, demonstrating that road pricing systems can have a positive effect on driving habits and help alleviate traffic.

Improved Utilisation
The deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems is done in the framework of the Beter Benutten (“improved utilization”) program, through which Dutch national, and some economically significant regional governmental authorities, in The Netherlands seek to reduce traffic congestion by 20 percent at some of the worst bottlenecks. The Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment green lighted the implementation of these measures to improve traffic flow in the province of North Brabant, jointly with Brabant provincial executive member Van Heugten, and NXP’s CTO and Country Manager, Mr Penning de Vries.

The package of measures used in Brabant also includes infrastructural measures, such as improved connections, and changes to intersections. In the cities of ’s-Hertogenbosch and Helmond, digital routing information signs are placed along the roads in order to direct traffic to either bypass or go through the city centers. On some busy roads, the Spitsmijden (“peak hour avoidance”) project, which rewards participants who avoid peak traffic hours, was implemented. Expansion of bicycle parking spaces and construction of new bike lanes are designed to stimulate bicycle use in combination with travel by train. In addition, investments are made in increased cargo transport by boat.

The Brabant region will invest 71 million Euros for the total package of measures. The regional authorities will contribute around 30 million Euros, and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment will invest over 40 million Euros.

The Ministry’s Beter Benutten programme means fewer traffic jams and increased use of railways and waterways, in order to promote economic growth. National and regional authorities, along with the business community, take these innovative measures in the busiest areas in hopes of improving mobility. In addition, nationwide fiscal measures are taken in support of this venture. The Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment has budgeted a total of 794 million Euros for the Beter Benutten programme. Smart choices, strong combinations.

Dutch Minister of Transport Melanie Schultz-van Haegen

ERTICO and ERTICO Partners appointed Members of the European ITS Advisory Group

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:48:26 +0100

In May 2011 the European Commission decided to create a group of experts on ITS who would advise the Commission on business and technical aspects of the deployment and the use of ITS in the European Union.

Following this decision, the European Commission has announced the 25 members of the European ITS Advisory Group, including ITS services providers, user associations, transport and facilities operators, manufacturing industry, social partners, professional associations, local authorities and other relevant fora.

ERTICO – ITS Europe and ERTICO’s Partners ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association), FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), IRU (International Road Union), KAPSCH, NXP Semiconductors, Orange, and Siemens have been appointed among the members of this experts group.

The Advisory Group’s mission will be:

assisting the Commission in the preparation of specifications, to be adopted as delegated acts under the Intelligent Transport Systems Directive, by providing an opinion on the technical and commercial aspects
monitoring the evolution of policy in ITS and to advise and provide guidance to the Commission on all other issues related to the deployment and use of ITS in the Union
bringing about an exchange of experience and good practice related to the deployment and operation of ITS.

For more information on the European ITS Advisory Group, visit the European Commission website.

Federal Ministry and Toll Collect agree on the introduction of tolls in Germany

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:30:26 +0100

The Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development and the toll operator Toll Collect have agreed on the introduction of tolls on some federal dual-carriageway highways.

The toll for heavy trucks will be extended to some 1,000 kilometres of federal highways that are of motorway standard and are connected to a motorway. This will take advantage of the technical possibilities of the satellite-based tolling system for trucks. The toll rate corresponds to that applied on motorways, thus an average of 17 cents / km. An estimated additional annual revenue of 100 million Euros is expected.

According to Secretary of State Ramsauer, "now we have the go-ahead: the goal is to begin collecting goods vehicle tolls on around 1000 km of four-lane highways constructed to motorway standard, with effect from 1 August 2012. The additional funds are earmarked for the development and maintenance of road infrastructure. We thus strengthen the "road funding cycle" created last year, with a clear benefit in the form of increased investment in the road network."

The discussions with consortium members German Telekom, Daimler and Cofiroute proved particularly difficult with respect to liability issues. Reflecting experience from the original introduction of the goods vehicle tolling, emphasis in the negotiations was set on thoroughness rather than speed.

With this agreement, that was adopted by the German Bundestag and approved by the Bundesrat last year, the Federal Highway Toll Act can be implemented. Furthermore, this accords with a corresponding Recommendation of the Federal Court of Accounts.

For more information visit the Federal Ministry of Transport website (in German).

Video interview with Russell Shields, Chair of Ygomi LLC

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:53:32 +0100

T. Russell Shields, co-founder and Chair of Ygomi LLC, speaks about connected vehicles, their development over the past years and the advantages they bring to society, the importance of standardisation for the deployment of ITS and shares his thoughts on the current situation in Europe on eCall implementation.

About Ygomi LLC

Ygomi LLC builds and operates companies that deliver innovative software and services for essential business needs. Ygomi currently operates three information and communications technology companies that develop and commercialise leading-edge solutions in areas including technical support for multi-location enterprises, vehicle telematics and multimedia, and wireless signal processing software. Headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, Ygomi and its companies serve leading corporations around the world, with approximately 200 employees across Europe, Asia, and the USA.

For more information, visit Ygomi website.

HeERO first newsletter published

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:36:26 +0100

At European level, the HeERO project is preparing, coordinating and carrying-out pre-deployment pilot projects of the EU-wide eCall, which is based on the single European emergency number 112. The consortium is testing and validating in real condition pilots the common European eCall standards defined and approved by the European Standardisation Bodies.

Over three years (January 2011 to December 2013), thanks to strong cross-border cooperation, the nine European countries which form the HeERO consortium (Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Romania and Sweden) will carry out the start-up of an interoperable and harmonised 112 based in-vehicle emergency call system.

You can read the HeERO newsletter here.

For more information, visit the HeERO website.

ElectroMobility pilot projects podcasts

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:55:10 +0100

Smart Connected ElectroMobility holds the potential to fundamentally change today's transport system and patterns and make a quantum leap towards sustainable mobility. Four European “eMobility” pilot projects (SmartCEM, ICT4EVU, MOBI.Europe, and MOLECULES) joined forces for their launch in the European Parliament on 8 February 2012.

To read the article about the event, click here

	Malcolm Harbour MEP Chair of Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee European Parliament
	Bernd Lange MEP co-Chair of the Forum for the Automobile and Society European Parliament
	Zoran Stančič Deputy Director General DG Information Society and Media European Commission
	Werner Kraus President Region I FIA - Federation Internationale de L'Automobile
	Carlos Lopez Head of Telecommunications and Information Society Trade and Innovation Division Government of Navarre
	Jacob Bangsgaard Director General Region I FIA - Federation Internationale de L'Automobile

ElectroMobility pilot projects launched at the European Parliament

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:39:57 +0100

The four pilot projects, run under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP), strive to facilitate and enhance user experience and acceptance of electric vehicles by offering various ICT services for urban and inter-urban mobility. These services will be tested and evaluated on test sites in EU Member States all over Europe.

To view all podcasts from the event, click here

MEP Malcolm Harbour, Chair of the IMCO Committee, and host of the event, opened the session by introducing the programme speakers.

Mr Harbour underlined his conviction of the importance of sustainable mobility. He further explained that:

Mobility and especially integrated mobility is vital for the cities
Vehicles can deliver ElectroMobility solutions
It is of vital importance to engage all stakeholders but especially municipalities in order to integrate these technologies in transport systems

Click here for Mr Harbour’s podcast.

MEP Malcolm Harbour, Chair of the IMCO Committee

MEP Bernd Lange, co-Chair of the Forum for the Automobile and Society

The first speaker MEP Bernd Lange confirmed that the European parliament is closely following policy developments in ElectroMobility. He reminded the audience of predicted changes in urbanisation, demographics and climate. He further explained that ElectroMobilityis a part of the solution – especially integrated mobility and the combination of vehicles and ICT as a solution of the future. He especially mentioned the integration of ElectroMobility as an alternative urban mobility solution for local authorities. He also stated that the 4 projects need a solid basis, that the EP is on their side and he wished them success in their future work.

Click here for Mr Lange's podcast

Mr Zoran Stančič, Deputy Director-General, European Commission DG INFSO

Zoran Stančič, Deputy Director-General, European Commission DG INFSO

Mr Zoran Stančič, explained the EU policy framework behind the CIP pilots (Research and Innovation Programme, EC transport policy 2020 and beyond, Digital Agenda for Europe). He further mentioned the importance of the CIP pilots which provide opportunities to work with different stakeholders.

Click here for Mr Stančič’s podcast.

ICT 4 EVEU, MOBI.Europe, MOLECULES, Sm@rtCEM (Presentations by the four CIP projects on smart ElectroMobility)

ICT 4 EVEU is a project aiming at the deployment of an innovative set of ICT services for electric vehicles (EV) in complementary pilots across Europe. The focus of the services in question is the integration of different management systems operating on the existing EV infrastructures of the pilot cities. ICT 4 EVEU will then deploy interoperable ElectroMobility services on these interconnected infrastructures. The three pilots will cover different areas. The first one will run in Bristol, UK, and its commuter belt. The second one will join the Spanish towns of Vitoria and Pamplona, creating a common corridor of 100 km. Finally, the Slovenian pilot will connect the most important cities of the country, Ljubljana and Maribor, and have an international aspect as there will be observers from the Austrian region of Styria, which has shown a big interest in this pilot.

MOBI.Europe will promote the full integration and interoperability of available, currently tested ICT ElectroMobility applications. It is built on the ElectroMobility initiatives of Portugal, Ireland, the Spanish region of Galicia and the Dutch city of Amsterdam. For the benefit of the EV user, the project aims to integrate these four areas by ensuring full interoperability of the standards and mobility services already in use there.

The aim of MOLECULES is to contribute to the pre-deployment and wider uptake of smart connected ElectroMobility as a radical departure from today's transport system, leading to reductions in carbon emissions and less congested urban areas. The pilot actions will test urban and inter-urban ICT services that facilitate and enhance the user experience of electric vehicles. They will support real-time interaction between the driver, the vehicle and the transport and energy infrastructures. Services comprise for instance pre-trip and on-trip planning and optimisation including EV energy use and charging, as well as vehicle to grid connectivity.

Four European cities/regions, Barcelona (ES), Gipuzkoa-San Sebastian (ES), Newcastle (UK) and Turin (IT), have joined forces to demonstrate the role of ICT solutions in addressing shortcomings of ElectroMobility. As the potential of EV is under-used due to their limitations and lack of confidence, the smartCEM project aims to minimise the current EV limitations, by applying advanced mobility services (EV-navigation, EV-efficient driving, EV-trip and charging station management).

Speeches by high level representatives followed on:The users’ perspective

Werner Kraus, President of FIA Region I (which represents 104 Automobile and Touring Clubs across Europe, the Middle East and Africa), commented on the SmartCEM pilot project of which the FIA is a partner:

“Raising consumer awareness is key for the adoption of new technologies and the FIA and its member clubs are best placed to play this role. That’s why the FIA fully supports the SmartCEM initiative and the demonstration of eMobility as a real alternative for our day-to-day mobility.

Click here for Mr Kraus’ podcast.

National plan to promote ElectroMobility

Antonio Bob Santos spoke on behalf of the Deputy Minister of Innovation, highlighting Portugal’s new public and private programme (PPP) on ElectroMobility. This programme covers energy and renewable sources, environment, transport and research and innovation. Twenty-five municipalities are testing these innovative solutions.

The importance of ElectroMobility for sustainable urban mobility

Pere Ferrer Sastre praised these 4 initiatives, “without them is difficult to meet transport goals”. The city council has installed 191 new electric vehicle battery-charging points in Barcelona. The Movele electric vehicle plan is not the only action up to now to have been promoted by the city council for furthering the use of electric vehicles in the city, in order to achieve more sustainable mobility.

ElectroMobility and renewable energies: a win-win situation for a sustainable low carbon economy

Carlos Lopez presented MODERNA, the new economic development model for Navarra: a medium and long term strategic regional plan promoted by the Government of Navarre (Unión del Pueblo Navarro - UPN) together with other stakeholders. The MODERNA TREE plan includes particular emphasis to sustainable vehicles and renewable energies.

Click here for Mr Lopez’s podcast.

A further podcast by Jacob Bangsgaard, FIA Region I Director General available here


Fernando Zubillaga, MLC ITS Euskadi, presents the smartCEM project

ADAM project kicks off

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:10:37 +0100

All transport systems have been under extraordinary pressure for a number of years to dramatically reduce inefficiencies and environmental impact, and this pressure has increased with the current uncertain economic outlook. Concerned organisations and governments around the world question the sustainability of transport as we know it today. The EU and other national or regional entities face common and new mobility challenges in the modern world.

In parallel, a technological revolution has been taking place over recent years with the proliferation of autonomous mobility solutions (aircraft, marine, terrestrial and underwater) that promise many benefits, including the creation of new markets, while new problems of different types are appearing (legal/regulatory, scientific-technical, conflicts with the status quo, and so on).

In the context of autonomous transport systems, and in line with the above mentioned opportunities and emerging business, together with the need to address the scientific and technical challenges that must be resolved to ensure its international presence and relevance, ADAM (Automation Development for Autonomous Mobility) consortium members propose an initiative of research and technological development of industrial interest, which aims to increase the autonomous capabilities of the operating processes of transport, through the development of advanced navigation, guidance, control, communications, surveillance and automation based on net-centric architectures and advanced technologies for autonomous transport systems.

Led by Boeing and supported by the CDTI (Centre for Industrial Technological Development: a Business Public Entity, answering to the Ministry for Science and Innovation in Spain (currently within the Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness), which fosters technological development and innovation in Spanish companies) with a total budget of close to 19 M€, the ADAM initiative is backed by a consortium sponsored by leading institutions in transport, mobility and integration of systems in all application areas (surface, maritime and aeronautic) in Spain as well as at the international level (BOEING, INDRA, NAVANTIA, ELECNOR-DEIMOS, FICOSA, INSA, SAES, AZKAR) and it is composed of ten companies with two SMEs standing out due to their innovative capacity (CENTUM, Maser) and twelve research organisations, including TECNALIA Research & Innovation (an ERTICO Partner).

On Thursday 24 November, the project named “ADAM”, focused on science and technology around Autonomous Mobility, was initiated at the Boeing headquarters in Madrid. This project will last for more than three years and will finish at the end of 2014.

For further information, please contact Francisco A. Navarro.

TTS Italia welcomes five new members

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:01:55 +0100

On 25 January 2012 the Board of Directors of TTS Italia welcomed five new members:

ACAM, the mobility agency of the Campania Region (South Italy), characterised as a support agency to the regional administration in the development of plans, programmes, contracts, procedures for the regulation and control of mobility services, mobility systems planning, development and management information systems.
Cediss, specialised in systems for safety and security on public transports means, with a focus on systems for fleet management, surveillance and infotainment.
ESRI Italia, society for services and solutions based on GIS technologies. The society is especially active in local and central public administration through systems for urban/land planning, for the environment and for emergencies management.
ISIS –Istituto di Studi per l’Integrazione di Sistemi, an Italian private research and consultancy firm supporting public and private policy makers in the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of energy, transport and environmental policies and decisions.
Viasat Group, operating in Italy in the security market, satellite navigation, as well as production and assembly of cards and electronic products and in the development and production of electronic systems and computer platforms.

Siim Kallas on transport financing: the way ahead

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:01:43 +0100

On 2 February 2012, Siim Kallas, Vice President of the EC and Commissioner for Transport, gave a speech at the European Policy Centre about the financing of transport infrastructure in Europe. Mr Kallas highlighted that “Europe needs to invest heavily in transport infrastructure before 2050 to remain competitive” despite the current financial crisis that requires Member States to “focus on tackling budget deficits” and “implementing austerity measures”.

The Commissioner stated that investment is crucial for the growth of European economy and for “turning the dream of a single European transport area into a reality”. In this sense the implementation of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) “will be crucial for creating employment and economic growth” and it is one of the top priorities of the European Union. “With TEN-T, every million Euros of public money that [the EU] spend generates 5 million in investment from the Member States. And every million Euros generate 20 million from the private sector. But despite the impressive leverage rates, the funds available will not be enough”. Mr Kallas highlighted that a long-term funding will be needed both from public and private sectors.

The European Commission has a new funding programme for the 2014-2020 budget called the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The CEF will look at investing in transport, energy and ICT infrastructures and it “is also designed to attract and guarantee private sector involvement” including specialised infrastructure investors. Mr Kallas said that he is “confident that the strong track record in EU funding for transport projects, [...] together with valued partner institutions like the European Investment Bank (EIB), will help generate some impressive leverage on this money. Based on that combined amount of €31.7 billion [from CEF and from the Cohesion Fund], we estimate that the expected leverage and co-funding could raise total transport investments to between €140 and €150 billion”.

However, in order to attract private investors, the Commission initiative should “reduce the risk for investors looking for long-term investment opportunities, as well as give infrastructure projects credibility”. The European Investment Bank will play a fundamental role as it “[...] can offer attractive pricing terms and large loan amounts over long maturities” whilst representing “a strong guarantee for commercial banks when they decide to finance parts of a public-private partnership”.

Mr Kallas concluded by affirming that “transport is a true engine driving European growth. Every European company and citizen depends on an efficient transport system. With the economic crisis, Europe needs – more than ever – to improve its mobility. So we must invest in a sustainable transport network. This requires long-term funding and commitments from governments – and not only to attract private funding. Conditions for infrastructure investments must be stable for long periods, perhaps 30 years. That's where we in Brussels can help, by creating an environment of business security. And the proposed Connecting Europe Facility is an important part of that”.

Read Siim Kallas' full speech here.

EasyWay: making road mobility safer, greener and more efficient for the European citizen

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:17:44 +0100

On Tuesday 24 January 2012, EasyWay, under the patronage of Antonio Cancian, MEP (EPP), and with the kind cooperation of his staff, as organised a conference in the Brussels’ EP premises.

The event "EasyWay: making road mobility safer, greener and more efficient for the European citizen" took place immediately after a session of the TRAN EP committee and was attended by - among others - Brian Simpson (TRAN Committee Chairman), Ines Ayala Sender (MEP TRAN Committee), Anne Jensen (MEP, rapporteur of the recommendation for second reading on the adoption of a general framework for the spread of intelligent transport systems in the field of road transport and interfaces with other transport modes), Dominique Riquet (MEP TRAN Committee), Giommaria Uggias (MEP TRAN Committee), Georgios Koumoutsakos (MEP TRAN Committee), Carlo Fidanza (MEP TRAN Committee), Theodoros Skylakakis (MEP), Spyros Danellis (MEP), Othmar Karas (MEP), Giancarlo Scotti (MEP),Vice-President of the European Parliament Roberta Angelilli (MEP), Fotis Karamitsos (Director of Directorate C for Innovative & Sustainable Mobility, DG-MOVE), Christopher North (Head of Unit, Air, Waterborne Transport, Logistics, Innovation and Co-modality, TEN-T Executive Agency), Klaus Schierhackl (ASECAP President) and Skirmantas Skrinka (CEDR President).

Mr Cancian stated that “The aim of this meeting is to understand what worked in this program, what results were obtained, which further developments are possible and confirm that it is continuing to invest resources in this area of the Community budget." Mr Cancian continued, "The EASYWAY program, and more generally the application of intelligent transport systems to the road sector, responds to the call, in my opinion, for a more intelligent use of existing infrastructure: the applications and ongoing trials may benefit from an important environmental benefit, reducing congestion and encouraging better use of infrastructure. In my opinion, these systems can do more and are better interventions than taxation, such as proposed by the Eurovignette Directive, for example.”

About the EasyWay project
EasyWay is the unique European Project aiming at harmonised implementation of Intelligent Transports Systems (ITS) and Services across the TEN - T Road Network and its urban and multimodal links. EasyWay has a strong foundation in the 27 Member States and 3 other European countries and operates in a coordinated way under the supervision of the TEN-T Executive Agency and through policy direction from the European Commission (DG MOVE) to address the major EU transport objectives and harmonise the deployment of Intelligent Transport Services (ITS) on the TEN - T Road network. It is a most efficient platform to steer and coordinate pan-European deployment from local, regional and national level to Europe-wide. EasyWay gathers around 150 partners such as road authorities, public and private road operators across Europe.

EW Objectives
EasyWay’s objectives are fully consistent with both the national policies of the 27 EU Member States and with the priorities defined in the ITS Action Plan and the ITS Directive (2010/40/EC). EasyWay targets practical actions that deploy National and European policies towards a harmonized, competitive and resource efficient transport System.

The main objectives of EasyWay are to improve safety, reduce congestion and environmental impacts, and to promote the continuity of services at regional and European level through the coordinated deployment of real-time information and traffic management services for the benefit of the European road user. EasyWay contributes to the improvement of interfaces between conurbation networks and public transport services by fostering a co-modal traveller approach.

The Future
Until now EasyWay, thanks to the financial support of the European Commission, has demonstrated that the deployment of ITS delivers significant safety, efficiency and environmental benefits. The EasyWay project results have shown where the deployment of ITS has had a positive effect on transport networks. These results highlight the overall success of EasyWay, in delivering tangible benefits for European citizen, network owners and transport road operators. True harmonised ITS deployment takes time and consistency, EasyWay program is committed to continue and to do much more in order to realise a real harmonised European road network for the benefit of the European citizen.

For further information, please contact Alessandro Javicoli or visit the EasyWay website.

Eight more Galileo navsats agreed

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:24:41 +0100

On 2 February ESA signed a contract to build a further eight Galileo satellites, alongside other agreements to modify Europe’s Ariane 5 launcher to carry four navigation satellites at a time.

The signing took place at the European Commission's centre in London, Europe House, in the presence of European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani and UK Universities and Science Minister David Willetts MP. The contract to construct and test the Galileo satellites was awarded to a consortium headed by prime contractor OHB System AG in Bremen, Germany, and partner Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) in Guildford, UK.

Back in January 2010 this consortium was awarded the contract to build the previous 14 satellites. As before, OHB is responsible for the satellite platforms and overall integration, while SSTL is building the navigation payloads.

ESA also signed two contracts with Astrium in France, to modify the more powerful Ariane 5 ES variant of the launcher to deploy four Galileo satellites at a time into medium orbit.

In addition, ESA has booked an initial launch option with Paris-based Arianespace.

The Ariane 5 ES is currently used for launching ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle to the International Space Station at around 380 km, but requires changes and requalification to deliver satellites to orbital altitudes of 23 222 km.

A dispenser will be developed to carry and then release a quartet of satellites into their target orbits. The requalified launcher, known as the ‘Ariane 5 ES Galileo’, should be available by the second half of 2014, along with the current Soyuz from French Guyana.

Galileo, the EC and ESA

Europe’s Galileo satellites combine the best atomic clocks ever flown in space for navigation – accurate to one second in three million years – with a powerful transmitter to broadcast precise navigation signals. The Galileo constellation began to take shape on 21 October 2011, when the first two of four Galileo In-Orbit Validation (IOV) satellites were launched into orbit. They are now operating as planned. The remaining two will be launched at the end of this summer. These will be followed by the Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellites now being built by OHB and SSTL.

The definition, development and IOV phases are being undertaken by ESA and co-funded with the EC. The subsequent FOC phase is managed and funded by the EC; the EC has delegated the role of design and procurement agent to ESA.

(Source: European Space Agency - the original article can be read here)

Deadline extension for Transport Researcher Award

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:52:39 +0100

Young Researcher Award deadline extended to 17 February

The Young Researcher of the Year Award aims to foster closer links between transport policy and research by highlighting the importance of transport research for sound policy formulation and implementation. The Award is open to researchers under 35 years of age who have undertaken their research in an institution, university or consultancy firm located in a member country of the International Transport Forum.

The 5000 Euro prize will be awarded by Transport Ministers from the International Transport Forum’s 53 member countries on 3 May at the 2012 Summit in Leipzig, Germany.

This year’s Summit theme is “Seamless Transport: Making Connections”. Research papers for consideration may analyse any aspect of the essential role connectivity plays in transport activity. All aspects of connectivity in transport are relevant to the topic of the 2012 Summit: connecting systems, people, markets, sectors, ideas. The research paper should treat one of these aspects and show links with the general theme of the 2012 Summit.

Download the Call for Applications and the Application Form here.

For more information, contact Michel Violland.

European ITS Congress Dublin 2013 - ITS: Delivering for European Competitiveness through Sustainable Mobility

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:32:06 +0100

The 9th European ITS Congress will take place in Dublin, Ireland, under the theme ITS: Delivering for European Competitiveness through Sustainable Mobility. The European Congress, to be held in the Convention Centre, Dublin, in June 2013, will be the major ITS event in Europe, with several thousand delegates from the continent and beyond gathering in the Irish capital to discuss and showcase the latest transport solutions.

Hermann Meyer, ERTICO CEO, and David O’Keeffe, ITS Ireland Chair, signed the contract for Dublin 2013 on Friday 27 January 2012 during the launch meeting of the host organising committee, in the presence of important industry players and Irish government representatives, including Alan Kelly T.D. (Minister of State for Public Transport).

The Congress, which takes place during the Irish Presidency of the European Council, will focus on the following topics:

Delivering ITS in an economically-constrained environment
Connecting ITS to the people (information systems)
Cooperative mobility
Interoperability
Demand management
More efficient travel (for people and goods)
Safer Travel
Facilitating modal shift

For more information, please contact Didier Gorteman, CFO & Director Congresses, ERTICO - ITS Europe.

To visit the ITS Ireland website, click here.

Read more about Dublin 2013 in the Irish Times here.

Back row (from left to right):
Brian Maxwell (Principle Engineer, Roads Service Northern Ireland)
Didier Gorteman (CFO & Director Congresses, ERTICO)
Gunter Zimmermeyer (Chairman, ERTICO)
Alan Kelly T.D. (Minister of State for Public Transport)
Jennie Martin (ITS UK / Network of National ITS Associations)
Michael Phillips (Director of Traffic and City Engineer, Dublin City Council)
Brendan O’Brien (Head of Technical Services (Traffic), Dublin City Council)
David Laoide-Kemp (vice-chair ITS Ireland)

Front row (seated):
Hermann Meyer (CEO, ERTICO)
David O’Keeffe (Chair, ITS Ireland)

ITS Bulgaria holds round table on ITS Directive and eCall

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:24:36 +0100

The HeERO project coordinator arrived in Bulgaria at the invitation of ITS Bulgaria

On 24 January 2012 ITS Bulgaria held a round table at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia, Bulgaria. The topic of the round table was “Directive 2010/40/ЕU – Key step for the organisation of clean and smart traffic and better road safety”. About 60 people from the government institutions, NGOs, companies, universities and the press participated.

The round table had two subtopics: Directive 2010/40/EU – the framework for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in the field of road transport and for interfaces with other modes of transport and eCall - saving lives and reducing the severity of injuries in tens of thousands of cases – Bulgaria could be one of the first European countries who will fully implement eCall.

Invited speakers were Mrs Trenkova, Director of EU Coordination and International Co-operation Directorate at the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications; Mr Todorov, Director of Road Infrastructure Directorate, Sofia Municipality; Commissar Antonov, Head of Road Police, Stoyan Gramatikov, Director of Directorate of National System 112; and representatives of ITS Bulgaria’s members - Mr Bojkov (EuroGPS) and assistant professor Atanasova (Higher school “College of telecommunications and post”).

Andy Rooke, HeERO Project Coordinator and Project Manager at ERTICO, was invited as speaker for the eCall subtopic. Mr Rooke and Mr Mihaylov, Chairman of ITS Bulgaria, also met representatives of the Ministry of Interior as well as visiting the112 Call-Center in Sofia. The possibility of public authorities and stakeholders in Bulgaria signing the eCall Memorandum of Understanding was also discussed.

For further information, please visit the ITS Bulgaria website

Interview with Andrè Perpey, President of TOPOS Bordeaux-Aquitaine, a new ERTICO Partner and host of the ITS World Congress in 2015

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:32:59 +0100

Andrè Perpey, President of TOPOS Bordeaux-Aquitaine, a new ERTICO Partner and host of the ITS World Congress in 2015, shares his thoughts on ITS development and gives some anticipation on the ITS World Congress 2015.

ERTICO: Can you describe your activities in the ITS field?

Andrè Perpey: TOPOS BORDEAUX-AQUITAINE is the cluster of reference for ITS activities in the south west of France. It is funded by the Aquitaine Regional Council and its 35 members:

Research and academic centres such as CETE SO, ESTIA, INRIA, University of Bordeaux, etc.
Private companies such as BULL, CAP GEMINI, STERIA, THALES, etc.
SMEs such as AERODRONES, GEOLOCSYSTEMS, HELILEO, etc.
Consulting companies such as ACE MANAGEMENT, CAPITAL HT, AR CONSULTING, etc.

ERTICO: Why have you joined ERTICO and what are your expectations for this partnership? Are there any projects, activities or sectors that you are particularly interested in?

Andrè Perpey: As the representative of Bordeaux Aquitaine region inside ERTICO, we joined ERTICO because it represents ITS EUROPE with excellence and TOPOS needs European relationships to promote its activities and the ones of the region.

Our expectation in joining ERTICO is to participate in all the European projects designed by ERTICO this year and in future years, with BORDEAUX-AQUITAINE as a field for experimentation and dissemination.

Of course we are specially interested by ITS experiments and installations that we can demonstrate during the 2015 congress.

ERTICO: Can you give an early indication of the focus of the 2015 ITS World Congress and explain why Bordeaux-Aquitaine is interested in hosting the Congress in 2015? What do you think makes Bordeaux a great location for the World Congress?

Andrè Perpey: The focus of the 2015 ITS WC in Bordeaux will be satellite based applications for sustainable mobility. The slogan of the congress is: “More ITS for greener mobility”.

BORDEAUX AQUITAINE is proud of its worldwide reputation for a warm welcome and up-to-date business activities, such as ITS. The hosting of the 2015 ITS WC will be the occasion to reinforce both.

Bordeaux is a perfect location for several reasons:

Every two years (since 1981) Bordeaux organises the Vinexpo International Exhibition, which attracts to Bordeaux 40.000 attendees from the 5 continents in one week
Since the 1980’s Bordeaux has managed world-success ITS applications such as Bison Futé and Gertrude
The Bordeaux area has renowned ITS research centres such as CETE SO, EUROVIA VINCI, INRIA…
People from the world of ITS also deserve the Vinexpo savoir-faire and a visit to this historic city well known worldwide, the largest UNESCO heritage classified patrimony.
During the congress special events will be possible in some of the chateaux of vineyards of the Médoc, Saint Emilion, Pomerol, Graves...

ERTICO: How will Bordeaux stand out from other World Congresses?

Andrè Perpey: Outside the exhibition hall, thanks to the vast space available complete with streets and junctions, a green ITS city will be presented, demonstrating the new technologies of 2015, such as satellite-guided electro-mobile systems, ground and airborne UAV systems, state-of-the-art Location Based Services for electronic devices, on-board units, smartphones, etc…

A partnership with the scientific museum Cap Sciences located in Bordeaux will be established. This institution is one of the first in France for popularisation of scientific themes. Having already worked with Topos Aquitaine within the scope of another congress, Cap Sciences is perfectly qualified to arouse public awareness of ITS.

ERTICO: What are the trends for the next three years?

Andrè Perpey: By 2015 the urban area of Bordeaux will have 4 tramlines - a total of 67 kilometres - linking together the 27 municipalities of the Bordeaux Urban Community. The international congress and exhibition centre will be within easy access of the rest of the agglomeration, by tram.

An ELECTRIC SHUTTLE permanently circulates in the historic heart of the city, with no fixed timetable or stopping points.

The TRAM-TRAIN between Bordeaux and Blanquefort will be another world first, combining tram and train on the same rails.

ERTICO: What are the ITS solutions developed at Bordeaux?

Andrè Perpey: Bordeaux has always been at the cutting edge of ITS in the urban environment. As early as the 70’s, the GERTRUDE system was created to control the city’s traffic lights automatically, according to the traffic situation at any given moment.

Today, GERTRUDE is used in more than thirty cities around the world, on every continent. The system has been adapted to new urban transport modes such as the tramway.

Another worldwide technological innovation is the tramway’s “APS” or “ALIMENTATION PAR LE SOL”. Indeed, the Bordeaux tramway is ground-powered over 14km in the historical town centre.

The structure of the tram-bus-bicycle network is a reference throughout Europe, with 944 km of dedicated lanes and cycle facilities, including 700 km of cycle paths and 8 secured cycle parks.

The ITS World Congress 2015 is supported by

About TOPOS

The association TOPOS, which earned its “business cluster” status in January 2011, brings together players in the field of satellite-based navigation and positioning, from all over the Aquitaine region.

TOPOS objectives

•    Encourage contacts and synergies, via projects, knowledge transfer and networking, between all players of the sectors concerning EGNOS and Galileo – manufacturers, technical designers, SME’s, microbusinesses, “start-ups”, researchers, engineering schools, business associations and institutions.
•    Encourage partnerships and the transfer of technologies between enterprises and laboratories, industrial groups and SME’s, and support responses to national and European requests for proposals.
•    Conduct market studies, preliminary or feasibility studies in order to help TOPOS members to make the right choices when it comes to matching the technologies to the markets.
•    For those members who are interested, help them to stay permanently informed and adequately trained, by setting up a permanent, fine-tuned technological, scientific and legal watch, to enable them to anticipate and deal with potential problems.

TOPOS strategy

•    Create a network of businesses in order to construct, quickly and efficiently, a new sector of activity, preferably with high added value, which should benefit from strong growth within the next 20 years.
•    Initiate the constitution of a specialist branch within the navigation and positioning sector, based on current satellite clusters (GPS, for example) as well as future ones (like Galileo).
•    Aim for the closest relationship possible between its members and with scientific, technical and financial partners, in order to maximise the network effect.

TOPOS especially supports 3 types of application

•    Applications for professional use
     - wine-growing, silviculture, corn production
     - road, rail and maritime transport, as well as the logistics branch.
Businesses in these sectors can benefit from real-time traceability services.
•    Applications for the public at large
    - Location Based Services (LBS), such as tourist guides via Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or “smartphone”.
    - Applications integrated into the above navigation and positioning tools, with a view to promoting heritage and regional culture and facilitating travel in large cities, while respecting the principles of sustainable development.
•    Applications for public authorities (state, local authorities)
    - Navigation and positioning in the armed forces, the forces of law and order, the fire and emergency services, customs services, national security, etc., enabling them to carry out their missions with greater speed and enhanced precision.

For more information, visit the TOPOS website.

To view the promotional video of the ITS World Congress 2015, click here.

International Transport Research Documentation (ITRD): new database launched

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:15:44 +0100

The International Transport Research Documentation (ITRD) database was launched at the end of last year allowing free search of more than 900,000 records worldwide in English, German, French and Spanish.

ITRD is now part of the Transport Research International Documentation (TRID) database, accessible through the Transportation Research Board (TRB) website.

ITRD oversees non-USA entries to the TRID database and is now managed by the International Transport Forum (ITF). ITRD contains more than 400,000 bibliographical references and grows by around 10,000 per year.

For more information, visit TRID website.

To view the webinar on how to use TRID database click here.

NEWS FROM TISA

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:32:30 +0100

Busy start of the year for TISA

The majority of TISA Working Groups and Task Forces met in January and planned their work for 2012.

On 18 January, the ITS Directive Working Group met in Brussels. Part of the meeting was held with Members from CEDR (Conference of European Road Directors) in order to exchange views on Task 14 on the value chain for the delivery of RTTI in Europe. The rest of the day was spent on polishing the TISA Position Paper on the release of safety-related information’s free delivery.

On 20 January, the TISA-Easyway Task Force confirmed its intention to pursue its cooperation through 2012. This cooperation will lead to a common demonstration at the ITS World Congress in Vienna showing further developments since the initial demo held in June last year in Lyon.

On 25-26 January the TPEG Application Working Group will meet in Brussels to work on new TPEG2 developments and on their deliverables to ISO.

On 1 February the Traffic Flow Q-bench Task Force will meet in Brussels in order to further investigate the local variances noticed while using the tool as well as the assessment of the local sets of parameters proposed by various markets.

On 15 and 16 February, the TISA community will hold its first Committee Meetings of the year in Singapore. The two-day meetings will be hosted by TISA Members Quantum Inventions and the Land Transport Authorities. These meetings will offer the opportunity for TISA Members from the Asia-Pacific region to learn more about TISA’s ongoing and future activities and it will offer the opportunity to other TISA Members to learn more about the latest Asia-Pacific deployment news.

For more information on TISA, visit the website.

ECOSTAND at 2012 Transportation Research Board in Washington

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:11:29 +0100

On 24 and 25 January the European, Japanese and American members of the ECOSTAND Task Force will meet at the annual TRB event in Washington to continue their discussions started in Vienna in 2011. Progress since their latest meeting in Orlando (October 2011) will be reviewed and next steps towards the elaboration of a Joint Technical Report on common assessment methodology for green ITS impact will be identified.

Read more about the Orlando meeting report and view the agenda for the TRB meeting in the latest edition of the ECOSTAND Newsletter.

ERTICO & TISA to give presentations at the 4th ETSI workshop

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:57:01 +0100

On 7-9 February ERTICO – ITS Europe and TISA will participate in the 4th ETSI workshop on Intelligent Transport Systems in Doha. The workshop will present progress made in the field of Cooperative ITS standardisation, such as Field Operational Tests (FOT), Local Dynamic Maps, Electric Vehicle Charging Spot, etc. The event will also focus on standardisation of vehicle-to-vehicle networks, networking protocols and data formats.

On the first day, Hermann Meyer, ERTICO CEO, will give a presentation on effective deployment of ITS during the introductory session.

On 8 February, Thomas Kuhn from Continental will speak on behalf of TISA in a session dedicated to traffic management and transmission of real time information on road conditions, weather and transport networks.

For more information and to download the agenda, visit the event website.

PTV invests in intelligent traffic control

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:47:47 +0100

PTV AG intensifies cooperation with GEVAS software GmbH / Enhanced range of ITS solutions for urban traffic management

The German software provider PTV AG now expands its lead in the transportation solutions market based on intelligent traffic control: on 1 January 2012, it entered a cooperation agreement with GEVAS software, a leading traffic engineering firm from Munich. PTV has acquired GEVAS product rights to extend its product portfolio with important ITS software components (Intelligent Transportation Systems). GEVAS, on the other hand, will be able to sharpen its profile as project and integration solutions partner. PTV has also taken a minority stake in GEVAS, further strengthening the companies' close ties. The long-term cooperation will enable the development of seamlessly integrated solutions for traffic management and traffic control.

PTV AG will strengthen its position as a smart software company through this new cooperation. "GEVAS software components complement and support our product portfolio," explains PTV Board member Dr-Ing. Thomas Schwerdtfeger. "Our aim is to develop and further enhance open systems and standards so that they can be used for any system integrator."

GEVAS project and integration solutions business will also benefit from its closer cooperation with PTV: the Munich-based transportation experts will be proactively supported by PTV's global distributor and partner network. Moreover, they will receive fresh impetus from the project business in Karlsruhe.

The wide range of customers includes cities, municipalities, regional authorities, system integrators, automobile manufacturers and mobility service providers. They will benefit from a unique spectrum of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) for transportation management and traffic control which ranges from strategic road network planning and generation of traffic information for navigation systems to intelligent signal control, for example.

Joining forces for success

Both PTV and GEVAS have extensive expertise in the ITS market and have worked on several common projects, such as dMotion in Düsseldorf, Germany, Vienna Region in Austria and Traffic Management for the City of Edmonton in Canada. The new cooperation is basically the continuation of the ITS Seamless Initiative which was founded by both companies in 2010.

Management changes at GEVAS

Besides GEVAS founder and managing director Herwig Wulffius, Dr-Ing. Gerhard Ploss (PTV) and Dr-Ing. Frank Offermann (GEVAS) have been appointed managing directors of GEVAS software GmbH. The former managing director Michael Ganser has stepped down from his position as member of the management board.

Read the Press Release.

High-tech traffic technology to help Copenhagen become CO2 neutral

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:12:18 +0100

Breakthrough in Denmark, high-tech traffic technology to help Copenhagen become CO2 neutral

Imtech (IM-AE, a technical services provider in and outside Europe) has secured its first order in Denmark. The high-tech traffic management solutions by Peek (the Imtech Traffic & Infra mobility specialist) for each of the 365 road junctions in Copenhagen represent an important contribution to making the Danish capital completely CO2 neutral by 2025.

René van der Bruggen, Imtech CEO: ‘Imtech (Peek) has a large installed base of high-tech traffic solutions such as traffic controllers and traffic lights, which are being used as part of an extensive upgrade involving the deployment of the latest technology and innovative traffic management systems. From this installed base we have succeeded in becoming the technology upgrade partner to the city of Copenhagen. In formal terms, this means the first Imtech order in Denmark, which is a breakthrough. An Imtech office is being opened at the same time to help us build on this start. This will further strengthen our position in the European traffic market.’

New generation of technology for 365 road junctions
The order comprises the upgrade, improvement and maintenance of all 365 road junctions in the city, including a traffic management system based on ITS technology (Intelligent Transport Systems). ITS is a collective international term for the application of information and communications technology in traffic infrastructure and vehicles for making traffic safer, more efficient, more reliable and considerably more environmentally friendly. It involves the use of the latest information technology for simulation, real-time control and communications. The overall package of technological improvements will greatly contribute towards Copenhagen’s ability to meet its CSR objectives. An order has been placed for an initial phase of 10 million euro, which will be considerably expanded in due course.

First CO2 neutral city in the world
Copenhagen is seeking to reduce its CO2 emissions by 20% by the year 2015, and to be completely CO2 neutral by 2025. More than 50 sustainability initiatives have been launched against this background, for public transport, the transport industry, and the complete logistic ‘setting’. In 2011, 36% of the inhabitants of the Danish capital regularly travelled by bicycle; the target is for this figure to have risen to 50% by 2025. The Imtech technology is designed to give priority to cyclists and public transport, with the help of up-to-date travel information for example, and the creation of ‘green waves’.

At present, traffic is responsible for 21% of the city’s overall CO2 emissions, but it is intended that this be reduced to 10% by 2015, thanks in part to Imtech solutions. To that end, new high-tech traffic controllers will be linked to a real-time remote monitoring system that will enable the flow of buses, bicycles, cars and freight vehicles to proceed in a sustainable and safe manner. The aim is to achieve optimal traffic flow with as few CO2 emissions as possible. This technology is partly the result of previous successful European pilot and research projects - CVIS, SAFESPOT and FREILOT - to which Imtech contributed significantly.

Active in the traffic market throughout Europe
Imtech is a strong player in the traffic market in the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Nordic region (Sweden, Norway, Finland), Central and Eastern Europe, and is involved with projects in other European countries. It also exports mobility solutions outside Europe. The company’s objective is to further strengthen its position both in and outside the continent. Imtech is strongly placed in the urban and interurban markets, the traffic management and safety market, and in high-tech traffic centres. Besides this, Imtech is active worldwide in the market of parking technology.

For more information, visit Imtech website.

For more information on the projects visit the following websites:

CVIS

SAFESPOT

FREILOT

Continental banks on Ethernet Technology for Vehicle Networking

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:48:21 +0100

Continental, an ERTICO Partner, is laying the groundwork to launch series production of Internet-protocol-based control units and sees clear benefits compared with other networking standards

Following intensive development and validation of the technical possibilities and necessity of Ethernet-networking in vehicles, international automotive supplier Continental is ready to deploy the technology in future vehicle generations. To meet ever-growing in-vehicle communication requirements, Continental sees Ethernet technology as the ideal solution for vehicle networks. Thanks to unshielded, two-core, easy-to-install copper cables, the technology offers 100 megabits of bandwidth between all connected network nodes such as control units, antennas and sensors. The robust data transmission and its widespread use outside the automotive industry too are other factors in favour of this networking technology. “We initially see an opportunity for using these unshielded Ethernet cables, which can be easily installed in vehicles, for Interior- and Chassis and Safety-related functions. This will enable us to cut overall vehicle costs while at the same time increasing the range of available functions. We envisage Ethernet based predevelopment projects in all vehicle domains by 2020,” explains Helmut Matschi, Executive Board member of Continental AG and head of the Interior division.

The use of Ethernet-based networks supports the ever-growing trend toward in-vehicle data transmission and communication between vehicles and the outside world. Bandwidth requirements for communication between control units will continue to increase too, which is why Continental now uses IP and Ethernet as an in-vehicle network layer and offers vehicle manufacturers a range of products that support this technology. Continental is getting set to deliver IP- and Ethernet-based solutions and is planning to launch production in 2015.

The heart of an IP-/Ethernet-based vehicle network is formed by the central nodes (Ethernet switches), which will be integrated in the infotainment systems and gateways offered by Continental. The gateways act as interfaces with not only the diagnostics systems, which will in future support diagnosis via the IP (DoIP) standard, but also with conventional vehicle network technologies such as CAN, FlexRay and MOST. Continental sees clear benefits in gradually replacing these technologies – particularly MOST – in infotainment systems in order to achieve the aim of a standardised network layer. This will help reduce complexity and make integration in the vehicle much easier. Continental has already developed one of the most important systems for seamless Ethernet communication in partnership with Kathrein: the intelligent antenna module. This unit contains antennas for wireless communication between vehicles and infrastructure as well as antennas for the vehicle interior and associated transmission and reception electronics. All the data received in the module can be digitalised directly and sent to the relevant components via the IP-based network. Even a 360-degree camera can be implemented in real time on the basis of IP technology. For Continental, Ethernet therefore represents another step toward achieving its vision of being “Always On”. At the same time, this technology will allow the system integrator to not only fulfill the necessary networking requirements, but also cut overall costs.

Continental is member of the OPEN Alliance Special Interest Group. OPEN Alliance is designed to encourage wide scale adoption of Ethernet-based, single pair unshielded networks as the standard in automotive applications. The jointly developed OPEN Alliance SIG will address industry requirements for improving in-vehicle safety, comfort, and infotainment, while significantly reducing network complexity and cabling costs.

For more information contact Enno Pflug or visit Continental website.

About Continental

With sales of €26 billion in 2010, Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tyres and technical elastomers, Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also an expert partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently has approximately 164,000 employees in 45 countries.

The Automotive Group with its three divisions Chassis & Safety (sales of approximately €5.8 billion in 2010, 30,000 employees), Powertrain (sales of approximately €4.7 billion in 2010, 27,000 employees) and Interior (sales of approximately €5.5 billion in 2010, 30,000 employees) achieved sales of approximately €16 billion in 2010. The Automotive Group is present in more than 170 locations worldwide. As a partner of the automotive and commercial vehicle industry, it develops and produces innovative products and systems for a modern automotive future, in which cars provide individual mobility and driving pleasure consistent with driving safety, environmental responsibility and cost-efficiency.

The Chassis & Safety Division develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake and chassis control systems, sensors, driver assistance systems, airbag electronics and -sensorics, washer systems and electronic air suspension systems. Its core competence is the integration of active and passive driving safety into ContiGuard®. The Powertrain Division integrates innovative and efficient system solutions for vehicle powertrains. The comprehensive range of products includes gasoline and diesel injection systems, engine management, transmission control, including sensors and actuators, as well as fuel-supply systems and components and systems for hybrid and electric drives. Information management is at the very heart of the Interior Division, which provides a range of products that includes instrument clusters and multifunctional displays, control units, electronic car-entry systems, tire-monitoring systems, radios, multimedia and navigation systems, climate control systems, telematics solutions and cockpit modules and systems.

Polis publishes paper on ITS and Urban Mobility

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:02:56 +0100

Polis, a network of European cities and regions for transport, has published a paper on research/cooperation needs for urban and regional network management and ITS.

It provides an overview of the needs of local authorities (cities and regions) for research, cooperation and knowledge transfer in the area of transport network management and ITS and comes in two parts: the first part describes the rationale, the approach and the main findings of the exercise; the second part (annexed) shows the many topics, in the form of a matrix, identified by Polis members (city and regional authorities).The paper can be downloaded here.

Mr Sylvain Haon, Secretary General of Polis, also attended the ERTICO Forum on “ITS for urban Mobility”, held on 1 December 2011.Mr Haon made a number of pertinent points – to view the recording of the Forum, please click here. Mr Hoan speaks in the second session, “What do cities want? ITS solutions for cities” (minute 39.45) and the third session, “What can ITS deliver? ITS solutions for cities” (minute 64.00).

For further information, contact Suzanne Hoadley, Polis: shoadley@polisnetwork.eu

First COSMO newsletter published

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:47:38 +0100

The first edition of the COSMO newsletter is available here. Find out about the first year’s achievements and upcoming milestones.

COMSO will demonstrate, in three pilot sites Salerno (Italy), Vienna (Austria) and Gothenburg (Sweden), and in realistic conditions, the benefits of cooperative mobility services and quantify their impact on increasing the energy efficiency of transport.

For more information, visit COSMO website.

European Commission launches Call for Proposals for co-funded projects

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:24:51 +0100

On 10 January 2012, the Commission announced that €200 million will be made available for co-funded projects under the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) annual programme.

According to Siim Kallas, Vice President and Commissioner for Transport, this call – intended to complement the already existing funding for TEN – T “will support Member States in their efforts to undertake complex projects aimed at improving and completing the TEN-T network”. Mr Kallas added that “this investment will provide [Member States] with valuable assistance at a time of economic difficulties. Once completed, the trans-European transport network will directly benefit citizens and businesses”.

The annual funding will focus on five priorities:

Promote the development of an integrated and multi-modal transport system
Promote infrastructure development contributing to mitigation and adaptation to climate change and reducing transport's impact on the environment
Accelerate/facilitate the implementation of TEN-T projects
Support public-private partnerships and innovative financial instruments
Support the long term implementation of the TEN-T network, in particular the development of corridors that enable a coordinated implementation of the network

The deadline for submission is 13 April 2012.

For further information, please visit the call page.

For more information on the Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency click here.

ERTICO welcomes New Staff

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:23:41 +0100

Patricia Jungers

Patricia has 20 years of experience in different international companies. She worked as a Legal Assistant at the law firm De Bandt, van Hecke & Lagae (now Linklaters) in Brussels for 5 years before moving to Southern Germany where she spent about 10 years working as Assistant Quality Control/Quality Management at DENSO AUTOMOTIVE Germany G.m.b.H. close to Munich. Back in Brussels, Patricia started working at the European Commission in December 2006. In addition to some temporary contracts in DG Human Resources (OIB), REGIO and Employment, she mainly worked as Contractual Agent in DG Research (RTD), for 3 years. There she was responsible for the administrative management of FP7 Grant Agreements and amendments.

On 3 January, Patricia joined the SafeMobility Sector of the ERTICO team.

Lise Goudeseune

Lise holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences and Management from the Institute of Environmental Management and Land-use Planning of the Free University of Brussels (ULB). After one year of experience as an administrative assistant (in the energy sector), she moved to Rome to work as a research and communication assistant at the Documentation Centre on Environmental Conflicts (CDCA/A Sud) for three months. Back in Brussels, she worked as an administrative assistant for Fluxys for a few months and as a project and research assistant at the Waste & Water Department of RDC-Environment for seven months.

Lise joined the EcoMobility sector of ERTICO to support the organisation, coordination and communication of ongoing and new projects (SATIE, ecoDriver, eCoMove, etc.).

Commission releases Green Paper “Towards an integrated European market for card, internet and mobile payments”

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:37:14 +0100

The European Commission released its Green Paper “Towards an integrated European market for card, internet and mobile payments” on 11 January 2011. The paper assesses the current landscape for card, internet and mobile payments in Europe, identifies the gaps between the current situation and the vision of a fully integrated payments market and the barriers which have created these gaps. The objective of the paper is to launch a broad-scale consultation process with stakeholders to validate or contribute to the Commission’s analysis and to help identify the right way to improve market integration.

The Green Paper covers three types of electronic retail payments.

Card payments
Internet payments
Mobile payments

The Commission asks that interested parties submit their views on all or some of the 32 questions identified by the Green Paper by 11 April 2012 to markt-spea@ec.europe.eu

The Green Paper can be found here; an accompanying press release with a FAQ can be viewed here.

ITS Vienna 2012: Demo Programme

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:00:44 +0100

The two calls for demonstrations for the ITS World Congress 2012 have now been closed. However, if you have a proposal which could be of interest, please contact Alexander Frötscher under its2012@austriatech.org.

A variety of interesting and innovative projects have been submitted and from the first call eleven encouraging proposals, most of which will run on public roads, have been selected. Real traffic demonstrations will showcase the upcoming generation of connected cars, communication between car and infrastructure as well as communication with traffic control centres. Ranging from traffic jam warning to hazardous location notifications and in vehicle signage, these systems will make everyday driving much easier and safer.

By the end of January, the Coordinating Committee of ITS Vienna 2012 will make a decision on which submited proposals from the second call will be selected.

In addition, two parking areas will be set up; one for safety applications and one for prototypes, where demonstrations will be presented to Congress participants. There will also be a demonstration intro zone in Hall A, where Congress visitors will get a first introduction to the demonstrations.

For further information please download the demonstration programme.

For any question please refer to the Coordinator of the demonstrations Alexander Frötscher, AustriaTech.

ICCS research group to be Greek Ministry’s technical Advisor for eCall issues

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:23:37 +0100

The I-SENSE research group of the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS), an ERTICO Partner, has been selected through a call for tenders procedure as Technical Advisor of the Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks on issues of eCall, especially in the framework of the HeERO pilot project. HeERO, coordinated by ERTICO, aims to prepare and create the appropriate infrastructure in 9 member states of the European Community, including Greece, for the pilot implementation of the eCall service.

The basic objective of eCall system is to automatically call emergency services in case of a serious vehicle accident. eCall will work all over the European Union, with the same technical and quality standards, through the use of the mobile network and the pan-European emergency number “112”. The implementation of the eCall service will be obligatory for all EU member-states as of 2014.

Within this framework, the basic activities of ICCS, as Technical Advisor, are:

The preparation of technical requirements for the tender procedures for the acquisition of the necessary hardware and software required for the implementation of the HeERO pilot
Technical advice and support regarding the activities of the Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks within HeERO
The preparation of reports which will enable smooth pilot testing and the later full-scale implementation of the eCall service in Greece
The support and advice of the Ministry on issues related to eCall developments in Europe and its implementation in Greece

For further information please contact Dr Angelos Amditis.

ERTICO Forum "ITS for Urban Mobility" - report, recording and presentations now available

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:39:12 +0100

The ERTICO Forum on “ITS for Urban Mobility”, which took place on 1 December 2011, gathered high level speakers and participants from public authorities and industry for an in-depth examination of the role and opportunities for ITS in Urban Mobility.

The Forum addressed this topic from the perspective of the buyers, the cities themselves, raising and examining issues such as the wants and needs of cities, the challenge of deploying ITS in uncertain and constrained economic times and lessons already learnt.

The report on the Forum is now available, along with the recording of the event and presentations, to all i-Mobility Network Plus Members and ERTICO Partners, and to i-Mobility Basic Members until the end of January. To view the recording, click here.To view the report or the presentations, click here.

ERTICO is convinced of the importance of “ITS for Urban Mobility”, and of the need to actively and progressively involve cities in the development and deployment of ITS. The Forum is merely the beginning – ERTICO also invites you to the follow-up webinar on “ITS for Urban Mobility”, which will take place on Thursday 12 January at 10.00 CET. The webinar will examine the salient issues from the Forum, and discuss and outline the next steps that the ERTICO Partnership will take to drive forward ITS for Urban Mobility.

To register for the webinar, open to all i-Mobility Network Members (Basic and Plus) and ERTICO Partners, click here.

To sign up for the i-Mobility Network, click here. Basic membership is free of charge. To view the many benefits of Plus membership, not least permanent access to the Forum report, presentations and recording, click here.

Interview with Thomas Kusche, Senior Editor of the German Broadcaster WDR and TISA Treasurer

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:50:37 +0100

ERTICO: As Chair of the Content and Service Provision Committee of TISA, what do you think the biggest challenge in the provision of real time information services will be in the near future?

Thomas Kusche: We are currently facing the biggest changes in the Telematics market since the late 90s of the last century. Traffic information and navigation has become a part of daily life - and new technologies are being deployed continuously. Mobile Internet plays a more and more important role for the end-user - with all the opportunities to use navigation and traffic apps. That's our real challenge for the next few years – because the communities within TISA and ERTICO as well have to position themselves as keepers of high-quality technology and services, especially regarding safety-related information. Not easy to create such a team spirit - but very charming...

ERTICO: Digital radio recently became reality in Germany, following early deployments in a few European countries like the UK. Do you think that the German case might boost the roll-out of digital radio in the rest of the European Union?

Thomas Kusche: Due to the number of inhabitants, Germany is the biggest Radio Market in Europe. The German audience listens 251 minutes per day - of which 30 minutes is in the car. If we succeed in creating a strong demand for digital radio in such a radio orientated market of 80 million people, that must have an impact on the European market.
Receiver makers expect to ship 11 million units in Germany in 2015 alone.

Radio is going to leave the analogue island...

ERTICO: Concerning the broadcast of traffic related information, how do you see the transition between analogue and digital happening?

Thomas Kusche: Public service broadcasters have always supported widely distributed and mature technology. In Germany, we have about 24 million TMC receivers in operation - they need a guarantee that they will get traffic data as long as possible. To deliver more detailed information to the audience, you need a digital distribution channel - and this channel demands a more advanced technology - DAB needs TPEG. From our perspective, it doesn't make any sense to migrate TMC technology in the digital radio world.

There are no digital (traffic) data receivers so far - so why should brand new devices start with "traditional" technology?

ERTICO: Do you think that connected services would be a threat or an opportunity for broadcasters?

Thomas Kusche: A threat? Not at all! Connected services are really a huge step towards the future. But there's a slight disadvantage in connected services: they need mobile data capacity - which is not endless. Therefore the future of services will be hybrid: a broadcast channel for basic and safety related information and a bidirectional channel for individual services. No doubt about this!

ERTICO: In the ITS Directive, the European Commission confirmed its intention to enforce a minimum traffic information service that should be available free of charge to the end-user on a European scale. In that respect, Germany is an example to follow, but do you think that this will be possible everywhere else in Europe?

Thomas Kusche: If we want to reach the aim of increasing road safety, we don't have any option but to give that kind of information for free. Markets like in the UK, with encrypted services only, will have to solve some problems, of course - both technical and structural. But the European driver will be quiet vociferous in demanding his rights. Until a Europe-wide solution became reality, the good old radio has a key role.

Spoken service in the radio will never be unnecessary - it gives you emotional orientation in a mechanised world. Even here the future is hybrid...

About TISA

TISA is a market-driven membership association with worldwide scope, established as a not-for-profit company focussed on proactive implementation of Traffic and Travel Information services and products based on established standards, including primarily RDS-TMC and TPEG technologies.

TISA was founded on synergy among previously separate member organisations and it now ensures an international framework for the coordinated development of future standards and services.

TISA supports the maintenance and development of standardised technologies leading to economic implementation and rapid market acceptance across a wide range of travel information services and products. In addition to road traffic information, for example, public transport, points of interest, weather and environmental data will continue to be in the TISA focus of important topic areas.

For more information, visit TISA website.

About WDR

Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR, West German Broadcasting) is a German public-broadcasting institution based in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia with its main office in Cologne.

For more information, visit WDR website (in German only).

Interview with Josef A. Czako, VicePresident International Business Development Kapsch TafficCom AG

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:57:54 +0100

ERTICO: Most recently you have participated in the ERTICO Forum “ITS for Urban Mobility” presenting your views on the ITS offerings to solve the challenges of today’s and tomorrow’s cities. What was your key message?

