The 5th annual Australian Intelligent Transport Systems Summit has been hailed a great success by its organizers, ITS Australia, with the event demonstrating the strength of the transport technology industry in the country.
More than 400 international and Australian ITS leaders attended the Summit at the end of September to hear more than 50 speakers from home and overseas at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
ITS Australia hosted the event in partnership with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. Themed ‘Transforming Transport’, the Summit focused on three key areas: connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), and big data and transport for smart cities. Australian innovators had an opportunity to promote new initiatives and panels discussed global harmonization of standards, and explored the next steps for Australia’s national ITS policy frameworks.
ITS Australia says the increased interest in Australian ITS products, services and projects is also reflected in the country’s growing calendar of events. The organization hosted three exclusive functions, the ‘Thought Leadership Series’, with government ministers and leading industry influencers in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. ITS Australia has also announced a new event for next year, the MaaS 2018 Summit, to be held in Sydney, and has re-confirmed its bid to host the 17th ITS Asia Pacific Forum and Exhibition at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in 2020.
ITS Australia’s president, Brian Negus, said, “The sold-out attendance reflects the increasing level of interest in the Australian ITS industry. The ITS Summit brought together Australian leaders in transport technology to share information, learn from each other, and consider opportunities to make our transport networks safer, more efficient, and sustainable.
“With speakers and attendees from all over the world, the Summit’s outcomes will have positive impacts locally and internationally. The ITS Summit had strong support from government, industry and research bodies, as well as sponsors, exhibitors and technical tour providers.”
ITS Australia’s chief executive, Susan Harris, noted, “The ITS Summit plays a critical role in identifying challenges and opportunities to shape future transport. Having hosted the 23rd ITS World Congress last year, it was important that interest in the ITS industry didn’t tail off, and we are pleased that our events this year have either been sold out or had record attendances. Australia is a world leader in ITS and is proud of its contribution to the development, deployment and adoption of smart transport technology, both at home and internationally.”