Josef A. Czako: The key message of my presentation was that we need to raise the awareness of ITS to a higher political level. Surveys show that four out of five European city dwellers see urban traffic congestion, accidents and pollution as serious problems that need to be addressed urgently. What I presented in the Forum was both concrete solutions for what I believe should be called (anti)-congestion charging and a bigger vision of what is required for ITS in general to have a larger outreach then it does today. Speaking about congestion charging or (anti)-congestion charging is a very good example of where I believe we need to be very careful with how we word things. You do not pay for congestion; no, you pay a fee to have no congestion. The wider vision I presented is that I believe we need to raise the awareness of the problems ITS can solve. Take mobility for instance, mobility, the ability to move around, the free market in Europe is in danger because we do not have an efficient road network, not in cities nor in urban areas. This is not good for the global economy and millions and millions of EUR are wasted every year. A fast deployment of ITS solutions is crucial for momentum. I disagree with any assertion that technologies which can address safety, environmental and congestion issues are deployed on a wide enough scale at present. It’s probably due to a lack of understanding by both policy makers and the wider public about the benefits or social-economic advantages, and the positive business models associated with ITS. But we should face the challenges and I would suggest three steps for best fit urban strategies: firstly, decide the policy. Then define the urban scheme and thirdly, choose the technical solution.

ERTICO: You are a member of the ERTICO Steering Committee, the Board of Directors of the ITS World Congress and the Chairman of the IRF Policy Committee on ITS. What do you see as the most important strategic challenges to bring ITS effectively to deployment?

Josef A. Czako: I think we need to think differently than we do today. A lot of the applications and services deployed today are quite often stand alone services and they are not brought into the bigger picture. In order to do this we need more political support and for politicians to think differently. We need to show that ITS is one of the solutions to a lot of problems in Europe today. Our cities are getting bigger and today we have more cars on the roads than ever. We cannot continue this growth without smart, intelligent solutions, and on a European scale we need the support of the European Commission, Parliament and Council. ERTICO – ITS Europe, the ITS World Congress and IRF are all organisations we need if we want to be successful with the deployment of ITS. They all have different purposes. ERTICO as a Public-Private Partnership, where both sides come together to develop solutions needed to achieve the political goals, the ITS World Congress is where both policy makers and the general public experience what ITS can do, and the IRF is working very hard providing input at the political level.

ITS is hugely important. If a country or region doesn’t have an ITS policy, then there is no will, no budget and no tender process which will make deployment happen. We have plenty of technology showcases, and these are all very good, but in many ways they just exist in a laboratory. We need to be getting these systems out where they can increase safety and convenience, and develop successful financing – like tolling or road user charging – where they can help to finance ITS.

As the Chairman of the IRF Policy Committee I would like to refer to the work of this Committee, which is setting up a generic benefits calculation model. Take overloaded trucks as an example – they destroy road surfaces. But if a country or state were to install weigh-in-motion on a random basis and at its borders, that would go a long way to combating the problems caused by both domestic and transiting heavy goods vehicles. Similarly, if you can somehow calculate both the direct and socio-economic costs of a road accident then you can build a case for eCall and dynamic traffic management. For politicians, a generic formula which would “prove” the results would be a vote-winner and a money-saver. We don’t have such a thing as yet. We’re not going to deliver a precise formula for each and every ITS application but a generic methodology for analysis, quantification and justification for ITS because every project is different and depends on the local framework – implementing ITS Services in India would have to take account of some very different factors than implementing it in the US, for instance. Too often, the discussion is a technical one, not a socio-economic one. We have to work to change that – although we are starting to see change.

ERTICO: The Kapsch Group is providing many ITS solutions and is very successful and growing. What is the “key to success” in the ITS business?

Josef A. Czako: Taking ITS out of the political discussion and making it common currency requires a universal understanding and acceptance of its benefits. ITS is mainly about offering benefits to the user, e.g. guaranteeing a certain level of service, assuring trip planning reliability and predictable arrival times or enhancing safety to the traveler. Truly, both alternative roads and alternative modes of transport are crucial elements to offer choices to the user and make alternatives directly comparable in view of convenience and price.

One of our key factors is the capability to listen and guide the public authorities so that they get the best solution for the challenge they want to solve. Only through close cooperation and open dialogue can you achieve this. Kapsch is globally recognised as a supplier of superior intelligent transport systems and primarily electronic toll collection systems as we provide an end-to-end solution. We have a solid engineering team that are working with the latest technologies in order to tailor the different systems to the specific needs of the public authority in question.

ERTICO: The ITS Directive provides important support and direction for the deployment of ITS. How can the private sector help to achieve the goals of the Directive?

Josef A. Czako: We are now at a most important point for the deployment of ITS. On the one side, technologies are well advanced and ready for market whilst on the other, legislation in the form of the ITS Directive should provide the necessary impetus for their deployment. However, there is still a lot of work to be done. Kapsch welcomes this European initiative, as the Directive’s goal of deploying ITS corresponds with the Kapsch’ own mission to encourage and promote the development and maintenance of better, safer and more sustainable road networks.

The ITS Directive provides, for the first time, a policy framework for the deployment of ITS. It “forces” the EU Member States to think ITS when trying to solve the challenges they have today in terms of safety, the environment and mobility. For the ITS Directive to really be a success, the industry needs to support public authorities on all levels, nationally, regionally and locally. Today not all politicians understand or even know what ITS is or more importantly which challenges you can solve with ITS. This understanding can only come from working together in partnerships. Here a platform, such as ERTICO – ITS Europe, is vitally important. Here private and public stakeholder can discuss different issues and together find the best solution to solve the mobility challenges of tomorrow. The cooperation on macro regional level helps to achieve the goals of the Directive, for instance projects as EETS or Easyway in which both private and public are involved into to achieve mutual benefits.

About Kapsch TrafficCom
Kapsch TrafficCom is an international supplier of superior intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and primarily supplies electronic toll collection systems. With its end-to-end solution portfolio, Kapsch TrafficCom covers the entire value creation chain of its customers, from products and systems to integration and operations as a one-stop shop. It also offers solutions for urban traffic management as well as for traffic safety and security. Add-on applications to these solutions, such as traffic data collection, complement the offering.
With references in 41 countries on all 5 continents, Kapsch TrafficCom has positioned itself among the internationally recognised suppliers of intelligent transport systems. Kapsch TrafficCom AG is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and has subsidiaries and representative offices in 25 countries.

For more information, visit Kapsch website.

Follow your topic throughout ITS Vienna 2012

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:42:21 +0100

The 6 threads to guide you through the Congress programme!

ERTICO is pleased to announce that a new streaming model for sessions will be piloted at Vienna! Six main topics have been identified so as to create a seamless flow of logically progressing sessions. The most appropriate submissions will be included in these streams allowing delegates to easily and conveniently find what they are interested in – and actively participate! What’s more, the very best submissions will be invited to present pre-Congress webinars on their topics!

Responding to concerns about the number of conflicting sessions in past ITS Congresses, Didier Gorteman, Congress Director, stated, “The ITS World Congress in Vienna will have a greater focus on quality than ever before. Our aim is not only to have no overlap in sessions, but also to provide greater support to session presenters and interested delegates.”

Submit your technical/scientific paper or Special Interest Session by 13 January 2012 to the world’s biggest and best ITS event to be sure of being considered for inclusion in the six streams and help shape the discussions at the Congress by promoting your topic. The Programme Committee will meet in the weeks following the submission deadline to discuss the papers, identify the best ones and invite their authors to present their themes.

Get the exposure you need at ITS Vienna 2012 - and before!

For further details on the 19th ITS World Congress & Exhibition, please do not hesitate to contact Valérie Mindlin, or visit the Congress website. Information on stand bookings can be found here.

NEWS FROM TISA

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:58:46 +0100

TISA held its three Committee Meetings in Berlin

On 7 and 8 December 2011, TISA held the three Committee Meetings: “Content and Service Provision”, “Technical and Standardisation” and “Products”. Thirty TISA delegates met in the Robert Bosh premises in Berlin and enjoyed a very fruitful discussion on the status of the different activities, and shared thoughts on the next steps to take.

In addition to discussions and Committee presentations, TISA had the pleasure to host Helmut G. Bauer from Digitalradio Deutschland GmbH who gave a presentation on digital radio in Germany, launched on 1 August 2011. Today, digital radio is a reality thanks to long-term agreements, political support, cooperation between public and private broadcasters, a variety of programmes and services (such as TPEG) and of course a large marketing campaign.

Mr Bauer gave also an overview of different European countries such as France, Italy, Spain, francophone Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, and the UK.

On the same day, Thomas Kuhn from TISA Member Continental gave three different presentations. The first one concerned Continental ITS Strategy on next steps and applications in the fields of Safety and Mobility. The second presentation gave an overview of the Car 2 Car Forum 2011 and the status of the project. Finally, the third presentation focused on electric vehicles and on the key ITS services to enable their electrifications.

The presentations are available for TISA Members on TISA intranet.

TISA welcomes new Members!

TISA has the pleasure to welcome three new Members: Mapper Co Ltd (Korea),TechniSat Digital GmbH (Germany) and the Institute for Information Industry (Taiwan).

Korean company Mappers develops 3D digital maps through constant research and provides CNS Navigation Software and GIS Solution.

TechniSat Digital GmbH offers state-of-the art technology and visual attractive product designs in the product segments digital reception, reception technology, LCD television devices, PC/multimedia and radio transmission. The division TechniSat Automotive develops and produces innovative user-friendly products in the sector car radio, radio navigation systems and entertainment.

The Taiwanese Institute for Information Industry supports the country’s ICT industrial sectors with advanced technologies and international connections to strengthen global competitiveness. The Institute is joining TISA to promote the Telematics industry and facilitate real-time traffic information.

For more information, visit TISA website.

6th Japan ITS promotion Forum

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:38:28 +0100

ITS Japan held a series of high-level sessions under the theme of “New Challenges for the next-Generation Social Mobility” as their annual forum “the 6th Japan ITS Promotion Forum” held in Tokyo, Japan.

The first part of the forum was held on 22 November 2012 to share the international ITS trends learned at the ITS World Congress in Orlando with the ITS Japan partners, as well as the vision of the global ITS deployment of tomorrow.

The second part of the forum was the General Symposium, held on 6 December 2012 at Tokyo Big Sight where the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show 2011 was on-going. ITS Japan also took part as one of the exhibitors of “SMART MOBILITY CITY 2011” project booth.

With the symposium’s key words of “Information Society” and “Integrated Transport/Multimodal”, Mr Hajime Amano, the president of ITS Japan exchanged views with the five representative speakers from the Japanese ITS-related ministries. The symposium also organised the active debate between the academic and private sector guests, as well as the lecture of “Cyber Physical System” by Prof. Masao Sakauchi, vice chairman of ITS Japan.

In the last part, the symposium welcomed the international speakers, Mr Gerald D. Conover from ITS America, Mr Marcel Visser from ERTICO - ITS Europe/Vice President Automotive (in the picture), CINTERION, and Mr Eric-Mark Huitema, Leader of Intelligent Transportation Solutions and Smarter Cities Initiatives in Europe Board, and Member of IBM Global ITS. Nearly 200 representatives from ITS Japan partners had the excellent opportunity to learn about the cutting-edge ITS status in Europe and the US.

From the left, Mr Hajime Amano, Mr Marcel Visser, Prof. Masao Sakauchi, Mr Eric Mark Huitema, Mr Gerald Conover, Mr Hidehiko Akatsuka

This article has been published in cooperation with ITS Japan.

ITS America signs MoU with World Bank

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:42:26 +0100

During its Board of Directors meeting last week, the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Bank to formalise their desire to cooperate and exchange ideas about how transport technologies that enhance information capture, analysis, communications, and sharing can improve surface transport safety, mobility and environmental sustainability.

Mr Jose Luis Ingoyen, Director of the Transport, Water, Information and Communications Technologies Department at the World Bank, joined ITS America’s President & CEO Scott Belcher in outlining a framework within which the two organisations may develop and undertake collaborative activities to more effectively purse their respective goals.

The MoU formalises the intent of ITS America and the World Bank to cooperate and collaborate on a number of activities, including:

promoting academic, public and private sector exchange and joint research activities between the Participants;
delivering lectures and joint symposia;
the exchange of research materials, publications and scientific information;
training and education;
implementing cooperative and joint research programs; and
supporting the development of harmonised standards that enhance the deployment of transport technologies.

Project topics might include mechanisms for public-private financing, technology and knowledge transfer, intermodal transport solutions, standards harmonisation that have as their focus the role of transportation research and technology that addresses safety, mobility, and sustainable transport.

For more information, visit ITS America website.

This article has been published in cooperation with ITS America

International Road Federation Congress

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:28:48 +0100

The IRF Congress “Innovation in Road Infrastructure”, held 22-24 November in the framework of the Transport Week Russia in Moscow, tackled the topics of innovation in road planning and design, innovation in infrastructure construction and financing mechanisms for roads.

The conference was very well received among representatives of Russian and international transport authorities and organisations.

For more detailed information on the event and participants download the Agenda here.

ITS Toolkit developed by the 2DECIDE project now available!

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:14:11 +0100

The ITS Toolkit responds to Action Point 6.2 of the European “Action Plan for the Deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in Europe” (European Commission, 2008), which calls for the development of a decision-support toolkit for investment decisions in ITS applications and services.

It was developed within the 2DECIDE project funded by the European Commission DG MOVE (Mobility and Transport) in the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Development. The 2DECIDE project started in 2009 and ended on 30 November 2011. The Toolkit is now available to the public for free (registration is required), although some work is still on-going to improve and finalise it, in the light of the recent validation exercise by external users. The Toolkit covers Intelligent Transport Systems for road and public transport applications. The user functions and basic descriptions are available in English, German, French and Italian, although the more detailed data (including descriptions of case studies and evaluations) is in English only. Available case study and evaluation reports for download are in the language of the study concerned (usually the language of the country of implementation, and often English for EU/international studies).

What can the ITS Toolkit be used for?

To search for Intelligent Transport System applications which are relevant to your specific context (geographical context, area of transport, problem or policy goal)
To obtain expected values and ranges for benefits of applications (where data is available), based on evaluation reports of real deployments
To access structured summaries of ITS deployment case studies and evaluations, and to download the original report (where this is publicly available)
The Toolkit does not give “instant solutions”, nor can it replace a feasibility study. However, it can assist in such studies by providing evidence of relevant deployments and their results, success factors and lessons learned elsewhere.

What is the Toolkit’s scope?

The Toolkit covers Intelligent Transport Systems for road and public transport applications in Europe (the scope of the EU’s ITS Action Plan). So far, it does not cover systems specific to air, rail or waterborne transport.

How to get started on the ITS Toolkit?

Go to the website
To use the Toolkit, you need to register (it’s free!) Just click on Create new account on the bottom left of this page to request a password.

The ITS Toolkit, launched recently, is the result of the EU FP7 project “2DECIDE” which had 14 Partners:
AustriaTech (project co-ordinator); Politecnico di Milano; Egis; VTT - Technical Research Centre of Finland; CERTH - Centre for Research and Technology Hellas; Jacobs Consultancy; Rapp Trans; Algoé; EXODUS; Ecorys; TRANSVER; Hi-Tec Marketing; Genua Consult; Mobycon

Basque Country transport services integrated system

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:21:13 +0100

On 21 December 2011, the Basque Country government will present “the Basque Country transport services integrated system: Euskaditransit”.

Euskaditransit is a project of Basque government and the public authorities of the main cities and regions of Euskadi (Spain), which aims to give citizens the capability of deciding over their mobility in public transport.

In a titanic effort of over 3 months, the participants of the project have interconnected all the Basque public transport services data from source (more than 450 routes and more than 4000 stops), providing information services for 2 million users: a multimodal planner for the entire Basque Country on Google Transit, a schedule planner, a smartphone Transit GPS guide,interest points in public transport, automatic data update from source, a transport GIS.

Euskaditransit has been technically supported by i2MApp and counts on the collaboration of the Google Transit Team.

ITS Forum Door-to-Door Seamless Mobility & Public Transportation Management

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:18:33 +0100

On 1 December, ITS&S of the Czech Republic and Slovakia organised the ITS Forum on “Door-to-door seamless mobility & public transportation management” in Brussels.

Some of the topics discussed included: multimodal travelling, public transport management, electronic fare management, e-tickets and online reservations.

Participants in the Forum concluded that application of ITS in public transport has a great potential for all, especially in terms of delivering on-line, reliable and relatively cheap information, advisory, planning, management, and booking services. During the event the importance of strong advice for mutual exchange of information, knowledge and best practices between EU Regions was also stressed. Stakeholders underlined that ITS deployment shall follow a regulatory framework that should be available prior to deployment. Finally, forum participants encouraged the European Commission, EU member states and national governments, transport and ITS stakeholders to support joint and coordinated efforts in the areas of standardisation, data exchange, national and cross-border electronic fare management, adoption of EU recommendations such as the EU Transport White Paper 2011, Directive 40/2010/EU ITS, and the ITS Action Plan.

You can find the Forum conclusions here.

ITS Network Meetings in Poland, 24–25 November 2011

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:19:29 +0100

The Network of National ITS Associations were recently warmly welcomed by ITS Polska for two days of stimulating presentations and discussions. The meeting, which took place on the Warsaw - Stryków - Łódź – Warsaw route, was organised by the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways and ITS POLSKA, with expertise support provided by the Polish Association of Transport Telematics.

33 participants took part in the two-day event, including 21 representatives of Europe’s national associations and 12 representatives of Polish local government institutions, and of the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways and ITS POLSKA.

On the first day participants were welcomed by Marek Litwin, president of ITS POLSKA, at the Folk Gospoda Restaurant in Warsaw. Lunch was followed by the Network workshop comprising “a university on wheels” where a series of presentations were given during the coach transfer from Warsaw to Łódź. Participants learnt about the intelligent transportation systems implemented in Wrocław, Poznań’s city traffic management system, under development as part of the city’s preparation for the Euro 2012 football event, the technological, practical, safety and security aspects of tunnels based on the example of a tunnel in the village of Laliki and the practical, safety and security aspects of the traffic management centre in Stryków.

The coach stopped for a technical visit during which the attendees could see Poland’s first Motorway Management Centre, in Stryków, built in accordance with the best European standards using TMC (Traffic Message Channel) technology and currently monitoring the traffic on the Stryków-Konin section of the A2 motorway.

The workshop was followed by a Networking dinner at the Gęsi Puch Restaurant in Łódź, with guests including representatives of the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways. During the supper, Andrzej Maciejewski, director of GDDKiA, and Marek Litwin, president of ITS POLSKA, signed an agreement on their cooperation in developing Technical Specifications to systematise and standardise the process of preparing and implementing infrastructure projects involving the use of intelligent transportation systems.

The Network Plenary meeting on the second day, was held at the Factory Museum at Łódź’s Manufaktura Centre in the setting of a former textile factory. Twelve National ITS Associations and ITS Lithuania as an observer, discussed the latest issues including the Network involvement in Congresses such as the upcoming ITS World Congress in Vienna and future national activities as well as current projects with Network involvement. In addition, Mr Meyer, CEO of ERTICO presented a number of ERTICO initiatives and opportunities for closer collaboration. Members also voted for two new people to join the Network Coordination Committee following the stepping down of Olga Landolfi and Roman Srp who have made such a valuable contribution over the years to the coordination of the Network. New members chosen were Florin Nemtanu, ITS Romania and Rui Camolino, ITS Portugal. The meeting closed with a tour of the factory and lunch before heading back to Warsaw.

For further information, please contact Anna Limbrey.

Cinterion’s presentation at TPO/TTIA seminar on European ITS developments

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:43:15 +0100

On 2 December, TPO and TTIA organised a seminar titled “European ITS development progress including actual status on European 112 eCall and Russian ERA/GLONASS”.

TPO and TTIA invited Marcel Visser of Cinterion Wireless Modules GmbH and ERTICO - ITS Europe Strategy Committee Member to give a presentation to Taiwanese companies on the status of ITS in the EU.

At the beginning of the seminar, James Hsue, TTIA chairman, presented Mr Visser with a certificate making him an honorary consultant in order to thank him for his contributions and his sharing of his knowledge of the automotive sector, including wireless module technology and market status.

Marcel Visser

TTIA chairman issues a certificate to Marcel Visser (left to right, Paul Chou - TTIA Chairman Secretary; James Hsu - TTIA Chairman; Marcel Visser; Feng Ming Hui - Director of Smart Com of III; Hunter Lin - GM of Cinterion Taiwan)

More ITS for greener mobility - ITS World Congress 2015

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:59:09 +0100

Bordeaux, 8 December 2011. Today, ERTICO – ITS Europe and TOPOS AQUITAINE signed the contract for the ITS World Congress 2015 at the Metro’num event. ITS World Congresses are the year’s première event on ITS, representing a unique opportunity for showcasing and experiencing new technologies, networking and discussing and evaluating the latest developments.

Alain Rousset, President of Bordeaux Region, and founding member of “TOPOS AQUITAINE”, the satellite application cluster of Aquitaine and Anne Marie Keiser, Vice President of the Conseil general de Gironde and President of Gironde Numerique, witnessed André Perpey, President of TOPOS and Gunter Zimmermeyer, ERTICO Chairman, sign the agreement to host the 22th ITS World Congress in Bordeaux in 2015, under the theme “More ITS for greener mobility”.

Bordeaux has been an ITS pioneer since the 1980s and is home to several ITS research centres – ensuring a full and varied technical visit programme. Moreover, Bordeaux is a green city, offering eco-friendly forms of multi-modal transport. The 2015 ITS World Congress will focus on how mobility can be “greened” through the deployment of ITS solutions. The ITS possibilities and applications of Galileo will also be demonstrated in real life situations.

In addition to the being in one of the world’s most famous wine producing regions, Bordeaux is also a most convivial and beautiful city - the old town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List – perfect for the numerous technical demonstrations and networking events planned for Bordeaux 2015!
Gunter Zimmermeyer, ERTICO Chairman, said, “With a superb location and a strong transport industry, dedicated political and industry support, I believe Bordeaux will make the ITS Congress a great success. There is a lot of work ahead, but I am convinced that the 2015 ITS World Congress in Bordeaux will be another milestone towards deployment of ITS not only in Europe but worldwide.”

Whether discussing the latest ITS developments with 3000 of your peers at the 200+ Congress sessions, or seeing the cutting edge of ITS from 300 companies at the exhibition area, or trying out it all out for yourself in the demonstration area, or meeting and networking with the world’s greatest gathering of ITS specialists, government and industry representatives and journalists, the 2015 ITS World Congress will be unmissable!
ERTICO also welcomes Bordeaux Aquitaine as a new ERTICO Partner.

Vote for the best European multimodal journey planner!

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:26:45 +0100

Your help is needed to make it easier for people to plan and book their journeys in Europe

Although Europe boasts more than 100 different journey planners, not one of them covers all countries and all transport modes. As the European Commission believes people are entitled to travel in a way that best suits their needs, it launched a challenge this year to stimulate the development of a truly integrated journey planner. It has been receiving contributions for months and now it is time for the public to have their say. From 5 December 2011 to 13 January 2012 the pre-selected planners will be put to the e-vote on the DG Mobility & Transport website.

For the first time, users of transport systems across Europe will have a chance to vote on a multi-modal journey planner of their choice, in a bid to make travel simpler.

By taking a minute to select their preferred online planner and casting their vote, people will be given a voice on a subject of multimodal travelling that is central to European Transport Policy.

Your collaboration will be vital. Thank you for helping to make this initiative a success!

For more information and voting please visit the European Commission, DG Mobility & Transport website.

Read the European Commission Press Release here.

First platform for cooperative intelligent transport systems in Europe

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:12:08 +0100

“We are very pleased to see another example of how ERTICO Partnership initiatives can lead to concrete deployable ITS solutions” , said Vincent Blervaque, Director of Development and Deployment at ERTICO. Following on from the work developed in CVIS and implemented today in FREILOT, Peek, an ERTICO Partner, today announced the first commercially available cooperative ITS platform. The full Peek press release can be read below.

Amersfoort - Peek, Imtech’s provider of intelligent mobility solutions, will be launching the first commercially available cooperative ITS platform – a platform for cooperative intelligent transport systems – during “Verkeer & Mobiliteit 2011”, the Dutch trade fair for traffic and mobility, to be held at Expo Houten on 8 December. Its application will not only considerably increase road safety and reduce CO2 emissions but will also cut fuel consumption by 20% and enable highly reliable travel times in urban areas.

What is ITS?

ITS is an internationally recognised abbreviation for ‘Intelligent Transportation System’ which refers to the application of information and communication technology to transport infrastructure and vehicles for the purpose of making traffic safer, more efficient, more reliable, and more environmentally responsible. The use of ITS for upholding government regulations more efficiently and enhancing safety, as well as informing and directing travellers and charging them for their road use, is gaining momentum worldwide. ITS issues involve not just technology but also the implementation and organisation of processes. The global interest in ITS is a result of problems caused by traffic and transport, such as congestion, and a synergy of new information technologies for simulation, real-time control systems and communication networks.

Meeting the highest criteria of European standardisation

‘Cooperative systems,’ says Willem Hartman, Managing Director of Peek Nederland, ‘ensure intelligent communication between vehicles as well as between vehicles and roadside systems. In recent years, Peek has acquired practical experience by participating in such successful European research projects as CVIS, Safespot and the FREILOT project in Helmond. There is a great demand for applying this technology, including a broad interest among companies in the German car industry. Imtech/Peek’s cooperative ITS platform meets the highest criteria of European standardisation and corresponds perfectly with Beter Benutten, a programme for making better use of infrastructure that has been launched by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment.’

Sustainable, safe, and better traffic flow

The product platform offers road administrators, emergency services and logistics businesses an opportunity to increase safety, reduce emissions (including CO2), cut fuel consumption by up to 20%, and enable reliable travel times in urban areas. This can be accomplished by organising right-of-way at intersections and by providing drivers with advice about approaching and crossing intersections. The platform will thus actively encourage proper driving behaviour and reduce detrimental driving patterns. At the heart of it is the application of communication standards such as 802.11p (a version of Wi-Fi) that has been released by the European Commission for the real-time exchange of information between vehicles and roadside systems. The platform consists of a vehicle router, a roadside unit (RSU) and a web-based control tool. In addition to organising right-of-way and giving driving advice, this platform already makes it possible to add all kinds of new traffic management and traffic information services, such as detailed local navigation and parking applications.

For further information, please contact Hanco Hazenboom
Website

Siim Kallas speech at the EESC-EC joint conference on the White Paper

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:11:43 +0100

On 5 December 2011, Siim Kallas, Vice-President and Commissioner for Transport, spoke at the Conference on the White Paper on Transport jointly organised by the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Commission.

In his speech, Mr Kallas stressed once again the importance of the transport sector for national economies not only because it assures economic growth and creates employment, but also because “it links people together and guarantees them their fundamental right to freedom of movement”.

The Commissioner highlighted that “transport is also vital for opening up markets, developing trade and connecting businesses. Without solid and efficient transport connections, we cannot prosper or remain competitive: economically speaking, we would be going nowhere”.

Nevertheless he called for immediate actions in order to face the challenges of the future; according to him, Europe depends “too much on oil as a fuel source, particularly for road transport” and “given the likely difficulties in sourcing oil in the future, the constant market volatility and sky-high prices, it makes sense to research and develop innovative - and cleaner – alternatives”. He added that this dependence on fuel would make the EU “vulnerable in terms of fuel security and fail to do our part in limiting climate change” as well as augmenting congestion in European cities.

He reminded the audience that the European Union has to meet the ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050 while “the overall demand for freight transport alone is forecast to increase by 80% by 2050”.

Research and innovation are essential to meet these objectives but alone they cannot solve the problems. Instead there is a necessity to improve transport efficiency also by changing “travel behaviour”.

Multimodal and integrated journeys are a key element of the White Paper; Mr Kallas stressed that Europe “must be pro-active in dealing with the challenges, and not reactive, when it may already be too late”.

The Commissioner concluded by affirming that these challenges are not only “about accepting the need to invest hard cash in the future of transport, it is also about accepting a necessary change in emphasis and thinking, about how we travel”.

Read the full speech here.

TTS Italia presents its position paper on the transposition and implementation of the ITS Directive

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:50:52 +0100

On the occasion of the "The New World of Technological Systems for Mobility - supply and demand meet" conference, held in Bologna on 28 and 29 November 2011, TTS Italia presented its position paper on the transposition and implementation of the European Directive 2010/40/UE on the general framework for the deployment of Intelligent Systems in the field of road transport and interfaces with other transport modes.

The position paper, presented by the new president of TTS Italia, Rossella Panero, highlights the priority issues in Italy according to TTS Italia. The document is also an early contribution to the definition of a National Action Plan on ITS, as required by the Directive, and currently undertaken by the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. The position paper also highlights Italian best practices on ITS as well as the critical issues that have impeded the full launch of the sector and are preventing these systems from achieving their full potential.

For further information, visit TTS Italia website.

innovITS ADVANCE demonstrates comprehensive eCall test and certification capability

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:20:12 +0100

New European automatic communication system aimed at reducing emergency services response time to accidents involving eCall equipped vehicles – tests at innovITS ADVANCE have demonstrated this UK facility’s capability to evaluate the performance of products incorporating eCall.

The new eCall technology is in the process of being adopted by a large number of EU member states. If an eCall equipped car is involved in an accident in which airbags are deployed, the car automatically calls the nearest emergency centre even if the driver and any passengers are unable to speak due to injury. In such circumstances the system automatically transmits a minimum data set including the exact location of the crash site and identification of the vehicle, thus reducing emergency service response time. In addition, when a driver or passenger in an eCall equipped car witnesses an accident, they can report it and automatically summon assistance while giving precise location information, all at the push of a button.

Read the full Press Release here.

For more information, please contact:

Anthony Smith
MediaTechnical Ltd
Tel: +44 (0)1273 382710
E-mail: avsmith@mediatechnical.com
Web: www.mediatechnical.com

The first interoperability testing event for cooperative systems unfolds

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:12:43 +0100

On 14 to 17 November 2011, ERTICO – ITS Europe and the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) organised the first Interoperability testing event for Cooperative Mobility Services, hosted by TNO in Helmond (NL). Fifteen companies and research institutes participated in this week of intensive testing and demonstrations, 5 days which could very well be the starting point of a new phase towards the deployment of cooperative systems.

Fifty-two participants, fifteen companies and research institutes from all over the world arrived on 14 November at the High Tech Automotive Campus, Helmond (NL), at the TNO premises, for a week of interoperability testing of their ITS implementations. After only a couple of hours, the open workspace had been turned into a testing laboratory, where computers, ITS units and antennas were connected by a multitude of cables.

After half a day of set-up, the go-ahead was given by the organising team (above): Sebastian Müller (right), from the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI), the Technical Coordinator of the Plugtests together with François Fischer (left), from ERTICO - ITS Europe, and Sander Maas (middle), from TNO, the host of the Plugtests in the name of the Dutch Integrated Testsite Cooperative Mobility.

It meant for the participants a green light to start the test sessions. Throughout the week, the interoperability of the transport and networking layers of the ITS implementations was to be tested. In practice, it meant that company A and company B would install their ITS units in a face to face configuration and simulate a number of scenarios implying a communication between the two units. For each scenario, the two companies monitored the behaviour of their units, and made sure that they were following the test specifications.

Below Peek/TNO and Cohda during a test session.

Some test sessions happened under the umbrella of important European projects, such as DRIVE C2X and eCoMove. It was for their partners an important milestone to ensure the interoperability of the ITS units inside a project as well as between the two projects.

The week was also the opportunity for the participants to test the conformance test, developed and installed on the spot by ETSI team. In the pictures below, Honda is executing the conformance test.

CTAG – the Galician Automotive Technology Centre – who joined the Plugtests with the cooperative ITS units developed in the context of the SISCOGA project, performed a demonstration of their accident use case, which raised a high interest amongst the Plugtest participants.

A final test session, nicknamed “all on the air” concluded the week of the interop event: instead of sending radio messages through cables in the face to face configuration, the participants were asked to send their messages over the air and at the same time. A good test to visualise the behaviour of the ITS implementations when several devices are emitting.

This article is based on the ERTICO live blog of the Plugtests.

For more information, please contact: Sébastien Mure.

***

On 17 November 2011, the co-organisers of the Plugtests ERTICO - ITS Europe, ETSI, and the host TNO, invited the ITS community to attend a workshop aimed at presenting to a wide audience the importance of Interoperability events for the deployment of cooperative systems. Some early results of the Plugtests were also presented.

A round table discussion, chaired by Maxime Flament, was organised to discuss the needs of the ITS community in terms of interoperability testing, as well as conformance and performance testing.

Above: Maxime Flament (ERTICO - ITS Europe), with Phil Pettitt (innovITS), Amira Horozovic (Honda R&D Europe), Igor Passchier (TNO) and Gérard Segarra (Renault).

After the theory on Plugtests, the workshop participants were invited to visit the testing room to discover in a more practical way what Plugtests look like. It was also an opportunity for them to discuss with the participants.

This important day was concluded by a networking cocktail where a crowd of more than 80 people could further exchange on the topic.

19th ITS World Congress in Vienna 2012

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:23:58 +0100

The ITS World Congress will be the event of 2012 on new technologies for smarter, cleaner and safer transport. It continues to be of increasing significance globally and with the theme “Smarter on the Way” the 19th ITS World Congress in Vienna will focus on the main challenges faced by the ITS sector: connecting seamlessly, serving customers and encouraging sustainability.
The event aims to gather over 300 exhibitors and attract some 8,000 visitors (3,000 registered delegates) from more than 60 countries worldwide, in the quest to share best practices and build reliable networks.

The Call for Papers is open and the International Programme Committee warmly invites ITS experts to submit a paper to be considered for presentation and publication at the Vienna Congress before the deadline of 13 January 2012.

The general topics of this 19th ITS World Congress in Vienna are:

Optimising provision and use of Infrastructure, Traffic and Travel Data and Information
Intelligent infrastructure
Continuity and Interoperability of Seamless Multimodal Services for Mobility
Integrated Safety and Security for all Users
Connected Vehicles, Infrastructure and Users for Cooperative Mobility Services
Sustainable, Clean and Energy Efficient Mobility

For more detailed information on the topics, please click on the Call for Papers

Click on the button below to submit your paper!

Special Interest Sessions:

At the request of organisations or experts involved in developing and deploying ITS, these interactive, tailor-made sessions will delve into topics and offer global perspectives and insight on ITS.
To submit your proposal for a Special Session, please fill in the form here.

Demonstrations:

The 19th ITS World Congress in Vienna is a major opportunity to present mature ITS solutions, future trends or results of research activities. The demonstrations will address and involve users as much as possible, they will take place on public roads and in a closed demo areas close to the exhibition center. The goal of these demonstrations is to provide the user with a true experience of the benefits that ITS can bring to daily life. More than 1.000 people are expected to attend the demonstrations.

The Congress organisers invite national and international actors to participate in the demonstrations to provide an exciting and outstanding programme.

ITS Vienna 2012 will showcase a wide range of cutting-edge solutions.
More than 30 demonstrations are currently planned. The demonstartion committee welcomes you to express your demonstration interest. For more information please contact ITS2012@austriatech.org

Exhibition:
The Exhibition will also reflect the theme with industrial exhibitors, public authorities and ITS related organisations showcasing technologies and services that are changing the face of transport today or tomorrow. In addition, the Exhibition will be open to the general public on Thursday to show how ITS can help in daily life.

Look at the exhibition floor plan to see the impressive list of exhibitors that have already secured their place here.

Information on stand bookings can be found here.

The 19th ITS World Congress in Vienna encourages worldwide policy attendance to foster a wide deployment of ITS solutions.

For further details on the 19th ITS World Congress & Exhibition, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Valérie Mindlin , or visit the Congress website which provides you with a first glimpse of what’s in store for Vienna!

ITS Austria Conference 2011: 2012 marked by Intelligent Transport Systems

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:26:07 +0100

The ITS Austria Conference, held on 11 November 2011, was distinguished by “strategies and measures to build an intelligent transport system in Austria”. In the course of the press conference Doris Bures, Minister of Transport, Innovation and Technology, presented the national ITS action plan.

The importance of Intelligent Transport Systems regarding efficiency, safety and environmental sustainability was also pointed out by the attending infrastructure operators and industrial representatives Josef Fiala (ASFINAG), PaulForsreiter (Swarco) and Sören Hess (chair of the Car2Car Communication Consortium).

The project “Testfeld Telematik” (testbed telematics), which is the first project as part of the ITS action plan, has been launched and will be the first deployment-hotspot for cooperative mobility. The project will also be one of the highlights of the demonstrations during the 19th ITS World Congress, Vienna, from 22-26 October 2012.

Twenty-five national and international speakers guided the 220 participants towards the future of our transport system and discussed the benefits and chances of intelligent mobility solutions as well as upcoming ITS services.
Speeches were made by Odile Arbeit de Chalendar, representative of the European Commission, Hermann Meyer, ERTICO – ITS Europe, Fritz Busch, University of Technology Munich, Martin Russ, managing director AustriaTech, Herbert Kasser, ministry of transport, innovation and technology as well as the “ITS World Congress 2012” team, to name only a few.

Presentations dealt with topics such as the new national ITS action plan and its instruments, the re-launch of the ITS Austria platform, its duties, structures and chances from its partners perspective as well as the preparation of the 19th ITS World Congress 2012 in Vienna and associated projects.

For more information, visit the Austrian Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology website.

News from TISA

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:22:24 +0100

TISA Committees Meetings to take place in Berlin

On 7 and 8 December 2011, TISA Member Bosch will welcome TISA Members in Berlin for the TISA Committee Meetings.These meetings will give Members the opportunity to discuss existing and new use cases and to assess the status of the ongoing work in the various Working Groups and Task Forces. Additionally, each Committee will hold discussions on specific topics of strategic importance for TISA. In particular, the Content and Service Provision Committee will discuss the current digital radio landscape in Europe, while the Technical and Standardisation Committee will discuss how direct cooperation with the car to car industry may contribute to a better harmonisation of standards. Finally, the Product Committee will see how TISA products could be shared with a wider community of organisations, as from next year. Being the last Committee Meetings of the Year 2011, the December Meetings will also be the appropriate timing for the Executive Office to give an overview of the 2012 events and to invite the Members to already save some key dates.

4th TISA “Traffic Flow Q-bench” Meeting

The TISA “Traffic Flow Q-bench” Task Force, chaired by Carsten Lux (BMW) and aiming to build a standard tool for independently assessing the Quality and Accuracy of “Traffic Flow Information” provided by different service providers, held its fourth meeting in Brussels on 10 November 2011.During this meeting, further feedback from the Australian experience of TISA Member Intelematics helped to narrow down some of the issues introduced in the earlier meetings and to better separate the issues related to the usage of the Q-bench tool from those simply requiring fine tuning of the regional parameters. A plan to build-up guidelines for Ground Truth testing and to integrate variations caused by the digital maps into the assessment process was also discussed. A follow-up meeting will be held on 16 December 2011.

Visit the TISA website.

AMITRAN project launched to develop a CO2 assessment methodology for ITS

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:06:30 +0100

Europe will undertake a further step to deepen the scientific underpinnings of CO2 emission estimation. AMITRAN, a new project that started November 1st and running until April 2014 will develop a methodology to assess the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on CO2 emissions stemming from the transport sector. The overarching goal is to ensure accuracy and comparability between the assessment of ITS measures in terms of carbon implications.

Gerdien Klunder, AMITRAN’s coordinator and a researcher working for TNO, explains why the project was set up: “The ITS field is developing very rapidly. There are numerous technologies and applications under development, and quite a few already on the market. Despite this fact, there is no consistent methodology that allows scientists to estimate potential CO2 reductions arising from the deployment of such technologies. However, that information would be critically important for decision makers – in the context, for example, of climate change agreements.”

From well-to-wheel

The calculation of CO2 emissions arising from the transport sector is a complex task. The mobility system has numerous components (driver, vehicle, infrastructure, traffic centre, operator, etc.) and stages (energy production, vehicle operation, maintenance, etc.), each with an associated carbon footprint. Fuel consumption during vehicle operation, for example, contributes to around 60% of the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of a passenger car. Even electricity production for e-cars emits CO2, which in coal dependent countries such as Poland and Estonia can be quite significant. Pursuing a well-to-wheel approach is therefore the only way of accurately assessing the carbon footprint of different transport modes.

The AMITRAN project aims to “connect the dots” by developing a reference methodology to correctly estimate well-to-wheel emission reductions achieved by intelligent transport systems (ITS). Although there are several models already available, these tools usually concentrate on specific components of the mobility system and are not able to provide the holistic picture required by AMITRAN. For example, VISSIM is a microscopic multimodal traffic flow simulation model that can be used in conjunction with an emissions model to estimate CO2 emissions based on the characteristics of individual road users and vehicles. Although assembling the two models can yield very precise and fine grained emission estimations, these tools are not suitable to model changes in human behaviour brought about by the deployment of intelligent transport systems. Other models would need to be added in order to achieve a comprehensive framework capable of addressing the whole chain of impacts. AMITRAN will develop interfaces between appropriate models allowing them to “communicate” with each other.

An encompassing multimodal framework

One of the innovations in AMITRAN is its encompassing scope. The CO2 assessment methodology for ITS will address both passenger transport and freight through a multimodal approach that includes road, rail, and ship transport (specifically, short sea and inland navigation; long-haul maritime transport is excluded).
ICT may impact transport CO2 emissions through multiple pathways (see figure below).

Starting from the pre-trip phase, ICT might influence destination choice, route choice or even trip generation altogether. Mode choice is also subject to change, as public transport, for example, usually becomes more appealing once passengers are aware of expected schedules, fares and routes. During the on trip phase, a driver with a navigation device might be prompted to adjust his or her route, or might receive advice on how to adopt a more environmentally friendly driving style. Likewise, a public transport user who loses a transport connection will be informed about the next departure or even be suggested to change to another line or mode if such strategy is time saving. Several ITS applications, particularly those that link the infrastructure with vehicles and users, also influence CO2 emissions. Green waves at intersections, for example, typically result in 5 to 10% emission reductions, particularly if compact platoons are formed. For the freight sector, factors such as vehicle choice, load factor and, more importantly, the whole fleet management, have a substantial effect on fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Lastly, in the post-trip phase, the user receives feedback about his or her performance andrecommendations on how to tackle driving inefficiencies.

Project work plan

AMITRAN’s work plan follows the system engineering V-model path. The project starts with the definition of user needs and use cases based on the active participation by relevant stakeholders. Then ITS applications will be grouped into categories according to the strength of their effect on CO2 emissions and according to the parameters through which their influence is exerted. Based on these results, the next stage involves the definition of system boundaries, system architecture and model requirements. Further developments include the methodological framework to assess CO2 emissions, the interfaces between existing models, and the identification of eventual gaps to be worked out. In addition, a methodology to scale up local results to the European level is proposed. Validation tasks are carried out by comparing AMITRAN results with those from selected research projects dealing with ITS. Finally an impact assessment will be performed using the methodology developed to demonstrate the effects of ITS on CO2 emissions, energy efficiency, driver behaviour, and traffic flow.

ERTICO – ITS Europe is responsible for the dissemination and exploitation of results. Jean-Charles Pandazis, head of ERTICO’s EcoMobility sector, explains that active participation of external partners will be sought: “Coordination and cooperation with the relevant players will be fundamental for the success of this project. We will invite organisations from sectors not currently represented in the consortium to have a seat at the Advisory Council, and we’ll keep open communication channels with other ongoing projects in the field of ITS.”
The final deliverable of AMITRAN will be a checklist and a handbook to be used as a methodological reference by future projects when assessing ITS benefits. Guidelines on how to conduct cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses of ITS measures will also be published. These documents will be freely available online along with supporting materials.

Involving the stakeholders

ERTICO – ITS Europe is responsible for the dissemination and exploitation of results. Jean-Charles Pandazis, head of ERTICO’s EcoMobility sector, explains that active participation of external partners will be sought: “Coordination and cooperation with the relevant players will be fundamental for the success of this project. We invite all interested organisations to join our Forum so they can keep in tune with project news and participate in the workshops. I believe this cooperation strategy is mutually beneficial. We’ll also keep open communication channels with other ongoing projects in the field of ITS, particularly in the field of greenhouse gas emissions.”

Further information

AMITRAN will run for 30 months until April 2014, and is co-funded by the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission (DG INFSO). The total project budget amounts to € 2,6 million. Seven organisations will cooperate as part of AMITRAN’s consortium: TNO (coordinator, the Netherlands), PTV – Planung Transport Verkehr (Germany), ERTICO – ITS Europe (Belgium), TECNALIA (Spain), DLR – Germany National Research Centre for Aeronautics and Space (Germany), ECORYS (the Netherlands), and TEAMNET (Romania).

To join the Forum, and for further information, please contact Gerdien Klunder, TNO or Nuno Quental, ERTICO - ITS Europe.

ITS America releases new 4 generation wireless report

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 10:47:15 +0100

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) recently announced the release of its latest connected vehicle technical insight report entitled “Fourth Generation Wireless Vehicle and Highway Gateways to the Cloud”.

ITS America will present this report in a webinar led by Dr Eduardo Esteves, Vice President of R&D and Technology Marketing, QUALCOMM. The webinar, entitled “Fourth Generation Wireless Infrastructure - Long Term Evolution (LTE) Advanced and Heterogeneous Networks (HetNets)” is on 14 December 2011 at 1 p.m. EST.

The report examines how next generation wide-area cellular such as 4G will be able to support vehicular applications, and how transport infrastructure may mesh with wireless networks. Specifically, it suggests that over the long term, vehicles will serve as 4G gateways that collect data from and manage and collect data from short range wireless sensors and other devices deployed in vehicles and highway infrastructure, such as cellular fem to cells, WiFi, Zig-Bee, Bluetooth or even Dedicated Short Range Communications/Wireless Access for Vehicular Environments (DSRC/WAVE). Furthermore, the paper contends that automotive electronics engineers will need to be cognisant of how on-board and off-board application data is treated by these vehicle gateways and by 4G networks, and how innovations such as “traffic shaping” and “vertical roaming” may improve the performance of off-board or “cloud” - based vehicular applications.

This report and webinar series is part of the Technology Scan and Assessment project. Under a contract with the USDOT Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office, ITS America is conducting a broad, multi-phase research project. Overall, the study will assess emerging, converging and enabling technologies outside the domain of mainstream transport research. Launched in 2009, the project has completed five Connected Vehicle Technical Insight Reports and webinars on a number of technology issues, and will continue to publish the series into 2012.

The goals of the Technology Scan and Assessment are to establish, or otherwise validate or revise, key assumptions in ITS JPO research and development programs regarding scalability, security, or safety of particular technologies. The Technology Scan and Assessment research series inventories new technology-enabled systems that may need to interface with future connected vehicle core systems utilising vehicle-to-vehicle/vehicle-to-infrastructure technology.

The Technology Scan research series covers technologies in within the science base (10 to 30 years perspective), or are in emerging (5 to 10 years), or pacing (3 to 5 years applied on trial basis) categories. Innovation in the information technology, telecommunications, transport and energy sectors is assessed, focusing on technologies centered on efficient data and information flow, from acquisition (sensors) and dissemination (wireless), to processing (computing) and management (decision support) systems.

To date, ITS America has produced reports on computer vision, active ranging sensors, 4G wireless and machine to machine communications. Future topics will include navigation and location aware technologies. For 2012, the series will examine of the impact of several innovations in computing that may significantly impact transport, such as semantic web, sensor crowd sourcing, stream computing, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

The Technology Assessment series highlights particular risks or uncertainties that are broadly understood to impact a number of sectors, not just transport. In security these include global innovations in computing and design of secure systems, as well as risk management addressing unique challenges in securing safety-critical systems fashion. In energy topics include global innovation in the development of utility “smart grid” and electric vehicle power trains and support systems, and how they may leverage to improve vehicle safety, mobility and environmental sustainability. ITS America will publish its report on electric vehicles in December 2011.

You can view the report here.

Register for the webinar here.

For more information about the Technology Scan and Assessment, visit ITS America website or contact Cherie Gibson.

This article has been published in cooperation with ITS America.

Workshop - Implementation of NFC technology on public transport in Spain

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 10:27:35 +0100

The NFC Technology Implementation workshop on public transport in Spain, held on 22 November 2011 in Madrid, brought together all stakeholders involved in the use of NFC for payment on public transport.

Attendees included national, provincial and local level authorities in the field of road and railway transport, as well as representatives of the banking sector (BBVA, Bankinter), card chip manufacturers (Gemalto, Oberthur), systems integrators (Ericsson, Indra), and the main Spanish telecommunications companies (Telefónica, Orange, Vodafone).

The workshop began with an introduction to NFC (actors involved, the role of the TSM - Trusted Service Manager, requirements for success in the implementation of mobile payments from the banking point of view or the use of mobiles as a differentiator for transport). The interest of transport operators in this technology was shown through the presentation of several papers on this theme, and through several pilot tests that being currently realised.

Finally, it was demonstrated how the Public Transport Committee of ITS Spain (NFC Working Group) is developing a white paper of NFC technology.

The workshop was closed, encouraging attendees to show their progress and to issue their findings in the next “XII ITS Spanish Congress”.

For further information, please contact Alonso Martín-Moreno Redondo.

Interview with Gert Blom, Strategic Advisor Mobility - City of Helmond

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:33:20 +0100

Winner of the iMobility Award 2011 for excellence in Policy making

ERTICO: What is the involvement of the City of Helmond in (European and national) ITS projects?

Gert Blom: The City of Helmond firmly believes in the power of technology and ITS to create a sustainable mobility system. It is however not just a matter of technology. Private and public parties will have to work closely together on business models and common roadmaps in order to achieve real deployment and mobility solutions.

To make sure the future end-user supports these solutions, demonstrations have to be set up to show the potential benefits of ITS Large scale FOTs will have to be performed before getting to the final implementation. Helmond has been and will be active on all those aspects. Indeed, in order to facilitate demonstrations and FOTs, Helmond and the regional organisation BBZOB managed to close the A270 highway to normal traffic between Eindhoven and Helmond for some weekends. During these days, TNO performed their shockwave-pilots on this highway and both the ITS-community and the general public could participate in the SPITS demo and GCDC at the Automotive Week (May 2011).

In 2009 we already had the honour to host the first European large scale demo on cooperative systems, when we turned our urban main road into a pilot and demonstration road for the CVIS/Safespot event.

Helmond is also a partner in the FREILOT project. The objective of this project is a 25% reduction in fuel for trucks in urban areas. In Helmond we are testing, amongst others, the intersection priority service within FREILOT. Besides the original predicted benefits of the project, we now see many more benefits of the FREILOT services, such as noise reduction, improved traffic flows and increased road safety. However what we believe to be the most important issue about the FREILOT-project, and indeed one of the original aims, is the search, during the pilot phase, for sustainable implementation (business models) after the end of the pilot, in 2012. Business and organisational models developed in this project could be a very good example for a wider ITS deployment.

Deployment from technology to mobility solutions is also the key driver for the DITCM-project. We are now preparing to set up a permanent and integrated test-site for Cooperative Mobility, the Dutch Integrated Test-site Cooperative Mobility DITCM on and around the High Tech Automotive Campus in Helmond.

ERTICO: What are the policy steps that the City of Helmond has taken?

Gert Blom: The City of Helmond is a very hands-on organisation, driven by results and a common sense approach. But our work has a sound base in our mobility and air quality policy. For example, already in 2007, we stated our belief in technology solutions and willingness to support ITS pilots in our Helmond Mobility paper “Helmond Mobiel 2015”. This is not only Helmond’s view; there is a broad and general political support for this approach in the entire Helmond-Eindhoven Brainport region. At a national level, we will contribute through our involvement in DITCM, to a common roadmap on ITS, supported by all major stakeholders gathered in organisations such as Connekt and Automotive.nl.

ERTICO: Can you share best practices with your peers?

Gert Blom: We have learnt some lessons, especially from our involvement in FREILOT.

First of all, there is the need to incorporate the involvement and belief in ITS solutions in policy papers and programmes. A sound policy base is the first step towards the real involvement in ITS projects and ITS deployment. Lacking this, you will have to explain over and over again to your local politicians and decision makers every single action and project on ITS and why they are relevant.

Moreover, it is very important to inform your local city council about critical stages of the projects and their results and to ensure their involvement in milestones. For example, our city council was invited to the European launch event of FREILOT in 2010 but of course writing policy papers is only the beginning. Come out of your office!

The deployment of ITS is all about working together in projects with all stakeholders, both from public as well as private bodies. Industry, R&D, education and governments, all are needed to make the step from technology innovations towards deployment of mobility solutions. Or, to use FREILOT project manager Zeljko Jeftic’s words, deployment of cooperative technology requires a cooperative mindset!

ERTICO: In a time of economic crisis, how can public authorities find ways to justify investments in ITS?

Gert Blom: Maybe this is not the right question. I would say, that especially in a time of economic crisis, the need for investments in ITS is more urgent than ever. Resources for investment in new infrastructure will be very scarce in the future, meaning that a better use of existing infrastructure, through ITS, will be the only option.

And there is also another reason. If European companies and research institutes prove to be leaders in developing ITS technology, this will help us to introduce them to new markets, and to increase our exports.
I would say that ITS is a means to get out of the crisis!

ERTICO: How can the EU facilitate deployment of ITS in European cities?

Gert Blom: In my view, besides any financial funding, which of course is always more than welcome to stimulate new developments, the EU could facilitate deployment on 2 levels. The first, and the most obvious one, is to stimulate technical standardisation of ITS systems.

However helping cities in organising deployment is becoming more and more important. We have to find the right business-models in order to deploy ITS services, but we have also to find the right organisations for deploying ITS in other cities. I am not sure if this could be done by private service providers only, or if we need private-public organisations.

ERTICO: You will participate in the Forum on Urban Mobility organised by ERTICO on 1 December. What do you expect from this event?

Gert Blom: I would expect an open discussion and some sharing of ideas on this issue of organisations. By using FREILOT as an example in my presentation, I will raise the question: what if the pilot is successful? How will we ensure a sustainable implementation of FREILOT services to other hauliers and to other cities after the pilot has ended and the co-funding from the EU has come to an end?

Doing a pilot is of course all about finding real mobility solutions. It is all about deployment.

About the City of Helmond

Being an industrial city and hosting the High Tech Automotive (HTA) Campus on its grounds, the Dutch city of Helmond has become an important centre for automotive R&D activities.

As developments in the automotive sector are increasingly connected with mobility issues such as road safety, congestion and air quality, Helmond is confident that research and innovation in the automotive sector will contribute to solving current and future mobility challenges. Over the last 10 years, Helmond has therefore invested in an extensive adaptive urban control network, providing a ready platform for innovative control solutions, illustrated by the fact that the city served as test site for the CVIS and SAFESPOT projects on cooperative systems.

The Helmond test site covers an intra-urban provincial road (N270) through the city centre, linking Helmond to Eindhoven.

Traffic on this section is very diverse, with a relatively high share of trucks, buses, and high numbers of pedestrians and cyclists, especially in peak periods. The road covers 14 signalled intersections controlled by the network control system UTOPIA (Urban Traffic Optimisation by Integrated Automation). The inter-urban highway A270 between Helmond and Eindhoven has also been used as test site. As the N270 and A270 are close to the test facilities on the HTA Campus, testing equipment on different scales is available in one geographically concentrated area.

For more information, please visit the City of Helmond website.

18th ITS World Congress report published

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:18:56 +0100

ERTICO – ITS Europe has published a report on the recently concluded 18th ITS World Congress in Orlando.

This year, thousands of attendees from over 60 countries participated in the event, attending the sessions, participating in the demonstrations and experiencing the exhibition. Representatives of the USA government, the European Institutions as well as of the automotive industry worldwide attended the 4-day Congress.

Visitors had the opportunity to visit 210 exhibits spread over 32 516.064 square metres area. Exhibits included the European Pavilion, where international stakeholders met with representatives from ERTICO – ITS Europe, ITS Sweden and ITS Finland.

The full report is available on the i-Mobility Network (in the Library) and it is accessible to all i-Mobility Network Members and ERTICO Partners.

To register to the i-Mobility Network, click here.

EU, USA and Japan agree to speed up introduction of electric cars

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:46:47 +0100

On 17 November 2011, the European Union, the United States and Japan agreed to promote a faster introduction of electric cars in their countries and to cooperate on regulatory obligations related to electric vehicles.

Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, stated that this agreement “will help to increase the market potential for this important breakthrough technology, contributing for competitiveness and a more sustainable road transport".

Currently automotive manufacturers’ global production of electric vehicles is still modest and this agreement represents an important decision in terms of economic recovery and general cost-sensitiveness of the industry.

Furthermore, this international cooperation with USA and Japan will offer a great opportunity to develop common actions.

Read the full press release.

For further information visit the European Commission, Enterprise & Industry website.

SNCF, Orange, PSA Peugeot Citroën and Total join forces to create Ecomobilité Ventures

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:14:13 +0100

SNCF, Orange, PSA Peugeot Citroën and Total have joined forces to create Ecomobilité Ventures, Europe’s first investment structure led by a group of industrial companies and dedicated to sustainable mobility. A total of €30 million will be used to invest in innovative young companies.

For SNCF, Orange, PSA Peugeot Citroën and Total, the objective is to contribute to the emergence of a new mobility ecosystem that transcends traditional industry boundaries. The creation of new forms of sustainable mobility-driven by fast-changing practices and technologies-requires a synergistic mix of knowledge and skills. Combining the innovation capacity of vibrant young companies with the experience and expertise of Ecomobilité Ventures’ industrial partners will foster the development of new, sustainable solutions.

Ecomobilité Ventures will acquire minority interests in European companies in the start-up or development stage and will support them over the long term. The segments targeted are sustainable mobility products, services and technologies and mobility-related clean technologies. The fund will invest in young companies offering solutions to the various issues in these areas. They will have to demonstrate their ability to be profitable on a stand-alone basis by leveraging a solid business model, as well as their potential to become leaders in their market segments.

“The creation of Ecomobilité Ventures is fully aligned with SNCF’s strategy, which is to link different modes of transportation in order to offer our clients end-to-end solutions," says Bernard Emsellem, Executive Manager for Ecomobility at SNCF. “By creating thisinvestment structure, we are bringing together a wide variety of strategically-related competencies to foster the emergence of new forms of mobility and meet market expectations."

“Mobility is integral to the challenges facing our society today,” comments Vivek Badrinath, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Communication Services, at Orange. “Information and communication technologies are a vital lever for optimising travel and energy resource management.

Orange has been focusing on these issues for several years through a program dedicated entirely to smart cities. It is only natural for us to work alongside other innovation-driven companies, regardless of their business sector or size. It’s part of our everyday philosophy of action.”

“The Ecomobilité Ventures project offers the group PSA Peugeot Citroën the opportunity to extend its commitment to community development and social cohesion beyond the automobile, and so to act as a stakeholder of the life of territories and social cohesion.” says Patrice-Henry Duchene, head of Sustainable Development at PSA Peugeot Citroën.

“We’re proud to be taking part in this initiative,” says Manoelle Lepoutre, Executive Vice President, Sustainable Development and Environment at Total. “This is the first time that four major marketleaders have pooled their expertise to support innovative young enterprises. It’s a novel way of driving innovation in the area of sustainable mobility and enabling the development of new, more efficient solutions for our customers."

For further information, please visit the Orange website

Instant Mobility workshop unveils future internet impact on mobility

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:11:04 +0100

On 28 October 2011, the Instant Mobility project held a workshop in Brussels, Belgium to present its innovative future scenarios and use cases to an audience of key stakeholders. The workshop mainly addressed cities and regions interested in exploring the potential of future internet technologies for solving their mobility and transport issues.

Instant Mobility is a 2-year research project in the first phase of the Future Internet Public-Private Partnership (FI-PPP) and aims to build a platform to host innovative future internet-based services to optimise travellers’ mobility, goods transport and traffic management.

To this end, Instant Mobility has described and is analysing a set of scenarios and services corresponding to the needs of five key stakeholder groups:

multimodal travellers
car drivers and passengers
public and other collective transport operators
truck fleet operators and the distribution industry
road operators and traffic managers

The workshop brought together over 35 participants, including representatives of the cities of Rome, Toledo, Istanbul, Trondheim and the Basque Region.

The workshop’s objectives were:

to explore the concerns and aims of the cities and other participants and how Internet-based solutions could help in solving them
to validate the Instant Mobility scenarios, understand what was missing or needed modifying
to start a dialogue with potential candidate cities to host a pilot implementation of Instant Mobility applications in the second phase of the FI PPP programme from mid-2013

Their main challenges identified by city participants were congestion (and its environmental consequences) and the need to shift the balance from individual to collective transport modes. Efficient and sustainable management of goods distribution and commercial vehicles in cities, and the lack of reliable online information across transportation modes were also a concern.

Internet technology could influence people to choose greener means of travel and transport through multimodal real-time and personalised information, and also online ticketing. Moreover the internet could help in collecting data from travellers and vehicle movements, and making real-time information accessible online. This would help travellers, improve overall traffic management and reduce environmental impact.

In conclusion, Instant Mobility technologies and services could support a better collaboration between public and private mobility actors in a city. The project contributes to making mobility information more complete, reliable, transparent and available for users, and shows how future internet technologies can help to integrate existing services to create next-generation mobility for all.

The next Instant Mobility workshop for transport and mobility stakeholders will be held in February 2012 (date and place to be confirmed). The purpose will be to identify the requirements of potential users for the future internet-enabled transport and mobility applications to be developed in the project, as well as to identify cities’ interests to be a pilot trial site in the FI-PPP phase 2, where they would host demonstrations of the Instant Mobility applications in the areas of traveller assistance, smart city logistics, and virtual traffic management and control.

For more information please visit Instant Mobility website or contact Paul Kompfner.

Commissioner Siim Kallas talks about the challenges ahead for Europe's automotive industry

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:32:10 +0100

On 8 November, Siim Kallas, Vice-President and Commissioner for Transport, spoke at the EUCAR (European Council for Automotive R&D) reception in Brussels about the future challenges for the European automotive industry.

In his speech, the Commissioner highlighted that the car and truck industry is fundamental to the EU economy as it grants employment and provides “means for millions of passengers to travel and for many thousands of businesses to prosper”.

According to Mr Kallas “innovation and investment” are the key concepts to keep European economy going and to assure competitiveness in a global market where car sales are forecast to increase by more than 10% in 2020 in respect to 2008. The Commissioner stressed that the EU competitors are “investing in low-carbon technologies in preparation for the shift towards cleaner road transport, reflecting a visible global trend towards sustainable transport technologies”. The same actions should be taken in the EU.

A more environmentally-friendly approach should be considered as “energy-efficient vehicles will boost our industry's competitiveness, make Europe's economy greener and more resource-efficient, as well as create jobs”. However, “the technical and economic uncertainties are still too high at this stage to rely on a single candidate for fuel substitution”.

That is why Mr Kallas highlighted that the real challenge will be to introduce new technologies substituting fuel gradually into the European market, and this action “should be done at the same pace as the development of the technology”.

Siim Kallas briefly described the next steps planned by the European Commission in terms of transport policy. First of all the Commission will present its “strategic transport technology plan" (STTP) which will focus on “essential technologies over the whole product development chain based on a vision of an integrated, efficient and environmentally friendly and safe European transport system by 2030”. Secondly, the Commission has planned “an initiative on clean transport systems, which will be a comprehensive long-term fuel strategy for gradually substituting fossil fuels with alternative energy sources”.

Mr Kallas concluded by underling that the Commission is investing a lot in research and innovation, in particular in the promotion of smart transport systems. The use of intelligent transport systems (ITS) is crucial “to support the competitiveness and sustainable growth of the European automotive industry. And also to make our road transport cleaner, safer and more efficient”. According to Siim Kallas “ITS has an enormously beneficial role to play in making our road transport ready for the future. Some applications are widespread and familiar, such as on-board navigation systems installed in millions of cars and trucks which process real-time traffic and travel information. But science is moving ahead all the time, adding more and more sophisticated applications to existing control functions. There is enormous potential”.

Nevertheless research and innovation alone cannot face and overcome future challenges; Mr Kallas appealed to change Europeans “travelling habits, better combine road travel with different modes of transport such as rail, and ensure all modes offer attractive options for passengers and freight. We must start thinking about transport as a network, as a system, rather than thinking in terms of individual transport modes”.

Read the full speech here.

In-Time Package available!

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:32:30 +0100

The In-Time Package allows cities and TISPs to set up an In-Time service in their city or region

In-Time defines a general, pan-European technical service infrastructure to support the efficient provision and operation of Multimodal Real Time Traffic and Travel Information (RTTI) services to road and transport users. In-Time is piloting and validating its innovative pan-European approach to RTTI services, using real travellers in real cities - Brno, Bucharest, Florence, Munich, Oslo, Vienna.

The ”In-Time Package” has been prepared to provide In-Time Follower Cities and Traveller Information Service Providers (TISPs) with the technical documentation and material necessary to understand, set-up and use the In-Time infrastructure.

The interoperability between different systems and data/service sources is the key aspect of the In-Time infrastructure. This is achieved through a Service-Oriented, distributed Architecture (SOA) where nodes – content and service providers – are inter-connected via a B2B, Multi-standard, Commonly Agreed Interface (CAI) defined on the basis of EU open standards in the domain of ITS, geo-spatial data and Web Services.

In-Time provides a way to enable easy access to and use of essential contents and services underlying multi-modal travelling, including individual traffic, public transport, weather, location based services, flight, freight and intermodal journey planning.

In-Time is conceived to facilitate the cooperation between local content/service providers – e.g. Local Authorities, Transport Service Operators, etc. – and Traffic Information Service Providers (TISPs) in the provision of value-added RTTI services to travellers.

The In-Time Commonly Agreed Interface (CAI) enables standardised access to local RTTI services and information provided by Regional Data/Service Servers (RDSS) in any city or geographical area implementing In-Time. By using the In-Time access layer, TISPs are able to access local data and services via a standardised interface bundling all transport information in the area, and exploit these to offer enhanced services to the road and transport end user.

In-Time package content:

In-Time conceptual Data Model encoded in Unified Modeling Language, UML

The Application Schema of Geography Markup Language (GML) derived from the Data Model as the exchange format for In-Time data

WSDL files, also generated from the conceptual definition of In-Time services

XML schema definitions (XSD-files) for each Application Schema of the In-Time Data Model. XSD files are the starting point for the concrete use of the In-Time specifications as they enable the automatic generation of code libraries, the configuration of OGC’s WFS and WMS etc.

A code library in C# and Java

An introductory guide with links to download publicly available full documentation providing detailed explanation of the principles, architectural design, standards and enabling implementation technologies underlying the definition of the In-Time infrastructure

The In-Time package can be downloaded on In-Time website

RACC automobile club launches a free traffic and travel information app for smartphones

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:57:31 +0100

ERTICO partner RACC (Reial Automòbil Club de Catalunya) has launched a free application for real-time and predictive traffic and travel information, available for iPhone and Android devices.

RACC has been an active traffic data collector for more than 20 years in Spain; RACC creates its traffic flow service from fusion of different data sources (mainly public loop sensors and floating car data, among others), as well as displaying information from more than 1000 traffic cameras, fuel prices from more than 8000 fuel stations and more than 1000 speed cameras across Spain. Incident and journalistic data (as reported by users of the app) is also available.

The traffic flow service displays real-time congestion levels of service for more than 18 EU countries and predictive traffic up to 12 hours in the primary Spanish road network. Information is displayed on a very easy to use and intuitive Google Maps-based user interface, and a lot of stress has been laid on making the app very efficient in terms of performance, developing algorithms for the efficient management of huge amounts of information.

For more information, please visit RACC website.

ACS – Xerox launches new virtual event

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:17:46 +0100

On the occasion of the 18th ITS World Congress, ACS – Xerox, an ERTICO Partner, has created an interactive tool where registered users can access highlights from ACS leaders, interviews and transport solutions presented at the Congress.

On the virtual event, you can download different multi-media resources, view interviews and interact by asking questions and chatting, as well as register to other live events.

Among the interviewees, Ken Philmus, Senior Vice-President ACS Transportation Solution Group, and Scott Belcher, Chef Executive Officer of ITS America, introduce the virtual ITS World Congress 2011 and share impressions and thoughts on the Congress.

Also, Cees de Wijs, Senior Vice-President of International Operations ACS Transportation Solutions Group, talks to Hermann Meyer, ERTICO – ITS Europe Chief Executive Officer, about ERTICO and its activities as well as the Intelligent Transport System market in Europe, ITS developments and future challenges.

To watch these and more interviews, register to Virtual ITS World Congress 2011.

For more information, visit ACS, A Xerox Company ITS World Congress microsite.

18th ITS World Congress concluded in Orlando

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:12:29 +0100

The 18th ITS World Congress concluded in Orlando on 20 October after five successful days. This year, thousands attendees from over 60 countries participated in the event and attended the 4 plenary and 282 educational sessions.

On the opening night, Patrick McGowan, World Congress Chair (and President of Telvent North America), warmly welcomed delegates and gave a brief summary of upcoming highlights of the Congress.

The plenary sessions focused on developments of ITS strategies and policies to keep “the economy moving”.

During the first plenary Ananth Prasad (Secretary - Florida Department of Transport), John Mica (Chairman of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, USA), Zhongze Wu (Chairman of ITS China), Fotis Karamitsos (Director of DG MOVE, European Commission), and Catharina Elmsäter-Svard (Swedish Minister for Infrastructure) discussed the importance of innovation, political involvement and a strong cooperation between academia, industry and governments for the creation of new business models. It was agreed that all efforts have to be done to bring ITS into deployment.

The second plenary session centred on how to implement ITS policies for economic growth. Robert L. Darbelnet, President and CEO of the American Automobile Association, welcomed delegates and introduced the day’s speakers: Ray LaHood (US Secretary of Transport), Allison Cerra (Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs for the Americas, Alcatel-Lucent), Hiroyuki Watanabe (Chairman, ITS Japan), and Hauke Jürgensen (CEO of Intelligent Transport Systems, Siemens). The panellists addressed major opportunities for ITS in the context of the importance of transport to the economy and the contribution of ITS in safety issues as well as the creation of jobs.

The 32.516 square metres exhibition area was also very successful; visitors had the opportunity to visit 210 exhibits including the European Pavilion, where international stakeholders met with representatives from ERTICO – ITS Europe, ITS Sweden and ITS Finland.

The Closing ceremony on 20 October was hosted by Patrick McGowan (World Congress Chair and President of Telvent North America) and William C. Ford (Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company) while John Peracchio, International Programme Committee Chair, presented the awards for the best scientific and technical papers of the Congress. Following the awards, Reinhard Pfliegl (Chair Vienna 2012 Host Organising Committee), Midori Ito (Senior Director, Tokyo Metropolitan Government), and James Barbaresso (Vice President for ITS at HNTB) introduced the forthcoming ITS World Congresses in Vienna, Tokyo and Detroit.

Finally, following the successful 18th ITS World Congress in Orlando, the “Passing of the Globe” ceremony took place, whereupon Ingolf Schädler, Deputy Director General Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, received the globe from the Americas.

The full report will be available soon on the i-Mobility Network website.

Opening the 18th ITS World Congress

Ray LaHood, US Secretary of Transport

ERTICO - ITS representatives at Orlando Plenary meeting

The European Pavilion

“Passing of the Globe” ceremony: Ingolf Schädler, Deputy Director General Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, received the globe from the Americas

Looking forward to the next ITS World Congress

iMobility Awards: Rewarding excellence in deployment of iMobility systems

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:37:17 +0100

On Monday 24 October, on the evening of the iMobility Forum plenary meeting, the First iMobility Forum Awards were given out to organisations which have been recognised by the ITS community as paving the way to the mobility of the future.

The iMoblity Forum Awards aim to reward excellence in ITS implementation and deployment in Europe. For 3 months, the names of 11 nominees were up for online voting in the following categories: Industry and Technology, Policy, and National/Local ITS Implementation.

After sorting out nearly 250 votes and on the occasion of the 1st iMobility Forum Plenary Meeting, Member of the European Parliament Silvia-Adriana Ţicău introduced to the intelligent mobility community this year’s winners:

In the category Industry and Technology Award, BMW - represented by Joachim Scholten - was rewarded for their efforts in providing a safe and efficient environment for the user, and playing a key role in accelerating deployment of iMobility systems in Europe;
In the Policy category, a city that was acclaimed by the iMobility community, for turning ambitious policy goals into pioneering deployment of cooperative mobility technology in Europe: the City of Helmond – represented by Gert Blom;
Finally, the National/Local ITS implementation Award went to the Grand Cooperative Driving Challenge – represented by Bastiaan Krosse from TNO - for their contribution to the acceleration of ITS implementation in the Netherlands and beyond.

However, there also exists a fourth category to the iMobility Awards, which is not awarded every year, but on special occasions. With the Lifetime Achievement Award, the iMobility Forum wishes to put forward and reward one’s lifetime achievement in the world of ITS. This year, it was awarded to Francisco Ferreira (Principal Scientific Officer, European Commission DG INFSO) for his lifetime dedication to transport and intelligent mobility.

The iMobility Forum Members and iCar Support team wish to warmly congratulate this year’s winners for their significant contribution to the world of ITS.

For more information contact iCar Support.

Read the related news on the First iMobility Forum plenary meeting here.

From left to right: Gert Blom (City of Helmond), Silvia-Adriana Ţicău (MEP), Francisco Ferreira (EC DG INFSO), Joachim Scholten (BMW) and Bastiaan Krosse (TNO)

First iMobility Forum plenary meeting: paving the way to the future

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:58:22 +0100

Succeeding to the eSafety Forum, the iMobility Forum, which now encompasses smart and clean mobility in addition to safety on European roads, held its inaugural iMobility Forum Plenary Meeting on 24 and 25 October 2011, in Brussels.

On the first day, the Plenary Meeting was opened by Member of the European Parliament Silvia-Adriana Ţicău, who introduced Europe’s expectations towards intelligent mobility and the conclusions of this year’s Plenary Meeting. The session started off by developing the new focus and directions undertaken by the iMobility Forum, putting special emphasis on the activities of each of the Forum's Working Groups by introducing in particular new working groups such as the Business Models WG, by re-launching the Digital maps and ICT for Energy and Efficiency WGs and by giving a new focus and work plan to the International Cooperation WG.

The second part of the session was dedicated to the iMobility Observers Group giving an overview on the progress of the Forum recommendations, in particular in the UK, Romania and Czech Republic. This represented a good opportunity for Eastern European ITS stakeholders to present the latest developments in their work, as well as to benchmark and share best practices with their peers.

After a half day of fruitful exchanges, the iMobility Forum Plenary Meeting was concluded by giving way to the first iMobility Awards. Rewarding excellence in deployment of iMobility systems, the Awards Ceremony was hosted by Ms Ţicău, who introduced to the intelligent mobility community this year’s winners: the Industry and Technology Award 2011 went to BMW, the Policy Award 2011 to City of Helmond, and the National/Local ITS Implementation Award 2011 to TNO.

On 25 October, the second and final session of the 1st iMobility Forum Plenary Meeting opened the way to the mobility of the future with ITS experts sharing their views on where European mobility is headed and how to achieve further innovation, research, development, deployment and use of ICT based transport systems and services. 9 European ITS projects were presented to the audience, who appreciated the opportunity to share ideas and best practices based on their respective experiences in the different European countries.

The Plenary Meeting was concluded by paving the way to the future with a presentation of Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation - and 3 SMART studies commissioned by DG Information Society aimed to provide input to FP8, as well as by presenting the highlights of the ITS World Congress 2011 and opening the way to next year’s World Congress to be held in Vienna.

MEP Silvia-Adriana Ţicău opened the first iMobility Forum Plenary Meeting

On the same evening, the iMobility awards were given to three organisations. Read the article here.

News from TISA

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:50:29 +0200

On the occasion of the 18th ITS World Congress in Orlando, TISA hosted a special session titled “Real Time Traffic Information in North-America: from analogue to digital delivery. Challenges and opportunities”.

Among the speakers, Teun Hendriks (from TISA Member ClearChannel) showed the history of their RDS-TMC service in North America, the challenges faced during the implementation, and how it has been possible to overcome them. Mr Hendriks gave also an overview of the opportunities offered by TPEG over HD-radio.

Following the first presentation, Robert Cahn (from TISA Member INRIX) highlighted how TPEG has offered the opportunity of different implementation of services and personalised data experience, depending on the customer and targeted end-user. Mt Cahn pointed out the challenges for advanced routing and precise Location Referencing.

Mark Saunders (from TISA Member NAVTEQ) and Paul Brenner (Broadcast Traffic Consortium) gave an historical overview of their services, and coverage area, of RDS-TMC and TPEG via HD Radio in North America. They explained how TPEG has offered them the opportunity to significantly increase their service offering.

Finally, Joe d’Angelo (from TISA Member iBiquity) presentation drew attention on the history of the deployment of HD-Radio in USA and other markets since its initial introduction in 1997. Mr d’Angelo also explained how HD radio made both the broadcast of TPEG data possible and the coexistence between analogue and digital.

For more information please visit TISA website.

EUTRAIN project kicks off

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:18:30 +0200

In the field of Transport research, the EU and other national, federal or regional entities face common mobility related problems and challenges. International Cooperation in Transport research is becoming therefore an increasing priority aiming, primarily, at creating “critical mass” in moving collaboratively to solve critical 21st century transportation challenges.

This is where the newly launched EC-funded project EUTRAIN will play a key role by establishing – through international cooperation in transport research – the free circulation of specialised knowledge, experience and know how in facing transport problems and challenges and create through collaboration the conditions for more “breakthrough” research and achievements that would otherwise require more time and resources if faced individually and separately. In addition, EUTRAIN can both help to strengthen European Transport Area (ERA-T) as well as boost Europe’s competitiveness in the global economy.

The project is coordinated by ECTRI and the consortium includes: ERTICO – ITS Europe, FEHRL, EURNEX and Volvo Technology Corporation. The project will last for two years and will end in 2013.

EUTRAIN partners held a kick-off meeting on 17 October, followed by a meeting of the Network of Associated Entities (NAE). This Network gathers organisations involved in Transport Research and will be closely associated with the project and will be invited to join the main project activities. Additionally a Network of Related Entities (NRE) has been set-up by gathering organisations who will provide their views in what regards the project’s findings and proposals.

Should you be interested in being part of the NRE, please contact Yanying Li.

More information will soon be available on the EUTRAIN website.

e-Call Workshop in Greece

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:55:26 +0200

On Tuesday 25 October a workshop on the implementation of e-call in Greece took place in Athens. The event was organised within the framework of the Greek National Research Project eKLISI, whose primary objective is the implementation and demonstration of a national pilot application of eCall. The eKLISI project, coordinated by ERTICO Partner ICCS (Institute of Communication and Computing Systems) with the participation of COSMOTE S.A. (Mobile Operator) and Space Hellas (SW and electronics SME), is expected to create the groundwork necessary for the implementation of the eCall service in Greece, something that will be obligatory for all EU member-states from 2014, as set out by the European project HeERO.

The ongoing actions of the Greek Government for the implementation of the eCall service were presented at the workshop as well as an overview of the related European research project HeERO, which seeks to prepare nine European member-states (including Greece) for the implementation of the eCall service. The pilot implementation of the eCall service in the Czech Republic (also a member of the HeERO project) was also presented as a case study.

The workshop was attended by several national stakeholders from the public and private sectors who took part in a constructive discussion on the implementation of the eCall service in Greece, the potential problems, and the most efficient solutions.

For more information on the event and the implementation of eCall in Greece please contact Dr Angelos Amditis

Interview with Gunter Zimmermeyer, Chairman of ERTICO - ITS Europe

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:44:08 +0200

Soon the European Commission will implement a High Level Advisory Board on the ITS Directive. What do you think could be the first priorities for this group?

Gunter Zimmermeyer: I see three primary priorities. I believe that priority number one could be to achieve consensus on the most important deployment activities in the context of ITS. Here we already have an excellent basis with the priority areas identified in the ITS Directive. Secondly, it needs to achieve a common understanding of the main challenges for deployment of the related applications and services. Finally, it has to agree on the solutions and commit itself to actively work on them.

Few weeks ago you gave a presentation in the European Parliament on ITS and electromobility. What were your key messages?

Gunter Zimmermeyer: My key message was and is very simple: ITS is the major enabler for electromobility because it provides confidence to the driver, it allows integration of the “smart” vehicle with the “smart” grid and it links the vehicle to other modes of transport. At the same time electromobility is the driver for ITS; it will become a necessity instead of an option. And we have to enlarge our perspective. eMobility is not only cars, it includes eBikes, of growing importance for urban mobility, and there we have an actual need for ITS in a fast growing self sustaining market.

Do you believe that politicians in Europe are already sufficiently supporting the deployment of ITS?

Gunter Zimmermeyer: There are already many politicians who strongly support the deployment of ITS in national parliaments and most certainly there are many doing it in the European Parliament. To achieve even broader support, the ITS community will have to cooperate closely delivering facts and figures on the costs and benefits of ITS applications and services. We all know that they have enormous potential to save lives, reduce congestion and protect the environment - to make mobility fit for the future and provide all the needs of society and economy. We all know that bringing intelligence into mobility via ITS is more cost-effective than extending the road infrastructure, which by the way will still be necessary. What is needed are concrete facts and figures. There are already some, but more are necessary.

Bosch has most recently provided to European Member State officials in the ERTICO Public Authority Platform a presentation on safe and secure truck parking. Why is this topic important and what is the Bosch solution?

Gunter Zimmermeyer: The need to provide safe and secure truck parking is already evident in everyday life experience. Trucks are often forced to park at places endangering other vehicles or their drivers or they have to drive to parking places 50 km off their delivery routes. At Bosch we have developed a service which supports the effective and safe organisation and reservation of secure truck parking places using the most advanced ITS technologies.

19th ITS World Congress Vienna - Call for Papers Open!

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:10:32 +0200

ERTICO - ITS EUROPE in close cooperation with the Austrian Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, AustriaTech, ITS Vienna, and the European Commission, is organising the 19th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and Services (ITS) in Vienna, Austria, on 22-26 October 2012.

With the motto “smarter on the way” the Congress will focus on innovative systems for the improvement of mobility, and will explore how ITS can make a real and practical difference in everyday mobility, whether in terms of energy efficiency, environmental impact, X2X communications, transport policy or beyond. ITS stakeholders from around the world will gather to discuss the latest innovations and exchange expertise.

The Exhibition will also reflect the theme with industrial exhibitors, public authorities and ITS related organisations showcasing technologies and services that are changing the face of transport today. In addition, the Exhibition will be open to the general public on Thursday to show them how ITS can help them in their daily life. Information on stand bookings can be found here.

The Congress organisers invite those interested in submitting a Technical/Scientific Paper or a Special Session to do so via the ITS World Congress website from 17 October 2011 until 13 January 2012.

The Congress will be a unique opportunity to:

• Network with all attendees
• Share best practices and lessons learned through a dynamic Congress programme
• Explore the latest ITS solutions showcased at the Congress
• Meet the exhibitors for business and partnership opportunities
• Disseminate relevant information on ITS to a worldwide audience
• Participate in the technical visits and demonstrations
• Enjoy the exciting social programme

For further information contact Valérie Mindlin, Congress Manager, or visit the ITS World Congress 2012 website.

New President of TTS Italia appointed

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:21:27 +0200

On 25 October TTS Italia appointed Rossella Panero, Director of 5t, as new President.

On the same day, TTS Italia elected also the new two Vice-Presidents: Stefano Mellina (Famas System) and Alfredo Bolelli (Mizar Automazione).

The newly elected members of the Board of Directors are Emilio Cera (Atac), Sergio Dondolini (Ministry for Infrastructure and Transport), Roberto Balduini (Octo Telematics), Carlo Lastrucci (Powersoft), Roberto Arditi (Satap), Adriano Scardellato (Targa Infomobility) and Antonella Di Fazio (Telespazio).

For more information, visit TTS Italia website.

Europe launched its first satellites for smart navigation system

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:15:57 +0200

On 21 October 2011 Europe launched the first two operational Galileo satellites from Kourou, French Guiana, with a Soyuz launcher to reach their orbit at 23.000 kilometres. Europe is now a step closer to having its own smart satellite navigation system, which will bring many benefits to our economies and our daily lives. European industry is in pole position to benefit from the Galileo programme, by providing businesses and citizens direct access to a satellite navigation signal powered in Europe.

The Galileo programme sets up an enhanced global satellite navigation system, providing a highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning service. It will offer three services, the Open Service (free of charge), and the Public Regulated Service (PRS) the Search-and-Rescue Service, as of 2014. Further services to follow later will include a Commercial Service and a Safety-of-Life Service for higher data throughput rate and higher accuracy authenticated data.

In addition, the Galileo programme ensures European know-how in a technology that is becoming critical, including for such areas as electricity distribution and telecommunication networks. The system established under the Galileo programme is expected to deliver €90 billion over a period of 20 years in terms of additional revenues for industry and in terms of public and social benefits.

For more information visit the DG Enterprise & Industry website.

Read the full European Commission press release.

World Standards Day 2011

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:30:26 +0200

On 14 October 2011 on the occasion of the World Standards Day, the DG Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission held its annual conference in Brussels. Standardisation is an important issue for the Commission as it impacts on its ability to achieve certain policy goals. In particular, this year’s event concentrated on the role that standardisation has in the European economy and how it can ensure innovation and growth for Europe in the world.

The event embraced different areas including standardisation support to Intelligent Transport System (ITS). Representatives of BroadBit, Cen278, ETSI and ERTICO – ITS Europe were invited to give presentations and to share their thoughts and views on standardisation and ITS.

Andras Kovacs, who manages BroadBit research work, underlined the importance of ITS standardisation for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). According to Mr Kovacs SME can have an important role as they can bring innovative ideas; but in order to do so, the standardisation process needs to be affordable with a fair pricing strategy and be quick because SMEs do not have the means to spend years on standardisation without achieving returns on this investment. Søren Hess, Chair of the ITS Technical Committee at ETSI (the European Telecommunications Standards Institute), stated that substantial further completion of standards on cooperative systems should happen within the next few years. Some standardisation results have already been released. Hermann Meyer, ERTICO Chief Executive Officer, gave an overview on why standards are needed and presented some of the ERTICO activities in support of standardisation. Mr Meyer highlighted the positive aspect of standards as they provide economies of scale and furthermore, they provide the basis for future certification. In the ITS context, most standards focus on achieving interoperability, seamless connectivity and data/information exchange.

The attention of the participants focused on cooperation and internationalisation. An important issue concerned the role users had in the creation of standards. Mr Hess explained that ETSI has a users group and that several projects such as Field Operate Tests (FOTs) are based on users needs. Mr Meyer confirmed that in the context of deployment, it is important to focus more on users in the future. ERTICO has a Users Sector Platform and a Public Authority Sector Platform which provide important input into the Partnership by articulating their needs. In addition, ERTICO is also organising a Forum on ITS for Urban Mobility in order to gain knowledge about the challenges in cities and to discuss relevant ITS solutions.

Another important issue raised at the conference was the possibility of increasing international cooperation on standardisation. Most standardisation bodies and organisations are already a step ahead in this process. For instance, ERTICO has a well-established partnership with the USA and Japan which covers different types of activities such as vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication and location based services. It was pointed out that there are ongoing cooperation activities between EU, USA and Japan on harmonisation of some specific cooperative system applications.

The video of the sessions is available here.

ERTICO welcomes New Staff

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:51:30 +0200

Andy Rooke served as a Police Officer in the UK for 31 years specialising in Road Policing and Road Death Investigation. He was also a technical advisor to the Association of Chief Police Officers in the UK and TISPOL on ITS matters, was a project partner in eMERGE, GST, VERA 1,2,3, EVI and Liaison projects and Project manager for Remove.
On leaving the Police Service and worked as a project manager for Transport for London delivering the CVIS London test site and the UK Technology Strategy Board project FREEFLOW.
Andy then worked for ERTICO partner Technolution developing the UK market and acting as the Technolution project partner for eCoMove.
Andy has joined the ERTICO team to be Project Co-ordinator of the HeERO project.

Nuno Quental is Portuguese and holds a PhD in Territorial Engineering since 2010. He joined ERTICO – ITS Europe as a Project Support Manager.
Before, he worked for 15 months for ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, in Bonn, as EcoMobility Officer.
After graduation in Environmental Engineering, in 2001, Nuno worked for the Catholic University for six years in projects dealing with sustainable urban development and Local Agenda 21.ectivity and data/information exchange.

Call for Papers - ISEP 2012

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:29:11 +0200

20th International Symposium on Electronics in Transport

LINKING PEOPLE WITH ITS

March 26th and 27th 2012 at Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Slovenian ITS Association under umbrella of the Electro technical Association of Slovenia will organise the jubilee 20th International Symposium on Electronics in Transport – ISEP which promotes the strategic objective of integrating and strengthening the European Research Area in Slovenia as well as in the other member States, Accession States and in some nearby countries.

The Symposiums’ 2012 theme is “Linking People with ITS”. This theme brings focus on the importance of planning, developing and using innovative traffic infrastructure and vehicles in the way that they will cooperate with different telematics applications especially to provide critical information to existing riders and encourage non-riders to became public transport users. Intelligent Transport Systems and Services continue to be deployed across Europe at an increasing pace for all modes of transport.

But, the current ITS, logistics or public transport solutions cannot meet the challenges modern society is facing today. Therefore, some questions could be addressed: Can sustainable transport profit lesser road user charges, and if so, is ITS the means to measure this? How can we help public authorities to develop an integrated view on ITS, including its strategy development? Is the right next step: “multi-modal, mobile, networked, pervasive, ... with a particular business model”?

On the other hand, it is of great importance to establish a research network of Slovenia and nearby countries in the area of ITS and tie it to the European and regional research. Each of you will come with your own aspirations to the Symposium will share them with old and new colleagues.

Unique to this event is the encouragement of participation by PhD students who are involved in current state-of-the-art transport research and practical issues concerning ITS. The symposium will give PhD students the opportunity to present their PhD work to a knowledgeable audience. At the same time, it will offer the opportunity for the presentation of achievements of Slovene and foreign researchers.

Further, the symposium gives participants from ministries, universities, research organisations and industry the opportunity to establish personal contacts with the aim of stimulating the efficient transfer of research results to the market, according to the needs and expectations of users of all modes of transportation.

The aim of the symposium is also to encourage dialogue and cooperation among the participants who are involved in solving the problems and looking for common solutions.

ISEP Symposium is focusing on the following topics:

ITS technologies in and for all modes of transport,
Policy, strategy and standards for future ITS,
The role of ITS in railways, air and maritime traffic,
ITS: saving time and lives,
Congestion control and reduction,
Communications supporting mobility
Public transport operations and urban mobility,
Human aspect in ITS,
Efficiency in long distance freight,
Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to infrastructure communication technologies and applications,
Road pricing,
Incident detection and emergency management,
The policy and sociology of ITS communications,
Traffic simulation and modelling,
Business models for ITS applications,
Traveller and Traffic information,
Traffic management,
Solutions for travellers with special needs,
Digital maps,
Weather monitoring with traffic control,
ITS training and education,
ITS architecture,
eSafety vehicles.

Deadlines

13 January 2012 - Registration of abstracts
27 January 2012 - Notification of acceptance
24 February 2012 - Submission of paper

Additional information can be found on ISEP website, you can also contact ISEP

European Commission adopts plan for €50 billion boost to European networks

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:54:23 +0200

On 19 October the European Commission has approved a plan which will fund €50 billion worth of investment to improve Europe's transport, energy and digital networks. Targeted investments in key infrastructures will help to create jobs and boost Europe's competitiveness at a time when Europe needs this most. The "Connecting Europe Facility" will finance projects which fill the missing links in Europe's energy, transport and digital backbone. It will also make Europe's economy greener by promoting cleaner transport modes, high speed broadband connections and facilitating the use of renewable energy in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy. In addition the funding for energy networks will further integrate the internal energy market, reduce the EU's energy dependency and bolster the security of supply. To assist with the financing of the Connecting Europe Facility, the Commission has also adopted the terms for the Europe 2020 Project Bond Initiative which will be one of a number of risk-sharing instruments upon which the facility may draw in order to attract private finance in projects. The pilot phase will start already next year.

By focussing on smart, sustainable and fully interconnected transport, energy and digital networks, the Connecting Europe Facility will help to complete the European single market. The Commission has singled out projects where additional EU investment can have the most impact. In particular, the Commission expects Connecting Europe Facility investments to act as a catalyst for further funding from the private and public sector by giving infrastructure projects credibility and lowering their risk profiles. For the first time, the Commission is proposing a single funding instrument for the three network sectors, true to its commitment to create synergies and simplification of rules.

President José Manuel Barroso said: "The Connecting Europe Facility and the Project Bond Initiative are a perfect demonstration of the value added that Europe can provide. These proposals will help to build the roads, railways, energy grids and pipelines, and broadband networks that are so important to our citizens and businesses. We are closing the missing links in Europe's infrastructure networks that otherwise would not be built. This investment will generate growth and jobs and at the same time make work and travel easier for millions of European citizens and businesses".

The Connecting Europe Facility will better mobilise private financing and allow for innovative financial instruments such as guarantees and project bonds to gain maximum leverage from this EU funding injection The European Commission will work closely with the EIB to take advantage of capital market investors' interest in long-term investment opportunities with stable revenues.

Concerning the Trasnport sector, the Connecting Europe Facility will invest €31.7 billion to upgrade Europe's transport infrastructure, build missing links and remove bottlenecks. This includes €10 billion ring fenced in the Cohesion Fund for transport projects in the cohesion countries, with the remaining 21.7 billion available for all Member States for investing in transport infrastructure. The idea is to improve links between different parts of the EU, to make it easier for different countries to exchange goods and people with each other.

By focussing on transport modes that are less polluting, the Connecting Europe Facility will push our transport system to become more sustainable. It will also give consumers more choice about how they want to travel.
Transport systems in Europe have traditionally developed along national lines. The EU has a crucial role to play in coordinating between Member States when planning, managing and funding cross-border projects. A well-functioning network is essential to the smooth operation of the single market and will boost competitiveness. The Commission proposed to create corridors to cover the most important cross-border projects. It has estimated that by 2020, €500 billion will be needed to realise a real European network, including €250 billion for removing bottlenecks and completing missing links in the core network.

Read the full European Commission Press Release here

USA Department of Transportation hosts research clinic to test "Connected Vehicle Technology’"

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:18:27 +0200

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood previews high-tech vehicles in demonstration at Walt Disney World® SPEEDWAY

ORLANDO – USA Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today received a firsthand look at “connected vehicle” technologies that have the potential to improve safety and help drivers avert crashes as part of a research clinic hosted by the Department of Transportation at Walt Disney World® SPEEDWAY.

“Thanks to the efforts of automakers and the safety community traffic fatalities have reached historic lows. Despite these great strides though, more than 32,000 people are still killed on our nation’s roads every year. That’s why we must remain vigilant in our effort to improve safety,” said Secretary LaHood. “This research should bring us a step closer to what could be the next major safety breakthrough.”

Analyses by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show connected vehicle technology could potentially impact approximately 80 percent of vehicle crash types involving non-impaired drivers. Specifically, NHTSA research shows these technologies could help prevent a majority of kinds of crashes that typically occur in the real world such as crashes at intersections or while switching lanes.

The four-day “Driver Acceptance Clinic” at Walt Disney World® SPEEDWAY in Orlando is part of a six-month program that includes similar research clinics across the nation. The driver clinics are the first phase of a two-part research program jointly developed by the Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) in coordination with other U.S. Department of Transportation agencies.

The driver clinics are designed to evaluate cars equipped with “vehicle-to-vehicle” communications systems in a controlled environment where researchers can observe the drivers’ responses. The technologies being tested include in-car collision warnings, “do not pass” alerts, warnings that a vehicle ahead has stopped suddenly, and other similar safety messages.

“With its potential to save lives and prevent injuries, connected vehicle technology could be a real game-changer for vehicle safety,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “These clinics are vital to understanding how drivers will respond to the technology and how connected vehicles communicate in real world scenarios.”

RITA Acting Administrator Greg Winfree said, “The past several decades of auto safety have been dedicated to surviving crashes, but the future will be about avoiding crashes. That is what connected vehicles are all about. Moreover, the entire Safety Pilot is about connecting the best resources from public and private sectors to achieve the most effective results possible.”

Driver clinics have already been held in Michigan and Minnesota, and future clinics are planned for Virginia, California, and Texas and are expected to conclude by January 2012. Following the clinic program, the Department of Transportation will launch the second part of the Safety Pilot with a model deployment that will use approximately 3,000 vehicles to further test connected vehicle technology in a year-long effort from summer 2012 through summer 2013. The model deployment will operate on roads in Ann Arbor, Michigan and test a limited number of vehicle-to-infrastructure applications in addition to continuing the research on vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems.

Eight major automotive manufacturers are providing support for the Department’s research through partnering agreements: Ford Motor Company, General Motors LLC., Honda R&D Americas, Inc., Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc., Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, Inc., Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc., Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. and Volkswagen Group of America.

The information collected from both phases of the Safety Pilot will be used by NHTSA to determine by 2013 whether to proceed with additional vehicle-to-vehicle communication activities, including possible future rulemakings.

For more information visit the USA Department of Transportation website.

ITS Japan received the “FY 2011 Information Month” award

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:01:34 +0200

On 3 October, ITS Japan (represented by the Chairman Dr Hiroyuki Watanabe) along with other 16 winners received the prize at “FY 2011 Information Month” award ceremony in Tokyo for its activity in enriching the information society.

ITS Japan received the “Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism award” for its innovative initiative to release the “Traffic Performance and Blocked Road Map” on the website soon after the Great East Japan earthquake on 11 March 2011. The service successfully integrated the huge traffic information which had been independently collected by the car/car-navigation companies, public sectors and the expressway operators, and the map helped many people to find the appropriate routings to transport people and goods for the disaster reconstruction activities. (See the related news)

This award was established in 1972 by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and it is jointly coordinated by the METI, the Cabinet Office (CAO), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The award is given to individuals, companies and information processing systems for their contribution to society with new information technologies.

The service “Traffic Performance and Blocked Road Map” is going to be featured in the ITS Japan exhibition booth as well as in session programs during the 18th ITS World Congress in Orlando.

Dr Hiroyuki Watanabe, Chairman of ITS Japan, receives the “Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism award”

This article has been published in cooperation with ITS Japan.

ERTICO and ITS China sign Memorandum of Understanding

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:53:05 +0200

Opening up new areas of cooperation and business opportunities, ERTICO – ITS Europe and ITS China signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the 18th ITS World Congress, held this year in Orlando, USA.

ERTICO – ITS Europe and ITS China have long been working together to strengthen cooperation between Europe and China for the development and the deployment of ITS. This cooperation began almost 10 years ago with successful EC co-funded projects such as DYNASTY, SIMBA, SIMBA II and, currently, VIAJEO.

The recent September 2011 seminar between ERTICO, and ten ERTICO Partners such as Volvo Technology Corporation, NXP Semiconductors, CINTERION, BOSCH and PTV, and more than 30 ITS China Members further cemented cooperation, and highlighted potentially fruitful areas of cooperation such as multi-modal journey planning, traffic and traveller information and communication in ITS.

The MoU was signed at the European Pavilion at the Orlando ITS World Congress by Mr Wu Zhongze, President of ITS China and Mr Hermann Meyer, ERTICO CEO.

Mr Wu stated that “Since its founding in 2008, ITS China has always been committed to building a platform for China’s win-win cooperation in ITS with other partners in and around China and developing a sound cooperative relationship with ERTICO, especially the ITS forum we held together last month during our China Annual Conference on ITS.

Mr Meyer noted that “the rapid development of China is creating mobility challenges which can most effectively be addressed by cutting-edge ITS technologies. This Memorandum of Understanding between ERTICO – ITS Europe and ITS China will provide the framework further strengthened cooperation between the Partners within both organisations.”

With Europe and China sharing similar mobility challenges and objectives, and with the positive feedback from ERTICO Partners involved in the recent seminar, the MoU provides a framework and springboard for further coordinated actions. ERTICO and ITS China will continue and intensify efforts to share information about areas of mutual benefit and step up the organisation of demonstrations and workshops where ERTICO and ITS China Partners can exchange R&D and commercial opportunities.

Full statement from Chairman Wu, ITS China

"Today, ITS China and ERTICO hold this ceremony to sign our bilateral MOU for cooperation at the booth of ERTICO. The MOU signed by two sides will serve as a starting point and thus is of vital importance to promote communications and exchanges among our enterprises and the developments between China and Europe.

Since its founding in 2008, ITS China has always been committed to building a platform for China’s win-win cooperation in ITS with other partners in and around China and developing a sound cooperative relationship with ERTICO, especially the ITS forum we held together last month during our China Annual Conference on ITS.

Our association is willing to set up a mechanism of information sharing, project collaboration and ITS symposiums holding in order to better utilise this platform for further cooperation.

ITS China is a significant industry organisation with an increasingly important role in ITS. We are willing to taking this opportunity to consistently strengthen the exchanges and cooperation between us, bridge a channel for our companies to cooperate and promote common progress and development of ITS China and ERTICO. Thank you."

Hermann Meyer, ERTICO CEO and Wu Zhongze, Chairman of ITS China

ERTICO - ITS Europe and ITS China members

Download the Press Release

Interview with Prof. Oliver Carsten, University of Leeds, on the new ecoDriver project

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:36:40 +0200

ERTICO: The University of Leeds is leading a new EC-funded project called ecoDriver. What is this project about?

Oliver Carsten: The project focuses on how to improve feedback to drivers on energy consumption in driving. We are covering a wide range of vehicles - mass-market cars, executive cars, trucks and buses as well as a variety of fuel systems - internal combustion engine, hybrid and full electric. The major research is on two aspects of feedback. First of all, we are looking at the interaction between the vehicle and the driver: what is the best way to inform the driver about how to improve energy efficiency? Should we be using continuous visual displays as a lot of current vehicles do or should we be directly intervening by giving the driver haptic signals on the accelerator pedal, for example varying pedal stiffness or vibrating the pedal? Is there a role for auditory messages? Do we advise the driver based on momentary performance or on performance over a certain time period?

Secondly, we are seeking to enhance the quality of the feedback by implementing our own “calculation engine” to compare actual energy consumption with optimal energy consumption for the current road and conditions. Thus gives us a kind of sub-optimality index, telling us how much better a driver could do in the circumstances. Those two elements - the ecoDriver front-end as seen or felt by the driver and the ecoDriver calculator - give us the overall ecoDriver system. This system will be implementable both as original equipment and as software for nomadic devices.

ERTICO: In what way does ecoDriver differ from already existing driver assistance systems? What is the added value?

Oliver Carsten: Almost all driver assistance systems so far have focused on enhancing driver comfort and safety. Typical examples are Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning. Those systems are intended to make driving less stressful and safer. The potential of driver assistance systems to deliver energy savings and environmental benefits has not been really exploited. The enhancement of safety will continue to be a major concern and ADAS will I am sure continue to deliver here. Indeed, in designing the ecoDriver systems, we will do our very best to ensure that there are no negative side-effects of system use on safety. But the impact of transport on the environment is a growing concern both for society and for individuals. In addition, by saving energy we also directly reduce the cost of driving which is important both for individuals and for fleets. Finally, if we can improve energy efficiency, we can make alternative means of propulsion, such as hybrid and electric power, more practical and attractive. So both the individual and society as a whole can benefit.

ERTICO: Can you tell us about the technology behind it? What makes it more “accurate” and “intuitive” than existing devices?

Oliver Carsten: As I already indicated, we are working on two fronts. We are developing both our own calculation of energy consumption and a method to benchmark current energy use against optimal energy use. In terms of the optimum, we will be considering a wide range of factors such as road geometry, traffic conditions and the weather. There is no point in advising a driver to go faster when the vehicle is held up by congestion and we should not advise the driver to change to a higher gear on a steep downgrade. So we intend both to be accurate and to be sensitive to the prevailing situation.

In terms of feedback, we know rather little at the moment about what is effective. We may be telling the driver that he or she is performing badly or well - for example with pictures of leaves on the dashboard - but we are not telling drivers how to improve their performance. And we are generally not giving feedback directly to the main device that drivers use to demand energy use, namely the accelerator pedal. There is also a tendency for the effectiveness of current support systems to wear off rather quickly. We want to ensure that our feedback has durable impact.

ERTICO: In your press release, you are making the bold statement that ecoDriver products could be on the market within five years, i.e. not long after the project end. What makes you so sure about this?

Oliver Carsten: Among our project partners we have three of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers - BMW and Fiat as car producers and Daimler as a truck producer. We also have companies involved in nomadic and mobile devices. Those companies are very keen to learn from the ecoDriver research how best to optimise energy consumption and how to present the driver with feedback. One can anticipate that, if we are successful in our research, there will be a very rapid influence on products both as original equipment and as aftermarket devices.

ERTICO: Are you an eco-driver?

Oliver Carsten: Probably not nearly as much as I could be. Yes, I do try not to accelerate too hard and to keep to the speed limit. But my car does not provide me with any feedback on my current performance in terms of energy consumption nor on how I could improve that performance. In the absence of such feedback it is very hard to know in any kind of detail how I should change my driving style both in general and from moment to moment.

For more information, please contact:

Prof. Oliver Carsten
University of Leeds
Institute for Transport Studies
o.m.j.carsten@its.leeds.ac.uk
Phone: +44 113 343 5348
http://www.its.leeds.ac.uk/

Read the Press Release of the launch of ecoDrivere here

The University of Leeds presents the new ecoDriver project

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:04:34 +0200

The University of Leeds is leading a £13m (€14.5m) European project which aims to turn even the most committed of petrol heads into a green driver, which could save pounds at the pump and protect the planet. Over a four-year period researchers will develop innovative new technologies for both in-vehicle and remote devices, such as downloadable smart-phone apps, that will help motorists to significantly reduce their fuel consumption by driving in a more energy-efficient way.

The researchers’ aim is to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%, which could translate into savings of around £500 a year for the average motorist spending £50 a week on petrol. Leeds researchers led by Professor Oliver Carsten will work with transport research centres across Europe, as well as several leading vehicle manufacturers, to design and test the devices, which could be on the market within 5 years. Professor Carsten, from the University of Leeds’ Institute for Transport Studies, said: “The way we drive can make a huge difference to the amount of fuel we use and in turn how much CO2 is released into the atmosphere.

“As a general rule, the most important influence on fuel consumption is the driver’s use of the accelerator. However, fuel consumption is also affected by lots of other factors like how much air you have in your tyres, how many passengers you’re carrying, engine performance and even the weather conditions.”

Some vehicles are already fitted with devices that give drivers feedback on their fuel efficiency. They work by using information about the engine size, gears and speed to calculate a rough estimate of consumption, often displayed as miles per gallon (MPG) or litres per 100 km.

But according to Professor Carsten, they lack the sophistication to have a real impact on driver behaviour, especially in the longer term. “Real-world evaluations indicate that existing devices do not really have much of an effect on people’s driving” he said. “At the most they are probably saving around 5% and the novelty tends to wear off with drivers after a while. With ecoDriver we are hoping to create intuitive devices that are not only more accurate, but that can respond intelligently to what kind of driver you are. So different drivers might have different kinds of feedback, but in any case we want to ensure that it is easy for drivers to understand what they need to do in order to save fuel. That way, we are more likely to gain acceptance among motorists, which is the biggest obstacle to changing driver behaviour.”

The team hope to come up with new ways of feeding back information to the driver, for example by making the accelerator pedal stiffer to encourage drivers to ease off or change to a higher gear.

The four-year project will make use of the University’s state-of-the-art driving simulator, which will allow the researchers to test the effectiveness of their prototype devices on fuel efficiency and driver response. The best designs will then be subjected to real-world tests with a variety of drivers. At the end of the project the best designs will be incorporated into vehicles for a project showcase. It is hoped that the concepts will then be taken up by vehicle manufacturers and brought to market.

The results of the project will also be used to make predictions for policy-makers on how much energy could be saved if the technologies were used across the UK vehicle fleet.

The research is a collaboration between the University of Leeds; ERTICO - ITS Europe in Belgium; TNO and NAVTEQ in the Netherlands; VTI in Sweden; CTAG in Spain; BMW, Daimler AG and Institut für Kraftfahrzeuge (ika) of RWTH Aachen University in Germany; IFSTTAR in France; and Fiat Research Centre in Italy. It has been funded under the Information and Communication Technologies stream of the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme for research and technological development (FP7).

For more information, please contact:
Paula Gould
Press Officer, University of Leeds
T: +44 (0)113 343 8059

Interview with Heinz Sodeikat, Honorary Chairman of ITS Network Germany

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:32:51 +0200

Heinz Sodeikat, erstwhile ERTICO Chairman and Honorary Chairman of ITS Network Germany, reflects back on past achievements… and future roles.

Do you consider yourself an “architect” of ERTICO?

Heinz Sodeikat: In a certain sense, yes. At my time we worked out the basic structure of today’s ERTICO and during my following ERTICO chairmanship 1995-1998 we implemented it. The excellent cooperation of the Board and the ERTICO management was a key factor to success. By the way, during this period, Supervisory Board meetings were full day meetings and were held almost every month. The amount of work was huge.

Was there a particularly exciting moment during your ERTICO career?

Heinz Sodeikat: In fact, there was. When the Japanese Imperial Crown Prince Akishimo welcomed me, Chairman of ERTICO, at the occasion of the 2nd ITS World Congress, Yokohama, 1995 (see picture below).

One of the success stories during your ERTICO chairmanship was the ITS World Congress in Berlin, 1997, why?

Heinz Sodeikat: First of all, the selection of the city. Promotion and advocacy was not as professional as today;it was based on the effort of dedicated people. I convinced the majority of the Supervisory Board members, including the French who voted en bloc, in favour of Berlin. By that time, the Berlin authorities were fully engulfed in the German reunification problems, and had almost no ear for an ITS world congress. But perseverance won and some modest support was obtained. In her opening speech, the Swedish Minister of Transport Ines Uusman presented for the first time the revolutionary Zero Vision, which meant, not a single fatality in road transport. Her speech may be considered as one of the ignition sparks of the European Commission road safety initiative.

Thanks to the successful congress, ERTICO achieved the necessary credibility and visibility to get a steep rise in membership. Membership has more than doubled since. Definitely, this also consolidated ERTICO’s former precarious financial situation.

Attendees commended on your speech at the opening session of the ITS Congress, what did you say?

Heinz Sodeikat: Excellent question! But I am convinced that people who commended on my speech did not remember a single word. They were just impressed by the fact that I not only welcomed, as usual, the dignitaries but also addressed the three European ITS World Congresses cities, Paris, Berlin and Turin, in their native tongues French, German and Italian.

During your chairmanship the Supervisory Board introduced the 3 year principle i.e. Board Members should not hold a position for more than 3 years. Was this the end of your ERTICO involvement?

Heinz Sodeikat: Not at all. I served for another 3 years as ERTICO President & Spokesman, followed by a period of 3 years as Adviser to the Board. This was beneficial for ERTICO. Board members had changed in the meantime and problems which had been solved in the past were put forward as new ones. Sometimes, it was helpful to point out solutions adopted in the past and the reasons why.

Taking into account your ERTICO experience, did you co-found and / or chair other ITS organisations? If yes, what were the specific challenges?

Heinz Sodeikat: In 2001 I co-founded ITS Munich Germany, the first German local ITS organisation and chaired it for seven years. The challenge was to give it a respectable profile and visibility with very little money and no active support from the public sector. Thanks to personal dedication and generous in-kind sponsoring of our members we succeeded within a few years.

In 2007 I co-founded on behalf of ITS Munich Germany the nationwide German ITS umbrella organisation ITS Network Germany and chaired it until October 2011. The challenge was to make it a living association, since no companies but only member based organisations are liable to become a member of this German network. They are mainly local/regional German ITS organisations. This reflects the federal structure of Germany. This year’s ITS Forum Berlin raised ITS Network Germany to the indispensable degree of national importance and visibility.

How about ITS Nationals?
As co-founder of ITS Nationals, on behalf of ITS Munich Germany, in 2004, I put a lot of effort in giving advice to make it a success story. I think that the real value of ITS Nationals is the unique possibility for SME’s and other organisations, not represented in ERTICO, to meet, create partnerships and at the end of the day do business together. This goal is beginning to be reached.

Do you think ERTICO is a good benchmark for other ITS organisations?

Heinz Sodeikat: It is the best benchmark I know! Furthermore, I do consider ERTICO a well working, integrated little Europe, without any national boundaries. This is absolutely outstanding.

What are you intending to do next?

Heinz Sodeikat: Well, after having served terms on European, local and national level and having overcome all kinds of hindrances and obstacles I think I’d better relax now and observe the evolution of the three ITS organisations ERTICO, ITS Munich Germany and ITS Network Germany. Speaking of ERTICO I am very pleased to see how solidly it is evolving and how professionally it is managed. Just continue! And if observation is not enough I could still to do some consultancy work for my own one man company AHS Management Consulting.

ITS for ElectroMobility – Gunter Zimmermeyer, ERTICO Chairman, addresses European Parliament seminar

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:49:43 +0200

Gunter Zimmermeyer, ERTICO Chairman, participated in the “Electric cars and mobility challenges in times of change” seminar, organised by the Socialists and Democrat Group (S&D) of the European Parliament.

Mr Zimmermeyer argued that “ITS is a stroke of luck for ElectroMobility… and ElectroMobility is a stroke of luck for ITS”. Addressing the ever increasing challenges of urbanisation, transport, environmental impact and scarce resources, Mr Zimmermeyer illustrated how ITS can help ElectroMobility especially in the context of first generation of FEVs, and how ElectroMobility can likewise provide an entrance for ITS applications into the market.

ElectroMobilty is a priority today in the EU and other regions, and the first generation of FEVs have arrived. ITS is an efficient and effective step to achieve different aspects of sustainable mobility all at once, meeting the consumer need to travel from A to B quickly, comfortably, economically and reliably, reducing the consumption of scarce resources, increasing safety and security and reducing environmental impact, as well as overcoming ElectroMobility’s early limitations.

Mr Zimmermeyer outlined how ITS will support ElectroMobilty first through the evolution of today’s ITS application, then through the “revolution”, or development of wholly new and tailored ITS applications for FEVs.

ITS, by providing multi-modal journey planning and cooperative and intelligent V2X communications, will lead to a fully informed and confident driver, secure in the knowledge that his or her electric vehicle will perform as required, completing all journeys safely and efficiently.

Finally, Mr Zimmermeyer also stressed that it should not be forgotten that ElectroMobilty is not limited to vehicles, highlighting the potential role that eBikes could play. Noting that eBikes are already widely available, understood and accepted, and indeed have an ever increasing role to play in an aging society, Mr Zimmermeyer called for their full integration into the mobility chain through the implementation of ITS specifically for eBikes. In this regard, Mr Zimmermeyer again highlighted how eBikes, much like FEVs, would have both a push and a pull effect on the deployment of ITS.

To see Mr Zimmermeyer’s presentation, please click here.

“ITS pushes eCars and eMobility pushes ITS. Together they push sustainable mobility and make it fit for the future.” (G. Zimmermeyer)

Co-Cities: Cooperative Mobility Services to improve urban traffic management

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:41:46 +0200

Pilot project Co-Cities incorporates travellers’ feedback to existing mobility services to offer better transport information services

The EU co-funded pilot project Co-Cities (Cooperative Cities) aspires to extend and validate existing mobility services to improve current traffic information management in cities and urban areas. The novelty about the Co-Cities services is their cooperative feature permitting the end users to report their feedback to the traffic management. The project will run for 3 years and pilots will be tested in the cities of Bilbao, Munich, Prague, Reading, Vienna and in the Tuscany Region site (this site will include information services available in different Tuscany cities and over the regional area).

Feedback Loop
Up to now, transport information services included dynamic navigation, intermodal routing and real time advice, but did not deliver information sent out by the traveller to traffic management. Co-Cities will take up the idea of mutual information exchange and develop a dynamic feedback loop from mobile users and travellers to the cities' traffic management centres adding cooperative mobility to traffic information services. Using this feedback loop the project extends and validates integrated multimodal information services and enhances the quality for all users. Data communication will be based on the In-Time Commonly Agreed Interface (CAI). This interface is a R&D result of the European project In-Time (Intelligent and Efficient Travel Management for European Cities) and provides common interface between city traffic management information and the Transport Information Service Providers (TISP).

Objectives
Co-Cities aims to achieve a number of objectives envisioning to improve the traffic information distribution and to adapt it to the users’ needs:

Extend the In-Time Commonly Agreed Interface with a feedback loop to enrich mobility services with cooperative elements
Extend the number of cities which install this interface and connect it to the traffic management centre for a regular feed of data and information
Develop a fast and reliable validation process for cooperative traffic information services
Contribute to the objectives of improved road safety, increased energy efficiency, higher comfort and sustainability of transport in urban areas
Make transport information services more attractive and appealing to users in urban areas

Co-Cities services
Co-Cities delivers common traffic information services in European cities by generating and collecting the necessary data directly from the involved transport operators in the area and exchanging this information between different actors via the In-Time interface. Further, Co-Cities enables the customisation to the needs of single user groups by the respective service provider and maintainer. The core information services of cooperative cities are:

Road traffic and event information
Parking information in urban areas
Public transport information
PT journey planning and route guidance
Walking and cycling information

The real challenge for cooperative cities and service providers is the accuracy and quality of the services. These services will be presented in an integrated and consumer friendly way giving the end user the option to directly feedback traffic related events to the cities’ traffic management centres. With this feedback loop from the users to the traffic management Co-Cities can react to changing traffic conditions and adapt their traffic management and control plans faster than before, communicate changes dynamically to travellers and people on the move and enhance mobility in urban areas.
The result of Co-Cities will on the one hand be interoperable and multimodal RTTI (Real time traffic information) services to end-users using different hardware and software platforms such as personal navigation devices, smart phones and web services and develop Europe–wide services based on regional traffic and travel data. On the other hand Co-Cities will offer Business-to-business services which enable Europe-wide Traffic Information Service Providers (TISPs) to cooperate with regional and urban authorities in fields such as strategy-based routing and adaptive mobility services

European initiative
The transport information services of Co-Cities are developed in a European partnership of 14 partners. The consortium consists of cities, public authorities, transport operators and regions providing high quality traffic information and of Traffic Information Service Providers which bring in their relations to the end users and customers. Co-Cities started in January 2011 and will finish in December 2013.

For further information please contact the Co-Cities coordinator Alexander Frötscher, AustriaTech

NEWS FROM TISA

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:36:27 +0200

2 important weeks for TISA in the USA

On Wednesday 12 October 2011 TISA Executive Office along with some TISA Members will be assessing, commenting and
supporting the balloting process of the TISA deliverables during the ISO TC 204 WG10 Meeting in Tampa (Florida). TISA deliverables include a major update of the ISO 14819-series of standard (T MC), the seven remaining parts of the ISO 18234-series (T PEG1-now complete) and six additions to the ISO 21219-series (TPEG2). TISA has already informed ISO about its plan to have four new additions to the TPEG2-series ready for a submission to ISO in the near future.

The following week (16-20 October 2011) TISA will be also participating in the IT S World Congress in Orlando (Florida) and will be present at the ER TICO pavilion. On Monday 17 October 2011, the first day of the Congress, TISA will hold a Special Session (room SS1 6 from 15:30to 17:00) on the ongoing switchover from analogue to digital delivery of R eal Time Traffic Information. During the session, TISA Members NAVTEQ, iBiquity, INRIX and ClearChannel will explain how the availability of d igital bearers has offered them new opportunities in north America. These opportunities include coverage area and 1-to-1 channels of communication as well as on how they managed to offer consis tent seamless RTTI services across state
borders, beyond the metro markets and on a multi-platform basis.

Visit TISA website.

Time for linked-up training in ITS - Kingston University London has a new Masters course

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:39:47 +0200

Keith Keen, Industrial Liaison Coordinator at Kingston University, presents new ITSS Masters course

Now we have the tools and some clearer strategy paths it’s a good time to get to grips with the task of really viewing transport as a continuous line from start to finish. While all the transport-related disciplines – engineering, planning, administration, operations, finance have their parts to play – there’s one specialism that has a pivotal role in bring the action together. However you see intelligent transport systems, maybe from the technical side or from the strategy implementation side, the advances in the technologies that now permit travellers to know where they are and what they will confront next are no longer a dream. Freight logistics can precisely move materials from source to sale locations in the desired quantities and at the right time. Plans and strategies exist to prepare, to implement and to amend travel choices as local conditions change.

But does this happen? Not as much as it could do and surely will do before long. But why is this happening for just a few? Of course leading edge advances take time to penetrate the wider spectrum of the population and need all the bricks to be in place at affordable prices. We have the bricks, navigation system hardware and the delivery systems that update the network status near to real time and these are available in-vehicle and outside the vehicle. So increasingly wherever you are you can know where you are. These tools continue to be made more useful, but often we find that the one we use is limited in scope often only helping us on the road – in the vehicle and walking and less so cycling. When we would like to change networks it is not always feasible to revise the overall journey routing and mode as you go along. In some locations and with some Apps we are getting there.

Our desire to make a seamless journey is there – we all must have said to ourselves at some time “Had I known that I would have travelled differently!” – but are there the all-round specialists to fix it so that sometime in the future we will not need to ask the question? It seems not. If the answer does lie in a better understanding of linked-up services and conveying that to network users, then bringing forward new graduates who have learned how to deliver them is a must.

There is no doubt that existing Masters courses in transport provide many capable graduates. However, new Masters courses, among them the Intelligent Transport Systems & Services M.Sc. being established at Kingston University, aim to focus student’s thinking on the linked-up transport essentials. At Kingston, the School of Computing and Information Systems and the Business School have come together to build the new Masters course. Applications are open now for a January 2012 start. Students will cover a broad programme based around the information system infrastructures and techniques required by modern intelligent transport systems and services. Core modules will be shared by all participants to benefit from cross-disciplinary discussion. Optional modules and a dissertation project give the opportunity for deeper study. Plans are also in hand to offer elements of the Masters as stand-alone short courses. You can view the course structure here.

If all goes well, perhaps we will see linked-up training increasingly becoming the norm in the years to come.

For more information please visit Kingston University ITSS Masters webpage or contact Keith Keen or Tim Ellis

Fujitsu and Autotalks partner to provide vehicle-to-vehicle communication processor

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:53:48 +0200

Technology Partnership enables delivery of automotive grade processor in 2012

Fujitsu Semiconductor Europe (FSEU) and Autotalks today announced that they have reached an agreement to co-operate on Autotalks’ communication processor, to be developed by Autotalks and manufactured by Fujitsu Semiconductor. The combined efforts of the two technology leaders will provide OEMs and Tier1s with the best vehicle-to-vehicle communication processor at the highest level of reliability.

Autotalks’ vehicle-to-vehicle technology, which combines optimised vehicular modem, advanced security, enhanced positioning and safety application processor, utilises Fujitsu’s extensive silicon technology solutions and long, reliable history of high-quality products as well as its established production facilities. By providing complete and enhanced feature sets for OEMs and Tier1s, this partnership will enable deployment of vehicle-to-vehicle communication units.

“We are delighted to be working with Autotalks and are dedicated to bringing our customers the very best technological differentiators to help fuel innovation and development. Autotalks has an excellent technology for vehicle-to-vehicle communication,” said Mark Ellins, Director Common Technologies & Functions at FSEU. "Fujitsu offers its leading-edge technology and related assets to all custom IC users. A worldwide support program is fully prepared and proven."
“Fujitsu’s cutting-edge design, manufacturing and testing technologies enable us to provide an automotive grade product, which will be the first to satisfy OEMs and Tier1s’ requirements for vehicle-to-vehicle communication series production” said Nir Sasson, CEO of Autotalks. “We are committed to continue strengthening and advancing our supply chain for meeting automotive market expectations. Autotalks is preparing to support the expected worldwide ramp of the Vehicle-to-vehicle communication market.”

Autotalks’ Integrated Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication Processor uses its own advanced technologies, developed to increase communication reliability, and provides the most accurate information for safety applications. The technology was tested in many field trials worldwide. The communication processor supports the US, EU and Japan specifications, and will be available in 2012. "The flexibility of Autotalks’ communication processor and our experience with vehicle-to-vehicle installation aspects enable us to address different configurations for OEMs and Tier1s in the most comprehensive way and in a cost-effective manner," said Onn Haran, CTO of Autotalks. "By leveraging our existing, successful technology, we are able to deliver the first and most advanced automotive grade vehicle-to-vehicle chip to the market."

Read the Press Release on Fujitsu website

Press Contacts
John Kearley
PR Director

JDK Marketing Communications (on behalf of FSEU)
Tel: +44 1959 562 772
E-mail: john@jdk.co.uk

Dutch ITS report response to the EC Directive 2010/40/EU

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:39:24 +0200

The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment has published a report on the 2011 National Inventory of ITS for roads in the Netherlands in response to the demand formulated in EC Directive 2010/40/EU. The report gives an overview of the current status of ITS in the country as well as list of some of the most important actions taken. According to the report, “many measures are taken to facilitate this high level of mobility and many more are needed as traffic is expected to grow between 10 and 35% between now and 2020”. Transport is one of larger and more significant sector for the Dutch economy as it gives 750,000 jobs and it represents 8.5% of GDP.

Read the full report here.

Siim Kallas talks about the policy challenges for transport at the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:55:30 +0200

On 30 September Siim Kallas, Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Transport, spoke at the Centre for European Policy Studies about the policy challenges for transport in the following years.

Commissioner Kallas stated that the funding proposed by the Commission for the period 2014 to 2020 will “accelerate infrastructure development in energy, transport and information technology, to strengthen the backbone of the internal market”. According to Mr Kallas, the transport sector should be the “major beneficiary” with “21.7 billion Euros plus another 10 billion Euros for transport projects in the Cohesion Fund”.

The Commissioner pointed out that the transport industry is fundamental for the European economy as it employs around 10 million people, 4.5% of total employment in the EU as well as making the EU one of the most competitive actors within the sector. Nevertheless, issues such as punctuality, congestion and price are still problems to be faced and solved and research plays a crucial role in this context.

Mr Kallas invited all the stakeholders to “focus on ‘three I's’: innovation, investment and infrastructure” to develop new “intelligent solutions to make better use of the existing infrastructure and to make sure the connections between different modes of transport are seamless”. Investment is fundamental to achieve this goal and especially in the EU transport infrastructure which is unequally developed within the Union. According to Siim Kallas, updating and completing the EU transport infrastructure “will have a very significant positive impact on economic growth and keep us competitive. It also takes us much closer towards completing Europe's internal market”.

The Commissioner concluded his speech by recalling the initial idea of a common transport policy which should be used to “put in place the infrastructure and interconnections needed to underpin the internal market”; “to ensure the free-flow of people, services and goods”; and finally “to help create jobs, boost economic growth and keep Europe competitive in the global marketplace”.

Read the full speech here

Successful first seminar between ERTICO and ITS China partners

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:17:32 +0200

ERTICO – ITS Europe and ITS China are working together to strengthen cooperation between Europe and China for the development and the deployment of ITS. This cooperation began almost 10 years ago with successful EC co-funded projects such as DYNASTY, SIMBA, SIMBA II and VIAJEO.

In the scope of the activities organised as part of the joint cooperation roadmap, the First ERTICO – ITS Europe and ITS China Seminar was organised on 8 September 2011 in Beijing during the 6th China Annual Conference and International Exhibition on Intelligent Transport Systems, the 7th International Energy-Efficiency and New Energy Vehicles Innovation Development Forum and Exhibition 6 -10 September 2011.

The meeting objectives were to:

Exchange knowledge and best-practices between Europe and China. Three priority areas were selected by members of the Partnership: Multi-modal journey planning, traffic and traveller information and communication in ITS.
Provide an opportunity for European and Chinese partners to network with a view towards opening doors for new project development between the two regions.

The seminar was attended by representatives from 10 ERTICO Members and more than 30 ITS China Members. Some ERTICO Members such as Volvo Technology Corporation, NXP Semiconductors, CINTERION, BOSCH and PTV gave presentations to introduce their products and services related to the Chinese market. ITS China membersHisense TransTech and STONE Intelligent Transportation System Integration Co. LTD presented their major ITS projects and applications. Positive feedbacks were received from attendees. The attendees from both Europe and China agreed that such seminar created excellent opportunities to develop a sound understanding of current ITS trends and market in both Europe and China. ERTICO and ITS China members also took the chance to meet and discuss potential cooperation opportunities.

The attendees suggested that these seminars should be held on a regular basis in order to continue the communication between European and Chinese ITS communities.

For more information please contact Yanying Li.

Final agenda is available here.

Presentations are available only to ERTICO Partners and can be found here.

Recreated Digital Maps Working Group focuses on public map data

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:08:19 +0200

The iMobility Forum has recently been discussing the need for targeted actions focusing on how to improve the exchange of map data between public authorities and map makers. This discussion led to the new i-Mobility recommendation Number 10 based on the results achieved by the ROSATTE project. The recommendation calls for a fast deployment of a harmonised solution throughout Europe in preparation of the priority actions 1.2 and 1.3 of the ITS action plan.

For this reason, the iMobility Forum Steering Group has agreed to re-activate the Digital Maps Working Group under the co-chairmanship of the Swedish Traffic Administration, TomTom and NAVTEQ. The Working Group will advise and validate the activities leading to the establishment of an independent implementation platform promoting and extending the scope of the validated ROSATTE framework as an enabler for the implementation of map data exchange between public authorities and map makers.

In addition to the iMobility Forum recommendation, the Working Group will take into account other important factors: first of all, the ITS Action Plan and ITS Directive and its Sub-Area 1.2: Collection and provision of road data, and Sub-Area 1.3: Accurate public data for digital maps, for which a study will be published in the near future. Secondly, the INSPIRE Directive and third, the Share-PSI Directive. In addition, the Working Group is linked to the EASYWAY project deployment activities.

On 28 September 2011, the Digital Maps Working Group met for its first meeting. The topics of discussion were centred on the definition of a future organisation which would allow a harmonised exchange of data between public and private parties; the option of defining a Memorandum of Understanding for the deployment of a common solution has been retained. The group came also to the conclusion that additional actions on geo-location referencing as well as on legal and intellectual property issues would be needed. The Working Group will actively liaise with the current standardisation efforts e.g. ISO TC204 WG3, as well as with other existing activities such as the INSPIRE Thematic Working Group on Transport Networks.

The next Working Group meeting will take place on 30 November 2011. Interested iMobility Forum partners are invited to show their interest in order to receive more information. The current members are: Swedish Transport Administration, TomTom, NAVTEQ, Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Flemish Ministry - Department Mobility and Public Works, Bavaria Road Authorities, Transport of London, ASFA, PTV, Triona and ERTICO.

The number of members of the Working Group is limited to 15 observers are invited depending on topics to be discussed.

Contact: Anna Johansson-Jacques, Stephen T'Siobbel, and/or Kees Wevers.

Call for demonstrations - ITS World Congress 2012

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:06:15 +0200

The ITS World Congress 2012 will focus on the use and benefits of intelligent transport systems for private and commercial users through a practical demonstration programme. The Congress will offer different possibilities to participate in this programme such as horse racing track Krieau and parking area next to horse track (click here for more details).

In order to present the best national and international solutions, we invite interested companies and organisations to submit their proposals for demonstrations.

The deadline for the call is 15 November 2011.
For any question please refer to Alexander Frötscher, coordinator of demonstrations, AustriaTech.

18th ITS World Congress highlights

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:51:17 +0200

Create a Personal World Congress Schedule to suit your professional development needs

The Personal Scheduler is a powerful, dynamic online planning tool designed to help attendees plan their time during the 18th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems. Conference attendees can utilize the personal scheduler to view the detailed program, search for and select specific sessions and presenters, add free-form events and meetings, and create a personal itinerary. Your itinerary can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection to change, update, and print your personal schedule at any time. Download the Personal Scheduler now to your PDA for immediate access to your schedule while in Orlando.

World Congress Mobile App Now Available!

World Congress attendees and exhibitors have another exciting tool to assist them in planning and navigating their meeting experience. The new smart phone application, sponsored by LogicTree, can be used to browse and select sessions, build your schedule, locate exhibitors and sessions and connect with colleagues and potential clients. You can even check the weather or get connected to local Orlando restaurants and attractions. Downloading the 2011 ITS World Congress mobile app is easy!

For iPhone users (including iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad): Search the App Store on your phone for "ITS WC 2011."

Apple: http://bit.ly/ITSWC2011
Other: http://m.core-apps.com/ITSWC2011

USDOT/CAMP Connected Vehicle Technology Demonstration Planned for 18th World Congress

The United States Department of Transportation (U.S.DOT) has partnered with the Crash Avoidance Metrics Partnership (CAMP) Vehicle Safety Communications 3 (VSC3) Consortium to research, develop and test Connected Vehicle Cooperative Safety Systems using 5.9 GHz Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) to enable vehicle active safety systems that may help drivers avoid crashes.
These safety applications will be on review at the Walt Disney World® SPEEDWAY during the 18th Intelligent Transportation Systems World Congress Technology Showcase October 16-20 in Orlando. Participants will ride in the vehicles and experience the effectiveness of the safety applications in various potential crash scenarios. The vehicles used will be part of the actual test fleet that will participate in the U.S.DOT Safety Pilot program. The objective of the demonstration is to show how V2V interoperability among vehicles from different automotive manufacturers can allow cars to communicate and understand each other. These connected vehicle safety systems may help drivers avoid crashes regardless of vehicle make, model or type.

In addition to the V2V safety applications shown in the CAMP VSC3 vehicles, a stationary and V2V-equipped Class 8 heavy truck will also be part of the review. To participate in this demonstration, attendees should register in advance here.

Interview with Rob Eenink and Kenneth Campbell on Naturalistic Driving Studies

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:26:04 +0200

Rob Eenink, consortium leader of PROLOGUE - the EU FP7 feasibility study for a large scale naturalistic driving project (first on the left), and Dr Kenneth L. Campbell, Chief Programme Officer for the second Strategic Highway Research Programme - SHRP 2, share their insights on naturalistic driving studies on both sides of the Atlantic.

ERTICO: What is the purpose of naturalistic driving studies (NDS)?
Kenneth L. Campbell: The primary strength of studies such as PROLOGUE or SHRP 2 is that objective information on driver behaviour, and the context that behaviour occurs in, will be collected on a large sample of volunteer drivers during the normal use of their vehicles.
Rob Eenink: The purpose of NDS is to know how people behave in a natural way in their own car. With traditional research methods there are, for instance, instrumented cars that are driven for say a half hour or an hour with someone sitting next to the driver, with computers that are visible... In this case it is not the driver’s day-to-day behaviour that is analysed, as opposed to NDS.

ERTICO: How can you assure that monitoring devices do not influence test drivers?
R. Eenink: First of all, you do so by ensuring that the equipment is small enough and that drivers don’t have to do anything out of the ordinary to start their car. This is possible nowadays because Information and Communication Technologies have allowed for the development of small enough sensors, cameras, data strorage…
K. Campbell: What’s more, previous naturalistic driving studies have demonstrated that drivers seem to quickly forget they are being monitored. It may be true that some of the worst drivers or driving behaviours are self-censored, but prior studies show that there is no shortage of high-risk behaviour to study.
R. Eenink: That’s right. And I believe that once you see the type of behaviour that people wouldn’t want to be displayed publically, you hence can assume that they are not aware all the time of their being observed. I believe that in America this is called the ‘nose-picking factor’.

ERTICO: What is the added value of naturalistic driving studies?
K. Campbell: Traffic safety is now focused on preventing collisions in addition to the traditional focus on minimising injury in the event of a collision. The greatest need for collision prevention is information on the role of the driver. Collision investigations yield little objective information on what drivers did leading up to a collision. Only by collecting objective information during normal driving as well as situations leading to collisions can we identify the combination of circumstances and driver actions that increase collision risk.
R. Eenink: So if you know how people drive ‘naturally’ you can identify what they are able to do and where they would need support. For example, older drivers are generally more experienced, so we can assume they are safe drivers with the exception of situations where they need to take a lot of decisions in a very short time, for instance when they have to turn left – that is if you drive on the right side of the road. Based on the information that is collected, we could imagine creating or adapting advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that would help minimise the risk linked to that type of manoeuvre.

ERTICO: Are age-related differences taken into account by PROLOGUE and SHRP 2 then?
K. Campbell: The expected growth of older drivers (from an estimated 15% in 2010 to approximately 25% by 2030 in the US) is a specific focus of the SHRP 2 NDS and we are attempting to over-sample this group, as well as the younger drivers, in order to be able to address age-related differences in driving and collision risk.
R. Eenink: PROLOGUE didn’t have a specific pilot on older drivers. However, we had a couple of pilots that addressed young drivers. In Austria they looked into the effects of driver training, and in Israel they focused on peer influence among young drivers. This is also an added value of NDS: because you can see how people actually drive, you can pinpoint the differences between age groups and think of measures that are specific for certain types of road users.

ERTICO: What is the general impact of naturalistic driving studies?
K. Campbell: The goal of the SHRP 2 NDS was to address high-priority safety issues in the US such as road departure, intersection safety and the role of driver behaviour. However, since the data acquisition systems (DAS) will be recording all driving, there are few limits to the potential benefits. Roadway characteristics will also be collected to support study of how the roadway influences driver behaviour and the effectiveness of roadway countermeasures. Certainly auto manufacturers will be very interested in how drivers use existing technology. Driver behaviour programs will benefit from more accurate information on the role of inattention, fatigue and impairment. All of the results have possible implications for policy decisions.
R. Eenink: Indeed, the knowledge gathered from NDS is of interest to anyone involved in road safety, environmental issues or traffic management. This includes the car manufacturers, insurers, but also public authorities – road authorities for instance can attune their policy to the results of the study. The impact of NDS goes beyond road safety. With naturalistic driving one can assess the effectiveness of eco-driving programmes, for example, and make them more effective or even envisage changing car and road design to use less fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. PROLOGUE finished on 31st July and its main aim was twofold: on the one hand we wanted to give recommendations for a large-scale European study, and on the other hand we wanted to get support for such a study. There is now a topic for an Integrated Project in Europe: a large scale study that will follow PROLOGUE’s 11 recommendations.

ERTICO: What are the main differences and similarities between Europe and the United States when it comes to NDS?
R. Eenink: First of all, I believe the main difference is the magnitude of the project in the US, not only in terms of size but also in terms of budget. I would add that the Americans are a little further ahead of us with respect to R&D and the equipment itself. In Europe, we usually have different sources of equipment, different functionalities, different prices, whereas in the US they have agreed upon using certain types of equipment only. I think there is a lot of added value in using one type of naturalistic driving equipment, because you get comparable databases and it facilitates the analysis. Speaking of which, in America they are trying to build a very large database which will be available to anyone interested in specific research questions. In Europe however, we focus on a few items, for instance eco-driving and specific risk factors, and in parallel a large database exists in which one can try and find the answers to questions we didn’t foresee.
K. Campbell: As with the first Strategic Highway Research Program, it is anticipated the Congress will fund a SHRP 2 Implementation phase in the next highway bill to support the transition of research results into highway safety practice. We anticipate that the SHRP 2 implementation phase will indeed include funding for a data steward to maintain the NDS data and provide access to researchers for years to come. As for the similarities between the two continents, I would say that prior to SHRP 2, the U.S. and Europe had been more focused on Field Operational Tests (FOT). FOTs use very similar instrumentation but are focused on the evaluation of specific (usually vehicle-based) technology and generally have much smaller numbers of participants. Now the US, Europe and other countries are moving to the broader NDS to fill an important need to support development of future safety systems.

ERTICO: Is a global strategic alliance on NDS foreseeable in the future?
K. Campbell: Adopting common methods, data sharing and the ability to make cross-country comparisons would greatly aid highway safety progress. It is certainly foreseeable.
R. Eenink: Definitely. And I think that is where we are headed: we have very good contacts with Australia and Japan, SHRP 2 had representation in PROLOGUE Advisory Board, and we have representation within SHRP 2 as well. Overall the most interesting situation within NDS is if you can observe a crash, which is a very rare occurrence. If we cooperate at transatlantic or even at global level, we can observe more of these events and better analyse them. That would certainly be a plus.

For more information on Naturalist Driving Studies visit FOT-Net website.

European car manufacturers look at standardise e-vehicle charging

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:56:52 +0200

The European automobile manufacturers have defined a comprehensive set of recommendations to standardise the charging of electrically-chargeable vehicles. The joint industry proposal will enable the use of one type of plug independent of car make, electricity provider or country.

“This is a major step towards the broader introduction of electrically-chargeable vehicles in Europe and paves the way for a harmonised solution around the globe”, said Ivan Hodac, Secretary General of ACEA, the automobile manufacturers’ trade association. “We call on the European Commission, the standardisation bodies and the infrastructure providers to adopt these recommendations and to clear remaining issues as soon as possible.”

Standardisation of the connection between the electricity grid and electrically-chargeable vehicles is one of the prerequisites to help e-mobility gain a viable market share. At present, a variety of solutions is used, leading to a fragmentation of the market across Europe and abroad.

The industry recommendations cover the whole link between the public charging infrastructure and the vehicle inlet including the communication between the two, and they address both slow and fast charging with direct or alternate current. As soon as approved by the relevant standardisation bodies, vehicle manufacturers will start integrating the uniform application in their production cycles. The auto industry advocates the full implementation for new vehicles types from 2017.

A unique standard for vehicle charging will benefit all parties involved: the auto industry, the consumer and the infrastructure provider. “Standardisation provides predictability to investors; it enables economy of scale and reduces costs. We have also ensured a solution that meets the highest safety standards and is easy to use”, said Hodac.
Most stakeholders assume a realistic market share for electrically-chargeable vehicles in the range of 3 to 10% of new sales by 2020 to 2025, depending on how quickly the most immediate challenges can be addressed.

For more information please visit ACEA website

Call for demonstrations - ITS World Congress 2012

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:26:08 +0200

The deadline for the call is 15 November 2011.

For any question please refer to Alexander Frötscher, coordinator of demonstrations, AustriaTech.

3rd User Group Meeting - STADIUM project

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:58:20 +0200

On 12 September, POLIS and PluService organised the 3rd User Group Meeting of the STADIUM project on the scenic Rotonda a Mare of Senigallia.

STADIUM consortium partners (from the EU and India) and delegations coming from Poland, Brazil and Russia (which will host upcoming international sports events such as UEFA EURO 2012, Football World Cup 2014 and Olympics Games 2016, Winter Olympics 2014) participated in the event.. The entire conference was broadcast live on the web.

The meeting represented a fruitful opportunity to compare experiences developed within the STADIUM Project (recent demonstrations for the Football World Cup 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa, Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi, India, and forthcoming demo for Summer Olympics 2012 in London, UK) and the current status of technology and organisation in terms of mobility, transport networks and infrastructure in the countries hosting future sports events.

The event was also an occasion to present the interactive database of the STADIUM Handbook, the output manual of the project, containing guide-lines to be used as a model for the management of mobility during big events.
On 13 September, the User Group delegations moved to Rome and visited the Rome Mobility Agency for follow-up discussions related to the Project results and their future implementations.

Empowering New Intelligence and Flexibility in Tracking and Tracing Solutions

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:00:28 +0200

Article by Peter Fowler, Cinterion’s regional president for the Americas

One of the greatest benefits cellular-enabled M2M solutions have brought to enterprises is the ability to track their assets while in transit. Tracking and tracing solutions with GPS and cellular connectivity allow companies to keep a close eye on vehicles, equipment and other assets even while they move across the globe. These solutions help optimize mobile fleets and business operations giving managers, dispatchers and drivers the tools they need for success.

Two leaders in the M2M industry, Cinterion and Digital Communications Technologies (DCT), have combined their expertise to bring new intelligence and greater flexibility to tracking, tracing, and reporting devices designed for demanding fleet management and stolen vehicle recovery applications. DCT’s scalable Syrus GPS SY2210 solution combines Cinterion-powered communications with highly sensitive, built-in GPS for best-in-class tracking capabilities. The white label solution offers a host of features and capabilities including sophisticated theft recovery tools that provide pinpoint locations of missing vehicles and integrated jamming detection. In addition, a fully integrated 3-axis accelerometer detects and helps manage driving behavior, a vital feature for car insurance companies who can associate rates with safe or risky behaviors.

Syrus GPS takes advantage of Cinterion’s EGS5 Java module to host software applications for Syrus Watch, a web-based remote management tool that enables customizable prompts and reporting and over-the-air software updates. Syrus Watch helps end users monitor and manage performance of vital operational functions - device temperature, power voltage fluctuations, internal battery status and more - to quickly diagnose issues before they become expensive problems. The use of Java is a growing trend in M2M module technology. Java modules are compatible with virtually any end-user platform and they eliminate the need for additional processors and memory chips, which simplifies design and integration and lowers costs.

Early implementers have reported great success with the Syrus GPS solution in a variety of AVL solutions:

Carrotech, a leader in tracking and tracing technology for 4-wheel drive vehicles and agricultural equipment, is using Syrus GPS successfully throughout the UK. Movement sensors and a ‘panic button’ feature dramatically improved drivers’ sense of safety on the road while allowing implementers to strengthen theft-prevention capabilities.
Ride Systems, a leader in custom GPS tracking solutions, relies heavily on the Cinterion-enabled Syrus GPS for outstanding customer support and application engineering as well the product’s ideal form factor for discreet applications. The new design with dual internal antennas makes it extremely easy to set up and deploy.
GPS Web Tracking, a US-based leading provider of GPS products and services, offered its expansive worldwide customer base a choice between the DCT Syrus solution and another competing national brand. Syrus GPS was the solution of choice outperforming the competition in product reliability, functional flexibility and overall ease of use.

For more information, please visit Cinterion website and/or Digital Communications Technologies.

CityLog & CityMove September Newsletter

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:26:10 +0200

The third issue of CityLog & CityMove projects newsletter is now available.

Read the latest news about integrated innovative approaches for urban freight distribution and about innovative integrated vehicle and city transport solutions. In the September issue you will also find news on CityMove prototypes, European Commission White Paper on Single European Transport Area, report on the 8th European ITS Congress and much more.

Interview with Dr Josef Fiala, Managing Director of the ASFINAG Service GmbH

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:30:29 +0200

ASFINAG plans, finances, builds, operates and tolls the Austrian motorway and expressway network which covers 2,175 kilometres, including 324 kilometres through tunnels and more than 300 kilometres per direction over bridges. Every year, vehicles cover as many as 26 billion kilometres on these motorways and expressways. Austria’s primary road network is thus an integral element of its national infrastructure, providing a convincing level of quality that millions of road users can rely on day after day. ASFINAG is a stock corporation that is fully owned by the Republic of Austria.

ASFINAG is a founding member of ASECAP, the European Association of Tolled Motorways, Bridges and Tunnels, where ASFINAG holds the Presidency from May 2011 to May 2013.

ASFINAG is member of IBTTA, the International Bridge Tunnel and Turnpike Association, where ASFINAG’s CFO was appointed to the Board of Directors in June 2011.

ERTICO: Can you describe your activities in the ITS field?

Josef Fiala: ASFINAG’s vision 2015 is to be one of Europe’s leading motorway network operators with a special focus on availability, information, safety and promoting intermodality by interlinking with public transport. Intelligent transport systems and services play a crucial role in achieving this vision.
ASFINAG seeks to make a wide range of traffic information services available to its customers. Our aim is that by 2015 every second driver who uses our network will also use traffic information generated by us, retrieved either via our own services (website, apps, etc.) or via third-party services (radio stations, automobile clubs, navigation devices, etc.). ASFINAG is also involved in several projects to foster Car2X communication to deliver real-time information at the right time to its customers. For example, ASFINAG is currently setting up a national field operational test in the greater area of Vienna. The aim is to equip the respective roads with test equipment and distribute Cooperative Services to some 1000 road users. Finally, ASFINAG operates several traffic management centres in Austria. Main corridors are equipped with telematics applications such as variable message signs.

ERTICO: Why have you joined ERTICO?

Josef Fiala: Only well-informed customers are satisfied customers. In 2010, we took important strategic decisions setting the course for the traffic information services of the future. As already indicated, the goal we strive to achieve in this context is that by 2015 every second driver who uses our network will also use traffic information generated by us. Besides the further development of technical solutions, targeted cooperation, such as our partnership with ERTICO, will be crucial to achieve this goal. Only if representatives from all sectors agree on common approaches will we be able to provide the services that our customers are looking for. ERTICO offers a great opportunity for us to get in closer contact with important stakeholders to intensify cooperation and to take the right decisions for the services of the future.

ERTICO: What are your expectations for this partnership?

Josef Fiala: As already mentioned, a particular focus in the medium term is facilitating roadside and vehicle-based data exchange. Needless to say, cooperation with vehicle manufacturers, automotive suppliers, etc. is crucial in this context. ERTICO is the network of Intelligent Transport Systems and Services stakeholders in Europe. It connects public authorities, industry players, infrastructure operators, users, etc. We want to be part of this unique network to elaborate common solutions, to reduce interoperability risks and to ensure implementation. Finally, ERTICO should - and I am sure they will - support us in our discussions with the European Commission and other stakeholders in Brussels and throughout Europe.

ERTICO: Are there any projects, activities or sectors that you are particularly interested in?

Josef Fiala: Indeed! Even if we are just evaluating all the projects and initiatives ERTICO is leading or following we intend to place special focus on "cooperative mobility". Also ERTICO’s sector platform on “service providers and system integrators” has attracted our interest. Furthermore the World Congress on ITS will be held in Vienna in October 2012. Needless to say, cooperation related to this unique event is a main priority for us. By the way, I am very much looking forward to welcoming all of you in Vienna next year!

Interview with Phil Pettitt, Chief Executive Officer of innovITS ADVANCE

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:16:36 +0200

innovITS is the UK centre for excellence in ITS. It is a small organisation, non-profit distributing, that was originally funded by the UK Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. The mission is to accelerate the exploitation in the UK of leading edge research in ICT and systems engineering based solutions to meet challenges in transport and in doing so grow businesses in ITS.

Delivery and operation of innovITS ADVANCE is seen as a key enabler to accelerating the development and exploitation of next generation ITS and thus is key to delivering the mission of innovITS.

ERTICO: What are the benefits of a purpose built facility such as “innovITS ADVANCE”? How does it differ from other test sites?

Phil Pettitt: There are several clear benefits with a site that is purpose built:

It conveniently provides road space with features typical of those to be found in a city ‘driving scape’ combined with technology specifically for developing ITS solutions
These include a comprehensive road network for speeds typical in a urban environment, traffic control features such as traffic lights and a range of communications options relevant to ITS (such as WiFi at 802.11 b/g/n as well as 802.11p, GSM and 3G)
These features are dedicated to test use so developers can allocate the road space and manipulate directly the communications and control to suit the specific needs for testing and measurement; put simply, the developer can enhance or degrade the signal strength of the various telecommunications to recreate the types of effects experienced in an urban environment. This is what makes innovITS ADVANCE completely unique.
It is private site which has been designed with ‘plug and play’ simplicity in mind so tests can be performed with, not only more efficacy, but also that might be reckless to perform on public highways, or require months of rigorous preparation to ensure safe operation. Thus innovITS ADVANCE can help reduce cost and speed time to market for ITS and Telematics solutions
As an additional benefit the privacy of the site means that only those you want to see the tests will do so

This is of value to those developing systems in vehicles, or new roadside infrastructure or the communications systems where interoperability is crucial by providing an environment which allows repeatable testing in a secure and validated environment.

ERTICO: What is the current status of “innovITS ADVANCE”? What is currently happening there?

Phil Pettitt: After several years of planning and two years of construction and commissioning, the facility is now ready for use. One organisation used it early this summer to demonstrate a range of active safety features from various manufacturers and how these might be tested for a safety rating scheme for consumers. Other customers are in the advanced stages of discussions about their needs and how they want to use the site. Given their commercial sensitivities I am unable to give further details; however it is reasonable to say that we are in discussion with a broad range of the ITS and Telematics Supply Chain from vehicle manufacturers to tier suppliers, developers and academia.

You ask what products are to be market tested at innovITS ADVANCE. This is not the purpose of this site. Market testing requires use on public roads, in trials. The site is primarily of value for testing concepts in early prototypes or for more detailed measurement of performance or testing in failure modes before market testing on a public road. innovITS ADVANCE is the facility you would use to develop and validate a solution to ensure that, once public demonstration or market testing begins, the supplier knows a new product or service works, how well it works and how it performs in suboptimal conditions.

ERTICO: What are the future plans?

Phil Pettitt: Plans to date have been focussed upon what is required from a purpose built test facility for ITS applications. This has required a very careful process of requirements capture and analysis to provide a balanced design with a comprehensive range of facilities to suit developers as best as possible. Delivering this within the tight budgets has been challenging but worthwhile as it has forced all those involved to think clearly about what can be provided for the potential customers of this facility.

The current focus is upon working with customers and potential customers to clarify how they are actually going to use the facility.
One challenge, as a new type of test facility, is that it opens new possibilities about how to develop and test ITS systems and thus presents a whole new range of use case scenarios.
Customers have been discussing how to test Active Safety systems and applications to reduce vehicle emissions and reduce energy use; either by vehicle control or cooperative traffic management.

As safety and transaction critical systems become more widespread, there is a need for rigorous tests; either for informal ratings schemes or for regulatory tests of standards compliance. We are tracking what this requirement might be and participating where applicable to the debate so that innovITS ADVANCE remains relevant to the task.

ERTICO: “innovITS ADVANCE” has a “city circuit” – a configurable road network which can replicate different urban driving scenarios. Can you tell us more about this?

Phil Pettitt: The road network consists of 4km roads, mostly two lanes like normal single carriageway roads with an outer perimeter road of 2km. The two main highways at the centre of the circuit intersect and offer a three and five lane road thus providing a flexible assortment of arrangements; bus lanes, lay bys and similar features can be set up. There are crossroads and T-junctions and numerous roundabouts; so a large range of traffic situations can be characterised. As an attention to detail, at least one junction is arranged at the brow of a slope so that tests involving sensors pointing up towards the sky can be done. Speeds of 80km can be achieved on parts of the circuit but most of it is designed for typical urban environments, up to 50km.

Road markings have been kept to a minimum, allowing specific tests to have the roads marked out as required and to allow both right and left hand drive testing. Similarly, the traffic lights can be set to operate either for left or right running. The traffic lights also have a special mode within which specific failure settings can be emulated; perhaps necessary for some applications.

The 4 overhead gantries provide for observation of tests or for installation of equipment. Each provides a stable overhead, and over road, platform for mounting test equipment or for recording results. In addition, both the gantries and at other points around the road network are power points with electrical mains supply. This allows customers to power laptops and test equipment easily and without recourse to generators.

The communications systems are all private to the site. These are not part of any publicly available communications infrastructure. Therefore, power levels can be manipulated or base stations switched off. The radio environment is in this way highly configurable to suit specific test regimes.

Finally, this is an open field site that provides a clear GPS signal. This is important for early stage testing or where GPS positioning performance is not relevant. However, for effective operation, many systems will need to work in environments more challenging for GNSS dependent applications. For this purpose, we have a system, called Skyclone, to feed customer systems with an attenuated GNSS signal that models these more challenging environments. Scenarios can be designed to include urban canyons, as if in a major world capital, such as New York, for a lower rise urban environment, in forested areas, in tunnels and even in the presence of GPS jammers. The Skyclone GNSS denial system is a significant feature of innovITS ADVANCE and, given the relevance of GPS in many current and future ITS and Telematics scenarios has attracted considerable interest.

Facts & Figures about innovITS ADVANCE

Road aspects
1.   Approximately 4km of roads, with junctions and roundabouts
2.   Traffic lights at 2 junctions, allowing for both left and right running.
3.   A length of road with street lighting
4.   Comprehensive CCTV
5.   4 steel overhead gantries
6.   Lots of electrical power points
Communications
7.   Private 3G, GSM & WiFi (including 802.11p) networks
Other
8.   Motorised pedestrian dummies and inflatable vehicles
9.   Ground truth, high precision video system at main junction
10.   Comprehensive control and logging system
11.   Differential GNSS signal, for higher accuracy positioning
12.   GNSS Denial (SkyClone)
   Providing emulation of attenuated signal in urban environments; including tunnels and jammers
Located at
13.   MIRA, Nuneaton, CV10 0TU, UK
14.   Which provides office & workshop space and other test facilities

Contact Details
15. Roger Wilson

You can read the innovITS ADVANCE article published on ERTICO website here

NXP eCall solution takes centrr stage in Brussels and Berlin

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:29:21 +0200

On September 8, 2011, the European Union announced their intent to introduce the eCall emergency call system in all new cars by 2015. In a presentation to the European Parliament, Neelie Kroes, EU Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda, emphasized that “the technology itself is available,” and demonstrated the manufacturer-independent ATOP eCall solution from NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) to proof her point.

NXP has focused on introducing its Automotive Telematics Onboard Unit Platform (ATOP), which makes eCall an affordable option for everyday vehicles. In contrast to existing solutions, ATOP is not a proprietary system. Instead, ATOP takes advantage of existing emergency infrastructure and established standards, connecting drivers with the 112 emergency number valid throughout Europe, rather than a call center specific to a particular manufacturer. At less than €100, the ATOP eCall units are more affordable than previous solutions to date, and its smaller size makes it easy to integrate into a vehicle’s on-board electronics. As a result, it is now just as practical to install it in a compact car as in a luxury car – even retrofitting it in older cars is simple and affordable. ATOP has been in series production since 2010.

“With last week’s announcement by the European Commission, an important milestone has been reached on the road to making a Europe-wide eCall emergency system a reality,” said Kurt Sievers, senior vice president and general manager of NXP Semiconductors’ Automotive business unit. “Successful implementation at both the national and international levels will require cooperation between key players at every step of the rescue chain. We are pleased to be part of the HeERO project, which is carrying out the important work of defining and discussing key issues for eCall on the road ahead.”

ATOP has been proven in field trials, including a major pan-European eCall Trial which took place at the end of last year. In November 2010, NXP and its partners BMW, IBM, Deutsche Telekom, Allianz OrtungsServices, Dekra and several European automobile clubs campaigned for the introduction of the eCall system with the pan-European eCall Trial which included a spectacular finish line event in Brussels (see video), thereby signaling their support for the EU initiative to launch the European-wide emergency call system. Over a three-week period, three BMWs equipped with the ATOP system from NXP transmitted regular test eCalls to demonstrate the availability and suitability of the technology for cross-border use. More than 15,000 signals were transmitted over a 10,000 mile-long course in 16 countries. Further information on ATOP and eCall is available at here.

Earlier this year, NXP received the 2010 Sabre Award for best European PR campaign in telecommunications and the 2011 IPRA Golden World Award for best international PR campaign, in recognition of its efforts to raise awareness for eCall along with its partners.

Making connected mobility a reality
To make Europe’s streets safer, politics and industry have already started to work on future steps beyond eCall. Forward hazard warning and traffic sign recognition are just some of the many possibilities that will eventually revolutionize driving experience and road safety. To make this a reality, NXP has recently demonstrated – as the first semiconductors supplier globally – an automotive-ready car-to-car communication platform on public roads in the Netherlands. Car-to-car communication is based on NXP’s many years of expertise and market leadership in broadcast reception and software-defined radio. With its technology solutions in telematics, NFC, broadcast reception, car-to-car communication, and remote car management, NXP connects the car and takes the pole position in secure and wireless connected mobility.

For further press information, please contact Birgit Ahlborn

Neelie Kroes, presenting ATOP at European Parliament, with Patrick Pype (Director European Affairs at NXP)

eCall test cars for pan-European Trial

British Transport Committee publishes a new report to tackle congestion on roads

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:39:32 +0200

The British Parliament has published a report on actions to be taken in order to reduce the country’s traffic congestion. The report (undertaken by the Transport Committee) underlines the importance of a tougher driving test, greater use of real-time information systems and better co-ordination between road management authorities as the way to reducing congestion on roads without road building or road pricing.

Committee Chair Louise Ellman stated that “congestion costs the economy billions of pounds each year (a previous inquiry 'Transport and the Economy' cited evidence that showed that the rising cost of congestion would cost the UK economy an extra £22 billion per annum by 2025. Congestion can be very localised, or it can involve the strategic road network). Improving the way we manage road space so that the network runs more smoothly is vital to the prosperity of the nation. Pursuing this challenge should form a key plank of central government transport policy”.

According to Ms Ellman, “the Department for Transport cannot simply devolve all responsibility for managing the road network to individual Highway Authorities. These organisations have a key role and duty for managing their local networks, but the DfT should actively support them in working together closely to fulfil that duty”.
The Transport Committee set out a series of recommendations to government about how it could curb congestion and get more out of the existing road network.

Some of the recommendations include:

Considering options for a free Highway Code 'App'
Sending a clear leaflet to all drivers, when they apply for or renew a tax disk or a driving licence
Monitoring cost and safety issues of the 'managed motorway' scheme
Requiring all highway authorities to publish traffic management performance measurements, no later than the beginning of 2013
Working more closely with highway authorities to identify the latest forms of intelligent traffic management systems and renew its funding for the so- called 'ITS Toolkit'
Developing a strategy based on best practice for the delivery of real-time travel information to motorists

Read the full article here.

ERTICO @ the 6th China Annual Conference on ITS

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:19:59 +0200

On 6 September, during the 6th China Annual Conference and International Exhibition on ITS, Vincent Blervaque, Director of Development and Deployment at ERTICO, gave a presentation on the status quo of ITS development and deployment in Europe.

The presentation focused on:

EU ITS Directive and ITS Action overview including priority areas and priority actions, organisation and timeline
Introduction to ITS deployment challenges in Europe with respect to technologies, services, business models and policy frameworks
Overview of major European Projects for ITS Development and Deployment, namely Instant Mobility, eCoMove, Viajeo, DRIVE C2X, HeERO, EASYWAY and the ERTICO coordinated Deployment Platforms such as TISA, ADASIS and the Cooperative Mobility Alliance.
ITS World Congress with promotion first of 2011 Orlando Congress and announcement of 2012 Vienna Congress call for paper.

ERTICO participation to the ITS China annual event was closely linked to the VIAJEO Workshop and the first joint ERTICO – ITS Europe/ITS China seminar (8-9 September).

SATIE orchestrates European large scale Action for ITS

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:02:23 +0200

On 7 September ERTICO – ITS Europe hosted the kick-off meeting of the new SATIE project. The task of the 10-partner consortium will be to propose to the European Commission options for large scale actions for innovation and deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). The starting point of this exercise: the iMobility Forum ELSA Task Force report , and the new concept of “ITS incubators”.

The main question that the EU-funded SATIE Support Action engaged to answer is: What kind of large scale actions could be implemented to accelerate the deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for sustainable mobility and transport? For Wil Botman, Chairman of the SATIE project and Senior Advisor for Public Affairs at the Royal Dutch Touring Club - ANWB, finding the answer to this question is essential, as “there is a lot of benefit to be gained in a joint approach of authorities, users and industry in bringing ICT for transport to the market in a concerted action throughout Europe.”

The SATIE consortium will explore how to overcome the barriers of ITS deployment and the fragmentation of ITS initiatives through the set-up of a truly interactive partnership community, the development of the concept of incubators, and the integration of multi-level initiatives in a pan-European approach, linking businesses, cities, local, national and EU governments and the European Union.

Each of the partners of SATIE has a long experience in supporting the deployment of ITS, and shares the goal to make European initiatives more efficient and effective. They are convinced that European large scale actions can bring the momentum needed: Wil Botman believes that “working together throughout Europe will be more cost-efficient and quicker in bringing ICT to the market. In this way, road safety, the environment and the efficiency of our mobility system will be improved considerably”.

To achieve these goals, SATIE will rely on its partners and their constituencies, representing important stakeholders from both demand and supply sides: public authorities (Swedish Transport Administration), road operators (ASECAP), users (ANWB), industry (EUCAR, PTV), research organisations (TNO, VTT, IFSTTAR), and multi-sector partnerships (ERTICO – ITS Europe and ITS Network Germany).

For more information please contact Sébastien Mure

SATIE – Support Action for a Transport-ICT European large scale action - is a support action funded by the European Commission, Directorate General Information Society and Media, under the 7th Framework for Research and Development. It will support the European Commission in the establishment of European large scale actions spanning research, innovation and deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems and Services for sustainable mobility and transport.
More information available on SATIE website (as of October 2011).

Viajeo holds workshop in Beijing on demo site activities

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:45:48 +0200

On 08 September Viajeo’s Beijing demo site partners organised a workshop at the National Convention Centre, Beijing, China

The workshop was held as a side event of the 6th China Annual Conference and International Exhibition on Intelligent Transport Systems, the 7th International Energy-Efficiency and New Energy Vehicles Innovation Development Forum and Exhibition , 6-10 September 2011. The workshop aimed to disseminate Viajeo’s current achievements and to raise awareness of the forthcoming project demonstration scheduled for November 2011 in Beijing.

Three services are planned to be implemented for the operators of the service centre within Beijing demonstrator of the Viajeo open platform:

Cross modal journey planning and real time traffic information (Service A)
Real time bus operation (Service B)
Passenger Information Display (Service C)

A live demonstration was shown at the workshop. Three i-Pads were used for participants to access multi-modal journey planning services based on real-time traffic information collected by a large fleet of floating vehicles from Beijing Transportation Research Centre (BTRC) and real-time bus location data provided by Beijing Public Transport Holdings (BPT). The two types of data have been integrated by the Viajeo platform, developed by PTV. The integrated data is also used by a public transport operation platform developed by Thetis to provide real-time bus operation and passenger information at bus stops or via internet. Three screens were set up in the workshop to show the bus operators’ back office system and passenger information screen at bus stops. Users’ feedbacks were collected for finalising the user interface of the demonstration before the demonstration goes live.

Dr Philippe Vialatte, Head of Science, Technology and Environment Section of the Delegation of the European Union to China and Mongolia attended the workshop and gave a presentation on EC policy in the field of international cooperation in science and technology between China and the EU. Dr Vialatte was very impressed by the live demonstration and believed that the Viajeo project is a good example of EU-China cooperation in technology. Mr Alessandro Celestino from the Italian Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea which supports Viajeo also gave a speech at the workshop to highlight the importance and contribution of the Viajeo project to a more sustainable mobility solution in Beijing.

Viajeo’s demonstration in Beijing will soon begin and the public will be able to use the services for multi-modal journey planning and access real-time passenger information at selected bus stops in Beijing. Results will be presented in a final event due to take place in the first half of 2012.

Presentations can be found on Viajeo website.

For further information, please contact Viajeo.

Overview of Viajeo Platform in Beijing

European Parliament draft report on the White Paper on Transport

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:59:29 +0200

Mathieu Grosch –Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats), Belgium– presented his draft report on the “Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area” to the European Parliament's Transport Committee on 8 September 2011. The key proposals in the draft report on the Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area include a 50% reduction in the deaths and injuries on Europe's roads, clear targets for reducing CO2 emissions and the inclusion of the costs of noise and pollution in the prices of all modes of transport.

In his report, Mr Grosch proposes targets to cut CO2 emissions by 20% in road transport and 30% in air transport and shipping by 2020. He also wants energy consumption and noise in the rail sector to fall by 20%.
The costs of pollution, noise and congestion should be reflected in the price paid by the user (through the internalisation of the external costs of all forms of transport) and the revenue generated in this way could be used by Member States to fund priority schemes to eliminate the 25 known bottlenecks in the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T projects). The Commission could increase its level of direct funding to at least 30% of total investments for funding plans and priority cross-border projects drawn up by Member States, while drastically limiting the number of projects that receive funding, says Mr Grosch.

For the S&D Group, Czech MEP Olga Sehnalová called for the new targets to be based on a detailed analysis of the existing systems and, together with Gesine Meissner (ALDE, DE), opposed any new proposal on port services.
Michael Cramer (Greens, DE) called for the introduction of a Europe-wide speed limit as a means of reducing both pollution and accidents on Europe's roads.

Read the full article on the European Parliament website.

World Congress live demonstrations announced

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:16:01 +0200

Twenty-five live technology demonstrations, including lifesaving Connected Vehicles, will bring the future of transport to life in Orlando at the 18th World Congress on October 16-20

The US largest transport technology association, the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), announced that it has selected 25 live demonstrations that will bring the future of transportation to life at the 18th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems in Orlando, FL on October 16-20.

US DOT and a host of private sector companies will display the realm of possibilities for “Connected Vehicles” and other technologies that will lower driving costs, reduce traffic congestion, improve travel safety and reduce emissions. These next generation solutions are examples of a growing industry that is helping to improve our nation’s infrastructure while promoting economic recovery and development.

“We’re extremely excited to see some of these concepts in action,” said Scott Belcher, president and CEO of ITS America. “From cars that brake when they detect pedestrians to digital road signage on the dashboard to vehicle systems that help save gas money and the environment, these demonstrations will show it all. This is the one time that people will have an opportunity to see and experience all of these innovative solutions in a single location before they are put into production.”

All 25 demonstrations will be a part of the 18thWorld Congress’ interactive Technology Showcase that attendees will be able to experience at the Orange County Convention Center and in the local community. The Technology Showcase this year has been organized into themed “villages” that highlight a specific use or application for areas including Safety, Mobility, Environment/Sustainability and Pricing.

The Safety Village will focus on advanced technologies designed to prevent or reduce accidents and improve overall traffic safety that include lane-keeping technologies as well as collision avoidance systems. Serving to help drive our economy, the Mobility Village will display solutions for cities and states that reduce congestion and keep people and goods moving through integrated network and system improvements that will ultimately ease travel times.

The Environment/Sustainability Village will demonstrate automated traffic management and incident management systems that have proven to cut traffic congestion pollution caused by roadway incidents. The Pricing Village will exhibit technologies designed to make travel more predictable, reliable and less congested through innovations such as universal electronic tolling and demand based congestion pricing.

The following companies and their demonstrations are listed below. Attendees should visit the demonstrator booth for information on ticketing unless stated otherwise. Attendees must be registered for the World Congress to participate in the demonstrations:

Toyota – Collision Avoidance Typed PCS
Minnesota DOT and Battelle – Minnesota Road Fee System
GM – V2X Smartphone Integration
Transcore – Coast to Coast Freedom with National Interoperability Demonstration
GM – Electronic Network-Vehicle
ACS/Xerox – Congestion Management Through Pricing and Dynamic Pricing
DENSO/Econolite – Intersection Safety and Mobility
KapschTrafficCom – Integrated Corridor Operations
I-95 Corridor Coalition/NYSDOT – Commercial VII
Sensys Networks – Arterial Travel Time
Siemens – Interoperable Vehicle Priority
GEWI/BMW – Local Hazard Warning
U.S. DOT /CAMP – Connected Vehicle Technology Demonstration
Iteris/Post Oak Traffic Systems, Inc. – Bluetooth-Based Arterial Travel Times
Raytheon – Infrastructure BSM Generator for V2V    Iteris - VantageView™
Imperial College – Mobile Environmental Sensing
Alcatel-Lucent – Teleport: Real-Time Travel Time Management
SwRI – Environmental Management
Alcatel-Lucent – Teleport Roadside: Real-Time Travel Time Management
Ricardo – EcoGreen
Alcatel-Lucent – Real-Time Incident Monitoring Mobile Video Streaming Over LTE
Ricardo – Real-Time Information Synthesis
LYNX – Transit On-Board Real-Time Traveler Information
Telvent –TRACE Air Quality Modeling

Many of the demonstrations in the Technology Showcase will be focused around the Connected Vehicle Technology Test Bed for Connected Vehicles, people and infrastructure. Connected Vehicle technologies allow cars to avoid crashes by communicating with each other and the roadway infrastructure. Using GPS, WiFi sensors and a special Federal Communications Commission approved short-range radio frequency, these vehicles share safety information in real-time and drivers receive safety warnings when there is a risk of a crash or other safety hazard. The US DOT estimates that these technologies have the potential to reduce accident fatalities by a staggering 81 percent in all unimpaired driver related crashes.

This Connected Vehicle Test Bed infrastructure will remain in place after the World Congress, positioning Central Florida as national research test bed for the growing intelligent transportation industry.

Join us in Orlando this October to experience the cutting-edge of transportation with industry leaders and decision makers from across the globe. For the latest updates on the event or to register, please visit the World Congress website.

For more information contact Cherie Gibson, Pete Spiller, or Jarrod Cady.

ITS Russia and the Russian Ministry of Transport met TTS Italia members

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:20:21 +0200

On 14 September TTS Italia hosted in Rome the meeting between ITS Russia CEO, Vladimir Kruychov, and TTS Italia members.

Many TTS Italia members participated in the meeting, and presented projects, products and initiatives related to the field of mobility and traffic management. Participants included 5t, Almaviva / TSF, Autostrade Tech, DBA Projects, Fai Service, Famas System, Italian Ministry of Transport, Mizar Automazione, Octo Telematics, Pluservice, Rome Mobility Services, Sodi Scientifica, Thetis and Telespazio.

Konstantin Tikhonov, representative of the Russian Ministry of Transport, also attended the meeting and illustated the state of the art of transportation in the Russian Federation.

Workshop: "The European satellite navigation system EGNOS/Galileo for road applications: the EGNOS2road project"

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:56:26 +0200

On 21 September, TTS Italia will hold the Workshop "The European satellite navigation system EGNOS/Galileo for road applications: the EGNOS2road project”.

The EGNOS2road project follows a European Commission (DG Enterprise and Industry) call and aims to carry out a technical and economic evaluation of the use of European satellite navigation systems EGNOS and Galileo for two extra-urban and urban road applications: electronic toll collection and fleet management.
The project, which ended in July 2011, was carried out by an Italian team composed of Telespazio (as coordinator), TTS Italia ordinary member, Società Autostrada Tirrenica and Autostrade per l’Italia, TTS Italia founding member, Magneti Marelli, TTS Italia ordinary member; Roma Servizi per la Mobilità.

The purpose of the meeting is to present and promote the project results, and to share tips and ideas with the members for possible future activities.

For further information visit TTS Italia website

Smart Mobility Challenge 2011

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:32:03 +0200

Journey planners are not new, they exist on a national and regional level across Europe. However, there are very few real integrated European journey planners – tools that allow us to plan a journey across several EU countries from a single point using different modes of transport. The technology exists and the need is there. Multimodal travel is a key part of the European Commission’s strategy for the future of transport.

Vice-President Siim Kallas, EU Commissioner for Transport, has therefore laid down the challenge to industry and stakeholders to get Europeans moving differently by developing or submitting ideas for Europe-wide journey planners.

If you have an idea or a tool that is up and running you can submit it on DG MOVE website.

The deadline for submission is 15 October 2011.

Commission adopts eCall Recommendation

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:48:26 +0200

On 8 September 2011, the European Commission adopted a Recommendation asking Members States to ensure that mobile phone network operators upgrade their infrastructure so that 112 emergency calls can be automatically generated by cars (eCalls).

The Commission wants the life-saving eCall system to be fitted to all new models of cars and light vehicles by 2015. eCall automatically dials Europe's single emergency number 112 in the event of a serious accident and communicates the vehicle's location to the emergency services. People injured in an accident do not always have the reflex or the physical ability to call emergency services immediately. eCall devices address this problem by alerting emergency services immediately even if the driver or passenger is unconscious or otherwise unable to call. The technology speeds up the arrival of emergency teams by an estimated 40% in urban areas and 50% in rural areas. Once widely deployed, eCall will save several hundred lives in Europe every year, and reduce the severity of injuries and trauma in tens of thousands of cases.

The Recommendation urges every Member State to ensure that mobile operators treat calls from eCall devices like other 112 calls – i.e. give priority to them and do not charge for them. The Recommendation also indicates that Member States should ensure that mobile operators put in place systems to identify eCalls so that they can be routed to an emergency service call centre equipped to handle them.

The eCall Recommendation adopted by the European Commission can be found here.

Read the European Commission Press Release

New ETSI technical study

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:03:01 +0200

Several initiatives have been launched in the domain of Localisation* of Interactive Applications by ETSI (European Telecom Standardisation Institute) and the localisation community. All sectors are or will soon be facing critical issues in the localisation of their applications and services, especially the ITS industry.
The ETSI Technical Committee “Human Factors” is performing a technical study for the definition of a future standard regarding “context dependent multilingual communications for interactive applications”. The study focuses on the localisation of highly interactive applications based on context variable, where it is physically impossible to plan for every potential combination of these variables into sentences.

An industry specific group was created last August to cover all standards and guidelines needs regarding all localisation* aspects for all industrial sectors. This group is taking over the efforts of LISA, the former Localisation Industry Standards Association, which closed down last year.

You can participate in the industry study and future standards for all localisation issues* and contribute to the design of the next generation solutions for quality localisation.

For more information please contact Jean-Marc Bournazel, ETSI member – Technical Study rapporteur and Innovation manager – WhP International.

(*) Note: To avoid any confusion, "localisation" refers to the process for adapting an application into languages or countries different than the original ones for which they were created. It implies not only the linguistic translation of dialogues or phrases from one language to another, but also the adaptation of idiomatic and cultural characteristics.

New cross-system TOLL2GO service starts on 1 September 2011

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:04:14 +0200

Toll collection in Austria and Germany possible with Toll Collect On-Board Unit

The new TOLL2GO transnational, cross-system toll service will be launched on 1 September 2011. TOLL2GO is a joint service provided by Austrian toll operator ASFINAG and Germany’s Toll Collect GmbH. With TOLL2GO, the two companies are offering a toll collection service that is based on microwave technology and a satellite-supported toll system. In the future, TOLL2GO will make it possible for drivers of trucks with 12 tonnes or more gross vehicle weight (GVW) to pay for road tolls in Germany and Austria via the Toll Collect On-Board Unit (OBU).

This new service is especially convenient for transport companies with vehicles that are frequently on the road in Germany and Austria. The advantage for toll system customers who use the new TOLL2GO service is that they only need one in-vehicle unit – the Toll Collect OBU – to pay toll charges in both countries.

Working together in a joint project, ASFINAG and Toll Collect developed the technical parameters for the new TOLL2GO service. During an eight-week trial run, which included some 1,400 trucks from nine European countries, roughly one million toll transactions were successfully carried out in Austria.

The transport and logistics companies involved in the testing phase welcome the introduction of the new toll service TOLL2GO because it simplifies the payment of tolls for trucks that are often on the road in both Austria and Germany. TOLL2GO reduces by one the number of electronic devices needed to pay road tolls in different countries.

Unlike Germany, toll collection in Austria is based on microwave technology and uses the Austrian GO-Box. The Toll Collect OBU used in Germany will continue to operate using satellite-based tech-nology, but will also support Austria microwave system, which has been adapted for use with inter-operable vehicle units. When driving through a toll station on an Austrian motorway, the Toll Collect OBU triggers a toll transaction in exactly the same way as a GO-Box and transmits the billing data from the toll station to the ASFINAG computer centre. Although a single On-Board Unit is used, the customer still has a contract with each of the two toll operators. As in the past, toll invoicing by the two companies remains completely separate.

Applications for the TOLL2GO service can be submitted from 1 September 2011 via the fully elec-tronic SelfCare portal directly to ASFINAG at www.go-maut.at. After successful registration and verification of requirements by ASFINAG, the service is activated automatically by the Toll Collect computer centre. Vehicles must have a Toll Collect OBU installed. If the vehicle in question was previously equipped with an Austrian GO-Box, this unit will be deregistered when the Toll Collect OBU is activated. The Austrian GO-Box must then be turned over to a GO sales point.

For further information about this service and the registration process, please vistit the Toll Collect GmbH or ASFINAG Service GmbH websites.

You can also contact Claudia Steen (Toll Collect GmbH) and Ingrid Partl (ASFINAG Service GmbH)

Background information: In April 2004 Member States adopted the Directive on interoperability of electronic road toll systems aiming to harmonise the toll systems in Europe and to facilitate cross-border road transport. The Directive requires that all new electronic toll systems brought into service shall use one or more of the following technologies: satellite positioning (GNSS); mobile communications (GSM-GPRS); and microwave technology (DSRC).More information on the EU Directive can be found here.

eSafety Forum chooses new name

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:17:56 +0200

Established in 2003 by the European Commission, in close collaboration with industry, associations and public sector stakeholders, the eSafety Forum is a joint platform involving all road safety stakeholders. It originally aimed to promote and monitor the implementation of recommendations identified by the eSafety Working Group and to support the development, deployment and use of eSafety systems. In the last year the Forum has identified a new focus for its activities, which includes smart and clean mobility to the safety of the European roads.

On the occasion of the 14th eSafety Plenary Meeting (6-7 April), a new name for the forum was voted on and approved by members. The decision to become the iMobility Forum was a natural evolution, taking into account the years of social change which have led to traffic-related environmental issues, such as fuel efficiency and reduction in pollutant exhausts, being attributed the same level of importance as traffic safety. The new name reflects the role that the eSafety Forum played in helping bring about this change, as well as its continued presence at the forefront of the field.

The inaugural iMobility Forum Plenary meeting is set to take place on the 24- 25 October 2011. In addition, the first iMobility awards will be presented on the 24 October.

For further information, please contact Monica Schettino.

Read the Press Release

Car makers to get recognition for 'eco-innovation'

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:53:07 +0200

On 25 July the European Commission adopted a new legislation on 'eco-innovations' for car manufacturers.

The Regulation enables motor manufacturers to receive recognition for CO2 savings achieved by fitting new cars with approved "eco-innovations" which reduce emissions. These savings will help the industry meet the European target of limiting CO2 emissions from new cars to an average of 130 grams/km by 2015. Eco-innovations will count for up to 7 g CO2/km towards the target.

Under the Regulation, a technology can qualify as an eco-innovation if it is new to the market, contributes to significant CO2 savings and is not otherwise taken into account in determining the level of CO2 emissions from vehicles. The technology should also aim at improving vehicle propulsion or the energy consumption of devices that are mandatory, without compromising vehicle safety. This means, for instance, that solar panels converting sunlight into electric energy could potentially qualify as an eco-innovation but an energy-efficient in-car music system would not.

The Commission will assess applications submitted by car manufacturers and component suppliers and adopt decisions approving generic eco-innovations. The actual CO2 savings from the eco-innovations for each specific car will be certified as part of the vehicle type approval procedure.

Read the full Commission press release here.

EU ICT R&D and Innovation beyond 2013 - 10 key recommendations

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:21:26 +0200

The Information Society Technologies Advisory Group (ISTAG) has issued its 10 key recommendation to the Commission on the orientation for EU ICT R&D and Innovation beyond 2013. ISTAG reaffirms the importance of pursuing and strengthening EU investment in ICT research and innovation. Indeed, ICT infrastructure plays a critical role in today's globalised economy and its reliable and trustworthy operation is absolutely essential. However beyond this, ICT has become a key transformative force in social innovation, by enabling the development, implementation and deployment of innovative solutions addressing societal needs and supporting human and socio-economic development opportunities. This wider agenda calls for a larger stakeholder community, beyond the traditional players, including unconventional actors such as informal networks and influential individuals.

Read the full article on the European Commission website

ITS United Kingdom holds Manchester launch for Inclusive Mobility Interest Group

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:18:57 +0200

ITS United Kingdom, the Intelligent Transport Systems association for the UK, has held a launch event for its Mobility Interest Group in Manchester. ITS UK Members Transport for Greater Manchester acted as hosts for the event, which attracted some forty delegates.

The IMIG facilitates understanding and co-operation between Intelligent Transport Systems professionals, researchers, implementers and suppliers, and disabled and older people and their representative bodies. IMIG is already well established as an active group within ITS UK and the purpose of the launch event was to publicise that the Group welcomes input and participation from those outside the ITS sector.

The launch event speakers looked at the challenges posed by the ageing society, compliance with anti-discriminatory legislation, new technologies and the current economic climate in the UK, and discussed the role of ITS in securing good outcomes for disabled transport users. With speakers including UK Government and academia, transport service providers and also Polish and German participants, there was a wide opportunity to learn and also to make new useful contacts for all delegates. Dr Simon Edwards of Newcastle University, who chairs the IMIG, commented “It was wonderful to see such a great turnout of people from a variety of backgrounds, and especially those from the continent. There were so many positives that the IMIG can take forward to shape its future strategy and membership profile in order to provide expert guidance for national and local government and service providers, whilst keeping older and disabled people themselves up-to-date with the latest in intelligent transport systems for accessibility and mobility.“

David Hytch, Information Systems Director at Transport for Greater Manchester, said “We were delighted to support the IMIG at this meeting particularly as we continue to understand how to make transport even more accessible and useful for people with disabilities both in Greater Manchester and beyond. Getting the experiences from studies and practical examples across Europe was added value”.

For more information on ITS UK visit ITS UK website

The Orlando ITS World Congress interview - Pat McGowan

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:34:26 +0200

ERTICO - ITS Europe and ITS America interviewed President of Telvent North America and World Congress Chair Pat McGowan as part of the build-up to the 18th ITS World Congress in Orlando.

ERTICO & ITSA: Where is the main focus of the Orlando Congress?

We are anticipating over 10,000 transport experts from over 74 countries. These attendees are there to share information and experience for deployments worldwide. The primary focus of the conference will be an amazing program with high level policy and technical speakers, along with a 350,000 square feet (32500 m2) exhibit hall and 26 technology demonstrations ranging from V2V, V2I, pricing solutions, next generation traveller information and environmental solutions. Since this is Orlando, we don’t have to mention the wonderful networking events at some of the most enjoyable venues in the world.

ERTICO & ITSA: What are the main themes of the Orlando Congress?

The theme for this conference is “keeping the economy moving” and this could not be more appropriate. Over the last several years, countries have slowed the development of infrastructure and as the economy starts to grow, efficient transport will be necessary if we are to keep the recovery moving forward. Without the deployment of transport technologies, we can’t meet the demands as we move more goods and people. ITS technologies are the only solution to increase mobility and our economy while saving lives and improving our environment.

ERTICO & ITSA: What has to happen so that you would consider the Orlando Congress was a success?

The development of a World Congress takes about 3 years and hundreds of people. We have already set the stage to ensure a successful World Congress and we are certain that people attending will agree. Everything is set and the anticipated attendance looks good. The only unknown now is the final number of people attending the conference. We have always planned for 10,000 people but it is possible to have significantly more.

ERTICO & ITSA: What makes Orlando uniquely positioned to hold this year’s ITS World Congress?

I would point to three key features that make Orlando great. First is the obvious venue with a spectacular convention centre, hotels and the best entertainment from Disney, Sea World and Universal Studios that the attendees will enjoy. Second is a very impressive deployment of ITS technologies within the Orlando area. These deployments will allow us to show off some world-class systems through our many technical tours. Finally, the local agencies and ITS Florida chapter has worked tirelessly to support the technology showcase, tours, networking events, and all elements of the program. Without this strong support from the people in Orlando we could not have made it as impressive an event.

The Orlando ITS World Congress interview - US DOT

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:22:23 +0200

ERTICO - ITS Europe and ITS America interviewed representatives from the US Department of Transportation as part of the build-up to the 18th ITS World Congress in Orlando.

ERTICO & ITSA: What are the current main priorities for the DOT concerning ITS?

The US DOT’s ITS program focuses on intelligent vehicles, intelligent infrastructure and the creation of an intelligent transport system through integration with and between these two components. The Federal ITS program supports the overall advancement of ITS through investments in major research initiatives, exploratory studies and a deployment support program including technology transfer and training.

The main priorities are:

SAFETY - In 2009, almost 34,000 people died on US roads as the result of vehicle crashes. Hundreds of thousands more suffered life-changing injuries. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) wireless communications based safety applications enable vehicles to inform a driver of roadway hazards and dangerous situations that they can’t see. These applications have the potential to reduce or eliminate crashes through:

Driver Advice

Driver Warnings

Vehicle and/or Infrastructure Controls

MOBILITY - Wireless mobility applications will provide a connected, data-rich travel environment using information transmitted anonymously from thousands of connected vehicles in the transportation system. This could help transport managers monitor and manage transport system performance taking actions like adjusting traffic signals and dispatching emergency services. This information could also help transport agencies and fleet owners manage crews and use resources more efficiently.

ENVIRONMENT - Data from connected vehicle ITS systems can offer traffic management centres detailed, real-time information on traffic flow, speeds, and other vehicle conditions. This can be used to optimise system operation. On-board equipment also can advise vehicle owners on how to optimise their vehicles’ operation and maintenance for maximum fuel efficiency.

ERTICO & ITSA: What are your expectations concerning the ITS World Congress in Orlando?

The biggest thing for US DOT for the World Congress is the opportunity to showcase the Driver Clinics that are part of the USDOT/CAMP Connected Vehicle Technology Review.

Connected Vehicle Cooperative Safety Systems use 5.9 GHz Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) to provide active safety systems that help drivers avoid crashes. US DOT has partnered with the Crash Avoidance Metrics Partnership (CAMP) Vehicle Safety Communications 3 (VSC3) Consortium to research, develop and test the technologies that form the framework for these systems. The CAMP Consortium consists of the Ford Motor Company, General Motors LLC, Honda R&D Americas, Inc., Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc., Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, Inc., Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc., and Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., and Volkswagen Group of America. Under the Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Safety System and Vehicle Build for Safety Pilot (V2V-SP) Project, vehicles from each of these manufacturers will support one or more of the following safety applications:

Emergency Electronic Brake Lights (EEBL)

Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Blind Spot Warning / Lane Change Warning (BSW/LCW)

Do Not Pass Warning (DNPW)

Intersection Movement Assist (IMA)

Left Turn Assist (LTA)

These safety applications will be on review at the Walt Disney World® SPEEDWAY during the 18th World Congress on ITS Technology Showcase. Participants will ride in the vehicles and experience the effectiveness of the safety applications in various potential crash scenarios. The vehicles used will be part of the actual test fleet that will participate in the US DOT Safety Pilot program. The objective of the review is to show how V2V interoperability among vehicles from different automotive manufacturers can allow cars to communicate and understand each other. These connected vehicle safety systems may help drivers avoid crashes regardless of vehicle make, model or type. In addition to the V2V safety applications shown in the CAMP VSC3 vehicles, a stationary and V2V-equipped Class 8 heavy truck will also be part of the review. To participate in the Connected Vehicle Technology Review, attendees should register in advance at www.v2vtechreview-florida.com.

ERTICO & ITSA: What makes Orlando uniquely positioned to hold this year’s ITS World Congress?

The first World Congress in the Americas took place in Orlando in 1996. Now, 15 years later, the sixth American World Congress and 18th overall returns just in time to see how far Florida has come in the deployment of ITS technologies. The fact that this year’s World Congress is in Orlando is no accident. Orlando is a dynamic city and the hub of one of the greatest centres of commerce and tourism in the world. Add to this the emergence of the state of Florida as a leader in integrating Intelligent Transport Systems and transport planning through strong partnerships between government and private sector agencies and it is clear why Orlando is the best suited location for an event this big. Award winning programs like Florida Turnpike Enterprise’s SunWatch Centre and the City of Orlando Traffic Control Emergency Management Centre are working—making it the perfect venue for this year’s World Congress. Florida is also fortunate to be the home of one of the most active ITS America chapters in the country, ITS Florida, which is heavily involved in all aspects of planning and shaping this year’s World Congress.

To find out more, click here

The ERTICO Partnership at Orlando

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:47:28 +0200

European Pavilion

The European Pavilion (stand 1713) is a joint effort between ERTICO, ITS Sweden and ITS Finland, with active participation from our respective Partners. Once again, the European Pavilion will be a networking and meeting hub in the exhibition area, with ERTICO staff and Partner representatives on hand to meet and discuss opportunities… with of course, once again, excellent coffee!

From the ERTICO side, Rasmus Lindholm, Head of Partnership Services and Acting Head of Communications, and Anna Limbrey, Partnership Services Manager, will be available to make introductions, facilitate meetings and explain the ERTICO Partnership and how best to take advantage of and benefit from ERTICO services.

ERTICO Partners displaying on the European Pavilion are: Logica, Q-free, Swedish Transport Administration, ACS a Xerox Company, Satellic, Newcastle University and NXP. Each company will have a representative on the European Pavilion ready to explain their products and services.

ERTICO Partners

Eighteen ERTICO Partners have stands in the exhibition hall. See the simplified map on the last page for details.

TomTom (1365), Robert Bosch (1665), IBM (1865), Swarco (1971), Peek Traffic(2265), NEC Corporation (2357), Kapsch TrafficCom USA (2347), Honda (2239), BMW (2037), PTV (1832), Panasonic (1641), Mitsubishi (1343), Continental (1219), Toyota (1723), DENSO (1925), ACS a Xerox company (2121), Siemens (1903), AustriaTech (1703).

The Network of National ITS Associations

The Network of National ITS Associations will come together in Orlando along with other National ITS Associations at a meeting organised by the regional ITS Associations. As well as updating each other on regional activities, the meeting will focus on the topic of traveller information and will provide the opportunity for National ITS Associations to exchange information and viewpoints on this substantive issue. In addition, several members of the Network of National ITS Associations will be exhibiting their products and services in Orlando. Anna Limbrey, Partnership Services Manager and ITS Network Coordinator, will be happy to expand on the Network of National ITS Associations’ activities – please ask for her at the ERTICO stand or contact her by email.

FOT-Net 4th International Workshop

Sunday 16 October at the Hilton Orlando
Round tables start at 8:00 a.m. Plenary session starts at 12:00 noon with lunch

FOT-Net was established by the European Commission to provide one strategic networking platform in order to address common issues related to the practical organisation, set up and follow-up of FOT results. A series of Round Tables will be organised at FOT-Net’s Fourth International Workshop addressing FOT issues that have been identified as of high priority. During the afternoon session, conclusions from the round tables will be presented and discussion will be open to the general FOT community who will validate these conclusions. General objectives of this workshop include:

Reinforce the global FOT network in order to exchange knowledge, best practices and foster cooperation for FOT activities
Support the coherent development and implementation of FOTs at European and International level
Increase the cooperation between FOT activities and their stakeholders leading to faster and effective take up of Intelligent Transport Systems and Services

To attend this event please contact Irina Silva

You can also ask for Irina Silva at the ERTICO stand at the Congress.

International workshop on vehicle communications

7th International Workshop on Vehicle Communications for Safety and Sustainability

When: Friday, 21 October 2011
Where: Hilton Orlando, Lake Mizell room, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.

The workshop will be held right after the ITS World Congress.
Selected panellists from around the world will provide their views on many issues including global harmonisation that face the development and deployment of vehicle communications technologies and associated applications of Co-operative Intelligent Transport Systems.

Please ask for Paul Kompfner at the ERTICO stand or contact him by

Austria goes to America

The Austrian hosts of the 2012 ITS World Congress are organising a community booth where companies, operators, and public bodies (the Austrian Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology, AustriaTech, Austrian Institute of Technology, Asfinag, AMV Networks, ITS Vienna Region, Fluidtime, Efkon, and Advantage Austria) will present their newly developed ITS solutions.

The agenda for activities at the Austrian booth includes a variety of special sessions: on Monday, 17 October from 5 PM to 6:30 PM the Austrians invite everyone to a toll-free “meet & greet” at booth 1703. Women are a central issue at the ITS Vienna 2012 so there will be a session on “Women in ITS” from 1:30 PM to 3 PM on Wednesday, 19 October. A third session deals with the subject “ITS Vienna 2012” on 20 October from 1:30 PM to 3 PM.
Any changes in the agenda will be tweeted, so make sure to follow them on Twitter or contact Rita Michlits.

Networking events and demonstrations at the 18th World ITS Congress, Orlando

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:07:12 +0200

Networking events

Networking and special events are an important aspect of any trade show or meeting, but when they are in Orlando, they are extra special. Orlando is home to spectacular tourist attractions which will serve as a backdrop for one of a kind networking opportunities for conference attendees and their guests. New to the conference this year is the World Congress Golf Tournament, a pre-event which promises to be a relaxing and fun way to catch up with old friends and a great way to get ready for the week’s activities. Also new this year is the first ever Investor Matching Event, a unique opportunity for technology companies to network with potential investors at the World Congress. Here’s a listing of other networking events of note:

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16
Transportation and the Economy
Views from International Political Leaders
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Investment in and effective operation of transport infrastructure promotes economic activity and growth. At this roundtable, transport leaders from around the world discuss how investment in infrastructure and transport innovation impacts the economy.

Opening Ceremony Reception
Sponsored by IBM
4:00 p.m.
Take some time to relax and network at the Opening Ceremony Reception. Hors d’oeuvres will be served, and there will be wonderful entertainment provided by the a capella vocal group “Mutual Agreement”.

Opening Ceremony
Sponsored by GM
5:00 p.m.
The 18th World Congress will welcome attendees with a high-impact experience showcasing the power of jazz music—an expression that is unequivocally and uniquely American.
In addition, a number of distinguished guests will offer welcome addresses to the several thousand in attendance.
Invited speakers will include Patrick McGowan, Chair of the 18th World Congress Organising
Committee; Thomas Stephens, Vice Chairman and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), General Motors Corporation, USA (confirmed); Ignacio González- Domínguez, CEO, Telvent; Governor Rick Scott (Florida) (invited); Peter Appel, Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration; U.S. Department of Transportation; Zoran Stančič, Deputy Director General, European Commission, DG INFSO; and a Representative from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan.

Exhibitors Welcome Reception
Orange County Convention Centre’s Exhibit Hall
5:00 p.m.

Best of ITS Industry Awards
Orange County Convention Centre’s Exhibit Hall
Sponsored by Fontinalis Partners, LLC
5:00 p.m.

ITS America’s “Best of Intelligent Transportation Systems Awards” recognise the best and brightest of the ITS community. Categories include Best New Innovative Product, Service or Application and Best New Innovative Practice. The ITS Hall of Fame inductees, along with the winners of the Outstanding Student Essay Competition, sponsored by Southwest Research Institute, and the Smart Phone Apps Contest, sponsored by Atkins, will be announced during the ceremony as well. Who will get recognised this year? Don’t miss it!

ITS Florida Welcome Reception & Dinner
Discovery Cove®
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Hosted by ITS Florida, this event will provide wonderful networking opportunities for attendees as they enjoy a Caribbean themed luau buffet with live entertainment at Discovery Cove®. Come join us for this exciting evening of fun and friendship. Ticket required and transport provided. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19
“Coast to Coast” Networking Event
Disney’s Hollywood Studios®
7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Take advantage of one last opportunity to network at the “Coast to Coast” Finale Networking Event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®—open exclusively for World Congress attendees. Get ready for a night to remember starting with a special dinner on the Streets of America complete with a live DJ and street entertainers. Ticket required and transport provided.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20
Closing Ceremony
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The 18th World Congress Closing Ceremony has special significance this year, highlighted by an important keynote address by Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company (confirmed). Chairman Ford will highlight the important advances in the automotive field and their implications for connectivity in the world of intelligent transport systems. In addition to this keynote and an entertainment interlude, Patrick McGowan, Orlando Organising Committee Chair and John Peracchio, Program Committee Chair, will bring attention to the significant accomplishments of the World Congress and then “pass the globe” to their colleagues in Europe as all look to next year’s event in Vienna and the 2013 Congress in Tokyo.

Demonstrations

Set up in the large parking lot adjacent to the convention centre, the Technology Showcase is sure to be a popular component of this year’s event. Cutting-edge ITS technology solutions will come to life as leading transport agencies, including the US DOT, and private sector companies host live technology demonstrations in real time. The Pricing Village features technologies used for managing demand and financing transport improvements. These systems utilise user fees to provide more predictable, reliable and less-congested commutes while supporting alternative commuter options like public transit and carpooling. Companies like TransCore, ACS/Xerox and Kapsch will demonstrate solutions ranging from congestion management through pricing to dynamic pricing, integrated corridor operations, mileage-based user fees and 915 MHz interoperability. And Battelle, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transport, will demonstrate safety, mobility and user fee implementation using an aftermarket device. These applications have been proven and are popular in Europe, Asia and South America—and are starting to gain popularity in the United States.

For more information, please click here

ITS AP News: Inaugural Workshop of ITS Indonesia

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:10:10 +0200

ITS Indonesia hosted the ITS Asia-Pacific Workshop

On 25 July 2011 ITS Indonesia hosted the ITS Asia-Pacific Workshop in conjunction with the19^th Indonesia International MotorShow. The workshop, organised by ITS Indonesia with the support of the Association of Indonesia Automotive Industries and other private companies, was structured in two parts. The first part was dedicated to local attendees and focused on ITS outreach, whilst the second part included an international workshop on ITS development and experiences, with the presence of representatives from ITS Japan, ITS Malaysia, ITS New Zealand, ITS Taiwan and ITS Thailand.

In his opening speech, Dr Bambang Susantono, Indonesian Vice-Minister of Transport and President of ITS Indonesia, stated that Indonesia has the second largest number of Facebook users and the fifth largest number of Twitter users in the world, an important source of traffic information. He also presented some current ITS services in Indonesia such as Traffic Information & Management Centre, Traffic Surveillance & Tracking System, ATCS , VMS and Bus Location System; he concluded by saying that PPP is important as the private sector takess the initiative while the public sector supports industry.

Blue Bird Group, a major taxi operator in Indonesia, stated that the 8000 taxis with GPS provide floating car data that can be used to improve the traffic situation in Jakarta. CIKARANG Dry Port introduced an electronic seal for custom, quarantine and logistic of bonded goods. The system has GPS enabled electronic devices for the seal, which is attached to containers. ITS Indonesia is the latest member of ITS Asia-Pacific, which now has twelve members.

This article has been published in cooperation with ITS Japan.

ERTICO welcomes New Staff!

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:22:11 +0200

Sanita Patandin has joined the ERTICO team on 26 July 2011. She gives support to the Finance and Administration Department. After finishing her studies of Bilingual Secretariat, Sanita gained nine years administrative experience in her native island Mauritius from 1994 to 2003. She moved to Belgium and worked as Administrative Officer from 2004 to 2011 for Ecsite (a European Network for science centres and museums, linking science communication professionals in more than 400 institutions in 50 countries).

New electronic tolling system operative in Poland

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:54:46 +0200

In July a new electronic toll connection system started to operate in Poland, making Poland the latest European country to launch an electronic toll collection scheme on its motorways. The viaToll system applies to all trucks, buses and tractors with a maximum weight between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes and will be active on major motorways and selected national roads.

The viaTOLL system is obligatory for all vehicles with a maximum weight of over 3.5 tonnes and for buses regardless of their maximum permissible weight. All incomes will be spent on further investments in the development of the road network in Poland and the modernisation of the existing road infrastructures.

For more information visit viaTOLL website

ERTICO welcomes new staff!

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:47:25 +0200

Laetitia Fernandez holds a Master's Degree in Translation and a Master's Degree in Journalism. After finishing her studies, she worked as a Communications Officer for the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC) in Brussels. In 2008, she took on the role of Final Editor of Fleet Europe, a quarterly publication covering European fleet management. She contributed to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics prior to coming back to Belgium, where she joined a renowned event agency as event planner, before joining ERTICO.

Laetitia has joined the ERTICO team in order to contribute to the dissemination of the euroFOT and FOT-Net projects, as well as new projects starting in September.

Carla Coppola holds a Master’s Degree in Communications and Mass Media from the Università degli Studi di Perugia and a MA in European Studies and Cinema from the University of Bath. She has been working in Communications and Project management for several years. In 2008 she worked at the DG INFSO on a publication for the Directorate ‘Converged Networks and Services’. After her time at the Commission she worked as the Project and Communications Officer at FERA (Federation of European film and TV directors) till June 2010. Before joining ERTICO, Carla has been collaborating in the pre-production of a documentary on the rebuilding of Haiti.

Carla has joined the ERTICO communications team to support its communications activities.

New name for future EU funding programme for research and innovation

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:18:48 +0200

On 21 June 2011 Ms Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research and Innovation, has announced the new name of the future EU funding programme for research and innovation: "Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation". It will enter into force on 1 January 2014, after the end of FP7 on 31 Dec 2013.

"Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation" is the name for the new, integrated funding system that will cover all research and innovation funding currently provided through the Framework Programme for Research and Technical Development, the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). These different types of funding will be brought together in a coherent and flexible manner. Research and innovation funding will focus on clearly addressing global challenges. Needless red tape will be cut out and access to programs and participation will be made easier and simpler.

"Horizon 2020" is the winner of our "You Name it" online vote to name the future EU-funding programme for research and innovation. Among the three shortlisted proposals, "Horizon 2020" received 3.055 votes against 2.785 "Imagine 2020" and 2.478 for "Discover 2020". 8.318 votes were received.

Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn congratulated the competition winners Marcela Endlova (from Czech Republic) and Beata Zyngier (Poland). She will meet at the European Innovation Convention in December 2011.

Read Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn here.

ITS Forum Berlin

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:41:42 +0200

A successful "first service" event of ITS Network Germany

At the ITS Forum Berlin in mid-May 2011 more than 80 expert delegates and 30 speakers came together for a very fruitful congress (in German and English) and networking event in the "embassy" of the State of Niedersachsen at one of Berlin´s finest address near the Brandenburg Gate - and they all got an up-to-date view of intelligent traffic technologies. It was the first annual meeting of Germany's national ITS branch presented by the speaker of the board, Heinz Sodeikat, a former director of ERTICO.

Future ITS strategies were the focus of all official and informal talks within this two-day conference, e.g. the requirements of public institutions for enhanced traffic information by the German Federal Road Agency BASt and the WDR for German broadcast - as well aspects of private providers (PTV, TomTom and others).

In the future, special awareness vis-à-vis ITS solutions should be given to urban traffic, taking into account that more than 72% of all Europeans reside in urban areas. While Steve Kearns (Transport for London) pointed out the positive impact of the city congestion charge, the German road organisation ADAC made clear that according to its research congestion charging for cities has a minor influence on traffic flow. A much more effective approach - they said - will be the deployment of smart guidance systems for parking in resident areas. This approach was technically underlined by system providers like Kapsch, presenting their C02 access control.

The second day of the conference centred its discussions around the ITS directive and its transformation into national legislation. The represantatives of the EU Commission and the German government pointed out the criterias and frameworks for needed national actions up to 2020. The traffic ministry also described the relevant procedures for enabling the placement of a German ITS law as a national mirror of the Directive. Science, public institutions and industry are now requested to give input into this process.

The next annual meeting of ITS Network Germany will take place in May 2012 - in the Hessen "embassy" just across the street - and therefore again in the heart of Berlin.

Telenor Connexion enables Stepac real time wireless monitoring of “what’s cool” all over the world

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:33:37 +0200

Telenor Connexion's embedded connectivity delivers Stepac's customers premium services for cold chain monitoring to ensure the best quality goods

Transporting fresh perishables presents a difficult challenge for retailers. The goods must be transported in a timely fashion in order to provide consumers with the best quality goods. To complicate the situation further, some produce are more sensitive than others; with a few hours delay in the cooling process or distribution chain causing a significant reduction in its marketability.

Stepac, a leading global supplier of real-time cold chain monitoring and tracking solutions to the fresh produce industry, has developed the Xsense solution specifically for perishable foods. The solution, which contains Telenor Connexion's embedded connectivity, allows the receiver of temperature-sensitive goods to know immediately, before accepting the shipment, if products have remained at the proper temperature for the entire trip.

The Xsense solution works in real-time mode, providing vital information about produce quality from inside the carton or package. It contains temperature and relative humidity sensors, which collect and transfer data by wireless communication to a communication unit (CU) via standard mobile and/or LAN networks. Data is available in real time throughout the shipment and alerts can be sent via SMS or email. GPS tracking lets you view the geographic progress of the shipment as well.

"The partnership of Xsense and Telenor Connexion highlights a growing trend of wireless innovations occuring in business and life critical solutions. Everyday, billions of dollars of temperature-sensitive goods are transported from one location to another. By using wireless connectivity it is now possible to seamlessly monitor the entire cold chain from end-to-end in real time, thus providing an accurate picture of the treatment of goods in transit and enabling true asset management," says Gwenn Larsson, CMO at Telenor Connexion.

"To wirelessly monitor the temperature of shipments as they travel along the cold chain - and the world - has a large impact not only on the quality of the produce, but also on the financial success of our customers. The return on investment of cold chains depends mainly on the reduction of food waste. However, improved efficiency such as implementing First Expired First Out (FEFO) management, can potentially also save millions of dollars annually", says Udi Aviran, Commercial Manager at Stepac.

The Xsense solution has been purchased, in the fresh produce and the meat industry, by more than 200 customers all over the globe.

For more information, please contact:

Udi Aviran, Commercial Manger, Stepac

Gwenn Larsson, CMO, Telenor Connexion

Julia Fedorova, VisiTech PR for Telenor Connexion US

ERTICO - ITS Europe meets ITS China

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:27:27 +0200

Dr Yanying Li visit to China

Dr Yanying Li, project manager at ERTICO and coordinator of the Viajeo project, visited China Intelligent Transport Systems Association (ITS China) on 27th June 2011 in Beijing. The visit aimed at further strengthening the cooperation between ERTICO and ITS China. ERTICO and ITS China will cooperate in organising site events during the 6th ITS China Annual Conference which will be held from 6th to 10th of September 2011 in Beijing. The Viajeo project consortium will hold a project workshop during the conference in order to raise awareness towards the forthcoming Viajeo demonstrations of transport services. ITS China and ERTICO will also host the first seminar during the conference. The seminar invites partners from ITS China and ERTICO to create cooperation among the members of the two associations.

Continental supplies new connectivity unit to first Chinese vehicle manufacturer and broadens the family of AutoLinQ solutions

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:51:57 +0200

With a newly developed connectivity unit, the international automotive supplier Continental has launched deliveries to a first Chinese automotive manufacturer. Via voice input and output, the new connectivity unit allows motorists to safely access the Internet while driving.

Commenting on the successful introduction of the project, Kieran O'Sullivan, head of the Continental business unit Infotainment & Connectivity, explains: "The new Continental connectivity unit offers an affordable and, at the same time, easy-to-use way to access popular Internet services that motorists demand."

In April Continental commenced production of the new connectivity units after a development time of less than a year. By activating the connectivity function, drivers of the new sedan, which was presented at Auto Shanghai, can now access a total of 22 different functions with direct access to data from the Internet. The car establishes a hookup to Deutsche Telekom servers, which continually process Internet data for forwarding to the connectivity units. The system connects to the Internet over the driver's cell phone via Bluetooth. This means that no extra data contract is required and results in lower hardware costs. Data in- and output is through voice, making the system safe, practical and easy to use. This simple realisation of Continental's AutoLinQ concept allows for configurations that enable car buyers to add new apps to their vehicle and keep their infotainment system up-to-date at all times.

Continental plans to deliver the new system to two additional Chinese car models by the end of this year.

ERTICO talks to Vladimir Kryuchkov, Chief Executive Officer ITS - Russia, newly joined Member of the Network of ITS Nationals

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:08:25 +0200

ITS - Russia brings together experts and institutions in the automobile, transport, telecommunications, navigation and telematics industry as well as scientific and research institutions and public organisations. ITS - Russia provides a unique platform for the effective cooperation of the scientific and professional community, public authorities and organisations and engages in best practice and research activities to build ITS Architecture in the Russian Federation for all modes of transport.

ERTICO: What are the main goals and priority areas identified by ITS - Russia at the local and international levels?

Vladimir Kryuchkov: The engine of ITS deployment in Russia has been started. Public bodies and business organisations have begun to actively participate in its development. The ITS market in Russia has huge potential but it needs a level playing field that will enable a comfortable and efficient national and international mobility system. ITS - Russia works closely with the Russian Ministry of Transport and the Federal Road Agency as an expert consultant for the development of Russia's ITS strategy and ITS Action Plan. It also co-chairs the working group for preparing the draft of the ITS Deployment Federal Law. These documents will set out the priority areas and objectives for ITS development in Russia as well as the relationship between public and private stakeholders.

Standardisation of ITS is the second component of this work. ITS - Russia and the Ministry of Transport initiated the creation of the national Technical Committee on the standardisation of ITS. Finding and deploying solutions to transport problems requires enormous public funding. An investment of 6 billion roubles is planned for 2011 with a further 20 billion forseen by 2020 for the modernisation of Moscow's road transport system alone. Similar capital-intensive projects are planned in various regions of Russia. In addition to national standards, international standardisation is key. To this end, the Technical Committee on ITS standardisation will be the public body responsible for the regulation of the ITS market in Russia and will represent Russia in the international standardisation bodies - CEN/TC278 and ISO/TC204.

Pilot projects constitute the major focus of deployment. The full list of the federal, regional and local ITS projects is not finalised, but we could name ITS for Moscow, Sochi, Kazan, Perm, Saint-Petersburg, Ryazan, Kaluga, Kursk and Dubna. Alongside the Federal Road Agency we have developed ITS field-test and research centre in Stavropol, southern Russia. The Federal Road Agency's programme of strategic long-term development foresees the construction and reconstruction of 1380 km of federal roads including the trans-European transport corridors N2, N9, A1 and Europe-Western China. Some projects are looking at the possibility of implementing tolling systems on the federal highways. The most recent projects we started this year pertain to electric vehicles and ECO-city.

In July 2011 the international working group for the modernisation of transport dialogue between Russia and the EU determined several joint projects:

Digital tachographs
Maritime transport safety information exchange in the Baltic and Barents sea
Deep integration of transport infrastructure in terms of the Northern Dimension partnership and multimodal transport
International collaboration for the project "Trans-Siberian Railway in 7 days"
High speed rail transportation between Russia and EU
ITS for traffic flow management and road transport safety

ITS - Russia promotes the integration of Russia into the world ITS market through facilitating the interpenetration of technologies, participation in European and World ITS Congresses and providing opportunities for companies to participate in the events held in Russia.

ERTICO: In your view, what are some of the main benefits anticipated by ITS - Russia in joining the Network of ITS Associations, and how will this new membership affect the quality and availability of services within Russia?

Vladimir Kryuchkov: In 2010 &2011 ITS - Russia signed MoUs with most national ITS associations and joining the Network of ITS Associations completed our "moneybox". This facilitates the establishment of bilateral relations and direct dialogue with ITS professionals from different countries. Through our cooperation with ITS Ireland we had the opportunity to apply their expertise in promoting electric vehicles on the market. Likewise, expertise in major urban traffic management projects is a key competence of TTS Italia which will play a major role in organising large events crucial for ITS projects. For example, the World Students Games in 2013 in Kazan and the FIFA World Cup in 2018 which will require connecting 13 Russian host-cities. Joint projects with ITS Finland include the Helsinki - St.-Petersburg international transport corridor, multimodal transport and logistic centres and border crossing stations. With Connekt/ITS Netherlands we recently agreed on a project for the management of Baltic Sea traffic between Amsterdam and St.-Petersburg.

ERTICO: ITS - Russia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ERTICO in September 2010; can you describe the achievements since then?

Vladimir Kryuchkov: The cooperation between ERTICO and ITS - Russia has progressed since 2008 and our participation in the EC funded SIMBA II project. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in September 2010 between our organisations settled our mutual interests and future roadmap thus facilitating and enhancing the exchange of information. .

Actually, ITS - Russia connected the missing link of the chain forming the Global ITS Market.

The big international ITS project that we are coordinating alongside ERTICO is eCall/ERA GLONASS. The working group was set up in March 2011, ensuring that the international harmonisation of the requirements and standards for both systems are met, aligning their deployment on the Russian and European market. For the moment the requirements for the ERA GLONASS system which has to reach the market in 2013 take into account the requirements for eCall, technical and functional needs of the OEMs and suppliers, and are being finalised to become a standard for the emergency call systems in Russia. ERTICO, ITS - Russia and NIS (Russia) - Federal Network Operator of GLONASS - will run a meeting of the working group in Brussels on 28 July 2011 that will consolidate and dissect the European response to the ERA GLONASS Terminal Requirements.

With ERTICO we promote efficient and vigorous interaction between Russian, European and other international companies as their best practices are very valuable for the development and deployment of global transport systems. Primarily we are creating a legal basis and establishing professional contacts for this cooperation, which we expect to be a two way street, promoting the most efficient ITS solutions for the benefit of people living in Europe, Russia and the rest of the world.

e-miXer In-Time: the new Android mobile application for multimodal transport and traffic information in European cities

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:37:58 +0200

Do you often travel in Florence, Munich or Vienna? Do you want to know how to find a unoccupied parking space in Bucharest or Brno, which bus will take you to your final destination and when is the next departure... and much more? Developed by Softeco Sismat, partner of the In-Time Consortium, e-miXer In-Time is the latest In-Time compliant application to assist you while travelling and provide easy mobile access to multimodal travel and traffic information for Android smartphones and tablet PCs.

Like the e-miXerdesktop web application, e-miXer In-Time uses data and services available through the In-Time Commonly Agreed Standardised B2B Interface to provide several Location Based Services (LBS) and Multimodal Journey Planning. The data accessible through e-miXer In-Time are made available by the cities themselves and therefore the service provided may differ from city to city - always according to the needs of the city. The actual user position - automatically provided by the phone - or a specified location (address, POI) can be used to plan a journey from one place to another or to get information about Parking Places, Public Transport Stops or Traffic Alerts in the proximity of the user. Additionally, once a journey is planned, users can search for LBS information around the start, destination or intermediate points. Any of these points, in turn, can be used as the start or destination point for another journey, depending on the user's needs and preferences.

Joining the other In-Time compliant Apps available for iPhone, Win 6.5 and Symbian smartphones, e-miXer In-Time bridges a gap in the very rapidly evolving market of smartphone platforms. According to figures from the first Quarter 2011, Android has achieved more than one third (36%) of smartphone market sales in Europe andis now the leading smartphone platform in France and the UK and very close to the top position in Germany. Market forecasts (Gartner) predict that by the end of 2012 almost half of all smartphones purchased worldwide will run on Android OS. We expect that thanks to e-miXer In-Time on Android smartphones and Tab PCs, the base of users testing In-Time multimodal travel and traffic information services in Europe - already quite large, with over 2500 users of the iPhone, Win and Symbian applications - will increase even more dramatically in the next few months, providing a strong contribution to the validation and take up of In-Time services.

For more information please contact:

Marco Boero

Head of Division, Research and Innovation, Softeco Sismat

Michele Masnata

Mobility and Transport Team Leader, Softeco Sismat

	Android market e-miXer page
	e-miXer website		In-Time website

In-Time will pilot and validate an innovative pan-European approach to Real Time Traffic and Travel Information (RTTI) services. The reliable and real-time delivery of these services to the individual traveller and to traffic management centres is likely to reduce drastically energy consumption in urban areas, across different modes of transport. The traveller is expected to change his travel behaviour according to the information he/she receives, opting for the most efficient and quickest modes for his/her travel journey.

In-Time is a Policy Support Programme supported by the European Commission Seventh Framework programme of Information Society Technologies.

In-Time website: www.in-time-project.eu

Egis acquires toll collection specialist in Europe

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:45:45 +0200

As part of its services business development to road users, ERTICO Partner, Egis Projects, acquires the Dutch based company Transpass.

In Europe, Transpass provides services to Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) fleets in the following areas:

Electronic toll collection services on behalf of almost all concessionaires and operators in Europe (TollCollect in Germany, Asfinag in Austria, Autostrade in Italy, TIS-PL in France, etc.).
Value Added Tax (VAT) recovery for its clients wishing to recover this tax on toll roads in Europe and other associated transport services (tolls, fuel, etc.).
Value-added services related to transport (ferry and train bookings, distribution of fuelling cards, etc.).

In 2010, Transpass collected around €100 m from a client base of 5000 professionals.

Transpass is headquartered in Dordrecht, in the Netherlands and has 15 commercial offices covering 11 countries in Europe.

Rik Joosten, Chief Executive Officer of Egis Projects comments: "The acquisition of Transpass by Egis Projects is part of its strategic development in road user services. This services activity complements the traditional value chain of Egis Projects in the field of electronic toll collection, which includes roles such as designer, integrator and operator of toll systems."

Since 2005 Egis Projects has successfully delivered road user services to individuals and professionals in Ireland and the Philippines under the brand “Easytrip”.

Today Egis Projects manages over 1.2 million subscribers across Europe.

This acquisition strengthens the skills of Egis Projects in the field of services to road transport professionals and will enable Egis Projects to benefit from the electronic toll collection growth in Europe.

For more information contact:

Isabelle Bourguet

isabelle.bourguet@egis.fr

Sandrine Felappi

sandrine.felappi@egis.fr

ITS United Kingdom launches ITS on Your Doorstep series of events

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:43:11 +0200

ITS United Kingdom, the Intelligent Transport Systems association for the UK, has launched a series of events entitled "ITS on Your Doorstep" which enable Intelligent Transport Systems practitioners and those with an interest in ITS to learn, share knowledge and network - without going far from their workplace. ITS UK recognises that travel and training budgets have had to be cut in the current UK economic climate, and has designed these events to cover a wide range of ITS topics in one day, with sessions run on a drop-in basis so that delegates can choose the items which interest them. The events are also, of course, free to attend.

The first one took place in Newcastle on 1 July, with ITS UK Members Newcastle University acting as hosts for an extensive programme of activities which stretched from breakfast at 8 am to an informal reception finishing at 6 pm. Topics covered included using ITS to make savings on Local Authority transport budgets, smart ticketing and payment technologies, and electric vehicle infrastructure issues. Durham County Council came along with their own EV, which was demonstrated, and other local participants came from the City of Newcastle, NEXUS, Middlesborough Council, and of course the University itself. With about 45 people passing through the event at some point, the organisers were satisfied they had identified and met a need.

The ITS UK organiser, Neal Skelton, commented "There was general agreement that the event had achieved its prime intention of facilitating dialogue between Local Authority representatives and the ITS industry on a number of specific local initiatives".

Richard Gibson, who works for local ITS SME, IDT Ltd, said " It was great having such an excellent event so close to home."

Photo shows host Professor Phil Blythe (left) with John McGargill of Durham County Council.

For further information, please contact:
Jennie Martin - ITS UK mailbox@its-uk.org.uk

TTS Italia signs MoU with ITS Russia

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:04:50 +0200

In June, at the ITS European Congress in Lyon, Olga Landolfi, Secretary General of TTS Italia, and Vladimir Kryuchkov, CEO of ITS Russia , signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) . The MoU aims at establishing a bilateral relationship and developing cooperation between ITS Russia and TTS Italia in the field of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). Particular attention will be given to improving membership value and promoting research, educational and commercial cooperation between the two Associations.

8th European ITS Congress Conclusions

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:46:03 +0200

Following the 8th European ITS Congress, which took place in Lyon between the 6-8 June 2011, ERTICO is pleased to announce that the Congress Conclusions are now available here.

The congress was organised around eight major themes which were each addressed by a variety of sessions from executive sessions to technical and scientific sessions. Each theme had a special reporter assigned to it in order to help distill the various sessions into a clear and concise message that congress attendees could refer back to.

The reporters came from a wide variety of backgrounds in ITS. ERTICO's own Paul Kompfner, Head of CooperativeMobility Sector, was joined by proffessionals from automobile manufacturers, public policy makers and representatives from business in compiling the reports.

The Lyon Congress Conclusions provide an excellent synthesis of the key points and messages presented at the conference, serving as a great refresher for those fortunate enough to have attended as well as an excellent overview of the issues discussed for those who were unable to attend.

Members of the i-Mobility Network can, in addition to the Congress Conclusions, access video recordings of the Opening Ceremony, Opening Plenary, Congress Conclusions and Closing Ceremony on the iMobility Network's Library page.

To join the i-Mobility Network, please click here.

Cooperative Mobility Services Interoperability Event

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:01:03 +0200

ERTICO is proud to announce the dates of the first Cooperative Mobility Services Interoperability event, organised in co-operation with ETSI. This event will be held in our partner TNO's facilities in Helmond, The Netherlands. Please find comprehensive information about this event on the ETSI web page

CoR supports EU transport plans for 2050 but urges concrete measures

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:43:36 +0200

EU plans for a greener and more competitive transport sector by 2050 need more concrete interim targets and adequate funding. This was the message delivered by Europe's regional presidents and mayors to Commissioner Kallas today. Meeting at the Committee of the Regions plenary in Brussels, they adopted a key transport opinion drafted by the Mayor of Lisbon, Antonio Costa (PT/PES).

The European Commission recently outlined its 'roadmap' for upgrading the continent's transport system and making it more sustainable by 2050. Regional and local authorities have a key role to play in transport policy, for instance in maintaining the road network, managing public transport and enforcing air quality standards. Presenting his proposals at the Committee of the Regions plenary today, Siim Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for transport, said: "I see the roadmap not only as a series of Commission objectives: I see it as a unique opportunity for local and regional authorities to shape the future of our transport system."

Committee of the Regions President Mercedes Bresso expressed her satisfaction concerning the concrete modal shift proposed in the transport white paper, from road to rail, inland waterway and maritime transports: "We need greener and more efficient transports to tackle the challenge of global warming. This change should imply a strong involvement of public stakeholders at all levels."

Contrary to some national governments, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) supports the Commission's main goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector by 60%. At the same time, Europe's regional presidents and mayors made it clear that they now expect practical steps, concrete interim targets and appropriate funding from the EU level. Antonio Costa, Mayor of Lisbon, who drafted the CoR opinion adopted today, stated: "When we look at the daily rush hour traffic jams in our big cities, and the health and environmental damage caused by them, it is obvious that things have to change and as soon as possible. Many of the goals set by the European Commission seem highly ambitious but too long-term oriented. Instead, the roadmap now has to be strengthened and completed with measurable short-term goals, and it is obvious that the Commission's objectives can only be realised if the appropriate framework and funds are in place."

CoR members endorsed the most controversial of the European Commission's proposals: To halve the use of 'conventionally-fuelled' cars in urban transport by 2030, phase them out in cities by 2050 and achieve essentially CO2-free logistics in major urban centres by 2030. Furthermore, the CoR opinion insists that all "external" costs to transport, such as social costs, environmental pollution, noise and health hazards have to be factored into the price. According to the CoR, this has to happen by means of harmonised taxation across all modes of transport. All revenue generated from implementing EU legislation aimed at better integrating these external costs - for instance the 'Eurovignette' directive - must be used for developing an integrated and efficient transport system.

Regional and local politicians share the Commission's "zero deaths" goal on road safety while recognising the many challenges it poses. In this regard, the CoR also proposes the provision of access to, and interoperability of, road traffic offence registers. This should make it possible to take infringements committed in other EU countries into account when applying sanctions. The Committee also welcomes the proposals on sustainable urban mobility plans, a key demand of earlier CoR opinions on the issue. However, the CoR expressed its disappointment that the Commission's 2014-2020 financial framework didn't introduce a new financial instrument for co-financing these mobility plans, as requested by the CoR.

The CoR on the internet: www.cor.europa.eu

European Parliament welcomes Michael Schumacher for Decade of Action launch

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 11:34:35 +0200

Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, Michael Schumacher, came to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 11 May 2011 to offer his support for the launch of the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety.

From his long experience as a top racing driver, he stressed the importance of deploying eSafety systems in new cars for meeting the Decade's goals: "eSafety technologies like Electronic Stability Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Emergency Braking Systems, build safety into the system so that, as in motor sport, the risk and severity of accidents are minimised. It is vital that Members of the European Parliament understand the importance and the number of lives that can be saved by deploying eSafety technologies through legislation or voluntarily," he said.

Other speakers at the high-level event included Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, Werner Kraus, President of FIA Region I, Didier Bollecker, Président de l'Automobile Club, Association Française des Automobilistes, Mr Peter Power, Member of the European Commission, and the host, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Member of the European Parliament. The event was organised by the eSafety Challenge project together with FIA Region I, and supported by the European Commission, FIA Foundation and eSafetyAware.

Photo: Michael Schumacher playing the new iPhone application "eSafety Challenge" at the European Parliament in Strasbourg

The deployment of life saving eSafety technologies in cars was also the focus of a free iPhone application "eSafety Challenge" launched on the same day. Players learn from top drivers supporting the game including Formula 1 drivers Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Alexander Wurz, seven-time World Rally Champion, Sebastian Loeb, eight-time 24 Hour Le Mans Champion, Tom Kristensen, and DTM driver, Susie Stoddart. The game is now available for clubs to adapt and rebrand for their own use.

As policymakers and end-users are often unaware of the potential of eSafety systems to make our roads less dangerous, the goal of the eSafety Challenge application is to promote the deployment and use of intelligent vehicle safety systems to enhance road safety in Europe - a priority which falls under the UN Decade of Action's support to the development of safer cars.

Photo: Michael Schumacher together with FIA Region I President Werner Kraus, FIA Region I Director General Jacob Bangsgaard, Président de l'Automobile Club, Association Française des Automobilistes, Didier Bollecker, and FIA Region I staff

A fan of the game himself, Michael Schumacher commented, "This is a great game which will help drivers of all ages to become more familiar with the eSafety technologies available and hopefully they will demand some of these technologies next time they buy a new car". The game is now available to download online.

FIA News: Awareness of potential of eSafety systems on the rise

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 11:17:15 +0200

The conclusions of a comprehensive study of car user's acceptance of eSafety technologies, carried out in 10 European countries, were presented as part of the annual eSafety Challenge event in Teesdorf on 31 May.

The study found that although some 80% of respondents had at least found themselves in a dangerous traffic situation at one time or another, only half of them were willing to pay extra to have these technologies fitted into their car.

Werner Kraus, President of FIA Region I and ÖAMTC, commented, "The study shows that familiarity with these life-saving technologies is on the rise with awareness levels 10% greater in 2011 than two years ago - but Europe's car buyers are still not purchasing eSafety systems in sufficient numbers. Thousands more lives could be saved if these systems were widely used."

Devices such as ESC, which is to be compulsory in all new cars as from 2012, have the potential to save 4,000 lives and 100,000 injuries annually alone in Europe. In Germany, an Allianz study shows that as much as €330 million could be saved by preventing small rear impact accidents and that almost three out of four rear impact accidents with injuries and fatalities could be avoided with the 100% introduction of Advanced Emergency Braking Systems.

Photo: Presentation of the study at the eSafety Challenge 2011

Despite these findings, many businesses are still allowing employees to drive company cars that are not fitted with these life-saving eSafety systems.

Five key findings of the study:

Safety is the number one purchasing criterion for consumers, followed closely by fuel consumption and running costs.
eSafety systems rated of highest importance were Electronic Stability Control, Advanced Emergency Braking Systems and Adaptive Headlights.
Men were notably more aware of the majority of eSafety technologies, with 28% more males declaring themselves familiar with Lane Support Systems than women.
89% of German respondents are aware of ESC, while in the UK only 41% of drivers questioned knew of it, a swing of 45%. Only 28% of Italian drivers and 27% of UK respondents were aware of Blind Spot Monitoring and Lane Support respectively.
67% of respondents were willing to pay for ESC, with Adaptive Headlights in second place with 59% support. In 2009 no technology scored more than 44%, but two years later ESC, Automatic Emergency Braking Systems and Blind Spot Monitoring (in addition to newcomer Adaptive Headlights) saw more than half of those questioned express a willingness to pay for them.

Please visit the FIA website for more information.

innovITS Advance: connecting vehicles, highways and telecommunications

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 17:00:21 +0200

The international centre for connecting vehicles, highways and telecommunications opens for business

A new facility has been built in the UK West Midlands that will enable intelligent transport system innovations to be developed as never before. With UK government funding of £10 million and in collaboration with MIRA and TRL, "innovITS ADVANCE" will enable significant advances to be made to improve both the safety and sustainability of future road transportation.

Formally opened today by David Pearson, Chairman of innovITS, the UK centre for excellence in intelligent transport systems, CEO Phil Pettitt, and George Gillespie, the Chief Executive of MIRA, innovITS ADVANCE comprises:

The world's first purpose-built facility for industry to develop, test and validate of ITS products and innovations
A "virtual city" configurable to replicate the navigational network connectivity of almost any type of street environment from skyscraper neighbourhoods typical of London's Docklands or Lower Manhattan, to mixed suburban development
Fully controllable private communications networks allowing virtually any scenario of signal attenuation and denial to be replicated
A dedicated and secure testing environment for the automotive, telematics and ITS industries

"The launch of innovITS ADVANCE marks a highly significant milestone for the advancement of sustainability in road transport," said David Pearson, chairman of innovITS. "It will facilitate the development of ITS products and services aimed at delivering benefits ranging from the more efficient use of road space to increased safety through the mitigation or avoidance of road traffic collisions. Then world's first dedicated ITS development centre, innovITS ADVANCE will enable, for the first time, engineers from the automotive, telematics, telecoms and transport sectors to work together to pull forward many new technologies and innovations that might otherwise never reach the market. innovITS ADVANCE will thus be a crucial enabler for the safer, more efficient and sustainable future of transportation that we all aspire to achieve."

The "virtual city" of innovITS ADVANCE

The focus of the new innovITS ADVANCE is the "city circuit", a comprehensive road network designed to be configurable to replicate an urban driving environment anywhere in the world with numerous junctions, intersections, roundabouts and multi-lane highways with a range of road surfaces across an area of 120,0002 metres. This network is equipped with roadside architecture including traffic signals configured for both left and right side traffic circulation, CCTV and catwalk gantries allowing installation of overhead equipment for testing, monitoring and signage.

The road network is combined with an open architecture of multi-zoned Wi-Fi, and GSM, GPRS and 3G private stand-alone mobile telecoms networks and Wi-Fi mesh system that can be configured according to the precise needs of particular tests. As such the robustness and fault tolerance of new products can be tested in precisely controlled conditions of network and signal access and denial - including those of Global Navigational Satellite Systems such as GPS and Galileo. The centre thus provides an open-architecture environment in which development teams can recreate exactly the scenarios they require in order to develop new ITS products, services, equipment and systems. It would not be possible - and in many cases neither would it be legally permissible - to carry this type of work out in a real town or city; a fact which has to date held back the realisation of many promising ITS innovations.

Photo: the central multi-lane boulevard of the innovITS ADVANCE city circuit

"In order to make genuine breakthroughs in transport safety and sustainability, it will be essential to develop cooperative technologies and innovations through which vehicles can communicate with each other and with their environment," explains innovITS CEO Phil Pettitt. "There is a clear demand from the telematics, telecommunications and automotive sectors for a facility such as innovITS ADVANCE, but to date the complexity and scale of the challenge has prevented any one company or industrial sector taking the lead. Even before its completion we have already welcomed customers from industry and academia to innovITS ADVANCE, and we believe that it will become a UK, European and a world centre for the development of next generation ITS technologies."

Picture: Layout of the 120,000m2 innovITS ADVANCE 'city circuit' (above), the SkyClone GNSS denial modelling system (below)

Contact:

Anthony Smith, Media Technical Ltd

www.mediatechnical.com

Report on the 8th European ITS Congress, 6-9 June 2011, Lyon, France

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 11:01:38 +0200

The 8th European Congress and Exhibition on Intelligent Transport Systems and Services was held on 6-9 June 2011 in Lyon, France, under the theme "ITS for sustainable transport of persons and goods in urban regions". The Congress was organised by ERTICO - ITS Europe with the active participation of Grand Lyon, the Rhône-Alpes Region, the Lyon Urban Truck and Bus Cluster, the French Ministry of Transport (MEDDTL), ITS France, French organisations active within ERTICO, the European Programme Committee and the French Organising Committee.

Video recordings of the Opening Ceremony, Plenary Session, Congress Conclusions and Closing Plenary may be downloaded from the i-Mobility Network library. The full Congress Conclusions are also available as a written report.

Facts and figures

Congress delegates: 845

Participants: 1821 (46 countries)

Exhibitors: 100+ (17 different countries)

Journalists: 50+

Monday, 6 June - Opening ceremony

The Congress opened with a ceremony hosted by TV presenter and journalist Melinda Crane and featured speeches from a number of high-profile guests.

European Commissioner for Transport, Siim Kallas, spoke of the importance of ITS for the future development of a seamless, cooperative, multi-modal European transport network and emphasised the EU's efforts through its 2011 White Paper on Transport and the ITS Action Plan and associated Directive.

Gunter Zimmermeyer, Chairman of the Board of ERTICO, highlighted the unprecedented size of this year's European Congress, paying tribute to organisers and hosts of the event as well as the many hundreds of participants attending from a wide range of sectors and backgrounds.

Mayor of Lyon Gerard Collomb spoke of his pride at hosting the European ITS Congress and the positive effects it brings to the city, which is at the forefront of ITS development and deployment in its capacity as the largest transport hub in France

Jean-Jack Queyranne, President of the Rhône-Alpes region, echoed these remarks and underlined the transport challenges that the region faces and meets through strong investment and high levels of innovation.

Daniel Bursaux, speaking on behalf of the Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing, outlined some of France's most recent achievements in the development of multi-modal transport systems alongside the reduction of carbon emissions. He also congratulated the city of Bordeaux on its successful bid to host the European ITS Congress in 2015.

Finally, it was announced that the host cities for the European ITS Congresses in 2013 and 2014 were chosen. Dublin will host in 2013, and in 2014 Helsinki will be he host.

Tuesday, 7 June - Plenary session

The following day started with the plenary session entitled "Strategies for successful implementation of ITS in cities and urban regions". The round table introduced the vision of ITS innovation in the context of transport and discussed the ITS strategies that local authorities are most likely to prioritise when setting up multimodal mobility solutions. Likewise, the supply side of innovative transport systems and mobility services and close cooperation between ITS stakeholders were highlighted.

Zoran Stančič, Deputy Director-General, DG INFSO, stressed the need for standardisation and harmonisation in order to achieve wide-spread and accepted ITS deployment.

Senior Vice President of Xerox - ACS, Cees de Wijs, underlined the concept of "smart simplicity": self service, ubiquitous, 24/7, reliable and variable pricing. He also called for greater efforts to ensure intellectual property is protected. Finally, he noted that in order for ITS to move forward, the "clocks" needed to be synchronised - the four-year election cycle, the quarterly profit and the R&D clocks.

Tobyn Hughes, Strategy Director, Nexus (the Tyne and Wear, UK, passenger transport executive body) gave an overview of the situation in his city. Noting that the UK has gone further than many countries in deregulating and opening up public transport, he said, "ITS helps overcome the lack of physical integration by providing the illusion of it".

Christian Rousseau, Transport Policy Director, Renault, highlighted the importance of connected and seamless navigation for ITS, using Renault's venture with TomTom "Carminat" as an example.

Head of Technical Services, Dublin City Council, Brendan O'Brien, stressed that in order to achieve sustainability, the citizen must be provided with data in a readily accessible and understandable manner. In this regard, he noted that data accumulated by the city (or other public body) should be a resource for all, enabling innovative services to be created.

During the subsequent discussion, there was general agreement that the private sector is best placed to decide on how goals can best be met, while it was for the public authorities and politicians to determine those goals in line with policy needs.

Tuesday, 7 June - VIP and ERTICO 20 year dinner

The VIP dinner was also the occasion of the ERTICO 20 year anniversary. Welcoming words were spoken by the organisers and hosts: Gunter Zimmermeyer, Chairman Supervisory Board, ERTICO, David Kimelfeld, Vice-Chairman of Grand Lyon responsible for Economic Development, Eric Poyeton, Renault Trucks and Lyon Urban Truck and Bus Chairman, Valery Cervantes, Public Affairs Director Irisbus Iveco and Vice-chairman of Lyon Urban Truck and Bus.

Fotis Karamitsos, Director, European Commission, DG MOVE, paid tribute to twenty years of ERTICO, an organisation which he played a significant role in founding and with which he has maintained close links over the decades.

Ivan Hodac, Secretary General, ACEA, an ERTICO Partner, also celebrated the anniversary, highlighting the fruitful nature of the multi-sector partnership.

As part of the celebrations, and keeping in mind the ERTICO mission to advance ITS deployment, ERTICO had, in conjunction with the Network of National ITS Associations and the Lyon European ITS Congress organising committee, organised the "Bringing Intelligence into Mobility" video competition.

The purpose of the video competition was to promote the usage of videos to demonstrate the power of ITS to improve mobility, using a medium that would appeal to the public. Fifty videos were submitted, with a grand total of 3573 votes.

The three most popular videos were shown at the VIP dinner, and diners were invited to vote for the winner.

1. SPITS: ready-to-deploy ITS results

2. ITS World Congress 2009: Young Thoughts on Future Travel

3. Cinterion eTolling

The winning video, ITS World Congress 2009: Young Thoughts on Future Travel, was shown at the closing ceremony of the European ITS Congress. ERTICO strongly supports the use of audiovisual tools to inform the public and transport stakeholders of the benefits of ITS; as such, ERTICO will run another video competition for the 19th ITS World Congress, Vienna 22-26 October 2012. All submitted videos may be viewed on the i-Mobility Network website.

Wednesday, 8 June - Gala Dinner

Rounding off Wednesday's activities was the Gala dinner, with the financial support of Rhône-Alpes Region, Orange Business Services and Logica. In addition to networking with old and new colleagues, guests had the opportunity to ride a simulator round a F1 endurance course; tutored wine tasting was available for those who wanted to relax, and a magician entertained the guests.

Thursday, 9 June - Congress conclusions,

Eight rapporteurs had spent the week participating in their specialist sessions and developing conclusions. The full report is available as part of the i-Mobility Network library here.

Roger Pagny, Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing (France), spoke of the importance of achieving multimodality by providing users with multi-modal service and easy ticketing, and providing effective re-routing of travellers and public transport users.

Jean-Christophe Beziat, Renault, identified and described the different axes through which ITS would accelerate the development of electromobility.

Paul Kompfner, ERTICO, raised the question on the status of delivering cooperative mobility services, the coordination between road operators and mobile network operators, and the expectations placed upon delivering safe, efficient and green driving. He asked the question of which of the existing actors will be the likely future mobility service providers to penetrate the markets.

Laurent Jacques, Volvo Technology, commented on the legal framework necessary to coordinate the implementation of ITS within Europe, and made a reference to the benefits brought about by recent legal instruments such as the ITS Directive and Action Plan in terms of speeding up market penetration for mature ITS systems.

Richard Harris, Logica, spoke of the importance of governance and tackling of business issues by pointing out that without successful governance all we have are demonstrations and pilot trials. Effective leadership is needed in ensuring quick implementation of ITS technologies while addressing the challenges of revenue cost.

Kees Wevers, NAVTEQ, focused on information and communication providers and users. He raised the challenge of achieving harmonisation in different countries, given the availability of data but also high demands for real information.

Michael Sena, Michael Sena Consulting, pointed out the ITS solutions needed to satisfy certain goals in promoting sustainable transit in urban regions, including solutions being regional (not local), multi-modal, clean and safe, accounting for complexity, and providing incentives to help change users' behaviour in the long term.

Eric Louette, Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing (France), focused on the logistical challenges of urban freight, taking into consideration that over 72% of the European population occupy urban areas thus becoming part of the framework for technological and organisational innovation.

Thursday, 9 June - Closing ceremony

The closing ceremony was hosted by Hermann Meyer, ERTICO CEO.

Shelley Row, Director ITS Joint Programme Office, US DOT, spoke of collaboration and the shared priorities of ITS communities worldwide, particularly given the perceived similarities of issues faced in Europe, the USA and Asia. DOT is committed to collaboration and learning from the excellent expertise and knowledge of European ITS specialists.

Gunter Zimmermeyer, Chairman of the ERTICO Board, said, "The 8^th European ITS Congress and Exhibition is and will remain a showcase for the development and deployment of ITS not only in Europe... Lyon was indeed the meeting place for all ITS stakeholders we were wishing for".

Robert Madelin, Director-General, European Commission, DG INFSO, reiterated four recurrent aspects of the Congress sessions/presentations: reliable support from the political side; the role of the stakeholders; the role of regulators; and the need for a sustained financial effort.

For TV Lyon Metropole's report on the Lyon Copngress, click "Lyon: les transports du futur!" (FR)

The ERTICO June 2011 Special Interview

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:45:32 +0200

ERTICO: What is the goal of your newest initiative "Smart Mobility Challenge 2011"?

Siim Kallas: I want to challenge stakeholders and service providers to come up with a truly European journey planner that includes all countries and transport modes. Although more than 100 journey planners exist today, there is not one yet that allows users to find information or book a ticket for a journey within Europe regardless of the number of countries or transport modes involved.

The Challenge is about raising awareness for the issue of a Europe-wide multi-modal journey planner - and not only ITS in the community but also with the travelling public. This should be a stepping stone towards European services. The technology already exists but we need further work on organisational solutions so that millions of Europeans are able to plan their journey with just a few simple clicks.

ERTICO: How important is a European multi-modal journey planner for the future of mobility?

Siim Kallas: Traveller information services are a key element as they provide the European traveller with comprehensive door-to-door information allowing for well-informed travel decisions. Multi-modal journey planners are especially important to make a more integrated mobility system as user-friendly as possible. A good journey planner will help:

inform citizens comprehensively and conveniently about their travel options

save time and money in travelling and its related planning

promote sustainable modes of transport and travel behaviour

contribute to co-modal integration, but also competition.

Such applications address key elements of the European Transport Policy. It is precisely the reason why the ITS Action Plan includes multi-modal journey planning. EU-wide multimodal travel information services are among the priorities of the ITS Directive (2010/40/EU), where specifications will be developed until the end of 2014.

ERTICO: What are your most important priorities for the deployment of ITS in the context of your White Paper on the future of transport?

Siim Kallas: To deploy intelligent transport systems for all modes of transport and to use them to get to advanced integration of transport modes into seamlesss mobility chains is one of the main goals of the new White Paper. The Commission will carry out several initatives in this domain:

A major push towards multi-modal travel planning and integrated ticketing. A Single European Transport Area depends on effective and interoperable Europe-wide systems for multi-modal travel planning and integrated ticketing. In the short term, there will be a push to move ahead with necessary EU measures to facilitate multi-modal integrated travel planning starting with the key standards necessary to facilitate EU-wide rail travel planning (2012), as well as necessary legislative measures to ensure service providers have access to real time travel and traffic information. Ticketing is then the natural next step, with good attempts at harmonising ticketing tools already existing today.

A strong focus will be on the deployment of smart mobility systems such as the air traffic management system of the future (SESAR), the European rail traffic management system (ERTMS) and rail information systems, maritime surveillance systems (SafeSeaNet), River Information Services (RIS), ITS, and the next generation of multimodal traffic management and information systems.

The Commission will follow up the European electronic tolling systems, e.g. a service for lorries will become available as of October 2012, and two years later for all kinds of vehicles, ensuring that drivers can pay different tolls for the use of motorways electronically and through a single service provider for the whole of Europe.The Commission will bring forward proposals for an EU framework for urban road user charging and access restriction schemes, for the increasing number of Member States who want to use charging schemes to alleviate congestion and shift transport patterns in cities. This will ensure that the different schemes operate within a coherent EU-wide framework, and are non-discriminatory.

Furthermore, the Commission will develop a plan for investment in new navigation, traffic monitoring and communication services to allow for the integration of information flows, management systems and mobility services based on a European Integrated Multimodal Information and Management Plan.

For more information, please visit:http://ec.europa.eu/transport/its/multimodal-planners/index_en.htm

Continental supports the TISA and EasyWay cooperation with in-vehicle devices

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:08:22 +0200

As outlined in the May 2011 edition of the iMobility newsletter, a major ITS challenge is the dissemination of available information to road users when and where they need it, in a format that can be understood and most importantly, in a way that allows the driver to react accordingly. Imagine you are driving in a foreign country while seeing text information displayed on a variable message sign which you are unable to read, indicating a road blockage or major delays?

Wouldn't it be great to have a device in your vehicle that is able to provide you with information well in advance in your native language, or even get a proposal for an alternative route?
As a result of the collaborative work between EasyWay ESG5 and TISA, Continental was able to show exactly that in two different in-vehicle devices using Digital Radio and Internet technology as delivery channels. Continental demonstrated a scalable system approach, starting from a cost-effective single delivery channel device with graphic display, up to an Infotainment platform with Internet technology and multiple traffic efficiency applications.

Photo: Left: Thomas Kuhn (Internet based Navigation device), right: Max Richert (Digital Radio incl. Graphic Display)

"A successful EasyWay / TISA - Cooperation and the planned development of a large harmonised message set based on DATEX II and TPEG will pave the way for a fast and harmonised European wide deployment of Real Time Traffic Information and Management", says Thomas Kuhn (Advanced Technologies at Continental). "And with our scalable systems approach, we will be able to provide lower-cost, high-end solutions", Max Richert (Advanced Technologies at Continental) added.

Photo: The Continental demonstrator in Lyon

This cooperation is clearly a win-win situation, not only for both organisations and their Partners, but also for road users and the environment. Continental is thus pleased to support this important activity.

For more information, please click here.

TISA and EasyWay sign MoU at the European ITS Congress

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:53:58 +0200

TISA President Jonathan Burr and EasyWay Chairman Ronald Adams signed on 8 June 2011 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering the cooperation between EasyWay ESG5 and TISA to work on the interface between DATEX II and TPEG. The MoU allows close cooperation of experts who are developing data transitions between the two protocols, with the aim of providing end-to-end value chain connectivity. The first deliverable will be a slim profile covering critical road safety messages, by the end of the year.

The two teams have been working together with the contributing TISA-Members (Continental, PTV, IRT, TDF, Fraunhoffer First, Amaryllo) and have been able to set up an end-to-end demonstration at the European ITS Congress, held in Lyon. A typical road authority terminal is used to compile the messages in the DATEX II format which is used to inform variable message signs and to deliver content to the TPEG service provider. It includes the delivery of a small subset of road safety messages via several different channels: internet, WiFi and digital radio, which is on air in the Lyon city area. The demonstration is brought to life by the messages being rendered on advanced navigation systems, hand held tablets and phones with TPEG apps.

The MoU was signed on the joint TISA and EasyWay stand at the European ITS Congress, in the presence of TISA and EasyWay members.

TISA Executive Director Bev Marks said, "The demonstration is a real first for end-to-end message connections between the road management systems and RTTI service systems."
EasyWay Chairman Ronald Adams said, "By taking this important step both EasyWay and TISA are convinced this will lead to better services for the European road user."

For more information, please contact: Amaury Cornelis.

Greek Stakeholders Workshop on “Nomadic Devices in Road Transport”

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:34:14 +0200

The Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) is happy to announce the successful completion of the Greek Stakeholder workshop on "Nomadic devices in road transport", organised jointly by TeleFOT European project and the HERMES National project performing research in a similar area. ERTICO Partners ICCS and CERTH/HIT participated in both projects and were represented at the event, which was organised by the ICCS. The workshop took place at the ICCS premises in Athens, Greece, on 12 May 2011.

The language of the workshop was Greek. The core issues presented during the workshop are summarised and translated below.

The following Stakeholders were represented during the workshop:

Industry / Service providers: Samsung SA, Cosmote SA, Telenavis SA, Terra Mapping The Globe - Terra

Road Operators: ATTIKES DIADROMES SA

Research & Education: Institute of Communication and Computer Systems - ICCS, The Center for Research and Technology Hellas / Hellenic Institute of Transport - CERTH/HIT, Road Safety Institute, Panos Mylonas - IOAS, Department of Transportation Planning and Engin. of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)

Public Sector: Athens Traffic Management Center - ATMC, General Secretariat for Civil Protection - GSCP

Users: Automobile And Touring Club Of Greece - ELPA

The workshop was substantially divided into two main parts:

An introduction to the workshop objectives, followed by a presentation of the TeleFOT project, focusing on the Greek Test Site and a presentation of the HERMES project;
Discussion with the stakeholders, which was supported by relevant introductory presentations on the following areas:

In vehicle use of nomadic devices

Navigation and fleet management applications with use of nomadic devices

Nomadic devices design

Use of traffic data in navigation applications

User needs.

There was a vivid debate throughout the various sessions that provided interesting feedback for both the TeleFOT and HERMES projects. The main outcome of the discussion with the stakeholders is reported hereafter.

Safety was considered as the main priority area, however, closely followed by mobility, traffic efficiency and user acceptance.

Fixation of nomadic devices in the vehicle - short term (manual for the fixation of the device without obstructing the field of view, or airbag deployment; safe fixing devices)

Safe integration of nomadic devices in the vehicle - long term (standardised electromechanical interface; connection between the nomadic device and the vehicle)

Distraction (physical & mental) to be studied; interfaces design and usability (ways of effectively and safely presenting information) of nomadic devices to be analysed

Personalised user interfaces based on user's profile

Evaluation assessment based on knowledge and research results: legislation and political frameworks; enforcement (behavioral vs industrial laws); recommendations

Dissemination of results & campaigns; training & education; raise wide awareness

Standardised mechanism for the evaluation of nomadic devices

Technological growth for nomadic devices (screen, CPU, GPS, battery, etc)

Need for technological enhancements to offer better & new services (stable communications, interoperability, real time traffic information)

Use of the collected data for further research after the conclusion of the projects

The Greek Stakeholders showed positive reactions to the FOT methodology and to TeleFOT and HERMES goals and achievements. They expect very good progress in these highly challenging projects. In particular they showed great expectations on how the methodology and results can be inserted in their products and services. A great potential and value is seen in the project data.

Their opinion on the workshop itself was positive: it was a good occasion to discuss not only about the project progresses and first results but also on further applications in their own areas of interest. They showed interest in being informed about project progresses and next initiatives.

Moreover they found it interesting to meet other important players in their local area and to get a common ground for discussion. The workshop offered the occasion to create a multi-perspective debate on how a new scientific approach and methodology (FOT) can provide interesting input and potential solutions to common issues.

For further information please contact Angelos Amditis, Research Director at ICCS or visit
www.telefot.eu

BEST Consortium on Traffic and Travel Information services launched

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:09:43 +0200

Getting in touch with Public Service Broadcasters in the German-speaking area is easier than ever: ARD (Germany), ORF (Austria) and SRG SSR (Switzerland) have established the BEST Consortium (Broadcasters European Solution for Travel Information).

Hosted at Institut für Rundfunktechnik (IRT, Munich/Germany) the BEST Consortium will harmonise any travel information related activity of their shareholders. The BEST Consortium has defined the need for a common position on TPEG development and applications as its core business. Editorial exchange of travel information will increase the services' quality. BEST is a member of TISA.

The Global ITS community is invited to contact BEST as a portal to the market leaders for public service in the German-speaking area. The Front office is directed by Ronald Mies, BEST Chairman is Thomas Kusche (ARD/WDR).

For more information, please click here.

The 11th Asia-Pacific ITS Forum & Exhibition - Seamless and Boundless, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:22:01 +0200

With the total participation of 611 people, including 459 congress delegates and 27 exhibitors from 20 countries/areas worldwide, the 11th Asia-Pacific ITS Forum & Exhibition (APF2011) was successfully held between 8-10 June 2011 at the Grand HI-LAI ARENA in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Photo: Photo (from the left): Mr Scott Belcher CEO, ITS America, USA, Dr Bambang Susantono, President, ITS Indonesia, Mr Chullho Lieu, President, Korea Expressway Corporation, Korea, Dr John Lee, President, ITS Taiwan, Mr Chi Kuo Mao, Minister of Transportation and Communications, Taiwan, Mrs Chu Chen, Mayor of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan , Dr Kent Wang, Director General, DoT, Kaohsiung City Government, Taiwan , Dr Ko Yang Wang. Institute for Information Industry, Taiwan, Dr Hiroyuki Watanabe, Chairman, ITS Japan, Prof S.K. Jason Chang, Chair of 2011ITS AP Forum, Taiwan

Following the welcome words by Dr. John Li, president of ITS Taiwan, the event started with a gong in the opening ceremony with the presence of the distinguished people on the stage, including the president of ITS Indonesia, a new member of ITS Asia-Pacific.

Photo: Dr Hermann Meyer, CEO, ERTICO-ITS Europe

Photo: Mr Gerald Conover PRC Associates, USA

Other Asia-Pacific Events
Prior to the APF2011, the ITS Asia-Pacific Board of Directors welcomed on 7 June 2011 ITS Indonesia as a new member, and all members signed together a revised ITS Asia-Pacific Memorandum of Understanding.

Photo: AP-BOD Members

In addition, several bi-lateral MoUs were signed between:

ITS Thailand and ITS Malaysia
ITS Thailand and ITS Taiwan
ITS Taiwan and ITS America.

Photo: MoU Signing between ITS Taiwan and ITS America

The event successfully created a platform where planners, engineers, government officials, stakeholders, and experts in the ITS field from the Asia-Pacific region and the world can join together to share their knowledge and experience in the deployment and implementation of ITS.

This article has been brought to you as part of the cooperation between ERTICO and ITS Japan.

The ERTICO June 2011 Interview

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:29:47 +0200

ERTICO: What are some of the main goals and priority areas identified by ITS Nationals in supporting the ITS industry at a local and international level?

Rumen Mihaylov: Speaking from the point of view of ITS Bulgaria, one important priority is to support and coordinate local players, such as industry, public authorities, service providers and research institutions, and build expertise in different ITS projects. Immediate priorities are projects in the field of road safety and security, real time traffic data, information and reservation systems for truck and heavy vehicle parking, and others.

During the last meeting of ITS Nationals at the ERTICO offices, the difference between more advanced countries in ITS terms, such as Sweden, Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and others, and the so-called "new comers", such as Bulgaria, was clearly identified. Their main priorities consisted of participating in real tests applications and R&D projects, as V2V, V2I and I2I.

Photo: Rumen Mihaylov, Chair of ITS Bulgaria

ERTICO: In your view, what are some of the main benefits anticipated by ITS Bulgaria in joining the Network of ITS Associations, and how will this new membership affect the quality and availability of services within Bulgaria?

Rumen Mihaylov: The current development of ITS projects in Bulgaria can best be explained by stating a few facts. It was rather unfortunate that Bulgaria was one of the last EU member states to have an active membership directly with ERTICO or via the Network of ITS Associations. Presently, Bulgaria is the only EU member country which has not yet built national or regional control centres for road infrastructure maintenance.

In recent years, Bulgaria implemented only a few ITS projects, such as municipality control centres in the cities of Sofia and Varna, and some minor ITS projects in certain public transport and taxi companies. Until recently, there has not been sufficient coordination or communication between the Bulgarian public authorities and other stakeholders responsible for the development and implementation of ITS. Such factors and lack of projects were probably the reason why the NGO sector was not very active in the ITS field.

Bulgaria's current government considers the building of new highways and road infrastructure rehabilitation as top priorities. In its strategic plan, up to 5 billion EUR are to be invested in 2011-2020 in road infrastructure alone. The plan is to fully complete the Bulgarian highway network, including EU corridors and additional 4 lane "speed roads."

In that context, ITS Bulgaria can only benefit from the experience and know-how of ERTICO Partners and other members of the Network of ITS Associations. Our main goal is to become Bulgaria's leading expert organisation stimulating collaboration with other international ITS organisations for the exchange of best European and international practice and real implementation of ITS solutions.

We do anticipate that Bulgaria has the potential to develop top class ITS projects based on:

The Bulgarian IT sector which is well developed and staffed with some of the top experts available
Major investments in infrastructure that are planned for the current decade; we can learn from other countries how to invest wisely in new, modern, efficiently designed and implemented national ITS projects
Government has political will to design and execute all new highway projects at top quality level. Actions which are necessary for finance to be secured are being taken.

Members of ITS Bulgaria will participate actively, with international partners where applicable, during the design and realisation of the first major national ITS projects, such as those concerning law enforcement, e-toll systems, and many others. The participation of local members will definitely improve efficiency, quality and availability of ITS services in Bulgaria.

Photo: Mr Mihaylov, Chairman of ITS Bulgaria, takes part at the regular meetings of State-Public Consultative Commission on the Problems of Road Safety, led by Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Mr Tsvetanov. ITS Bulgaria supports the recent decision of the Bulgarian government to establish a special "road safety fund" in order to finance safety and ITS related projects.

ERTICO: How can ITS Bulgaria best contribute to the priority areas identified in the context of the ITS Directive, and what actions are currently being undertaken in Bulgaria in support of, for instance, the harmonised provision of an interoperable EU-wide eCall?

Rumen Mihaylov: Road safety has become a top priority in the last two - three years, with the new Bulgarian government showing strong political will for improvements. One of the first goals of ITS Bulgaria was to support the realisation of intelligent and advanced solutions for a law-enforced speed control system as an effective method to enhance traffic safety and save human lives.

Our main goal is to support our government in re-designing and specifying all new highway projects in such a way that road safety tools and equipment, security monitoring and control, variable massage signs and many other ITS applications are deployed in one go. This approach will save money and in the same way will fully correlate and correspond with one of the main ITS Directive priorities - road safety and security.

Photo: ITS Bulgaria participates in 3rd National conference in Sofia "Fleet management and electro vehicles"

Regarding the harmonised provision of an interoperable EU-wide eCall, there are no specific actions taken yet in Bulgaria. However, as a relatively new EU member, Bulgaria has invested recently in a fully operational national 112 call centre. ITS Bulgaria communicates regularly with the Ministry of Transport and believes that once the EU-wide eCall project is ready to move forward and to define vehicle specification units, Bulgaria will be ready to act on time.

Photo: At the regional conference at the Hilton, Sofia, Mr Mihaylov delivers a lecture on: "ITS - an important factor to reduce road victims during the current decade of 2011-2020".

EU Commission’s DG INFSO and the Road Bureau, Japan, sign a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC)

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:59:04 +0200

The Information Society and Media Directorate-General (DG INFSO) of the European Commission and the Road Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (The Road Bureau), Japan, signed on 9 June 2011 in Lyon, France, a Memorandum of Cooperation concerning Cooperative Systems in the Field of Intelligent Transport Systems. The Memorandum is based primarily on their progressive cooperation activities over many years in the field of research on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) through bilateral meetings, which have resulted in an important amount of meaningful technical cooperation and information exchange.

DG INFSO and the Road Bureau recognise the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation and desire to maintain cooperation to share results of research in the field of ITS, especially on Cooperative Systems, while seeking support from other relevant agencies. They believe that Cooperative Systems, based on ITS technologies, especially vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, can deliver significant benefits for all road users and the public, especially in terms of safer, more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly surface transport.

The Memorandum is intended to identify the research and development areas that would benefit from a harmonised approach and that should be address by coordinated research activities. DG INFSO and the Road Bureau intend to share information on ongoing research and development projects, estimated benefits, research outcomes, and result of field demonstrations by means of periodical dialogues and information exchange. They further intend to inform stakeholders involved in the development of Cooperative Systems, in particular the automotive industry and standardisation organisations, of the continuing cooperation and progress between them, and to promote active participation from and exchange among the stakeholders of Japan and the European Union by jointly organising symposiums, seminars and meetings.

To view the document in full, please click here.

Photos: right: Mr Takashi Nishio (right), Senior Deputy Director, MLIT's Road Bureau (representing Mr Shigeru Kikukawa, Director-General, MLIT's Road Bureau) and Mr Robert Madelin, Director-General, DG INFSO

Left: Mr Takashi Nishio (right), Senior Deputy Director, MLIT's Road Bureau (representing Mr Shigeru Kikukawa, Director-General, MLIT's Road Bureau) and Mr Robert Madelin, Director-General, DG INFSO

Group picture: (From left to right) Mr Wolfgang Höfs, Ms Eva Boethius, both European Commission, DG Information Society and Media (EC/DG INFSO), Ms Shelly Row, Associate Administrator and Director, Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, US Department of Transport (US DOT RITA), Ms Jane Lappin, US DOT RITA, Mr Juhani Jääskeläinen, Head of unit "ICT for Transport", EC/DG INFSO, Mr Takashi Nishio, Senior Deputy Director, MLIT's Road Bureau (representing Mr Shigeru Kikukawa, Director-General of the MLIT's Road Bureau), Mr Koichi Sakai, Senior Researcher, ITS Division, MLIT, Mr Satoru Nakajo, Senior Consultant, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.

Siim Kallas launches Smart Mobility Challenge 2011 at the Lyon Congress

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:44:12 +0200

Siim Kallas launches Smart Mobility Challenge 2011 at the Lyon Congress

Siim Kallas, Vice-President of the Commission, responsible for Transport, presented at the "Transport Smart Mobility Solutions Conference", an invitation to industry and stakeholders, as well as to interested public and industry professionals, to submit concrete and workable planning tools aimed at overcoming the existent barriers in multimodal journey planning. The invitation was presented as the "Smart Mobility Challenge 2011", and began in reinforcing efforts made by the Commission in the implementation of the ITS Action Plan, ITS Directive and TAP-TSI specifications for rail, initiatives addressing the ongoing challenges in European transport and mobility.

In that context, Kallas highlighted the current status and ongoing industry challenges in the area of transport and mobility including:

An increasing oil price and persistent oil dependency
A deteriorating climate and local environment
Growing congestion and poorer accessibility

In his speech, Kallas further reinforced the importance of innovation as way of accomplishing a transport system of the future and tackling the above challenges: "Transport and mobility are at a crossroads. In our Roadmap to a more competitive and resource efficient transport system we say clearly, that curbing mobility cannot be an option...We need to give convincing answers how to deal with multiple challenges".

Smart Mobility

In the minutes preceding the presentation of the challenge to the audience, Kallas once again highlighted the concept of "smart mobility": "Smart mobility is about applying information and communication technology for transport need; information on all modes, in real-time; for everyone". Importantly, however, he further highlighted the need to realise and subsequently address existing barriers in the context of European multimodal journey planning: "I see very good examples of multi-modal travel information at the local, regional or national level. I see several customer portals on air travel.

I also see positive developments, for example the new Agency for multi-modal information and ticketing of the French government or innovative private companies acting increasingly as independent mobility information brokers...But very few of these include a "European" or "cross-border", end-to-end dimension. I cannot yet plan or book my journey through Europe - switching from air to rail or sea, to urban or road transport - in one single go and online", he said.

Important barriers to European multimodal planning include:

How to solve the dilemma of cooperation among competitors (e.g. on data sharing)
How to enhance data availability and data quality
How to improve the business case for a European solution

Smart Mobility Challenge 2011

The Smart Mobility Challenge 2011 presents an innovative way in meeting the challenges of transport and mobility, specifically in the area of travel planning. On behalf of the Commission, Kallas invited industry and stakeholders to present to the public concrete and workable "European multi-modal travel planning tools" as well as "new bright ideas" of how to make such tools become reality. Furthermore, he invited interested public, transport professionals, IT experts, travellers, daily transport users, to subsequently test the models and ideas presented, and cast a vote to elect the most promising and innovative solutions.

Concretely, over the summer until 9 September 2011, planners, researchers, established companies or young start-ups were urged to send to the Commission proposals to be implemented as planners. A competent jury is to look at the "best ideas for future innovative planner", and invite the winners of the Challenge to present their tools and ideas at the Commission's stand during the next ITS World Congress in Vienna in October 2012.

The Challenge can be accessed via www.eujourneyplanner.eu where it is possible to click through some of the known national journey planners - the heart of the website is a European map with links to about 20 journey planners.

In addition to this challenge, there will also be a Commission workshop on the subject in Brussels on 20 June 2011. It will discuss the status and vision towards a European Journey Planner.

For more information, please visit: www.eujourneyplanner.eu

FIA News: New Eurocouncil declaration: Consumers need more transparency on electric vehicles

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:50:43 +0200

More transparency for consumers on the benefits of electric vehicles was one of the key demands of the EuroCouncil declaration agreed upon at the annual International Club Conference in Estoril, Portugal on 18 May 2011. The declaration follows the recent release of the European Commission's new White Paper on Transport which aims to phase out conventional cars in cities by 2050.

"While supporting the push towards electric vehicles, our clubs are calling for greater transparency and consistency in the carbon rating of plug-in vehicles. Current pressures to present Battery Electric Vehicles as "zero emission" vehicles are misleading for consumers," commented the President of FIA Region I, Werner Kraus.

The declaration states that the role of institutions - European, national and local - is crucial to create a clear vision and a more integrated framework for electric vehicles. This includes:

Leading by example with green procurement procedures;
Introducing the correct package of incentives to stimulate specific uses of vehicles;
Integrating transport policy with urban planning, energy supply and public services, and;
Promoting labelling systems.

Photo: FIA Region I President, Werner Kraus, at the International Club Conference in Estoril, Portugal

"Electric vehicles are one of many alternative ways to reduce CO2 emissions and sustain mobility, in particular in an urban context. No low carbon technology should be favoured over another", said Mr Kraus.

The full declaration, and the FIA policy paper on electric vehicles in Europe "Towards eMobility: The Challenges Ahead", are available at: www.fiabrussels.com.

FIA News: Test driving new eSafety systems with Sebastian Vettel

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:01:16 +0200

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is the most important safety innovation since the seatbelt, agreed current Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel, when asked about the benefits of the eSafety technology. He was speaking at this year's eSafety Challenge (co-funded by the European Commission, the FIA, FIA Foundation and eSafetyAware) at the ÖAMTC driving centre in Teesdorf on 31 May.

In what was a spectacular demonstration of the latest eSafety technologies on the market today, he was joined by eight-time Le Mans 24-Hour winner Tom Kristensen, former F1 driver Alexander Wurz, and Moto GP rider Marco Simoncelli. Each driver showcased a different technology while there were also opportunities for the public to try the systems for themselves.

Photo: Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel at the eSafety Challenge 2011

Following his demonstration of ESC, which stabilises the car in a skid, the current F1 Championship leader Vettel said "The speed with which the system reacts is very quick - quicker than any driver can be". He added that he believed every car should be equipped with the system because it can prevent accidents happening in the first place.

Moto GP star Marco Simoncelli, tested the Anti-Lock Braking system for bikes, and stressed the importance of raising awareness among young people, saying "Despite the risks on our roads, many people don't believe that they will be a victim of a road traffic accident. It is especially important to educate young riders who can sometimes feel like they are invincible. If they are aware of the dangers they face then they can better equip themselves with the knowledge and understanding of how to avoid accidents as well as making sensible choices, like buying an ABS equipped bike."

Former F1 driver Alexander Wurz demonstrated the benefits of Eco-Driving which he said he practices himself when driving: "It's not only to save money in terms of fuel and very good for the environment but it's also very stress free driving". Meanwhile, Le Mans 24 Hour Champion, Tom Kristensen, explained how Warning and Emergency Braking can help reduce the risk of having an accident, saying "Many people when they hit the brakes, with their reaction times, hit it too soft, but now the car can compensate for that. Break Emergency Systems are a must for any car."

Photo: Demonstration of eCall at the eSafety Challenge 2011

The session concluded with a dramatic demonstration of the eCall system, which included a helicopter and an ambulance at the rescue, all performed by the host club ÖAMTC. FIA President, Jean Todt, was on hand to offer his support to the event, and said, "Every time we step into a car we run the risk of a life threatening incident. As in motorsport, we need all the help we can get from technology to compensate for human errors. It is vital that those most at risk, in particular families and young people, understand the tremendous impact eSafety systems can have on safer driving". More on the eSafety Challenge project can be found at www.esafetychallenge.eu.

WirelessCar awarded Best Telematics Service Provider

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:39:21 +0200

WirelessCar has won the award for Best Telematics Service Provider on Tuesday, 6 June 2011. This award was presented in Detroit at the most important telematics conference and exhibition of the year hosted by Telematics Update.

"This reward is the recognition of the achievements of our team, today delivering two million messages a day in more than 50 countries and providing our extensive 12 years' experience in connecting vehicles to the global vehicle OEM industry," said Martin Rosell, Managing Director of WirelessCar.

WirelessCar won the award after being selected by a jury of six telematics experts from across the industry. Judges made their decision based on a combination of the following attributes:

Innovative applications and services for consumers
Ability to deliver compelling new content to consumers
Successful market take up
User-friendly interfaces
Performance
Market appeal and promotional wor

With expertise in both commercial and consumer vehicles, WirelessCar can leverage a cross-fertilised service portfolio/open platform (www.ngtp.org) and deliver innovative business models. Our customers share key resources, which means low and diminishing cost as well as rapid deployment in new markets. We integrate our services from best-of-breed elements to allow our customers to compete at a leading-edge level. Through efficient sharing of resources we are able to offer the most industry competitive telematics services in the world.

Watch the new WirelessCar movie on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQGmEAbNcrg&feature=player_embedded

For more information, contact Nathalie Rey.

Successful conclusion of the CoCarX project

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:25:09 +0200

"If only I had known sooner..." - a typical thought in critical traffic situations. Timely and precise information is an important aspect in future safety and traffic efficiency systems.

On 25 May 2011 the multi-industry Cooperative Cars Extended (CoCarX) research project demonstrated its findings. The project had set out to investigate next-generation, cooperative applications based on cellular networks. Excellent feedback was received from the over 80 visitors from automotive and telecom industries, public sector, academia and press.

Employing an Ericsson LTE test network set up at the Vodafone Test Centre in Düsseldorf, three scenarios were presented using two prototype Ford vehicles:

a warning message due to sudden braking of a vehicle ahead - demonstrating the low vehicle-to-vehicle delay times enabled by LTE
instant push of location-dependent traffic information to the driver's compartment
parallel video transmission to vehicles aimed at demonstrating the LTE system capacity.

One major outcome of the project was the finding that an LTE cellular system can transfer messages from one vehicle to a server in the cellular network and back to other vehicles in clearly below 100 ms. With such low V2V delay, increased system capacity and a higher cost efficiency, LTE is a perfect carrier medium even for time-critical V2X communication.

Multiple services can efficiently be delivered to a car using advanced session management which makes it possible to bring in different services to the car over one radio connection. These services can be assigned different priorities during the transmission, e.g. to ensure that a video download doesn't slow down an important warning message. The different services can also separately be billed, with tailored tariffs matching the business model of the respective service. Modern, service enablement functions complete the package, e.g. by providing location-aware message delivery using a GeoMessaging enabler.

The research in CoCarX also clearly shows that the cellular network can be combined with ad-hoc based approaches such as 802.11p into one heterogeneous communication system. This leverages the strengths of both systems and forms a combined, overall solution that is much more than just the sum of its parts.

For more information please contact Rene Rembarz. Click here to read previous news item on CoCar.

SAVE THE DATE! Viajeo Project Workshop: Beijing Demo Site, Thursday 8 September 2011

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:32:27 +0200

The Viajeo consortium is pleased to invite you to join a workshop on the Viajeo Beijing demo site at the National Convention Centre, Beijing, China, on Thursday 8 September 2011. The workshop will be held as a side event to the 6th China Annual Conference and International Exhibition on Intelligent Transport Systems, the 7th International Energy-Efficiency and New Energy Vehicles Innovation Development Forum and Exhibition which is held between 6 and 10 September 2011.

The workshop is aimed at disseminating the current achievements of the Viajeo project and at raising awareness of the forthcoming Viajeo demonstration in Beijing. Viajeo will demonstrate passenger information services at bus stops and a co-modal journey planner covering various modes of transport in Beijing. During the workshop, activities and achievements of the project will be presented by speakers comprising Viajeo partners from Europe and China.

The workshop will provide networking opportunities for stakeholders from each region and participants will have a chance to discuss future opportunities and strategies on EU-China cooperation in ITS.

Key Note Speakers include:

Mr Patrick Mercier-Handisyde, European Commission, Directorate-General for Research & Innovation (TBC)
Dr Yanying Li, ERTICO - ITS Europe, Viajeo Coordinator
Mr Paolo Squillante, Thetis, Italy, Viajeo Beijing demo site leader (confirmed)
Prof Gifu Guo, Director of Beijing Transportation Research Centre (TBC)
Mr Andreas Schmid, PTV, Germany, Viajeo Beijing demo site mobility platform provider (confirmed)
Ms Arianna Rong, AutoNavi, China, Viajeo demo site map provier (TBC)
Representative from Beijing Public Transport Holdings

The Viajeo project is a three year project, aiming at the development, implementation and demonstration of an open platform for traffic data collection and traveller information services. The open platform will be demonstrated in Athens, São Paulo, Beijing and Shanghai.

For further information, please contact: info@viajeo.eu

ERTICO welcomes new staff!

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:06:34 +0200

Mieke van der Leegte holds a Bachelor degree in European studies from Maastricht University, specialising in Government administration, European Law, Political Science and the EU Institutional Framework. She has done an internship in the city-cooperating region of Euregion Rhine-Meuse in Kerkrade (The Netherlands) where she learned about EC-funded projects through the INTERREG programme.

Prior to coming to ERTICO she has worked on EC funded projects in Cologne from 2009 to 2010.She joined ERTICO in June 2011 contributing to the coordination and organisation of the HeERO project and the FOT-Net project.

With a bachelor's in politics and a master's degree in human rights, Nick White moved to Brussels in 2008 to work as a marketing and technology consultant at EuroJobsites. In early 2010 he took on the role of Editor-in-Chief of EU Reporter, a monthly publication covering European politics.

Nick has joined the ERTICO communications team to support the website as well as other communications initiatives.

The 2nd International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention, Gothenburg, Sweden

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:33:51 +0200

When: 5 - 7 September 2011

Where: Lindholmen Conference Centre at Lindholmen Science Park in Gothenburg, Sweden

It has been estimated that up to 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve inattention as a contributing factor, and that distraction is a factor in about a quarter of these. Distraction and inattention are therefore significant road safety problems, around the world.

The contribution of distraction as a factor in road trauma is likely to increase as more distractions, inside and outside the vehicle, compete for driver attention. As the role of distraction and inattention in crashes and near-misses has become clearer, countermeasure development has been intensified. Simultaneously, there has been an increased focus on the fundamental science of attention in modern neuroscience research.

This conference, which follows from the highly successful First International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention (held in Gothenburg in 2009; www.chalmers.se/safer/driverdistraction-en; the papers from the first conference are available at this website), aims again to bring together stakeholders from these different fields. All papers submitted for this conference are peer-reviewed by two experts in the field.

Driver distraction and inattention are complex, multi-dimensional, problems. Consequently, management of them requires concerted action by multiple stakeholders - vehicle designers, traffic engineers, road and transport safety authorities, the police, the media, motoring clubs, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, standards organizations, road safety bodies, driver trainers, academics and others.

The 2nd International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention aims to bring participants up-to date on recent developments in the field, to bring into the spotlight developments in research from neighbouring disciplines that have an important bearing on the problem, and to showcase new and emerging technologies, products and other countermeasures which have significant potential to prevent or mitigate distraction and inattention. It will be a key event for anyone working on these topics.

The conference is also linked to a special workshop titled "Investigating Driver Distraction and Inattention Using Naturalistic Driving Data", run by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) on 8 September 2011.

The conference will run over three days:

Day 1 - Keynote and presentations (AM/PM)
Day 2 - Keynote, presentations and conference dinner (AM/PM/evening)
Day 3 - Keynote and presentations (AM); Special Symposium - "Priorities for research and countermeasure development" (PM)

Confirmed Keynote speakers:

Prof. John D Lee, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
Dr Rich Hanowski, VTTI, USA
Prof. David Strayer, University of Utah, USA

Opening speaches by:

Carl von der Esch, State Secretary to the Minister for Infrastructure
Karin Markides, President and CEO, Chalmers University of Technology

Program:

Day 1: Monday, September 5th, 2011

9:00 am - 6:00 pm Keynote Speakers, Plenary sessions & Parallel Sessions
7:30 pm Conference Dinner at Göteborg Opera

Day 2: Tuesday, September 6th, 2011.

9:00 am - 7:00 pm Keynote Speakers, Plenary Sessions, Parallel Sessions & VTI SIM IV Visit.

Day 3: Wednesday, September 7th, 2011.

9:00 am - 4:00 pm Keynote Speakers, Plenary Sessions & Parallel Sessions.

Workshop: Investigating Driver Distraction on and Inattention Using Naturalistic Driving Data, September 8th, few seats available!

Full registration, September 5-7, 2011:

On or before July 31, 2011: SEK 4000 (incl VAT: SEK 5000, currently approx. EUR 540 or USD 770)
After July 31, 2011:               SEK 4500 (incl VAT: SEK 5600)
After August 29, 2011:         SEK 5000 (incl VAT: SEK 6250)
Including 3 day conference, lunches, coffee, documentation and conference dinner on the 5th of September. Rates excluding VAT.

One Day Ticket:

On or before July 31, 2011: SEK 2000 (incl VAT: SEK 2500, currently approx. EUR 270 or USD 385)
After July 31, 2011:                SEK 2240 (incl VAT: SEK 2800)
After August 29, 2011:          SEK 2480 (incl VAT: SEK 3100)
Including 1 day conference, lunch, coffee and documentation. No conference dinner. Rates excluding VAT.

Venue:
The Second International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention will be held at Lindholmen Science Park, Gothenburg, Sweden, on September 5-7, 2011. SAFER is co-hosting the conference, together with IFSTTAR.

To download the brochure for this conference, click here.

To download the 'Call for Registrations' for this conference, click here.

Contact: Lisa Knutsson
SAFER - Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers
Gothenburg, Sweden
E‐mail: lisa.knutsson@chalmers.se
Phone: +46 (0)31 772 21 11

CityLog and CityMove at the 8th ITS Congress in Lyon

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:29:15 +0200

Session SS06 URBAN FREIGHT LOGISTICS

The CityLog and CityMove projects participated in the 8^th ITS European Congress held in Lyon in the session on urban freight logistics.

Around 35 participants had the opportunity to hear about several technologies and city experiences of urban freight logistics.

The session moderated by Julius Menge, Berlin test site leader, discussed the different ways of distributing freight inside the urban area by using ITS technologies, innovative vehicle features and clever energy efficiency services which could lead to low noise, low emissions, efficient operations and safe manoeuvres.

The CityLog and CityMove projects, presented by Guillaume Vernet and Gianfranco Burzio respectively, had the opportunity to present the progress made. The next phase will be the demonstration of the feasibility of a wide range of logistic-oriented info mobility services: optimised pre-trip planner, a new type of navigation system based on enhanced maps and a last mile parcel tracking service and the implementation of the CITYLOG scenarios in the specific context of each test site: Berlin, Lyon and the region of Piedmont (Torino).

Other urban freight logistics oriented projects were presented. The results of the SMARTFREIGHT project showed how cooperative applications such as access control (environmental zones) could be applied in the field of urban freight logistics.

The FREILOT pilot presented by Zeljko Jeftic focussed on services that increase energy efficiency in goods and transport in European urban areas. In the four FREILOT pilot cities - Bilbao, Helmond, Krakow and Lyon - the FREILOT system, which gives a certain level of priority for trucks at junctions coupled with speed and acceleration limiters and eco-driving advice plus delivery space booking, is currently being piloted.

Massimo Marciani, President of FIT consulting, provided with the audience with an example of the successful experience in Parma demonstrating that efficient and integrated last mile freight and passenger transport is achievable.

Photo: Guillaume Vernet (back), Consultant - Volvo Technology, tests the FREILOT simulator at the ERTICO stand; Massimo Marciani (right), President - FIT Consulting, and Zeljko Jeftic (left), FREILOT Coordinator, shake hands

Municipality of Deventer starts development of the goal-oriented traffic-information system DevIS

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:48:38 +0200

The Dutch municipality wishes to take on the challenge of using information from the underlying traffic systems to improve, facilitate and technically manage the road network. For these purposes, their technology partner Technolution will develop the new 'Deventer verkeersInformatieSysteem' (Deventer traffic Information System), or DevIS, based on the Technolution's MobiMaestro platform. Initial delivery of DevIS is scheduled for spring 2011. Dynamic Traffic Information DevIS provides road users with up-to-date information about the traffic situation in Deventer via electronic signs at the side of the road, which are updated via the Internet.

DevIS can anticipate traffic processes, enabling more efficient usage of the road network in the area between Apeldoorn, Deventer and Zutphen. For example, if bridges are raised or an accident occurs, DevIS offers alternative routes. For these purposes, new traffic scenarios will be put in place in combination with existing traffic systems, such as traffic-light systems, route-information signs, and in the future, a dynamic parking system. In addition, new systems can easily be added later, enabling expansion of the network over time, for example, with dynamic route-information systems or connections with in-vehicle systems. DevIS based on MobiMaestro® Technolution's MobiMaestro platform provides the basis for DevIS.

Photo: MobiMaestro enables integrated traffic management

This platform is then tailor-made to suit the needs of the Municipality of Deventer, allowing goal-oriented road-network management. This technology has already proved its value in parking management systems and traffic regulation systems for, amongst other clients, the Municipality of Rotterdam. DevIS was made possible by contributions by the Province of Overijssel.

For further information, visit the following website: http://www.technolution.eu/mobimaestro.

Technolution develops Speed Monitor and Speed Lock

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:39:24 +0200

Technolution has set itself the task of boosting road safety by developing smart ICT platforms for cars that help the driver to get from A to B quicker and safer. However, it goes without saying that this must not detract from the factor of road safety. For this reason, as a follow up to the successful Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) project carried out in England for Transport for London, Technolution has developed a system that encourages habitual speeders to remain within the speed limit.

No faster than the legal speed limit

The system consists of an advisory mode, 'Speed Monitor', and an adaptation mode, 'Speed Lock'. Speed Monitor mode only displays the applicable maximum speed on screen in an advisory capacity, and initiates the Speed Lock if the driver repeatedly breaks the speed limit. Speed Lock limits the speed of the car, making it impossible to break the applicable speed limit. The system therefore immediately intervenes if drivers break the speed limit. Speed Monitor and Speed Lock were developed for possible implementation in the cars of notorious speeders.

Photo: the Speed Lock in action

Co-operation

Upon the instructions of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, Oranjewoud, Technolution and DTV Consultants are looking for 80 'speedy' test drivers from the provinces of Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland to participate in a trial of the Speed Lock. The trial will last for three months, with participants receiving €300.

For more information you can visit the following websites: http://www.automobilistmetpit.nl or

http://www.technolution.eu.

ITS United Kingdom elects new Chairman and Vice Chair for 2011/12

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:18:32 +0200

ITS United Kingdom, the Intelligent Transport Systems association for the UK, held its 2011 AGM in Birmingham on 16 May. Jeremy Evans of TfL and Sharon Kindleysides of Kapsch were elected as Chairman and Vice Chair respectively.

The Directors of ITS (UK) for 2011 / 2012 are:

Technical Director - Dr Alan Stevens, TRL
International Director - Richard Harris, Logica
Finance Director - Silke Elvery, TfL
Membership Director - Joanne Dodds, URS Scott Wilson
Communications Director - Brian Fitzpatrick, EC Harris
Prof Eric Sampson of Newcastle University continues as Ambassador for ITS (UK).

Theo Quick of Logica (former Technical Director) and Mike Schofield of Atkins (former Chairman) stepped down from their roles. Mike Schofield will continue in the newly created post of Immediate Past Chairman.

Photo shows Jeremy Evans of Transport for London, the new ITS (UK) Chairman

Jeremy Evans is Head of CCTV and Telecommunications at TfL. He served as Vice Chairman of ITS (UK) 2009-11. On being elected, Jeremy commented "I think this is an honour for me and for TfL as well. It recognises TfL's position at the forefront of implementation of smart systems such as smart ticketing and traffic control."

For more information, please contact: Jennie Martin, ITS (UK)

innovITS ADVANCE features on BBC News

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:59:34 +0200

In a two minute report broadcast on the UK's early evening BBC1 television news programme on Saturday 21 May, transport correspondent Richard Scott described the Autonomous Emergency Braking systems event hosted earlier in the week at the innovITS ADVANCE 'city circuit'.

Advertised under the title "Can you Crash it? No you can't", the event - which was organized by Thatcham, the UK Insurance Industry Repair Research Centre - provided an opportunity for members of the media including the BBC News team, to experience driving a range of vehicles equipped with the very latest in collision avoidance and mitigation technologies.

The vehicles demonstrated by Richard Scott in the BBC news report included the brand new Ford Focus with its innovative City Stop Lidar System and a Volvo V60 production pedestrian detection system, both of which are on the market and available to customers. Also demonstrated at the event were some of the latest products available from BMW, Mercedes, Subaru and Toyota, as well as many future technologies displayed in prototype form.

"The choice of innovITS ADVANCE as the location to host this event promoting the very latest in automotive collision avoidance and mitigation technologies was particularly appropriate," said Roger Wilson, innovITS ADVANCE business development manager. "This brand new facility is a world first in providing a dedicated infrastructure for the development of future intelligent transport systems that will help to make road transport safer, more efficient and more sustainable. Already open for business and with commissioning due for completion in the in the next few weeks, innovITS ADVANCE provides a much-needed test environment in which the next generation of ITS innovations can be developed, enabling the cars of tomorrow to be made even safer than today's state-of-the-art products and technologies that were demonstrated at last week's event."

A copy of the BBC report can currently be viewed on the BBC News website.

Call for Papers!: 9th escar – Intl. Conference on Embedded Security in Cars

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:28:37 +0200

9th escar – Intl. Conference on Embedded Security in Cars

When: 9-10 November 2011

Where: Dresden, Germany

Overview and Topics

Information technology is the driving force behind most innovations in the automotive industry. Today even compact vehicles have a few tens of interconnected microprocessors with up to several hundred megabytes of software and integrated communication capabilities to the outside world. The situation is similar for commercial vehicles such as trucks. One crucial aspect of many IT applications in vehicles is IT security. Whereas IT safety is a relatively well established (if not necessarily well understood) field, the protection of automotive IT systems against manipulations has only very recently started to emerge. At the same time, security will be an enabling technology for many - perhaps for most - future automotive IT applications. IT security will increase both, reliability and safety, while enabling and protecting various new business models.

The escar conference, now in its 9th year, has established itself as the premier forum for information, discussion and exchange of ideas in this innovative field.

As in previous years, the program will include invited talks and submitted papers in the following areas:

Security engineering, formal methods, development & validation tools, security standardisation and security economics for automotive domain
Security of vehicle-driven business, maintenance and service models
Identity theft, privacy and data protection issues in vehicular settings
Vehicular hardware security and hardware security modules
Security of vehicular on-board, passenger, and V2X communications
Security of software downloads and open vehicle application platforms
Security of vehicular component protection solutions
Security of legal car applications (e.g., event data recorder, tachograph)
Security of road pricing, restricted areas access and vehicle monitoring
Security of vehicle theft prevention and theft response solutions
Security of vehicular rights control and audit (e.g., feature activation)
Security of future vehicle applications (e.g., electric cars, ITS)
Security for other transport systems (e.g., railways, aerospace)

Instructions for Paper Submission

Theoretical/scientific articles, case studies and real-world experiences are welcome. All submissions will be peer reviewed. Prospective authors should contact one of the program chairs in case they have a doubt about the appropriateness of their submission for the conference. Two types of submissions are possible.

Full papers of up to 10 pages: This can be, for example, new research results, case studies, or state-of-the-art reports. The value for the escar community should be clearly demonstrated.

Extended abstracts of 2-3 pages: This category is particularly geared towards contributions from industry, e.g., describing new developments in industrial research or applications.

For both types, the text must be in English, the font size should be at least 10pt, and the type of submission (i.e., full paper vs. extended abstract) must be indicated on the title page. Submissions do not need to be anonymous.

Submissions will be accepted at escar's submission site in PDF format only:

https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=escar2011

www.escar.info

Important Dates

Submission deadline: 1 July 2011, 24:00 CET

Acceptance notification: 1 September 2011

Final paper due: 1 October 2011

The Second ERTICO May 2011 Interview

Fri, 27 May 2011 15:12:27 +0200

ERTICO: What role do you see for intelligent transport systems to achieve EU targets concerning reducing fatalities and CO2 emissions from transport?

Brian Simpson: I envisage a major role for intelligent transport systems. It's about forging a partnership between technological progress and the education of drivers. Technology has a key role to play, with the clear benefits of advanced braking systems already being shown, in addition to pre-warning systems and better fuel efficiency.

ERTICO: How important are electric vehicles, intelligent transport systems and smart grids for future "smart cities"?

Brian Simpson: These are important tools that can be used to improve life in our cities and make them more sustainable and environmentally friendly. However, there is a whole toolbox of measures to make transport more efficient in our urban areas, such as a better ticketing systems and LPG vehicles, and these must be fully looked at too.

Photo: Brian Simpson, MEP and Chair of the European Parliament Transport and Tourism Committee

ERTICO: What is most important for you to happen to achieve "intelligent" mobility?

Brian Simpson: In my opinion it is highly important for us to focus on the possibilities of better integration. By this I do not mean better integration of transport modes alone, but also between local, regional and national authorities with a view to sharing best practice.

For more information on transport related activites of the European Parliament, please click here.

8th European Congress & Exhibition on ITS: One week to go!

Mon, 30 May 2011 15:47:05 +0200

The 8th ITS European Congress and Exhibition taking place in Lyon, France, opens in just one week!

So far, over 1,300 people have already registered to attend the Congress and Exhibition for Intelligent Transport Systems and Services, taking place from 6-9 June at the Cité Internationale Convention Centre in Lyon. The event will be only chance for the ITS industry to meet in Europe in 2011.

If you haven't already, register free now for the exhibition or book your delegate place for the congress at www.itsineurope.com.

Latest Exhibitor News...

Thanks to Renault Trucks, Volvo Technology and Peek Traffic, you will be able to experience the future of urban freight transport on the ERTICO - ITS Europe stand (D90). A simulator will guide you through the various services implemented and piloted within the framework of the EC funded FREILOT project.

The most recent detector added to the Traficon sensor range is the Collect-R x-stream. This intelligent sensor is used for traffic data collection, queue detection and traffic flow monitoring. This network based and IP addressable detector includes on-board MPEG-4 compression for high quality streaming video. Find out more on stand C120.

ITS Bretagne, a non-profit organisation working with all stakeholders on the development and the implementation of ITS for territories, will deliver their 'Price of Innovation' on the 8th of June 2011. Join them to share a typical regional drink and celebrate the winners at 12.30pm on stand D120.

Click here for your free exhibition ticket...

Congress highlights...

Over 500 industry figureheads will speak on a variety of topics, including co-modal urban transport management, electro-mobility, cooperative systems governance and business issues and ITS for adaptive and resilient cities. Highlights include:

Opening of the ITS Conference, organised by the European Commission on Monday 6 June from 09.30 - 17.30. Read more...

Vice-President and Commissioner responsible for transport Siim Kallas will conclude this conference and then open the 8th ITS European Congress and Exhibition along with:

Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transports and Housing, Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transports and Housing, France

Jean-Jack Queyranne, President, Rhônes-Alpes Region, France

Gérard Collomb, Mayor, City of Lyon, France;

Professor Dr. Gunter Zimmermeyer, Chairman Supervisory Board, ERTICO - ITS Europe

The Congress Recommendations and Closing Session on 9 June, 11.00-13.00 will conclude this event and include a panel of experts who will present their conclusions on each congress topic during the session.

Download the full Preliminary Programme Now

For more information and to register online now visit www.itsineurope.com

See you at the Cité Internationale Convention Centre in Lyon from 6-9 June!

ASECAP Presidency: Austria takes the lead for the next two years

Mon, 30 May 2011 15:38:41 +0200

Klaus Schierhackl has been appointed as the new president of ASECAP, the European Association of tolled road infrastructure operators. The election of the new president took place on 29 May 2011 at the occasion of the 39^th ASECAP Study and Information Days, the annual congress of the tolled motorways operators.

Mr Schierhackl, Chief Financial Officer at ASFINAG, the Austrian Motorway and Expressway Network Operator, will take the lead of the European association for a term of two years, replacing his Spanish counterpart José Luis Feito, President of the Spanish Association of Tolled Motorways (ASETA).

Klaus Schierhackl enjoys a distinguished career in road transport, which started in 1991 at the Institute for Transport Economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, and quickly brought him to leading positions within ASFINAG.

The ladder company has proven many times its support to the missions of ASECAP, being an active founding member, and Mr Schierhackl's election reflects this long-standing successful commitment.

The new president stated he was honoured at the outcome of the election, and expressed his willingness to actively participate to the promotion of the user-payer principle at EU level, fully aware of the numerous challenges to tackle in order to ensure a more sustainable road transport. He also manifested his firm intention to maintain ASECAP as a privileged interlocutor to the EU Institutions.

For further information, please contact: Marie-Pauline Desset

eSafety Observers meet in Brussels to discuss eSafety deployment across Europe

Fri, 27 May 2011 16:55:14 +0200

The second meeting of the eSafety Observers Network took place on 5 May 2011 in Brussels and gathered representatives from 17 Member States. The meeting was organised in conjunction with the ITS National Associations meeting on 6 May, moreover a common workshop was also organised by the two Groups.

Risto Kulmala, co-chair of the eSafety Forum Implementation Road Maps (IRM) Working Group, presented to the Observers the WG objectives and the priority systems currently monitored by the group for safe, smart and clean mobility. He welcomed the Observers to join the Working Group and to support the monitoring of specific vehicle-based and infrastructure related systems for which the deployment status in the different EU countries needs to be reported.

Jure Pirc from the Slovenian ITS Association presented the traffic management Systems in Slovenia and its main functions: traffic and weather data acquisition, real-time traffic management and control, traffic management and guidance via variable message signs, communication with tunnel systems and data exchange with external organisations. Since its implementation several benefits have been observed in the usage of road infrastructure, in the traffic safety and ultimately, in the financial saves. Mr Pirc also presented the results of the EU co-financed project PROMET.

Paul Bennett from ITS Ireland presented the eSafety context in Ireland, focusing on the results already achieved but also on the plans for 2011, the specific eSafety strategies, the R&D initiatives and the current challenges.

Neal Skelton from ITS UK was unanimously elected as Vice-Chair of the eSafety Observers Network.

The meeting's agenda and presentations are available here.

More information about the Network of ITS National Associations.

More information about the eSafety Forum IRM Working Group.

The ERTICO May 2011 Interview

Mon, 23 May 2011 16:49:03 +0200

ERTICO: Can you describe your activities in the ITS field?

Cees De Wijs: ACS, a Xerox company, is one of the world leading companies in the field of transportation solutions and services to governments, with projects in more than 30 countries.

The concern of ACS-Xerox about increased congestion, roadway safety and unsustainable vehicle emissions drives the company to offer integrated solutions for ITS challenges. Applications for congestion charging, highway management, emissions testing systems, on- and off street parking, traffic enforcement and (Video) toll systems are smart solutions for complex problems. Where public funds are insufficient, ACS, a Xerox company, can provide ITS end-to-end services based upon BOT models, working closely with the government.

ERTICO: Why have you joined ERTICO?

Cees De Wijs: ACS, a Xerox company has joined the ERTICO network because we strongly believe that we can bring added value to the network by sharing our ITS knowledge and experience with others. The ERTICO network for International and collaborative research and development offers a unique platform to share and develop ITS services.

Photo: Cees De Wijs, Senior Vice President International Operations, Xerox - ACS

ERTICO: What are your expectations for this partnership?

Cees De Wijs: We are expecting to build an engagement model with ERTICO where we, to a larger extend, share our experience and innovation in the ITS field. Through ERTICO, we will get involved in EC framework programmes, helping to shape the ITS future in Europe.

We expect ERTICO to facilitate bringing the innovation and business models from the industry under the attention of the European Commission. On the other hand we expect ERTICO to translate the vision and policy of the Commission into thematic events and workshops.

ACS, a Xerox company can play an important role in shaping the ITS future for Europe, through a close partnership with ERTICO.

ERTICO: Are there any projects, activities or sectors that you are particularly interested in?

Cees De Wijs: By nature, ACS, a Xerox company is developing new services in a wide range of ITS services. However, and because, the individual will shape the ITS service of the future, we are interested in new developments and innovation on multi-modality, origin destination models, electro-mobility, open payments models.

About Xerox - ACS

ACS, A Xerox Company, is a global leader in business process and information technology services. That covers a lot of ground, from finance and accounting and transaction processing to IT outsourcing, human resource services and customer care.

Everything we do is driven by a single overriding mission: to help our clients focus on their core business. We serve such wide ranging industries as government, communications, manufacturing, retail, financial services, healthcare, education, and transport.

We deliver operational excellence. From Business Process Re-engineering, to managing our clients' operations, it drives everything that we do. Every year we receive industry recognition from the leading research and advisory firms in the service industry.

The Xerox Family
ACS has become an even stronger company for our clients, by joining forces with Xerox. As part of Xerox's $22 billion global enterprise we now offer you the immense resources of 130,000 employees in 160 countries, global brand strength, and a constant dedication to innovation.

TISA and EasyWay ESG5 cooperate to deliver coherent Traffic Information

Fri, 27 May 2011 17:14:35 +0200

A major challenge today for RTTI service providers and Road operators is to ensure that traffic management requirements go hand-in-hand with delivered traffic information. In a multi-partner environment the decisions of the traffic centre must be included in the information received, and processed by the various on-board devices to ensure coherent information for the end-users. This can only be achieved by using harmonised interfaces and efficient software solutions linking all systems involved.

In that context, EasyWay ESG5 and TISA have collaborated on a common demonstrator showing a full end-to-end information delivery chain, starting from an original content provider (e.g. a traffic management system) generating DATEX II messages down to the final display to the motorists in end-user devices. This is made possible through a DATEX II-to-TPEG conversion that will hand-over TPEG messages to TPEG services. These messages will then be delivered to the end-user devices via various delivery channels: Digital Radio, Internet and Wi-Fi.

The collaboration, to date, has focused on demonstrating, through a very limited set of messages, in this case safety messages, the essential interfaces and inter-connect parameters required. Ongoing message set "mapping" evaluations, used to register further rules, will proceed until year end 2011. It is foreseen that future projects would have to develop the relatively large message sets and translations for widespread deployment.

The TISA-Easyway ESG5 demonstrator will be visible during the ITS European Congress held in Lyon between 6 and 9 June 2011. More information regarding the demonstration set-up is already available on the TISA website.

ITS Network Meeting takes place in Brussels - three New Members have joined!

Fri, 27 May 2011 17:07:21 +0200

The latest Network of National ITS Associations meetings took place over two days at the ERTICO offices in Brussels. The eSafety Observers Network, which many ITS Nationals are also members of, held a meeting on the morning of the first day.

The Workshop which followed in the afternoon gave participants the opportunity to learn more about and provide input into the development of a template for national reporting on the ITS Directive. This template is non-compulsory, but widely welcomed and viewed by the National ITS Associations as a useful tool for assisting governments with reporting. In addition, co-operation with the EASYWAY project, through ITS Sweden and ITS Romania, is ongoing. The Workshop was followed in the evening by a pleasant networking dinner.

On the second day participants attended the Network Plenary meeting, where representatives from sixteen National ITS Associations were present, in addition to representatives from the Turkish Ministry of Transport who attended as observers. Participants heard presentations from three newly-approved members of the Network: ITS Ireland, ITS Bulgaria and ITS Russia. An update was given on recent developments in the SATIE project proposal, including the positive response of 6 National ITS Associations to the invitation to join the consortium.

The large number of local events and conferences organised by Network members in 2011 was highlighted, as well as the strong presence of the ITS Nationals at the upcoming ITS Europe Congress in Lyon, France, and the future ITS World Congress in Orlando, USA.

For more information, please contact Anna Limbrey (ERTICO - ITS Europe)

ERTICO organises Workshop on Connected Mobility at the Challenge Bibendum

Thu, 26 May 2011 09:38:09 +0200

The 11^th Challenge Bibendum held in Berlin between 18 and 22 May presented the opportunity for experts and the public to learn about the global situation in the field of mobility, as well as test the latest and most innovative technologies.

In this context, ERTICO - ITS Europe organised a workshop on Connected Mobility chaired by Vincent Blervaque, Director of Development & Deployment. A great deal of investment has been dedicated to R&D bringing to life a vision where every vehicle would be equipped to "talk" to other vehicles and the surrounding intelligent infrastructure; bringing benefits for all: a safer, cleaner and more efficient mobility. The benefits are thus well known but what other steps are needed to make this vision a reality? That was the subject of the discussion amongst an international group of ITS experts, including ERTICO Partners: Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt), NAVTEQ, Orange, Peek Traffic, Renault Trucks (Volvo) and Nissan.

The panellists were:

First Name	Company or Organisation
Vincent BLERVAQUE	ERTICO - ITS Europe (Chairperson)
Hisashi ISHITANI	New Energy Promotion Council (International Technical Committee of Challenge Bibendum)
Irina SILVA	ERTICO - ITS Europe (Technical Secretary)
Juhani JAASKELAINEN	EC DG INFSO
Gzim OCAKOGLU	EC DG MOVE
Christian RESS	FORD Research
Christine LOTZ	Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt)
Hiroyuki WATANABE	ITS Japan
Hajime AMANO	ITS Japan
Bruno SIMON	NAVTEQ
Samuel LOYSON	Orange
Siebe TURKSMA	Peek Traffic
Bernard FAVRE	Renault Trucks (Volvo)
Thomas KUSCHE	WDR on behalf of TISA
Larry HADDAD	Nissan International SA
Sébastien BARTAUD	Michelin

Following a discussion behind closed doors, the panellists presented their recommendations to the audience during a public open session. The session was opened with key note presentations from Hiroyuki Watanabe, Chairman of ITS Japan and Juhani Jääskeläinen, Head of Unit, EC - DG INFSO.

The presentations prepared by the panellists for the closed session are available below.

Photo: Key note speakers (from right): Hiroyuki Watanabe, Chairman of ITS Japan adn Juhani Jääskeläinen, Head of Unit, EC - DG INFSO

The workshop conclusions will be presented during the ITS European Congress at the Executive Session 06 "Information and communication: providers and users" which will take place on Wednesday 08 June, 11:00 - 12:30.

If you would like to learn more about the findings of the Challenge Bibendum 2011, join the dedicated Special Session which will be organised during the ITS European Congress in Lyon
(SS 63, Tuesday 07 June, 16:00 -17:30).

For more information contact Irina Silva.

Presentations:

Open Session
Workshop conclusions	.pdf
Workshop synthesis	.pdf
Closed Session
Juhani Jääskeläinen, DG INFSO, European Commission	.pdf
Christian Ress, FORD Research	.pdf
Hiroyuki Watanabe, ITS Japan	.pdf
Bruno Simon, NAVTEQ	.pdf
Siebe Turksma, Peek Traffic	.pdf
Larry Haddad, Nissan International SA	.pdf

ERTICO welcomes new staff!

Wed, 25 May 2011 15:08:56 +0200

Manuela Flachi holds a Master degree in Political Sciences from Università degli studi di Pavia and Brussels University - ULB. While studying In Italy, she worked in an accounting office in administrative functions. During her studies in Brussels she worked in an Italian regional representation and further cooperated in projects funded by the EU.

She joined the EcoMobility sector at ERTICO as Project Assistant in April 2011 contributing to the coordination and organisation of the eCoMove project and the ADASIS Forum.

News from AustriaTech: ITS Vienna 2012 on tour & FISTS Conference - draft programme and registration

Wed, 25 May 2011 14:49:44 +0200

ITS Vienna 2012 on tour

The Call for Demonstrations at the ITS World Congress 2012 in Vienna is still open. The second deadline for registration has been postponed and will expire on November 30, 2011. If you like to personally get in touch with the organisational staff of ITS Vienna 2012 for further information, you can meet them from June 6-9 at the ITS Europe Congress in Lyon, France, from June 29 to July 1 at the FISTS Conference in Vienna, Austria, and from October 16-20 at the ITS World Congress in Orlando, Florida. For further information, please click here.

FISTS Conference: Draft programme and early bird registration fees

The draft program for the first Forum on Integrated and Sustainable Transportation Systems (FISTS) from June 29 to July 1 in Vienna, Austria is online. Besides many interesting paper presentations, the Electronic Interactive Information Marketplace (EIIM) will be a special highlight of this conference, where companies and associations can present their latest projects and demonstrate them on large screens.

Green, Clean and Intelligent Transport Systems: Automotive M2M Comes of Age

Tue, 24 May 2011 10:14:55 +0200

There is little doubt that the automobile has been the most revolutionary invention in the history of transportation since the discovery of the wheel. And since 1889, when Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach introduced the first 1.5 horsepower, two-cylinder gas-powered car, the automobile industry has been evolving, growing and changing. We are now at a point when modern life is challenging the current transport industry archetype, creating an urgent need for change. A growing portion of the world's population - almost 70% - resides in cities where increasing mobility has given way to traffic congestion, noise pollution, safety concerns and the resulting negative environmental impacts.

Photo: Marcel Visser, Vice President, Automotive

Traffic congestion alone costs municipalities, companies and consumers billions each year - nearly 100 billion Euro or 1% of the EU's GDP per annum. Road safety on crowded streets is another major concern - it's estimated that 40% of CO2 emissions and 70% of other pollutants are caused by motorised transport alone. With our growing awareness of the interconnectedness of CO2 pollution and environmental destruction, conventional solutions such as expanding road infrastructure are no longer viable to assuage transportation system challenges.

Governments, car manufactures and consumers are realising that wireless technology holds the key to changing travel lifestyles and cleaning up, greening up and optimising modern transport systems. Of course, machine-to-machine (M2M) vehicle telematics on its own cannot fully mitigate the global challenges of automotive traffic. Wireless Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) work in conjunction with telematics transmitting real-time data about traffic and the environment to drive the Internet Of Things (IOT), i.e., the networked interconnection of everyday objects; in this case, cars, busses, traffic lights, roads with embedded sensors and emergency road crews, among others.

Photo: Axel Hansmann, Vice President, Strategy & Marketing Communications

Cinterion, a Gemalto company, has been at the forefront of M2M and automotive solutions since its inception more than 15 years ago. The Company is working with partners around the world on next generation M2M technology solutions that automatically and seamlessly connect: people to vehicles, vehicles to emergency crews, vehicles to roads, roads to municipalities, municipalities to smart grids and clean energy sources - the list of connections goes on!

To read the full story, please click here.

Operational plan for eCall deployment: hear all about the HeERO project in Lyon

Mon, 23 May 2011 17:18:06 +0200

HeERO, the pan-European project for eCall pre-deployment pilots, organises a Special Session dedicated to the EU-wide harmonised interoperable eCall service at the European ITS Congress. Scheduled for Tuesday 7 June 2011 from 16:00 to 17:30, this session will be the right place for eCall stakeholders to discuss the HeERO main objective: eCall deployment!

Hearing about operational plans for eCall deployment will be the main objective of next month's European ITS Congress Special Session 24, scheduled to take place on Tuesday 7 June 2011 from 16:00 - 17:30. Based on HeERO's activities and participants, different national implementation plans will be presented, addressing critical issues such as the PSAPs infrastructures, the integration of eCall within the existing 112 service, or the filtering of eCalls through the use of the eCall flag. The integration of the E112 eCall in the existing private in-vehicle emergency call service and the type of value-added services which can be built on an open telematics platform will also be addressed.

During the session, mobile network operators, car manufacturers, technology providers and public authorities will share their views on eCall implementation in the context of a discussion to be moderated by the European Commission.

Addressing the wide eCall value chain, the session will therefore be of high interest to all eCall stakeholders, who will further have the opportunity to exchange views with the panel of invited speakers.

Background information

The pan-European in-vehicle emergency call, "eCall", is estimated to have the potential to save up to 2500 fatalities annually in EU-27 when fully deployed, to reduce the severity of injuries, lower the cost of healthcare in society and reduce human suffering. The pan-European eCall concept started in 2002. Since then, more than 120 organisations signed the Memorandum of Understanding for eCall deployment, including 20 EU Member States, and eCall has been identified as a priority area by of the ITS Directive.

HeERO is a Pilot Type A Project, supported by a 5M € funding from the European Commission, Directorate General Information Society and Media under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) - ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT-PSP). It started on 1 January 2011 and will last for 36 Months. The project coordinator of HeERO is Monica Schettino from ERTICO - ITS Europe and the leaders of the nine national pilots are: ITS Romania, ITS Niedersachsen - Germany, Ministry of Transport and Communications - Finland, Ministry of Transport - Czech Republic, Presidency of Council of Ministers - Italy, Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks - Greece, Security Arena, Lindholmen Science Park AB - Sweden, National Protection and Rescue Directorate - Croatia, Rijkswaterstaat - The Netherlands.

For more information, please contact: Monica Schettino, m.schettino@mail.ertico.com or visit www.HeERO-pilot.eu

P3ITS: Make Pre-Commercial Procurement your tool for ITS deployment

Mon, 23 May 2011 17:11:42 +0200

Lyon, 9 June 2011 The P3ITS project is releasing its "Pre-Commercial Procurement for ITS" handbook at the occasion of its final workshop. This event will be organised on 09 June 2011 in Lyon, after the closing of the ITS European Congress. Public Authorities, innovation agencies and ITS suppliers will join the workshop to exchange their views and plans on the use of Pre-Commercial Procurement for ITS, and to network in view of future collaborations.

The "P3ITS Handbook: Pre-Commercial Procurement for Intelligent Transport Systems" will be officially released during the third P3ITS workshop taking place on Thursday 09 June 2011 at the Lyon Convention centre, right after the closure of the 8^th ITS European Congress. During this workshop, the P3ITS consortium will introduce the Handbook to a wide audience of public authorities, innovation agencies and technology suppliers.

Although highlighting the release of the Handbook, the P3ITS workshop will also be a place for stakeholders interested in the opportunities created by the use of Pre-Commercial Procurement for ITS, in terms of exchanging views and networking with potential partners. Representatives from different public authorities will be invited to present their initiatives with regard to PCP, while the European Commission will present future opportunities for EU-supported multi-national PCPs.

The "Pre-Commercial Procurement for ITS" handbook, produced by the P3ITS consortium, is the result of 18 months of analysis and exchange between public procurement and ITS experts, which happened under the EU-funded P3ITS project. It is a guide describing in five steps the necessary tasks that should be performed before launching a Pre-Commercial Procurement phase for Intelligent Transport Systems or Services.

Pre-Commercial Procurement is an existing but under-utilised tool for public-authorities to include research services and innovation in their procurement processes. Ongoing PCP programmes have proven to be very successful, but PCP so far failed to be widely used, especially in the transport and ITS sector, although experts believe that it could have a highly positive impact for the deployment of new ITS products and services.

P3ITS is a Support Action funded by the European Commission, DG Information Society and Media, under the 7^th Framework Programme for Research and technological development, and is aiming at maintaining a network of both ITS and legal and procurement experts to trigger a debate which would clarify how Pre-Commercial Procurement could be used for ITS. It is coordinating by ERTICO - ITS Europe.

For more information, please contact Sébastien Mure: s.mure@mail.ertico.com

Or connect to: www.P3ITS.eu

Download

Can we really do more at less cost with the UK road network?

Thu, 19 May 2011 16:02:12 +0200

A Factfile provided by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and ITS (UK)

In 2011 the UK is faced with a period of austerity as the Government takes steps to reduce the national debt. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that it will reduce overall spending by 15%, including an 11% reduction in capital spending. Yet the Department of Transport's Business Plan 2011-2015 describes a vision where transport is the engine of economic growth while being greener, safer and improving the quality of life in communities.

Can this be done adequately with the reduced budgets? Can we find new ways to manage our assets and minimise the impact of the cuts?

Taking transport funding decisions usually means trying to balance many different pressures including:

Supporting the economy with reliable and efficient transport;
Reducing congestion;
Improving safety;
Minimising environmental impact and energy consumption;
Sustaining and extending accessibility.

Analysis shows that alternative measures and schemes can help to address the pressures listed above, at less cost than traditional measures. For example:

The Active Traffic Management 'Managed Motorways' Scheme on the M42 reduced congestion, journey times, fuel consumption and emissions all at £12.4m less per km than traditional motorway widening

The implementation of Average Speed cameras on the A14, saw a 21% reduction in the rate of collisions in the first year, with savings from the reduction in accidents totalling approximately £9m over the first five years at a cost to implement of £4.6m over the same period.

Below is a summary of some of the main challenges in the context of UK transport:

Reliability

A major concern for businesses is the lack of predictability of travel times and the reliability of the road network. Having predictable journey times would make it possible for logistics companies to optimise their delivery routes and number of trips taken. The same is true for the public travelling for work. Departing early is no benefit to either the company or the employee, but is required to ensure punctual arrival.

Congestion

The links between growth in GDP and road traffic have long been recognised. The Eddington Transport Study2 estimated that eliminating existing congestion on the road network would be worth some £7-8bn of GDP per annum and concluded that if left unchecked congestion would waste an extra £22bn of time in England alone by 2025. By then 13 % of traffic would be subject to stop-start travel conditions.

Road traffic accidents

There were 38,875 deaths on EU member State roads in 2008 of which 2,645 (6.8%) were on UK roads. Those accidents affect hundreds of thousands of lives and cost the EU economy around €200bn each year. The Cabinet office estimated that the total annual cost of road accidents in the UK is £19bn with urban areas accounting for £9bn of those costs5.

Emissions

Air pollutants from transport have negative effects on health in both the short and long term. The estimated health cost of particulate pollution alone is between £5-10bn each year. The short term effects are mainly respiratory leading to increased hospital admission and use of medication. In the long term, air pollution can lead to reduced lung capacity, higher rates of lung cancer and heart disease. Congestion increases this problem. Vehicle emissions per km on motorways increase three to four times in congested areas - a vehicle travelling at 60 km/h emits 40% less CO2 than one travelling in stop-start conditions at 20 km/h10.

Accessibility

Accessibility is seen as the single best measure of the economic value of transport. There is a strong link between improved access and the economy, with studies finding that a ten percent improvement in access generates a more than two percent gain in overall economic productivity.

This Factfile sketches a way to accommodate reduced overall spending while maximising the productivity and safety of networks while minimising environmental impact. It shows how technology can be used to deliver consistent journey times, better information services and informed demand management which are crucial from both a societal and economic point of view.

It is provided by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and ITS (UK) may be accessed/purchased via:

www.its-uk.org.uk

Enquiries:

policy@theiet.org

mailbox@its-uk.org.uk

Intelligent Transport Systems in Action

Thu, 05 May 2011 14:58:53 +0200

«Intelligent Transport Systems in Action»

Cité Internationale

Monday 6 June 2011, 09.30-17.30

Objective
The European Commission is organising on 6 June 2011 its 2nd Conference on Intelligent Transport in Europe. The objective of this high-level conference is to provide and discuss first results of the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

Topics to be discussed
The agenda of the European Commission ITS Conference 2011 will include the following topics:

Implementation progress in ITS Action Plan and ITS Directive
Presentation and discussion of achievements in three areas:
1. Collaboration and coordination
2. ITS Applications
3. Data and Information for ITS.

Who is expected to participate?
The ITS Conference 2011 will bring together high-level representatives from the European institutions and key
stakeholders from the public and private sectors of the ITS community in the European Union.

The Director-General for Mobility and Transport, Matthias Ruete, will open the Conference, together with representatives
from the Hungarian Presidency, the European Parliament and the City of Lyon. The European Commission will outline
the progress in the implementation of the ITS Action Plan and the ITS Directive, with detailed presentation on a
number of key actions. Panelists from private and public stakeholders will comment on the achievements and further
discuss the way forward.

The European Commissioner for Transport, Vice-President Siim Kallas, will close the Conference.

Interpretation in English and French will be provided. Participation to the Conference is free of charge.

E-mail: MOVE-ITS-CONFERENCE@ec.europa.eu

3rd P3ITS Workshop, 09 June 2011, Lyon

Wed, 04 May 2011 15:05:36 +0200

"Make Pre-Commercial Procurement your tool for ITS deployment"

Objectives

Present the P3ITS "PCP for ITS Handbook" and the other outcomes of the project
Share experiences about national implementations of PCP
Hear about EU funding opportunities for European PCP projects
Network with potential partners for collaborations on PCP

Why?

The P3ITS consortium is releasing its "PCP for ITS Handbook", describing the actions you need to undertake before launching a Pre-Commercial Procurement process in the ITS sector.
PCP is an underutilised approach to procure innovative products or services. In this regard, P3ITS has engaged in a dialogue between procurers and ITS actors to investigate how it could be used for ITS deployment.
The 3^rd P3ITS workshop will also be an opportunity to share experiences about national PCP implementation and to hear about EU funding opportunities for European PCP projects.

Who?

The workshop is targeting primarily public authorities (innovation agencies, procuring authorities, consultants), but is of interest for all parties involved in public procurement of ITS innovations.

Where?

Cité Internationale

Lyon Convention Centre, Salon Roseraie

50 Quai Charles de Gaulle

69006 Lyon, France

When?

9 June 2011

14:00 to 17:30

The workshop is free of charge. It will be organised after the closing session of the ITS European Congress that will take place in Lyon, 6-9 June 2011.

More information at: http://2011.itsineurope.com/

To register, please contact Valentina Casadei

Please note that the deadline for registration is 1 June 2011

eSafety Forum Plenary Meeting - Report

Fri, 06 May 2011 15:14:15 +0200

The 14th eSafety Forum Plenary meeting took place on 6-7 April 2011 at the Diamant Centre in Brussels and gathered over 80 eSafety Forum members.

The meeting was opened by Zoran Stančič, the Deputy Director-General of the Directorate General of Information Society and Media and gave in its first day an overview of the eSafety Forum Working Groups and eSafety Observers Network activities in the last six months, presented the new eSafety Forum Goals (the results of the Expert Consultation run from December 2011 to March 2011) and the new list of eSafety Recommendations.

The second day of the meeting was chaired by Juhani Jääskeläinen, Head of Unit of the ICT for Transport Unit (DG INFSO, EC). The eSafety community was informed about the latest EU Policy developments (Digital Agenda for Europe, White paper 'European Transport Policy 2020' and the Strategic Transport Technology Plan) and gave updates on the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP). Insight was moreover provided by the EC representatives on the future research in ICT for Transport, among the presented activities being ERTRAC, Green Car Advisory Group and the eSafety Forum RTD Working Group.

The meeting's materials and presentations are now available online here.

The next eSafety Forum Plenary meeting will take place on 24^th October 2011 and will host the 5^th ceremony of the eSafety Awards.

For more information about the eSafety Forum events please visit the iCar Support website or contact us at info@icarsupport.eu .

Piedmont Integrated Ticket to promote collective public transport systems

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:51:38 +0200

The main objective of Project BIP (Biglietto Integrato Piemonte, Piedmont Integrated Ticket) is to promote collective public transport systems by improving accessibility through a regional integrated ticket and fare integration.

Besides the main objective, the project includes actions for promotion and information to users (actual real-time waiting time and distance covered). Particular attention is paid to the increase of personal security, both for operators and users, through on-board surveillance systems, and the certification of the service delivered in relation to quantity and quality.

The quantities involved in this realisation are relevant: 420 urban and extra-urban buses, agencies belonging to 18 different companies, 315 retailers, 25 depots throughout the territory, 19 million km per year. The provision for the project was committed in 2010 to the consortium between Pluservice and Thales Italia and the issuing of multiservice smart cards was delivered in January 2011. The system has been fully operative since March, after assessment by Piedmont Region officials of full compliance with regional interoperability standards.

The unique characteristic of the system is that the 18 companies involved - though sharing a common control centre for all activities and processes regarding ticketing, monitoring and video-surveillance - maintain their total autonomy in management of their own data and confidential information (business and administrative organisation), in order to ensure confidentiality of specifications and data.

In this project, Pluservice has designed and realised all procedures for issuing, validating and topping up the tickets on electronic smart cards, their checking by inspectors, as well as devices and software for real-time monitoring of all active vehicles. For each company involved, everything was realised by integrating all IT procedures managing crew and fleet shifts.

Thanks to this system, citizens will have access to real-time and detailed information on transport services (travel indications, waiting time at the stops, etc...), while company authorities will have wide availability of data deriving from issued and used e-tickets. Such data will be useful for measuring public transport services, and gradually fulfilling the real expectations of users.

In the control centre, all vehicles are monitored in real time

Transport operators analyse data to have a better understanding of the demand and re-organise services accordingly

Ticket officers help the user choose a type of ticket

PluService's solutions for the BIP Cuneo system

1. Central ticketing system

Integration with service data and work-shift data of the various companies
Integration with accounting data from the various companies (import and export)
Management of an advanced info-mobility system to ensure real-time information to users on routes
Synchronisation and management of a single database
Definition of parameters and fare policies
Monitoring and related service certification (AVM)
Management of smart cards and card holders
Management of equipment
Management of data exchange between centre and peripherals
Reporting and Business Intelligence on Sales, Income, Check and Anti-fraud

2. Complete position in the ticket office for issuing, topping up and renewing the smart cards

3. POS in points of sale for top-up/renewal of smart cards

4. Terminals for inspectors for on-board checks

5. On-board systems for AVM and ticketing (on-board ticket issuing)

6. Depository systems for data exchange between the company's control centre and buses

For more information, please visit the website of PluService.net.

TTS Italia News: New members for TTS Italia & Second online training course on ITS

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:37:07 +0200

Ministry of Interior / Police Service Road and three new companies in TTS Italia

The Directive Board of TTS Italia approved at its meeting on 13 April 2011 the accession of the Department of Public Security of the Ministry of Interior (Road Police Service) as a supporting member.

The Directive Board also approved the membership of the following companies as ordinary members:

Adria Infrastrutture, a company operating in the construction and management of highway infrastructure projects. In the ITS sector, it deals with the various aspects of electronic toll and traffic services;
Almaviva Tsf (www.tsf.it), a company of the Almaviva Group operating in the sector of Information and Communication Technology service in the field of Transport and Logistics;
Intecs SpA (www.intecs.it), a company active in the design and development of electronic high-tech systems in space, the defense, transport, telecommunications markets. In the transport sector, Intecs is developing software for rail transport and the automotive industry.

Second edition of the online training course on ITS by the Politecnico of Turin and TTS Italia

The Department for Transport of the Politecnico of Turin, a TTS Italia ordinary member, is organising in collaboration with TTS Italia a second edition of the innovative online training course on ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems). The course will start on 20 June at the Politecnico of Turin, and will subsequently continue over the next months by distance, thanks to a multimodal and interactive online tool developed by Politecnico with the support of the Italian Ministry for Infrastructure and Transport.

The course is based on several online lessons with sequential levels that the user will be able to manage as he/she prefers. However, the user has to pass each level to access the next one. The course will end on 15 November with the issuing of certificates to all participants having completed the course. This new edition will also include an optional session in English.

ITS United Kingdom and the IET on the value of ITS

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:16:18 +0200

ITS United Kingdom, the Intelligent Transport Systems association for the UK, and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) have jointly published Can we really do more at less cost with the UK Road Network? The short, high level document aims to inform about the value of Intelligent Transport Systems against the background of the current cut backs in public sector spending in the UK.

ITS (UK) and the IET have worked together in common areas of interest for more than a decade, and are delighted to publish jointly what they consider to be a timely and accessible document at a time when tough funding decisions are being made in transport as in every other area of UK public spending.

Picture shows: "Can we really do more at less cost with the UK Road Network?"

For more information, please contact Jennie Martin

FIA News: ABS for motorbikes will save lives now & White Paper on Transport 2050

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:50:26 +0200

ABS for Motorbikes will save lives now, we cannot afford to wait until 2017

"We cannot afford to wait until 2017 to make the Antilock Braking System (ABS) compulsory in motorcycles. Our figures show that thousands of road fatalities could be prevented by acting now," said Luca Pascotto, Mobility Director for FIA Region I, at a public hearing of the European Parliament Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection on 22 March.

Referring to estimations carried out by the Italian Automobile club ACI which considered the affect of ABS on crashes at intersections and rear end collisions, he said "Looking at an overview of fatal accidents in Italy in 2008, out of 1155 fatalities, ACI found that ABS would definitely have saved 140 lives and it would have completely avoided the crash in 122 cases. As a total, that amounts to 23% of crashes which could have been avoided or definitely influenced by ABS. These results are backed up by similar tests carried out in Germany by ADAC, who based their estimations on the share of accidents caused by looking at the key areas of emergency braking and braking stability."

Pascotto said that consumer tests carried out by the FIA's European Automobile Clubs demonstrate that ABS results in better driving stability during braking as well as a reduction of the emergency braking distance (up to 25% on wet roads).

He warned, however, that ABS for motorcycles on its own will not automatically enhance road safety, saying "Only through ABS driving and braking practice will there be real improvements on safety. The FIA supports the Safe System approach which focuses on the road user, the vehicle and the road infrastructure in order to reduce road injuries. Motorcyclists can make mistakes, but we need a coherent system which mitigates the risk of accidents. ABS has an important role to play as part of that system, reducing casualties in emergency situations."

The FIA's recommendations are as follows:

Improved safety training for riders with specific information campaigns for consumers;
Medium-performance motorcycles (> 125cc, max 35kW) and high performance motorcycles (>125 cm3, over 35 kW) should be equipped as soon as possible with the Antilock Braking System (ABS). We should not lose more lives by waiting until 2017 to make it mandatory;
The Combined Braking System (CBS) and Advanced Braking System do not have the same safety performance of ABS. Consumers should be clearly informed on the safety technologies available. ABS must be refined to cover only those systems which are concerned by wheel lock.

The meeting was chaired by Malcolm Harbour MEP, Chairman of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, while other speakers included the rapporteur responsible for guiding this piece of legislation through the European Parliament, Wim van de Camp MEP, as well as other representatives from different motorcycle interest groups.

White Paper on Transport focus on ITS welcomed but higher costs threaten consumer trust, says FIA

The focus on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), eSafety Systems and eCall emergency services in the European Commission's new White Paper on Transport has been welcomed by FIA Region I - representing 36 million motorists across its 100 member clubs - but concerns have been raised that the Commission's moves to restrict mobility and impose unpredictable costs in the long-term could lose the trust of consumers.

Jacob Bangsgaard, Director General of FIA Region I said "The Commission has taken our view that the combination of ITS and improved driver behaviour is the best way to fight congestion, improve safety and lower the environmental impacts of mobility. However, its focus on restricting mobility and raising new costs in the long-term risks losing the trust of consumers."

ITS, eSafety and driver behaviour

Commenting on the Commission's support for ITS and eSafety systems, Mr Bangsgaard said: "The Commission has recognised the role ITS can play to improve fuel efficiency and for better management of the road network, while also supporting eSafety Technologies. Many accidents on the roads due to human errors could be avoided. The advanced safety systems available for cars today like Electronic Stability Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Support Systems, Speed Alerts, Warning and Emergency Braking Systems, and Adaptive Headlights can support the driver and limit both accident risk and severity."

"For the first time, users have been involved in the process as a key driver to improve the sustainability of the transport sector. Take for example eco-driving: long-term analysis shows that the promotion of educational driving schemes can increase the fuel efficiency of passenger cars by up to ten per cent", he said, adding "The technology based approach adopted by the Commission is the right one. Information and communication technologies are fundamental in order to achieve a cleaner and more energy-efficient mobility of goods and people."

FOT-Net interviews Field Operational Test Site Sweden

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:13:07 +0200

Field Operational Tests (FOT) are large-scale test programmes aiming at a comprehensive assessment of the efficiency, quality, robustness and acceptance of ICT solutions used for smarter, safer and cleaner and more comfortable transport solutions. FOT-Net was established by the European Commission to provide a networking platform for public and private stakeholders involved or interested in Field Operational Tests. Since its conception, FOT-Net has become the point of reference on Field Operational Tests, their organisation, set up and results.

Test Site Sweden in Gothenburg is a large-scale functional test site operating since 2008. Test Site Sweden consists of two parts, one in normal traffic in the tunnels and entrances of Gothenburg, and the other using three closed test tracks. Due to its northerly location, climate specific testing can be performed.

FOT-Net interviews Peter Follin, Lindholmen Science Park, John-Fredrik Grönvall, Volvo Cars (VCC), and Helena Gellerman, SAFER/Chalmers about Test Site Sweden.

FOT-Net: Could you tell readers a little bit about Test Site Sweden?

Helena Gellerman: Test Site Sweden, based near Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city, is operated by SAFER and Lindholmen Science Park. SAFER focuses on in-vehicle data acquisition, data storage and analysis while Lindholmen Science Park focuses on road infrastructure and back office.

Peter Follin: Test Site Sweden has been the test site for several national and European projects, such as CVIS, SAFESPOT, SeMiFOT and the on-going euroFOT. Upcoming projects include the DRIVE C2X project where several different use cases, mainly safety related, will be tested and the COSMO project where the "Green light optimal speed" use case will be tested.

John-Fredrik Grönvall: In terms of size and facilities, Test Site Sweden compares well with other European test sites. Presently, Volvo Cars supplies 100 vehicles, with more to be added and AB Volvo supplies 30 trucks. There are also over 400 taxis supplying floating car data. As a car manufacturer, this is a good place to test car systems with urban roads, highways and test tracks close to each other.

Peter Follin: In terms of available infrastructure, we of course have all the equipment from the CVIS and SAFESPOT projects. For COSMO we will have additional Road Side Units (RSUs) - possibly mobile - once talks with the city authorities are completed.

FOT-Net: What are the specific strengths of Test Site Sweden?

Helena Gellerman: There are several! First of all, and the reason for the three of us being here, is that Test Site Sweden covers all aspects of testing, road infrastructure, data acquisition in vehicles, storage and analysis and the vehicles themselves.

Peter Follin: All the Swedish OEMs are present and active here - Volvo Cars, Volvo Trucks, Saab Automobile and Scania.

Helena Gellerman: This is something quite unique and allows us to go into new projects with a lot of confidence.

John-Fredrik Grönvall: We also have a full range of data acquisition systems, currently being used in SeMiFOT and euroFOT. One particular strength here is the focus on human behaviour and interaction with the systems, for instance with eye tracking - this allows us to measure benefits more exactly, evaluate human distraction, interference and acceptance.

Helena Gellerman: A further strength is the effort we have put into data analysis, in addition to acquisition, using tools developed for past projects and currently being employed in SeMiFOT and euroFOT. All the vehicle, traffic, infrastructure and human behaviour data can be collected and analysed here simultaneously. This is used now in the euroFOT project and will be used in upcoming projects too. As we are involved in the whole data chain - from acquisition to analysis - we are well placed to produce high quality data and also to understand the limitations of this data.

Finally, Test Site Sweden also enjoys access to traffic management data in cooperation with the relevant public authorities, notably the national road database and local traffic management system.

FOT-Net: What are the expected results regarding cooperative mobility?

Helena Gellerman: The expectations on the Cooperative Systems projects using Test Site Sweden are twofold. Functionality should be tested with regular drivers, to assess the driver-vehicle-infrastructure interaction, the driver acceptance and the benefits for different stakeholders. The result gives an idea which functions that have the highest market potential.

Peter Follin: The second area of interest is of course the ongoing debate as to which systems should be used in terms of cooperative mobility, and many stakeholders have a strong interest in one or the other of these systems, whether 3G, 4G, 802.11p... Different projects may use different approaches - DRIVE C2X for instance will use 802.11p.

It is difficult to predict which if any will emerge strongest - most likely this will have legal/regulatory aspects...

John-Fredrik Grönvall: It is important that Test Site Sweden supports all possible systems, as when it comes to final deployment it is unlikely to be an either/or issue.

So we must be as open as possible.

FOT-Net: How does Test Site Sweden fit in with the broader deployment strategy?

Peter Follin: There is of course the ITS Action Plan, which is Europe-wide. In Sweden, we have on-going discussions regarding the strategy plan for Cooperative Systems.

Helena Gellerman: We are focusing the functionality and the benefits for different stakeholders, which is the key to the deployment. There are also discussions about which technology to use, and here is where Test Site Sweden also can provide value. Our strong links with the relevant authorities and the strong results we get mean that we can provide good data for the government and road authorities.

The most important thing is to make decision makers aware of how cooperative systems work and their benefits.

Peter Follin: We do this by first of all involving them, secondly by showing the data and from there the benefits.

To view Test Site Sweden's "demo theatre", first premièred at the 2009 ITS World Congress held in Stockholm, follow http://www.testsitesweden.com/transport-efficiency/lindholmen-demo-theatre. The demos are set up as plays, showing the advantage of the deployed technology in different "real life" situations.

Peter Follin is Project Manager at Lindholmen Science Park, previously involved with CVIS and currently with the EC projects DRIVE C2X and COSMO.

John-Fredrik Grönvall is Senior Engineer and Manager for Volvo Car Traffic Accident Research Centre and involved in SeMiFOT, euroFOT and Drive C2X among others.

Helena Gellerman is Project Manager, FOT/NDS, at SAFER and involved in SeMiFOT, euroFOT and Drive C2X.

Transport in megacities: Viajeo organises seminar on Brazil-EU Cooperation on Sustainable Transport

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 09:51:15 +0200

A seminar was organised on 12 April in São Paulo at the premises of Viajeo partner IPT - Institute for Technological Research with the support of B.Bice (FP7), the Brazilian Bureau for Enhancing International Cooperation with the European Union. Aimed at sharing best practices in the field of traveller information, ITS for large events and electric mobility, the event had the presence of 70 stakeholders, namely ERTICO partners: DEKRA, Kapsch, Mizar, Navteq, Pluservice and QFree.

At the seminar opening, the city of São Paulo was addressed by Angel Landabaso, Counsellor for Science and Technology at the EC delegation in Brazil: "If we find a solution for São Paulo, which is at the top of the list of cities with transport problems, then we will find a solution for the whole world". The counsellor highlighted the need for stakeholders to focus during events such as this seminar on real solutions to be applied in the future, and not only on the discussion of problems and previous results.

The seminar also focused on the application of intelligent solutions for transport used in large events such as the FIFA World Cup 2014 and the Olympic Games 2016 (both of which will take place in Brazil). João Fernando Gomes de Oliveira, president of IPT, commented: "These are two big examples of business opportunities, and a platform such as this seminar is important for the spread of knowledge, especially when a city like São Paulo is facing huge mobility problems". CET (the São Paulo Traffic Engineering Company) was invited to present how it currently manages large events in the city of São Paulo, while STADIUM shared their experiences concerning a handbook under preparation for mobility planners and the project's demonstrator in South Africa.

The European Commission represented by Frédéric Sgarbi, Head of Sector "Advanced Road Vehicles", DG Research and Innovation, explained the available FP7 instruments for international cooperation between the EU and third countries such as Brazil. He underlined that the EC is looking for more balanced cooperation namely through coordinated calls or twinning between the EU and Brazil.

Photo: Angel Landabaso, S&T Counsellor, Delegation of the EU to Brazil and Joao Gomes de Oliveira, President of IPT

Viajeo in São Paulo: update

Viajeo will integrate its open platform with local components and demonstrate the use of the open platform in four cities: Athens, São Paulo, Beijing and Shanghai. In São Paulo the platform will collect floating vehicle data and integrate it with existing data sources from the traffic control centre. São Paulo site partners are Mizar (leader), AEA, IPT, Magnetti Marelli and USP.

A user needs survey was performed targeting business travellers and local residents. Their views were collected on the available traveller information services, taking note of what kind of improvements could be achieved. At this stage partners are addressing the design and implementation of the platform, which should be completed by September 2011, and kicking off the last stage: the operation and validation of the platform. By the end of the first semester of 2012, the demonstration results will be made available and a public final event will be organised in São Paulo.

For more information contact the Viajeo team.

FOT-Net News: Fifth FOT-Net Stakeholders Workshop and JAMA visits ERTICO

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:10:54 +0200

Fifth FOT-Net Stakeholders Workshop

The theme of the 5^th Stakeholders workshop on 24 March was "Deployment Roadmap: how FOTs are used to reach policy goals". It provided a forum for discussion on deployment best practices and the role of public authorities in the definition and implementation of FOTs. Public Authorities have a key interest in FOT results as these will support them in establishing the right policy framework for the deployment of ITS.

Different approaches for the use of FOTs towards deployment were presented from Europe, US and Japan, each with their particularities and challenges. Some approaches are more innovation oriented but not necessarily more harmonised, while others are embedded in a policy framework but could benefit from the contribution of other stakeholders for defining the FOT research programme and questions.

Participants also discussed the important role of dissemination in FOTs by:

linking politicians to experts. There is a need to involve policy makers in the process and raise their awareness, as they are the ones defining mobility goals and means. Experts can help them avoid taking uninformed decisions about mobility;
using the FOTs as an awareness raising activity and training, as regards those who will subsequently be using the systems that are being tested, as well as those who can set an example, e.g. politicians. Drivers could be used as role models and to generate acceptance;
creating support from stakeholders. FOTs can provide a safe platform for all stakeholders to work together.

European FOT related activities also looked into how the project results can be transferred to stakeholders: what is the exploitation plan, what will be done after the FOT is completed to ensure deployment?

FOT-Net also took this opportunity to highlight its new activities: the revision of the FESTA methodology, the plans for FOT knowledge transfer (seminars) and the development of methodological tools to identify stakeholder needs.

Presentations are available here.

JAMA visits ERTICO

JAMA, the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association, visited ERTICO last March. It was represented by members of the ITS Subcommittee, Smart Systems Experts Group: Masao Fukushima and Seiki Takahashi from Nissan and Masayoshi Ito from Mitsubishi.

The delegation presented the Cooperative ITS development activities in Japan. In that context, traffic safety remains an important issue with trends in Japan showing that many of the accidents involve vulnerable road users: pedestrians, bicyclists and elderly drivers. Many of the accidents are known to be related to rear-end collisions, lane departure, pedestrians and intersections. To counteract and decrease these patterns it is believed that cooperative systems play a crucial role. Current and future ITS developments in Japan will focus on vulnerable road users and traffic safety on minor roads, such as in residential areas.

The national initiative ITS-Safety 2010 (a national project by public and private sectors) which has been focusing on updating Cooperative Driving Safety Support Systems using V-I, V-V has been an effective way to promote ITS and it is expected that the next stage of ITS-Safety 2010 will tackle these remaining safety problems.

For more information contact Irina Silva.

OICA appeals for harmonised ITS standards to facilitate the deployment of connected vehicles

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:40:05 +0200

The Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers makes a strong appeal towards harmonised Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) industry technical standards in order to accelerate the deployment of these systems. In this context globally aligned wireless communication protocols for safety and mobility relevant data to connect vehicles with each other and with the roadside infrastructure are a critical element to enable deployment. Our position is consistent with the agreement signed by the US government and the European Commission in support of global harmonisation of ITS standards.

The OICA President Patrick Blain declared: "Modern automobiles have already made tremendous advances in terms of safety and environmental performance. A next, giant step could well be possible with the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems technologies, whereby vehicles "talk" to each other as well as with the roadway infrastructure. Vehicles will transmit and receive crucial information to and from other vehicles as well as to and from the roadway infrastructure. Such electronic information, if delivered accurately, reliably and timely, is expected to have major positive implications for the road safety as well as for mobility and the environment. As an example, data on an accident ahead will enable drivers to be prepared and to slow down. In addition to the road safety effects, connected vehicles have a strong potential also for saving fuel that is wasted in daily traffic jams and therefore reducing CO2 emissions. Foresighted up-to-date traffic information will enable drivers to choose an optimised route e.g. by avoiding a traffic jam."

As explained by Dr. Bernd Gottselig, chairman of the OICA Technical Committee, "One of the main concerns is that manufacturers may have to develop their own unique systems for regional markets in the absence of harmonised global standards. Even if vehicles from various manufacturers may well "talk" to other vehicles in the same region there is however, no guarantee that these will still be able to "talk" with other vehicles or the road infrastructure in this or another regional area. This situation is due to the absence of globally harmonised technical standards defining the exact communication protocol, such as the message sets, the message authentication, and the minimum performance requirements.

Various standards organisations worldwide currently are very active in this field in order to specify communication protocols. However, with an absent commitment to harmonise these technical standards globally, they will be separately implemented on a regional level only, e.g. for Europe, US, Japan, etc. On the other hand today's vehicle industry is truly global, and it simply makes no sense to design our systems differently from one country or region to another. In essence, only a complete and globally consistent set of communication protocols will allow for a robust and rapid deployment of Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) technologies."

Patrick Blain concluded that "When it comes to vehicle/infrastructure communication, the necessary road equipment does not exist yet; various projects are in R&D, and some could be introduced in the near term. As we move closer toward deployment of these new technologies, now is the time for all involved stakeholders worldwide, including vehicle manufacturers, governments, standards organisations and trade associations, to work together, before it is too late. The global auto industry urgently needs globally standardised (V2V) and (V2I) communication protocols; V2V systems could then be more rapidly and efficiently developed and introduced and the future infrastructure equipment could then be planned to make up the last cornerstone of the integrated and globally harmonised ITS system."

For further information, please click here.

Contact:

Yves van der Straaten, Secretary General, + 33 (0)1 43 59 00 13

ISO and ITU move into top gear on standards for intelligent transport systems

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:26:23 +0200

Leading global standards organizations ISO and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have announced the creation of a partnership in the burgeoning field of intelligent transport systems (ITS) to hasten the deployment of ITS products and services.

Industry experts who gathered for the recent Fully Networked Car event organized by ITU, ISO and their partner, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), at the Geneva Motor Show agreed that the next 20 years will see a huge shift towards ITS.

Today's communications capabilities give the potential for vehicles to foresee and avoid collisions, navigate the quickest route to their destination, make use of up-to-the-minute traffic reports, identify the nearest available parking slot, minimize their carbon emissions and provide multimedia communications.

But while considerable resources have been invested in R&D, the lack of global standards is widely regarded as a major impediment to large scale deployment of ITS services and applications.

The involvement of international standards bodies is seen as critical to easing bottlenecks partly resulting from poor communication between overlapping sectors: automotive, ITS players, telecoms suppliers and operators. The new Joint Task Force for ITS Communications will engineer better collaboration between these sectors and pool resources within ITU and ISO, linking existing work and avoiding duplication.

ITU and ISO both have a long history of work in ITS, and have maintained long-standing cooperation on the creation of standards in the field. The new agreement cements this relationship, allowing for greater coordination of their work programmes and harmonization of all outputs.

ISO Secretary-General, Rob Steele, comments: "There is a need for harmonization of standardization of essential technologies to provide a solid base for further innovation and the economies of scale for commercialization of technologies. Most interestingly of all, is the urgent need to consider the interoperability of all of this technology not only in the vehicle, but in the wider infrastructure that is needed to support this revolution.

"The value of the solutions proposed is magnified when they are globally relevant. In this, customers of International Standards care most about the benefits that implementing International Standards provide and industry should not and will not wait while standards organizations fight amongst themselves, compete or try to decide who will develop that standard. They want to be listened to and have their needs for International Standard solutions met."

The ITU Secretary-General, Dr Hamadoun Touré, said: "There is a will from manufacturers to implement these technologies, but as yet there has been no real breakthrough in terms of the technical standards needed to roll this out on a global scale. Vehicle manufacturers do not want to create different versions of this technology for every different market. They do not want regional or national standards. They want global standards, and through this initiative ITU and ISO are proving that we are willing and able to provide them."

Within ISO, the focus for ITS is technical committee ISO/204, which has far developed 115 standards for the sector. Twenty-six countries participate in its work while another 24 have observer status. The scope of its work covers standardization of information, communication and control systems in the field of urban and rural surface transportation, including intermodal and multimodal aspects, traveller information, traffic management, public transport, commercial transport, emergency services and commercial services.

Source: http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref1420

eSafety Awards 2011 Nominations: Fifth edition of the eSafety Awards

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:09:07 +0200

Fifth edition of the eSafety Awards

"Rewarding excellence in deployment of eSafety systems"

Background

The eSafety initiative brings together the European Commission, Public Authorities, Industry and other stakeholders in a drive to accelerate the development, deployment and use of intelligent vehicle safety systems, so called eSafety systems and thus contribute to the European Commission's ambitious 2001 goal of halving the number of fatalities on Europe Roads by 2010. Over the last years the eSafety Forum has increased its visibility and it is now recognized worldwide as the driving force in promoting eSafety development and deployment in Europe.

The Award Scheme

The eSafety Awards provide an invaluable opportunity to highlight the successes of the most outstanding, ambitious and innovative eSafety deployments and to reward those people and organisations most worthy of recognition and praise.

This year there are three Award categories:

1.Policy Award

Nominates a person or team from a public administration body which has taken the lead in implementing measures to facilitate eSafety deployment in Europe.

2. Industry/Technology Award

Nominates a person or team from a company or industry initiative which has played a key role in accelerating deployment of eSafety systems in Europe.

3. National / Local ITS Implementation Award

Nominates an action such as a pilot, Field operational test (FOT), etc. which has accelerated ITS implementation at National / Local level acting as a European showcase.

Please send us your nominations for the eSafety Awards 2011!

The Awards ceremony 2011

The fifth edition of the eSafety Awards Ceremony will take place on 24 October 2011, in the next eSafety Forum Plenary meeting in Brussels, Belgium.

The eSafety Forum members were invited to send their nominations for the candidates for the three categories of the Awards (above) by 20 May 2011.

For more information please contact us at info@icarsupport.eu

eSafety Awards 2010

M2M: the Future is Now with Smart Energy Technology

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:51:27 +0200

Smart cars, smart homes, smart grids - the world is getting serious about energy conservation and environmental protection, turning to "intelligent" wireless machine-to-machine (M2M) technology for help. Imagine a world where your dishwasher, air conditioner or washing machine "talks" to a smart meter in your home, which in turn automatically "negotiates" with the utility company for the best rates. Sound futuristic? Not so! M2M smart meters can remotely control home appliances, automatically running them at the most opportune times to help conserve energy, reduce costs and increase reliability and transparency between energy providers and consumers.

Now, imagine a future where the air is always clear and the roads are filled with clean burning electric "smart" cars, providing drivers with the latest traffic and route information, instant communication with emergency road services and even directions and wait times for the nearest eCar charging station. In mega-city complexes in the Middle East, the future is now and eCar infrastructure is being built with new roads. CINTERION is at the forefront of M2M technology and working with partners around the globe on next generation M2M technology that seamlessly connects machines, smart grids, vehicles and much more.

In a smart grid, all power generators, including solar plants, wind mills and traditional power sources, can automatically exchange consumption and data between utility companies and consumers. When each point is connected, the entire grid can be controlled and power distribution can be modified, as necessary, for efficiency and to prevent brown or black outs. A case in point is eCar charging stations: the charging process may be automatically slowed during peak consumption times while the driver is at dinner and a movie. The car is fully charged when the driver returns but the automatic adjustment eliminates the utility company's need to generate additional power to accommodate extra demand - and the driver gets a better rate for electricity! The smart grid also allows utilities to switch between energy producers, drawing from clean energy sources when weather conditions are favourable.

M2M technology offers immediate, easy and cost effective "smart" living today!

For more information, please click here.

Photo: Holger Lenz, Director Business Development, Cinterion

The ERTICO April 2011 Interview

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:33:05 +0200

ERTICO interviews Phil Blythe, Professor of Intelligent Transport Systems and Director of the Transport Operations Research Group, at new Partner Newcastle University

ERTICO: Can you describe your activities in the ITS field?

Phil Blythe: Newcastle University has been involved in ITS research since the first DRIVE programme in the late 1980's. The transport operations research group TORG has led in this area (road pricing and tolling, info-mobility systems, smartcards and e-payment, electric vehicles, eco-driving and driving behaviour, ITS for mobility impaired and traffic and environmental sensing and monitoring - and the evaluation of all of this), however other groups in the university also undertake ITS research, including NewRail and Marine (e-Freight) and schools of electronic engineering and computer sciences (smartdust and wireless sensor systems and data management).

ERTICO: Why have you joined ERTICO?

Phil Blythe: We have been highly successful in European Projects but feel that a partnership with ERTICO members will enhance this, help us develop new networks and partners and help us grow our core research interests. The north east of England has a real appetite to support transport innovation and host demonstrations and trials and to this end we feel we can work with ERTICO to develop projects which utilise some of our current facilities, such as our electric vehicle fleet and associated charging infrastructure (SWITCH-EV); environmental sensor networks (MESSAGE); telematics to assist elderly and disabled travellers (SIDE/OASIS), regional UTMC (sited at the University) and e-payment and e-freight areas.

ERTICO: What are your expectations for this partnership?

Phil Blythe: We like the professional approach of ERTICO and the useful information they can provide on EU strategies, calls for projects and general intelligence on ITS. We hope to be given opportunities to exploit our skills and those of our regional partners to develop ITS research and innovation and to have the opportunity to participate in associated proposals.

We also look forward to participating in the research platform and key task-forces.

ERTICO: Are there any projects, activities or sectors that you are particularly interested in?

Phil Blythe: Electromobility, CVHS, e-payment, info-mobility, e-freight, supporting mobility impaired travellers, evaluation activities, and a host of other ITS and transport-related activities.

Company profile:

To better coordinate the transport research activities across Newcastle University, all the major research groups and Schools who participate in transport technology research have formed Transport-Newcastle which is a research network with a vast range of expertise in many areas of transport. The Transport-Newcastle network will enable the University to address transport issues regionally, nationally and internationally in a more coordinated and cohesive way, adding greater value, knowledge and breadth to the research, industrial collaborations, consultancy and support of policy agendas. Our transport research activity is organised under the following research themes:

Web links:

Information on Professor Blythe's profile/activities is available at:

http://www.ceg.ncl.ac.uk/profiles2/nptb2

TORG Webpage is available at:

http://www.ceg.ncl.ac.uk/transport/index.htm

Latest news on Transport Research and Activities within the Group

http://www.ceg.ncl.ac.uk/transport/news/index.htm

Information on the Foresight Intelligent Infrastructure Study is available at:

http://www.foresight.gov.uk/OurWork/CompletedProjects/IIS/Index.asp

New book by Pickford and Blythe on 'Road User Charging and Electronic Tolling' available at:

http://www.artechhouse.com/Detail.aspx?strBookId=1238

Brainport region presents future mobility concepts: Public very welcome at Automotive Week 2011

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:08:06 +0200

The Automotive Week 2011, to be held from 14-22 May 2011 in the Brainport region (Eindhoven-Helmond) in the Netherlands, has the theme of Building the future in mobility. Numerous events during the week will take visitors to the near future of car-based mobility. For example in the Cooperative Driving Weekend the focus is on the development of cooperative driving. Members of the public are very welcome to take a look at the experiments on the A270 highway on Sunday 15 May, showing how cooperative driving can help reduce both traffic congestion and emissions. And on Sunday 22 May, Helmond Classic Car takes the public on a journey through 125 years of automotive technology. As well as showing a large number of classic cars, the event also features the history of electric cars and alternative fuels such as biofuels.

Cooperative Driving Weekend: cooperative driving keeps traffic moving
Traffic volumes around the world are expected to increase greatly in the coming years. New developments are needed to keep traffic moving, to reduce congestion (including jams caused by 'shockwaves'), and to increase safety, sustainability and driving comfort. One of the solutions is cooperative driving. The latest developments in this area will be shown in three unique experiments to be held on the A270 near Helmond during the Cooperative Driving Weekend on 14 and 15 May. Members of the public are very welcome to see these experiments on Sunday 15 May. The experiments focus mainly on cooperation and communication between cars themselves and between cars and the roadside infrastructure. The A270 will be closed to traffic specially for these experiments in the weekend of 14 and 15 May, and the Beekstraat viaduct over the A270 in Nuenen will be used as a public tribune with an excellent view of the experiments. There will also be information stands about cooperative driving, explanations of the experiments by guides, and facilities for both children and adults to test the knowledge they have gained about cooperative driving. Free Automotive Week buses will run from Helmond and Eindhoven central stations, for people who want to see the experiments and take part in the public programme. Because of the expected high level of interest in the free public programme, visitors are asked to register in advance here.

Helmond Classic Car presents 125 years of automotive technology
Not only the future but also the history of automotive technology will be highlighted during the Automotive Week. ECMD (European Centre for Mobility Documentation) and NCAD (Netherlands Centre for Autohistoric Documentation), together with the Helmond region Rotary Club, are jointly organising the Helmond Classic Car event on Sunday 15 May. This exhibition showing the development of automotive technology from the end of the 19th century will be held on the High Tech Automotive Campus. The exhibition is zoned into a series of decades with the corresponding classic cars, allowing visitors to take a journey through time and to follow automotive developments decade by decade. There are also presentations of the history of the electric car, alternative powertrains such as the gas turbine and the Wankel engine, and alternative fuels such as hydrogen and biofuels.
'Country zones' will be built at different locations in the inner city of Helmond, which will be closed to traffic for the occasion, showing historic, classic and other special vehicles produced in those countries.
For a combined visit there is a free bus service between the High Tech Automotive Campus and the centre of Helmond.

Brainport region for a whole week the international stage for smart mobility

As well as the public events, there will also be a range of other events for international professionals during the Automotive Week, making the Brainport region for a whole week the international stage for the latest technological developments in the field of smart mobility. For secondary school students who are interested in automotive technology, there's also the Automotive DAY on Saturday 21 May, at which they can find out more about a range of automotive education courses at different levels.

For more information, please click here.

For further queries, please contact Paul Splinter

Bilbao receives the National Award for Best Project of the Year for the European project FREILOT

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:23:56 +0200

Bilbao receives the Spanish National Award for Best Project of the Year in the field of Freight Transport for the European project FREILOT

Bilbao received in April the National Award for Best Project of the Year in the field of Freight Transport for the European project FREILOT. Asier Abaunza, Deputy Councillor for Traffic and Circulation, received the prize in Barcelona, awarded by the national association ITS España.

The city of Bilbao received the award, over twelve other candidatures, for its innovative character and for the involvement of the Municipality of Bilbao in the roll-out of the European project FREILOT in a real-life environment: the streets of Bilbao. This initiative, promoted by the Municipality of Bilbao and the Euskadi Mobility and Logistics Cluster with the objective of reducing CO2 emissions by 25%, also aims to reduce the negative effects of traffic, free parking spaces for use by residents and reduce noise, resulting in a greener and less congested city.

The project is 50% funded by the European Commission with a total budget of 4 million Euros and is being piloted in Bilbao since last October prior to its possible deployment as a model for urban freight distribution, ready for export to other European cities, fleet operators and users.

Conceived to streamline urban freight distribution, improve energy efficiency and respect the environment, the project consists of an automatic delivery space booking system for delivery vehicles; a simple internet based interface for the user but with a complex technical and logistical framework needed behind the scenes.

Since its launch, more than 100 carriers have signed up to the initiative. Since March, it has been open to all carriers operating in Bilbao, specifically in the four zones reserved for the project in the city: Licenciado Poza, Santutxu, General Concha y Pérez Galdós.

The FREILOT consortium consists of project leaders ERTICO - ITS Europe, the city of Bilbao, the Euskadi Mobility and Logistics Cluster, Basque companies Azkar, Gertek and Transport Nanuk, the towns of Krakow, Helmond and Ville de Lyon and Grand Lyon, and the agencies and European companies Volvo, Renault Trucks, Peek Traffic Solutions, Interface Transports, Van den Broek Logistics, Polis, Thetis, CERTH, CNRS-LET, University of Lyon and CTAG.

New Urban Goods Distribution Plan

The participation of Bilbao in the FREILOT pilot project is part of the new Urban Freight Distribution Optimisation Plan, which the Municipality of Bilbao and the Euskadi Mobility and Logistics Cluster have headed with the support and collaboration of all the urban freight stakeholders of the city.

It is in this context, and in agreement with all parties, that the Plan came about, with the aim of realising a more comfortable efficient and sustainable distribution system for all and which promotes solutions aimed at lessening the negative effects of traffic, freeing parking spaces for use by residents and reducing noise and CO2 emissions.

For further information on the FREILOT project, please contact: Zeljko Jeftic - Project Coordinator

GSC Final Workshop: Save the Date!

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:53:24 +0100

GSC will host its final workshop at Kapsh premises in Vienna, Austria

When: 13 - 14 April 2011

Where: Kapsch TrafficCom AG, Am Europlatz 2, 1120 Vienna, Austria

Objectives:

Present results of the GSC project
Validate the deployment roadmap
Demonstrate possible future platforms (based on the GSC concepts)

The event will open on the evening of 13 April 2011. A networking dinner will be organised, during which the representatives of the main stakeholders groups, including public authorities, users and industries, will present their view on what GSC set out to investigate: the use of a common architecture for both Public Regulated Services, such as Road User Charging and safety critical services like Speed Alert. Most importantly, the question of how the introduction of EGNOS will affect these services will be examined.

The second day will mainly focus on the GSC test results across Europe and on the presentation of the GSC roadmap. In addition, a live demonstration will demonstrate the results of the GSC trials. This will be the starting point for fostering an open discussion with participants.

Please mark this event in your calendar. Registrations are now open and free of charge.

To register please contact Valentina Casadei - please indicate if you wish to particpate at the dinner on 13 April.

Agenda: Click here
Logistics: Click here

For more information on GSC click here.

ITS United Kingdom looks back at a successful Traffex

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:21:02 +0200

ITS United Kingdom, the Intelligent Transport Systems association for the UK, had a successful Traffex 2011 exhibition with a busy stand, an enjoyable networking dinner, and a high profile in the Traffex Seminar programme.

ITS (UK) Foundation Members Serco sponsored the ITS (UK) stand, which enabled a better service to be provided to ITS (UK) Members while giving Serco a base in the exhibition.

Guy Wolfenden, Business Development Director at Serco commented: "We had an excellent three days at Traffex and we're delighted to have supported the ITS UK stand. The exhibition and being on the ITS-UK stand enabled us to speak with a broad range of clients and partners - both familiar and new - from the UK and overseas. These discussions had a recurring theme: with the tightening of budgets, the whole sector is searching for transformative approaches to traditional services. The aim is to drive real efficiencies and deliver the outcomes that matter to the public."

Jennie Martin, Secretary General of ITS (UK), said that "Working with Serco in this way raised our profile in the exhibition and brought new contacts to our stand, as well as allowing us to strengthen our relationship with Serco staff."

Photo shows the ITS (UK) stand at Traffex

The ITS (UK) Traffex Dinner was held as usual in the beautiful surroundings of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The dinner was attended by over 70 people in a very convivial atmosphere. In another example of working with ITS (UK) to make the most of the opportunity offered by Traffex 2011, AGD Systems sponsored the dinner and added to the enjoyment with a competition for "most travelled table of guests" which they would have won, with their Australian dinner guests, but as they graciously stepped aside, CitySync carried off the prize. The dinner host, Ian Hind, Commercial Director of AGD Systems, said "It gives us great pleasure to sponsor the 25^th anniversary Traffex dinner and to entertain our guests in such an outstanding setting. It is wonderful to celebrate success and by working together we can create mutually rewarding partnerships for the future". AGD Systems were winners of the Innovation Award in the prestigious 25 Years of Traffex awards, which had been open to voting by the whole UK transport community in the run-up to the show.

In the Traffex Seminar programme, ITS (UK) organised well attended sessions on UTMC, ITS for environmental benefit, and an insightful look at the future for ITS by Andy Graham of White Willow Consulting.

Jennie Martin commented: "Delegate and exhibitor numbers at Traffex have held up very well in the current transport investment climate, and the three days showed that the UK ITS industry is determined to make the most of current opportunities while at the same time looking to the future with the confidence which comes from the knowledge that in many areas of ITS, the UK was a pioneer and continues to lead."

Enquiries:

Jennie Martin - ITS (UK)

Tel: +44 (0)20 7709 3003

ITS United Kingdom presents: Annual Conference and Dinner 2011

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:37:55 +0200

More for Less with Intelligent Transport Systems

Monday 16 May 2011 - Dinner 19.00 for 19.30

Tuesday 17 May 2011 - Conference 09.30 - 16.00

Thinktank

Birmingham Science Museum, Millenium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG

ITS United Kingdom is the UK's society for all who work in the Intelligent Transport Systems sector. Our annual conference is designed to bring together ITS professionals from all areas of the industry, and offers a broad perspective on ITS and wide opportunities for making and renewing contacts. The theme for our 2011 conference is how ITS can help those responsible for transport delivery, policy and strategy deliver their objectives at a time of financial austerity.

Presentations will cover examples of where ITS has already been used to deliver more for less, and also details of current ITS research or project work which will deliver more for less in the future. Presentations focus on defining and evidencing more, and take their themes from many different areas of transport and ITS implementations, including the movement of both people and goods, and a range of transport modes.

Young professionals are particularly welcome to attend, and ITS (UK) would like to see many more young professionals attend as delegates.

WHO WILL ATTEND?

Highways Authorities

Government

Research establishments

Transport operators

Consultancies

Manufacturers

Service providers

PROGRAMME COMMITTEE

Jeremy Evans, Transport for London, Vice Chairman, ITS (UK)

Theo Quick, Logica, Technical Director, ITS (UK)

Neal Skelton, Head of Professional Services, ITS (UK)

Jennie Martin, Secreatry General, ITS (UK)

Annual Conference Presentations include:

Graham Muspratt, Clearview Traffic Group Ltd - Smart, Sustainable SCOOT / SCATS - Alternative vehicle detection for SCOOT / SCATS applications
Gavin Jackman, TRL - How SCOOT supports Authorities in Smoothing the Traffic Flow and getting more for less, the latest data and benefits collected - The London Case Study
Jason Robinson, TfL - London's integrated Traffic System - an ITS Architecture approach to delivery
Jason Moss, Mouchel - All aboard for the travel information revolution
Neil Herron, Activ8 Vps (Virtual Parking Solutions) - Virtual Parking Solutions ... Intelligent Management of restricted kerbspace for smarter cities
Andy Haddon, Evive Intelligent Transport Systems Ltd - Telematics delivering charging bay certainty to electric vehicle users
Gary McFarlane, Access4all - The 'Smart' way to improve access for disabled drivers
Andy Graham, White Willow Consulting - The benefits of working closely with government - The value of the learning gained and applicability and implications for the UK of a recent demonstration project
Jeremy Wiggin, Norfolk County Council and Gary Umpleby, Hogia - Delivering "More for Less" - Norfolk County Council's Public Transport ITS Success Story
John French, IT4Automation - Review, reuse, release and extend: Change the way you exploit existing low cost comms assets to deliver new IP services
Jonathan Walter, WSP - Reducing ITS maintenance costs: a risk-based approach

The Conference will be chaired by:

Jeremy Evans, Transport for London (invited)

Joanne Dodds, Scott Wilson

The programme may be subject to changes.

If you would like to attend the Dinner and/or Conference, please complete the form attached and return to ITS (UK) by fax (020 7709 3007) or email to: mc@its-uk.org.uk ASAP.

Speakers announced for International Transport Forum 2011

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:39:25 +0200

Top thinkers and industry leaders will drive debate at global summit of transport ministers in May
A first group of top-notch speakers for the International Transport Forum’s 2011 summit are now official. Among them are Jeffrey Sachs, world-renowned economist and special advisor to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Peter Voser, CEO of Royal Dutch Shell, and sustain-able urban planning legend Jaime Lerner, former Governor of Paraná province, Brazil.

Also among the prominent thinkers and decision makers speaking at the global summit of transport ministers in Leipzig (Germany) on 25-27 May will be Jeremy Rifkin, author of “The Third Industrial Revolution” and Enrique Peñalosa, former Mayor of Bogotá (Colombia) and a key advocate of “liveable communities”. Industry leaders Thomas Enders, CEO Airbus, and Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG, will also address the meeting.
For short bios of the speakers please see below.

“We are proud that so many high-calibre thinkers and business leaders will again join transport ministers at their summit in Leipzig to debate the future of transport”, said Jack Short, Secretary General of the International Transport Forum, in Paris. “Their participation is testimony to the relevance and attractiveness of the International Transport Forum’s annual summit as a unique platform for a global policy discussion on mobility for the 21st Century. The quality and the diversity of the speakers will make an inspiring and productive debate on this year’s theme, Transport for Society.”

The International Transport Forum at the OECD is an intergovernmental organisation with 52 member countries. It acts as a think tank for global transport policy and organizes an annual summit of Transport Ministers on a theme of strategic importance. The 2011 summit will be held on 25-27 May 2011 in Leipzig, Germany. Please click here for the programme.

Contact:
Michael Kloth
Head of Communications
T +33 (0)1 45 24 95 96

Speaker Bios

International Transport Forum 2011

Jeffrey Sachs is the Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University in New York, where he is also Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development and Professor of Health Policy and Management. From 2002 to 2006, he was Director of the United Nations Millennium Project and Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the Millennium Development Goals, the internationally agreed goals to reduce extreme poverty, disease, and hunger by the year 2015. He is now Special Advisor to current UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He has also advised governments in Latin America, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Asia and Africa, as well as a host of international development agencies. Jeffrey Sachs is the author of Common Wealth and The End of Poverty. At the International Transport Forum 2011, Professor Sachs will highlight the role of transport in alleviating poverty and fostering economic development.

Jaime Lerner was nominated among the 25 most influential thinkers in the world by Time magazine in 2010. An architect and urban planner and three-time mayor of Curitiba, Brazil, he led the urban revolution that made his city a global beacon for urban planning in public transport, the environment, and social programs. Mr. Lerner also served twice as governor of Brazil’s Paraná state and initiated an economic and social transformation in the state’s urban and rural areas. He has received numerous awards, including the highest United Nations Environmental Award (1990), UNICEF’s Child and Peace Award (1996), the World Technology Award for Transportation and the Sir Robert Mathew Prize for the Improvement of Quality of Human Settlements (2002). He is the founder of the Instituto Jaime Lerner and a former president of the International Union of Architects. At the International Transport Forum, Jaime Lerner will share his now world-renowned initiative in Curitiba and how elements of this – notably the Bus Rapid Transit system – have been replicated throughout Latin America and the rest of the world.

Jeremy Rifkin is president of the Foundation on Economic Trends and the author of eighteen bestselling books on the impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy, the workforce, society, and the environment. Mr. Rifkin is also a senior lecturer at the Wharton School’s Executive Education Program at the University of Pennsylvania. For the past decade Mr. Rifkin has been serving as an economic advisor to the European Union. In that capacity, he was the principal architect of the European Union’s Third Industrial Revolution long-term economic sustainability plan to address the triple challenges of the global economic crisis, energy security and climate change. In Leipzig, Mr. Rifkin will focus on how transport plays a role in this revolution as well as in the “empathic” society he has written about in his latest book on that theme.

Peter Voser has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Royal Dutch Shell, one of the world’s largest energy company, since 1 July 2009. A Swiss national, Mr Voser joined Shell in 1982 after graduating in business administration from the University of Applied Sciences, Zürich. He has served on the Board of Directors of UBS AG, the Swiss bank, (from 2005-10) and of pharmaceuticals company Roche (since March 2011). Mr Voser was also a member of the Swiss Federal Auditor Oversight Authority from 2006-10. As a director of the non-profit organisation Catalyst, he is working to build inclusive environments and expand opportunities for women and business. In Leipzig, Peter Voser will share his insights during the high-level debate on how major energy producers such as Shell are contributing to the development of liveable and sustainable societies.

Enrique Peñalosa is an influential thinker on urban challenges whose vision and proposals have significantly influenced policies in numerous cities throughout the world. As mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, between 1998 and 2000 he implemented profound changes which transformed the city and its citizens’ attitude towards it. Mr. Peñalosa is a sought-after consultant on Urban Vision and Sustainability Strategy. He is currently President of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, an international think tank that works with cities worldwide to bring about sustainable transport solutions that cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce poverty, and improve the quality of urban life. Mr. Peñalosa holds degrees in Economics and History from Duke University, in Government from the IIAP in Paris and in Public Administration from the University of Paris II.

Dieter Zetsche has been Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, the German carmaker, since January 2006. He is also Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Division, which includes passenger car brands Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, Smart and Mercedes-Benz AMG. Dr. Zetsche is a member of the supervisory board of RWE AG, one of Germany’s leading energy companies. He is also currently the president of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). In his appearance at the International Transport Forum 2011, Mr. Zetsche will highlight how the automobile industry, in particular Daimler AG, is improving passenger travel through cleaner, more efficient vehicles.

Thomas Enders was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Airbus in 2007, after having served on the Executive Committee of EADS since 2000. He studied Economics, Political Science and History at the University of California and the University of Bonn, where he received a doctorate. He has been active in the aerospace and defence industry since 1991. Prior to joining industry, Mr. Enders worked in the German Ministry of Defence and in various foreign policy think tanks. Since 2005, Mr. Enders is president of the German Aerospace Industry Association (BDLI). His contribution at the 2011 summit will focus on how aviation is leading the way in developing efficient, sustainable freight transport solutions.

For a list of all confirmed speakers, please follow this link.

For any questions please email michael.kloth@oecd.org

Registration for International Transport Forum's 2011 Summit Opens with Early Bird Discount until 30 April

Registration is now open for the International Transport Forum's 2011 summit, to be held from 25-27 May. Transport Ministers, industry leaders and experts from around the world will gather in the city of Leipzig (Germany) to debate the theme "Transport for Society".

"Future transport systems will have to meet the aspirations of about 9 billion people, most of whom will live in cities. In addition, rising incomes will place high expectations on transport services," said Jack Short, Secretary General, International Transport Forum.

The International Transport Forum at the OECD is an intergovernmental organisation that acts as a strategic policy think tank for the transport sector and organises an annual summit for Ministers from its 52 member countries and beyond. The summit has become the leading platform for a global dialogue on the future of transport and mobility between policy-makers, business leaders, research and civil society.

Spain holds the presidency of the International Transport Forum 2011.

In a joint welcome message, José Blanco López, Minister of Development and Transport, Spain; Dr. Peter Ramsauer, Federal Minister of Building, Transport and Urban Development, Germany; and Jack Short, Secretary of the International Transport Forum, said:

"A world without the very real daily benefits of mobility has become unimaginable. But all too often transport is taken for granted and societal demands on transport are constantly increasing. Transport systems must be adapted to better serve us all, but these systems are complex, and not easy to change. Opportunities for more open, effective dialogue on the development of transport systems should be pursued in order to facilitate a better understanding throughout society of transport issues."

Short added, "The demands that transport will put on global resources, including energy and the environment, will be so large that it is imperative for transport to function as efficiently as possible. At the same time, investments in transport systems need to be maintained, as they underpin the creation of wealth and the growth of incomes of which people aspire.

This year's summit in Leipzig is an opportunity for transport leaders from around the world to debate and strengthen the sector's role in human development."

To find out more about the programme of the International Transport Forum's 2011 summit and to take advantage of the early registration discount, please visit www.internationaltransportforum.org/2011

Contact Information:

Aline Plez / Suzanne Parandian

Transport 2050: Commission outlines ambitious plan to increase mobility and reduce emissions

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:51:19 +0200

The European Commission adopted on 28 March 2011 a comprehensive strategy (Transport 2050) for a competitive transport system that will increase mobility, remove major barriers in key areas and fuel growth and employment. At the same time, the proposals will dramatically reduce Europe's dependence on imported oil and cut carbon emissions in transport by 60% by 2050.

To achieve this will require a transformation in Europe's current transport system.

By 2050, key goals will include:

No more conventionally-fuelled cars in cities.
40% use of sustainable low carbon fuels in aviation; at least 40% cut in shipping emissions.
A 50% shift of medium distance intercity passenger and freight journeys from road to rail and waterborne transport.
All of which will contribute to a 60% cut in transport emissions by the middle of the century.

Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport said, "Transport 2050 is a roadmap for a competitive transport sector that increases mobility and cuts emissions. We can and we must do both. The widely held belief that you need to cut mobility to fight climate change is simply not true. Competitive transport systems are vital for Europe's ability to compete in the world, for economic growth, job creation and for peoples' everyday quality of life. Curbing mobility is not an option; neither is business as usual. We can break the transport system's dependence on oil without sacrificing its efficiency and compromising mobility. It can be win-win."

The Transport 2050 roadmap to a Single European Transport Area sets out to remove major barriers and bottlenecks in many key areas across the fields of: transport infrastructure and investment, innovation and the internal market. The aim is to create a Single European Transport Area with more competition and a fully integrated transport network which links the different modes and allows for a profound shift in transport patterns for passengers and freight. To this purpose, the roadmap puts forward 40 concrete initiatives for the next decade.

The Transport 2050 roadmap sets different goals for different types of journey - within cities, between cities, and long distance.

1. For intercity travel: 50% of all medium-distance passenger and freight transport should shift off the roads and onto rail and waterborne transport.

By 2050, the majority of medium-distance passenger transport, about 300km and beyond, should go by rail.
By 2030, 30% of road freight over 300 km should shift to other modes such as rail or waterborne transport, and more than 50% by 2050.
Deliver a fully functional and EU-wide core network of transport corridors, ensuring facilities for efficient transfer between transport modes (TEN-T core network) by 2030, with a high-quality high-capacity network by 2050 and a corresponding set of information services.
By 2050, connect all core network airports to the rail network, preferably highspeed; ensure that all core seaports are sufficiently connected to the rail freight and, where possible, inland waterway system.
By 2020, establish the framework for a European multimodal transport information, management and payment system, both for passengers and freight.
Move towards full application of "user pays" and "polluter pays" principles and private sector engagement to eliminate distortions, generate revenues and ensure financing for future transport investments.

2. For long-distance travel and intercontinental freight, air travel and ships will continue to dominate. New engines, fuels and traffic management systems will increase efficiency and reduce emissions.

Low-carbon fuels in aviation to reach 40% by 2050; also, by 2050, reduce EU CO2 emissions from maritime bunker fuels by 40%.
A complete modernisation of Europe's air traffic control system by 2020, delivering the Single European Sky: shorter and safer air journeys and more capacity. Completion of the European Common Aviation Area of 58 countries and 1 billion inhabitants by 2020.
Deployment of intelligent land and waterborne transport management systems (e.g. ERTMS, ITS, RIS, SafeSeaNet and LRIT1).
Work with international partners and in international organisations such as ICAO and IMO to promote European competitiveness and climate goals at a global level.

3. For urban transport, a big shift to cleaner cars and cleaner fuels. 50% shift away from conventionally fuelled cars by 2030, phasing them out in cities by 2050.

Halve the use of 'conventionally fuelled' cars in urban transport by 2030; phase them out in cities by 2050; achieve essentially CO2-free movement of goods in major urban centres by 2030.
By 2050, move close to zero fatalities in road transport. In line with this goal, the EU aims at halving road casualties by 2020. Make sure that the EU is a world leader in safety and security of transport in aviation, rail and maritime

To download the PDF for this Press Release, please click here.

_{1 European Rail Traffic Management System, Intelligent Transport Systems (for road transport), River Information Services, the EU's maritime information systems}

_{SafeSeaNet and Long Range Identification and Tracking of vessels.}

Future mobility takes centre stage in May

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:33:35 +0200

Germany is moving into the focus of the global discussion on the future of mobility for a ten-day period, with three major international events between 18 and 28 May.

The organisers are the International Transport Forum of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), the tyre manufacturer Michelin, and the energy company Shell.

The 11^th Challenge Bibendum will be held at the former Tempelhof Airport in Berlin from 18 to 22 May - it is one of the most important global platforms for sustainable road mobility. This environmental summit, launched by Michelin in 1998, works for clean, safe, networked mobility.
(www.challengebibendum.com)

The International Transport Forum 2011 will be held in Leipzig from 25 to 27 May. This annual summit of transport ministers from around the world will be complemented by a top-level conference on "Transport for Society". (www.internationaltransportforum.org/2011)

This year's Shell Eco-marathon Europe will be held at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz in Brandenburg from 26 to 28 May - it is the biggest sustainable mobility event, with 220 student teams from all European countries at the start of the competition for the most energy-efficient vehicle.
(www.shell.com/eco-marathon)

"Better mobility for the 21^st century is the aim," explained Jack Short, Secretary General of the International Transport Forum at the OECD. "The challenge for policy makers and industry is to put people and their mobility needs even more at the centre. At the International Transport Forum's 2011 summit in Leipzig, ministers and decision makers will focus on how to further improve the benefits of transport for individuals and society, while minimising any adverse effects"

"Mobility is a global issue for the future," said Peter Ramsauer, Federal Transport Minister, "and we have to tackle it in an intelligent and sustainable way. We need to adopt new approaches and create innovative concepts, especially as the volume of goods transport is expected to increase by as much as 80% in Germany alone by 2025. Alternative drive systems will be essential, and better networking of all modes of transport. We are on the right track for that, working together with industry and scientific organisations."

"The challenge for the automotive industry is to find the golden mean between environmental needs and driving enjoyment, getting the balance right between engine specification, weight and size, and thus reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions," declares Dr. Patrick Oliva, Corporate Vice President Prospective and Sustainable Development, Michelin Group. "If we give free rein to our imaginations, we are convinced that road transport has a brilliant future ahead of it, and will help to promote worldwide development and the quality of road travel. That is the future we will talk about at Challenge Bibendum."

"For Shell, smarter mobility means helping our customers to be more fuel efficient today, while finding new ways to deliver a cleaner transport system for tomorrow," said Peter Voser, CEO Royal Dutch Shell plc. "Shell Eco-marathon has an important role to play because it inspires a young generation of engineers and scientists to think creatively about fuel efficiency, and to put new ideas into practice."

For more information on the three events, please contact:

Thomas Hermann

Project Management

Challenge Bibendum

Michael Kloth

International Transport Forum

OECD

Cornelia Wolber

Shell Eco-marathon

Shell

thomas.hermann@de.michelin.com

michael.kloth@oecd.org

shellpresse@shell.de

+49 (0)172 71 70 440

+33 (0)6 27 21 47 41

+49 (0)40 6324 5290

Fifth i-Mobility Network Webinar: International Cooperation on ITS: the Viajeo Project and Beyond

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:50:25 +0200

ERTICO - ITS Europe invites you to join the fifth of the i-Mobility Network Webinars on the topic of "International Cooperation on ITS: the Viajeo Project and Beyond" which will take place on Tuesday 19 April at 11.00 CET. For a draft list of upcoming webinars, click here.

Cities face ever increasing demands on their transport systems, especially in developing regions with growing car ownership and rapid urban migration. To be able to deliver effective travel planning and implement the plans, a great amount of data on the usage of transport network is required. The challenge is to provide adaptable data exchange interfaces to connect a variety of entities needed for traveler information services. The Viajeo project, co-funded by the EC DG Research, addresses the challenge and aims to design, implement and demonstrate an open platform for enhancing the efficiency of urban mobility in Europe, China and Brazil. More information about the project can be found at www.viajeo.eu.

The webinar will present an overview of the project and technical developments at demo sites. Local characteristics, data availability and planned demonstration at the demo sites will be presented. Challenges of international cooperation in sustainable mobility will also be discussed.

Speakers:

Dr Yanying Li, ERTICO - ITS Europe, coordinator of Viajeo
Mr Manuel Milli, Mizar, demo site leader of Athens and Sao Paolo
Mr Paolo Squillante, demo site leader of Beijing

Each presentation will be followed by a question and answer session.

For further information on the Viajeo project, please contact info@viajeo.eu

To register for the webinar, click here.

To contact our help desk, or for any other query, please click here.

2010 Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel at the eSafety Challenge 2011 in Vienna

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:18:37 +0200

2010 Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel to perform eSafety Demonstrations at the eSafety Challenge 2011 in Vienna

The Formula One Driver will attend the eSafety Challenge event on 31 May 2011 in Vienna, where he will demonstrate eSafety technologies and how they can help to prevent accidents on the roads.

The eSafety Challenge promotes and highlights the life-saving potential of advanced vehicle safety technologies. In its continuous efforts for eSafety deployment, the third edition of the eSafety Challenge will take place at the ÖAMTC Safe Driving Centre Teesdorf, south of the Austrian capital Vienna, on 31 May 2011.

Much as in the event's two previous incarnations (Vallelunga, Italy in 2009 and last year's show at Millbrook, UK) an array of activities is being prepared to show delegates the potential of eSafety systems to save lives on our roads. A particular highlight will once again be the technology demonstrations opened by celebrity drivers and hands-on driving sessions for delegates that should not be missed.

Over 300 delegates and journalists are expected to attend the high-level conference, which will feature presentations from, among a distinguished line-up, FIA and eSafetyAware President, Jean Todt and Werner Kraus, President of ÖAMTC.

As for the demonstrations, twelve technologies will be showcased, focusing on Electronic Stability Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Park Assist, ABS for Motorcycles, eCall, Lane Support Systems, Speed Alert, Eco-driving, Warning and Emergency Braking Systems, Adaptive Headlights and Tyre Pressure Monitoring.

Admittance to the event is free, but registrations will be handled on a first come, first serve basis. For more information and registration please click here.

Lyon ITS Congress: Exhibition sold out and registrations open 7 April 2011

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:06:21 +0200

The 8th European Congress on ITS will be held from 6 to 9 June 2011 at the Cité Internationale Congress Centre in Lyon under the theme "Intelligent Mobility - ITS for sustainable transport of persons and goods in urban regions".

In this context, a call for papers and special session proposals was issued last October aimed to reflect the eight topics at the core of the congress. The eight topics are: co-modal urban transport management, electromobility, from cooperative systems to integrated mobility services, from smart concepts to successful implementation, governance and business issues, information and communication: providers and users, and ITS for adaptive and resilient cities.

As a result, ERTICO is delighted to inform you of the great response. Altogether, 351 papers were submitted for the Congress, including 277 technical papers and 74 scientific papers. All in all paper submissions were received from 36 different countries, both from Europe and other parts of the world. Importantly, the international submission marks a distinct interest in European ITS activity. ERTICO would like to thank all those who have contributed to this success, especially the National ITS associations who were very active in contributing to this milestone.

Scheduled in parallel to the Congress, the Exhibition, already sold out three months before the event, will show some of the latest European achievements in ITS. It will run from Tuesday 7 to Thursday 9 June concurrently to the conference to enable the best possible synergy between both parts of the event. Major ITS companies from France, Europe and across the world will be present to showcase their new ITS technologies across all modes of transport. Altogether this will represent more than 100 exhibitors from 16 different countries, including Renault Trucks, TomTom, Navteq, Orange, Kapsch, Logica, Continental and many others.

ITS Austria, ITS Belgium, ITS France, ITS Netherlands, ITS Network Germany, ITS Spain, ITS Russia, and TTS Italia will also be present representing the interest and support of the European continent. Furthermore, the European Commission will participate in the Congress with one of the largest stands.

Moreover, the French organising committee in cooperation with ERTICO, has developed a very attractive programme incorporating eight technical visits.

Numerous static and live demonstrations will conclude the impressive list of activities: Cybercars, electric vehicles and the eco driving experience, including the EC co-funded FREILOT pilot truck driving simulator, constitute merely a few examples.

ERTICO would like to thank the sponsors of the event - CS Group, EGIS, Logica, Navteq, Orange, Renault Trucks and Rhône Alpes Automotive Cluster - for their support in making the Congress and Exhibition even more attractive.

This major 2011 event is organised with the active participation of the Grand Lyon, the Rhône-Apes Region, the Lyon Urban Truck and Bus Cluster, the French Ministry of Transport (MEDDTL), ITS France, the French organisations active within ERTICO, the French Organising Committee and the European Programme Committee. ERTICO would like to warmly thank all, extending a special thanks to Bernard Favre and Marc Ellenberg for their outstanding contribution.

Online registration for the Lyon Congress will open on 7 April 2011. Please visit the Lyon ITS Congress website for more information and the latest updates.

Click here for an interactive presentation of the 8th European ITS Congress, Lyon and related activities.

Finally, we would like to inform you that the European Commission DG Move will hold its own ITS Conference in Lyon on 6 June 2011, in conjunction with the European ITS Congress in Lyon. More information on this event will follow.

But this will not be the only event in conjunction with the European congress - TISA, Nearctis, ERF, EC co-funded projects, such as EcoMove, P3ITS, FOT-Net, and many others will also be hosting their own events either before or after the Congress, thus making the period of the ITS week not to be missed.

There will further be many networking opportunities, therefore, we are convinced that the 8th ITS Lyon Congress will be one of the best European Congresses to date, and assure you of an unforgettable experience!

We look forward to welcoming you in Lyon in June!

ITSA joins coalition to protect GPS signal and applauds State ruling in favour of Qualcomm

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:05:05 +0200

ITS America joined partners including AASHTO, ACEC, NAM, Garmin, TomTom, Trimble, UPS, and other concerned organizations as part of a new coalition to address a potential threat to the GPS signal. The concern stems from a recent decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant a conditional waiver allowing the dramatic expansion of terrestrial use of the satellite spectrum immediately neighboring that of GPS, potentially causing interference to GPS receivers. According to ITS America President Scott Belcher, "Many of the latest advances in traveler information - knowing when your route is congested, when the next bus or train will arrive, and getting turn-by-turn directions - rely on GPS signals.

In addition, GPS data is vital for locating and responding quickly to roadway emergencies, improving vehicle collision avoidance capabilities, and enabling transportation agencies to monitor and improve the performance of the transportation network. Any GPS disruption or interference is a threat to these and other transportation innovations which keep people and goods moving safely and efficiently, and which are key to our nation's economic future." Additional information is available at www.saveourgps.com.

In a victory for the ITS industry, the Washington State Supreme Court recently reversed a Court of Appeals ruling, finding that ITS America member Qualcomm's OmniTRACS system is an information system that is specifically exempted from the State's retail sales tax, as opposed to a telecommunications transmission service which would have been taxable. ITS America joined Qualcomm, the American Trucking Associations, and other stakeholders in arguing that OmniTRACS does not merely transmit data, but also transforms, manipulates and stores data for a variety of uses, in this case to provide a vital truck and driver management tool that enables trucking carriers to supervise their drivers and ensure efficient deliveries.

The Supreme Court ruling sets an important precedent as other states are considering ways to raise additional tax revenues. ITS America's amicus brief in support of Qualcomm is available here, and the Supreme Court ruling is available here. For more information on ITS America advocacy in telecommunications, click here.

ITS Japan News: Probe Helps Traffic Information in Disaster Area

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:36:59 +0200

Japan's recent record strong earthquake (magnitude of 9.0) and tsunami that hit the north - east part of the country on 11 March 2011 were the causes of much destruction in the area, as well as creating worsening troubles at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station. Whether blocked or prohibited, the local highly restricted road transport systems have disrupted various rescue and delivery activities in the disaster area.

To mitigate the situation, ITS Japan, in collaboration with auto manufactures Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and car-navigation manufacturer Pioneer, has made accessible a traffic road map that became available for use on 19 March. The collaboration further opened the probe information to the public, so as to enable vehicle accessible roads in the disaster region to be mapped correctly (for example, roads where vehicles were able to pass are shown in blue). The traffic road map will also soon be available on Google's website "Google Crisis Response".

Information for the map is collected from the companies' service members on an anonymous basis as part of their telematics services in on-board car navigation systems. In order to enhance the data collection speed for the ongoing emergency activities, ITS Japan works in integrating the information collected from the sources which is then separately distributed, while the map makes it possible for users to be better informed about the traffic situation that is updated daily.

This marks the first time in the ITS industry where information from four different sources is integrated at a single point to provide better and more accurate information services to users. ITS Japan aims to continue updating the road map on a daily basis.

Furthermore, ITS Japan is encouraging freight operators to also utilise the traffic road map in their delivery planning of relief supplies, particularly in view of the organisation's support of more efficient logistics that they believe will accelerate recovery in the affected area.

This article has been brought to you as part of the cooperation between ERTICO and ITS Japan.

TISA holds its first ERTICO webinar

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:12:53 +0200

On 17 March 2011, TISA held its first Webinar session, in cooperation with ERTICO. During this Webinar, Dave Francis, ITIS, explained how the Digital Radio switchover in the UK will put in place some big challenges in front of Service Providers and Client Device manufacturers. He went on to explain that there are technical issues to overcome if FM is switched off, because services for the RDS-TMC supported navigation systems will be lost.

This would not only affect the development of new products but also the very large legacy of vehicles on the road. The interactive survey which followed the presentation revealed that even though the issue is known to the car and end-user devices Industry, the urgency of the change will require a transitional solution.

Meanwhile Bev Marks, TISA Executive Director, explained that a myriad of TISA Specifications will provide for the long term future capability of TPEG based services to be carried by Digital Radio in order to, significantly, give much more rich content to the vehicle. Through the Q&A, Bev could give some hints about the launch of first TPEG-based products (due to reach the market soon) and explained more about the liaison work ongoing between TISA and Easyway ESG5, which aims at bringing DATEXII content from Road-Operators to the End-User via TPEG. The presentation materials from both Dave and Bev are freely available on the new TISA Website launched on 3 March 2011.

The next event jointly organised by TISA and ERTICO will consist of a Workshop on the theme of "Quality in ITS Services". The Worskhop will be held on 13 April 2011, in Brussels, and is open to both the TISA Membership and ERTICO Partnership.

For more information please contact: Stéphanie Chaufton.

FIA News: Launch of United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:49:17 +0200

According to UN figures, 1.3 million people are killed on the world's roads each year and unless action is taken now, annual road deaths are forecast to rise to 1.9 million by 2020. For this reason, the UN has declared 2011-2020 a UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. The goal of the decade, endorsed by 100 governments, is to "stabilise and then reduce global road fatalities by 2020".

As part of the Decade of Action plans, the eSafety Challenge project (run by eSafety Aware, FIA, and FIA Foundation, with three other partners) is organising a high-level launch event at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 11 May 2011 where Michael Schumacher, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion and Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, have agreed to attend. eSafety Challenge will support the Decade of Action's third pillar on safe cars. Twelve other events are planned by FIA Region I clubs across Europe, Africa and the Middle East on the same day.

The goal of the eSafety Challenge project, funded by the European Commission, is to promote the deployment and use of Intelligent Vehicle Systems to enhance road safety in Europe. Policy makers and end-users are often unaware of the impact eSafety technologies can have on saving lives on the road. eSafety technologies like Electronic Stability Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Support Systems, Speed Alerts, Warning and Emergency Braking Systems, and Adaptive Headlights have the potential to save lives by tackling the root cause of the most common accidents. It has been estimated that for Electronic Stability Control (ESC) alone, 4,000 lives could be saved in Europe and more than 100,000 injuries prevented if fitted to all cars.

FIA News: Eco-driving: from wishful thinking to action!

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 08:27:03 +0100

Eco-driving is on the environmental agenda of most governments and international institutions, but few road users today have actually ever received eco-driving training. In most countries, being familiar with the principles of eco-driving is simply not a requisite to obtain a driving license. ECOWILL, "Eco-driving Widespread Implementation for Learner Drivers and Licensed Drivers" aims at redressing this situation. Financed by the European Commission's "Intelligent Energy Europe Programme", ECOWILL was launched in May 2010 by the Austrian Energy Agency and a large consortium of European organisations including the FIA.

The programme aims to reduce carbon emissions by up to 8 Mt by 2015 through the promotion of more eco-driving across Europe. To reach such an ambitious target, the project will roll out short eco-driving training programs for both licensed and learner drivers in 13 European countries. Golden rules of eco-driving include: anticipating the traffic flow, maintaining a steady speed at low RPM, shifting gears up early, checking tyre pressures frequently, and avoiding dead weight and aerodynamic drag (by removing heavy objects and unused racks, etc.).

ECOWILL promotes the education of ecodriving for learner drivers by pushing for its integration in driving schools' curriculum and in driving licence tests. ECOWILL also works on standardising the contents of eco-driving courses, and certifying trainers to provide such courses. Through all these activities, ECOWILL plans to reach 10,000,000 learner and novice drivers across Europe.

Thanks to its impact on fuel consumption and maintenance costs (brakes, tyres, etc.) and lower exposure to road risk, eco-driving is both a cheaper and safer alternative for motorists, which means that one needs not be particularly 'environmentally minded' to draw benefits from it. In environmental terms, however, eco-driving is important as it narrows the gap between the real world and 'test-cycle driving': test cycle emission figures are published by manufacturers and supposed to represent the typical usage of a car, however these figures are typically lower than the emissions produced in real life driving, and motorists need to be made aware that their driving style also has a significant impact on fuel consumption and the emission of pollutants.

For more information visit the newly launched ECOWILL website.

FOT-Net publishes brochure on Field Operational Tests

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:46:14 +0100

The newly published brochure, entitled "Field Operational Tests - Evaluating ITS applications in a real-world environment", provides a focused overview on what is going on in the world of Field Operational Tests. It is mainly targeted at stakeholders who are not experts in field operational testing but who are interested:

in learning about the relevance of FOTs for the evaluation and deployment of ITS applications;
in getting an overview on the main research questions and main results of FOTs already conducted, as well as on remaining open questions;
in looking beyond national borders to get inspiration from the multitude of activities conducted in Europe and beyond.

The brochure is aimed at inviting stakeholders to consider the relevance of FOTs in the evaluation and deployment of ITS, and to explore the research questions and results of the main FOT projects in the areas of Advanced Driver Assistant Systems (ADAS), Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA), Cooperative Systems, and Naturalistic Driving Studies and FOTs.

Public authorities play a crucial role in ITS deployment but are often under-represented in FOT projects. The brochure therefore takes a particular look at why public authorities engage in FOTs. Viewing the FOT timeline and the Europe map of test sites will show you that a lot is going on in the world of Field Operational Tests.

To download the brochure, please click here.

World ITS Summit China 2011: ITS to guide the upcoming city easy life

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:56:32 +0100

When: 26 - 27 May 2011

Where: Shanghai, China

Traffic congestion and transport safety have become dominant concerns for many countries. The former causes both time waste and pollution increase. In China, the average running speed of an automobile falls under 20km/h, and on some roads less than 7-8km/h. At present, low vehicle speed and numerous emissions are significant causes for a deteriorating air quality combined with huge economic losses. Therefore, a scientific, up-to-date, safe and efficient management of traffic and the transport industry, being one of the basic industries in a national economic construction, is a goal that requires comprehensive treatment in terms of solving persisting traffic problems.

Currently, traditional traffic technology and methods no longer satisfy the requirements for social economic development in a world defined by globalisation and continuous information input. This ultimately leads to viewing Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) as a primary choice in helping achieve the desired transformation in the context of the transport industry. Governments across the world have each emphasised their country's research and construction of ITS in favour of maximising the utilisation ratio of existing resources.

In the context of this macroscopic industrial development, HNZ Industry Media Group together with China ITS, will host the World ITS Summit: China 2011 to take place in Shanghai in May 2011. The summit will take on the theme of 'ITS, to guide the upcoming city easy life' and will gather the leaders and experts from governments, public and private associations and enterprises to introduce the updated policy and investment hot points in the ITS field. The Summit with furthermore focus on the latest developments, technical achievements and rates of success, and will look forward to the future of ITS. On behalf of the committee of the World ITS Summit: China 2011, you are warmly invited to participate.

Highlights:

Profound exploitation of the ITS industry to share the latest industry updates
Ongoing steady accumulation to network industrial authoritative persons
Platform to exchange the latest technologies
Hot spot of investment and financing to directly affect the purchase information of projects
Industrial gala to build a best platform for tech exchange and people network

For more information, or to register for this event, please click here.

Contacts:

Tina Zhou - Event Director

James Zhang - Sales Manager

Cici Cao - Marketing Manager

The ERTICO March 2011 Interview

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:05:48 +0100

ERTICO interviews Gzim Ocakoglu, European Commission Directorate-General for Transport and Mobility (DG MOVE)

ERTICO: Why is the ITS Directive important for the European citizen?

Gzim Ocakoglu: Making transport greener, reducing congestion and saving lifes on Europe's roads are top priorities for the Commission, and Intelligent Transport Systems can help us make progress towards achieving these goals.

ITS applications, such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) or emergency call (eCall), have the potential to save many lives on European roads, while the use of communication and navigation technologies, notably for real-time traffic information, can ensure better route planning and help avoiding delays caused by traffic jams.

The use of ITS in road transport in Europe is, however, still uneven. A patchwork of national, regional and local solutions is slowing down overall deployment and fails to provide a seamless service.

The ITS Action Plan, adopted in December 2008, has defined the areas and specific actions to be addressed to remove the existing barriers hampering faster, better coordinated and more harmonised use of ITS services and applications in Europe.

The ITS Directive, which was proposed together with the ITS Action Plan, and which was eventually adopted in July 2010, is the very fundamental element of the framework for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in the field of road transport and for interfaces with other modes. As a first regulatory framework instrument adopted in Europe in the area of ITS for roads, it provides for legal certainty and coordination for the implementation of ITS in Europe. It aims to establish interoperable and seamless ITS services while leaving Member States the freedom to decide which systems to invest in.

ERTICO: Is there a danger that regulation on ITS will slow down innovation, because stakeholders will be mandated to use certain technologies?

Gzim Ocakoglu: Over the past 20 years, the European Commission has been boosting innovation in ITS by supporting research and development (with a considerable budget through the successive RTD Framework Programmes), by promoting standardisation, by funding the deployment of ITS across Europe (through the TEN-T programme and Regional Funds) and adopting policy recommendations. However, while recognising that technology and many specific systems seem to be mature today, ITS acceptance and market penetration have remained largely fragmented and relatively limited.

To address the patchwork of national, regional and local solutions and a rather low degree of interoperability between solutions, not even mentioning the quasi-absence of seamless ITS services, the Commission decided in 2008, with the ITS Action Plan and the proposal for the ITS Directive, to take new policy measures including a regulatory approach. While continuing to support innovation in ITS through new research projects under FP7, further standardisation efforts and continued funding for deployment, the Commission will contribute to lift the uncertainty and barriers to an effective wider deployment of ITS by establishing the required legal framework in which ITS can be developed and later deployed.

Rather than slowing down innovation, the specifications to be adopted under the ITS Directive will make more precise, only when needed and relevant, the technical, organisational, functional or service-related provisions that will ensure the interoperability of systems and continuity of services across Europe.

ERTICO: Will you safeguard existing investments in ITS services, which might not fulfil specifications developed in the context of the ITS Directive?

Gzim Ocakoglu: Relying notably on the ITS Committee and the ITS Advisory Group, the Commission will prepare the required specifications after consultation with experts from the Member States, but also taking into account the advice of all stakeholders, considering where appropriate the existing standards, and after conducting an impact assessment including a cost-benefit analysis. The specifications should also comply with a series of principles provided for in Annex II of the Directive, and including notably the proportionality, the cost efficiency, the support of backward compatibility, the respect of existing national infrastructure and network characteristics. This is precisely meant to take into account the possible impacts of new specifications on existing systems.

ERTICO: How important will be the issue of multi-modality in the context of your work?

Gzim Ocakoglu: The ITS action Plan and the ITS Directive address the deployment of intelligent transport systems in the field of road transport and for interfaces with other transport modes.

From the onset, some of the areas to be addressed by our actions covered the needed information exchange points between different modes of transport for a more efficient passenger or freight transport. The development of multimodal journey planners, the provision of EU-wide real-time traffic and travel information services, the identification of ITS services in support of eFreight or the definition of a multi-modal European ITS framework architecture are some of the actions where the multi-modal dimension will be specifically addressed.

In many parts of Europe, ITS technologies are already being used to improve transport management operations and facilitate interchange between modes - notably between road and rail. ITS can clearly make it easier to link the modes. Multi-modality will be central in our work especially for the transport of goods with eFreight and for passenger transport with the development of seamless multi-modal travel information and integrated ticketing systems. The concept of "integrated European travel planning" is of particular importance for Vice-President Kallas who, last year, at the International Transport Forum in Leipzig, called on stakeholders to come up with real Europe-wide travel planning solutions. A follow-up to this call can be expected this year.

For more information on the activities of the European Commission Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), or to download any of the above mentioned documents, please visit the website by clicking here.

FIA News: eMobility for the EU?

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 08:38:43 +0100

Electric vehicles, previously an unfulfilled goal of the automobile industry, are increasingly thought of as the industry's future. Several new products are due to enter the market in the coming months, from the micro-hybrid technology already available in some models to full electric cars, encompassing many hybrid electric technologies in between.

This trend has been spurred by action at the European level. The challenges of climate change, energy security and increasing oil prices prompted European politicians to set stringent targets for the reduction of CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020 in comparison to 1990 levels. In response, car manufacturers have become more inventive, opening up new technological innovations in areas such as batteries which have made electric vehicles increasingly viable.

Ahead of a new European Commission White Paper on the future of transport to be released this spring, the FIA European Bureau has prepared a new policy paper highlighting that 'eMobility' - a term referring to vehicles which rely on plug-in electricity for their primary energy - is the keyword dominating the debate. The paper concludes that the deployment of eMobility will depend not only on the specific technologies to be adopted, "...but on the ability to organise and manage operations of a complex landscape of players: car manufacturers, battery producers, mobility service providers, energy suppliers and distributors, and institutions."

On the likelihood of consumer uptake of electric vehicles, Luca Pascotto, Mobility Director for the FIA European Bureau, says "Demand for low carbon vehicles will depend on several factors, for example, the sensitivity of oil price, the diffusion of a recharging stations network, the cost of batteries and the user-friendliness of new technologies," while adding that "For consumers, the move from a conventional car to a more electrically based mobility is not an automatic shift, particularly if users are not actively involved in the process and if they are not assisted in understanding the meaning and advantages of these new technologies."

The FIA European Bureau paper, 'Towards E-Mobility: The Challenges Ahead', is available here.

Honda broadens use of Eco Assist function in expanded hybrid car line-up with CR-Z and Jazz Hybrid

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 06:21:12 +0100

At the Geneva Motor Show in early March 2011, Honda presented the new Jazz Hybrid for the European market; a practical and compact five - door, B segment car with low emissions and fuel consumption. To help drivers to optimise their fuel efficiency in daily driving and to get the best out of the hybrid powertrain, the car has been equipped with the Eco Assist SystemTM, which Honda pioneered in the Insight hybrid car in 2009. This IT - based system makes use of intuitive HMI displays in the car dashboard, and may be considered as a state-of-the-art 'Green ITS' application for energy efficiency. Equally, the Honda CR-Z sports hybrid car received a version of the Eco Assist system, when it was released to market in 2010.

The Honda Eco-Assist function allows drivers to see their real-time fuel efficiency based on their accelerating and braking behaviour, and the system further coaches the driver to become a greener car driver.

Honda Jazz Hybrid - Low emissions and practicality without compromise

The launch of the latest addition to the practical Jazz line-up marks the first time that a parallel hybrid vehicle has been available to B-segment consumers, extending Honda's hybrid offer to an ever increasing customer base. Importantly, the Jazz Hybrid will not lose any of its practicality, with the compact nature of the Honda IMA system allowing the B-segment car to retain its ultra-flexible "Magic Seats" and 300 litres of boot space. The IMA battery pack and power control unit have been integrated in the area under the boot floor, retaining the normal boot space and allowing the "Magic Seats" to fold in the same manner as non-hybrid versions. This means that the seats still fold entirely flat to provide a surprising 1320 litres of space.

The dashboard integrates a version of the Eco Assist function, which uses the ambient lighting of the speedometer - switching between blue and green colour - to advise the driver on how their driving style is impacting on their fuel economy. The Eco Assist function aides drivers in getting the maximum economy from their car in everyday situations and gives users real-time feedback on how their use of the brakes and throttle affects their fuel bills and environmental impact.

Honda CR-Z - Sports Hybrid coupe, striking a balance between sporty driving and fuel efficiency

CR-Z customers will be able to enjoy the first car to combine a hybrid system with a 6-speed manual gearbox. By combining an efficient 1.5 - litre petrol engine with Honda's unique IMA parallel hybrid system, the CR-Z can offer lower emissions of all exhaust gasses, while offering an entertaining and engaging driving experience.

To maximise driver choice and enhance the day-to-day drivability of the car, the CR-Z has been fitted with a 3-Mode Drive System. This unique feature allows the driver to choose between three driving modes, which alter the responses of the throttle, steering, idle stop timing, climate control and the level of assistance provided by the IMA system. In developing this new facility, Honda allows the driver to adapt the car's settings to enjoy their favourite road, maximise economy, or strike a balance between the two.

Sport buttons have become commonplace usually offering a sharper throttle response, but Honda's 3-Mode Drive System is different. The new system alters the behaviour of the hybrid drive train and the power steering assistance as well as the throttle mapping between the three modes.

The SPORT mode sharpens the throttle response, changes the behaviour of the IMA hybrid system to provide more electric motor assistance, and increases the weight of the electric power steering.

For urban driving, where maximising fuel economy is more desirable than the perfect line through a corner, the ECON mode can be selected, which prioritises fuel economy in the operation of the drive by wire throttle, ECU, air conditioning and the hybrid system. For those times when spirited driving is not possible or desirable, the Eco Assist function, in conjunction with the ECON mode, allows the driver to enjoy beating their best economy score on the way to work, or in heavy traffic.

At all other times the car can be run in NORM mode, which provides a balance between performance, economy and emissions and suits most driving situations.

The ambient lighting of the speedometer is used in the same way as in the Insight hybrid to guide the driver in driving more economically and ecologically. In addition to the Eco Assist function, the CR-Z's meter lighting is linked to the 3-mode drive system. In NORM mode the speedometer is illuminated blue, with green illumination when the car is being driven in an economical manner. In ECON mode it is also blue (glowing green when driven economically) and it has a green eco flower lit alongside. When the speedometer is illuminated in a red ambient light, this indicates the CR-Z is in SPORT mode.

For more information, please click here.

New Car Connectivity Consortium aims to put in-vehicle infotainment into high gear

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 06:13:23 +0100

Leading automotive mobile communications and consumer electronics companies join a new consortium for in-vehicle connectivity solutions in standards such as Terminal Mode, NFC and more.

The Car Connectivity Consortium was launched on 16 March 2011 by eleven companies across several industries, driving global innovation for in-vehicle connectivity, including the "Terminal Mode" standard.

Founding members include vehicle manufacturers Daimler, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai Motor Company, Toyota, and Volkswagen; system suppliers Alpine and Panasonic; and consumer electronics makers LG Electronics, Nokia and Samsung.

With the Terminal Mode standard, the connection of high-performing mobile devices to vehicle-based systems opens up a host of new opportunities for business and a world of innovative applications for consumers. Mobile devices could be tightly connected with in-car systems such as digital displays, steering wheel buttons, rotary knobs and car audio systems. Consumers could use a mobile device via the car controls, as if the device and its apps were integrated into the car itself. Terminal Mode is built upon a set of established standards such as Internet Protocol, Universal Serial Bus and Bluetooth.

"Integrating smartphones in vehicles gives drivers a seamless connected lifestyle experience," said Thilo Koslowski, Vice President Automotive at Gartner. "The automotive industry will benefit from automotive-grade integration solutions that provide robust plug-and-play device connectivity across various brands, hardware and software, while offering safe and differentiated user experiences."

The Car Connectivity Consortium will focus on further developing the Terminal Mode standard, address certification and branding, and start looking at new promising opportunities for the automotive environment, including NFC and wireless charging. The Car Connectivity Consortium is an open alliance focusing on cross industry contribution. It is anticipated that further leading industry players will join over the coming weeks.

The Car Connectivity Consortium will release its first specification version within the next few months. Several consortium members are expected to present their first commercial products supporting the new standard later this year.

"Nokia, together with NAVTEQ, understands that people want to use their smartphones everywhere including in their cars," said Floris van de Klashorst, Director and Head of Nokia Automotive at Nokia. "The Car Connectivity Consortium now has the power to turn Terminal Mode into the global standard for the integration of smartphones into vehicles, bringing together the exciting and innovating worlds of mobile ecosystems and applications and with the automotive industry. The industry support we received through the members has been excellent and makes Terminal Mode a truly global effort."

Improving goods deliveries in urban areas: Renault Trucks in Partnership with the FREILOT project

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:45:19 +0100

As a responsible manufacturer of delivery vehicles, Renault Trucks has always strived to reduce any nuisance caused by its products. In addition to offering its customers concrete solutions for reducing fuel consumption (Optifuel Solutions) and developing alternatives to diesel (Clean Tech), the company is also highly involved in research into road freight issues, particularly with respect to urban areas (under the umbrella of the Lyon Urban Truck & Bus LUTB competitive cluster).

Currently, the manufacturer has joined the EC co-funded FREILOT project, which aims to show that by integrating new technologies into trucks, urban deliveries can be carried out more efficiently whilst at the same time causing far less nuisance. The three year FREILOT (urban Freight Energy efficiency pILOT) programme features 21 partners from both the public and private sectors, and has a fleet of 140 vehicles currently involved in trials in four European cities: Bilbao (Spain), Krakow (Poland), Helmond (Holland) and Lyon (France).

Despite being an ardent supporter of goods transport by road and of the professionals working in the sector, Renault Trucks nevertheless recognises its responsibilities and is keen to reduce any possible nuisance caused by its vehicles. In that regard, the company has come up with a combination of three vital principles intended to deal with the increasing urbanisation of Europe: load consolidation (one big truck is preferable to a dozen small ones), combination of energies (diesel or other energies depending on what the vehicle is used for) and increased interaction between trucks and infrastructure to optimise logistics operations.

As stated above, the EC co-funded FREILOT project currently has ongoing pilots in four European cities which fits in perfectly with this approach. Its aim is to physically demonstrate that by building on-board technologies into trucks, deliveries can be carried out more efficiently both in towns and suburbs, whilst at the same time reducing traffic congestion and improving safety levels. The program involves some 140 trucks and is structured around solving three key issues concerning urban deliveries, with each partner contributing to the program according to its particular field of expertise.

Tools for drivers

The FREILOT program uses trucks equipped with special technology to help cut fuel consumption, such as a speed and acceleration limiter which automatically controls maximum acceleration and speed in certain predefined areas. Drivers also have another fuel reduction tool at their disposal - a box that sits on the dashboard giving real time information and advice on how to drive more economically. The information provided further reflects the basic principles taught by Renault Trucks in their 'rational driving' training courses, such as Optifuel Training. Economic driving is a way of driving as flexibly as possible, so as to reduce fuel consumption and stress, thus resulting in increased safety on the road.

Interactive crossroads

Four major European cities are also partners in the program: Bilbao (Spain), Krakow (Poland), Helmond (Holland) and Lyon (France), including both the city of Lyon and Greater Lyon. The latter three have undertaken to introduce modifications to the traffic-light systems on thoroughfares used by large numbers of delivery vehicles, with the purpose of reducing the number of stops trucks have to make. By reducing the number of times vehicles need to accelerate after stopping at traffic lights, fuel consumption and emissions (CO2, nitrogen oxide, particles and noise) are also reduced.

This can be achieved in various ways. In Lyon, for instance, a crossroads in a peri-urban zone detects approaching trucks equipped with a FREILOT device, triggering the lights to change more quickly so that they do not have to stop. Nearer to the city centre, on Avenue Jean-Jaurès, the traffic light green wave mechanism has been reprogrammed to take into account the length of time HGVs need to get moving again and therefore avoid obligatory braking where possible. Simulations have already shown that adapting the traffic lights in this way is in fact better for urban traffic as a whole.

Electronically managed delivery bays

Lastly, in Lyon and Bilbao, the programme plans to set up an electronic system for managing delivery bays. Trucks will only be able to carry out deliveries if a delivery bay has been booked in advance. In this way, pre-booking of delivery bays will become an integral part of scheduling deliveries. First launched in February 2009, the FREILOT project is now entering its trial phase, starting with reference data collection. Sample data will be collected to serve as a baseline reference when assessing the impact of the FREILOT mechanisms. The latter are already in place and will operate from March 2011 through to March 2012 when the program will come to an end. Backed by the European Union, the project is a joint initiative involving twenty-one partner organisations, from both the public (local authorities, urban communities, research centres) and private sector (vehicle manufacturers, logistics companies, technology solutions providers), in a combined effort to improve deliveries in towns and cities.

Together with FREILOT, Renault Trucks is continuing to develop transport solutions adapted to city logistics that it first began in the context of the LUTB competitive cluster, such as FIDEUS (urban vehicle) and VIF2 (vehicle connected to infrastructure) programs in particular.

For further information, please click here.

Contacts: Julien Berthet, Fabrice Piombo