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ITS applications have historically been based on high levels
of Research and Development (R&D). In the early days of
ITS, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, much of the ITS work
being done concentrated on R&D. Even though many of the
basic technologies were known, much effort went into R&D
related to systems engineering and integration, demonstrations
and operational tests, and product improvement. Over the next
decade, the emphasis shifted from R&D to deployment, until
today the majority of ITS applications and user services are
mainstream solutions.
Particularly with advanced systems technologies,
however, the need for R&D continues. Even though many
ITS applications have been deployed, there is still large
scope for improvement and further advancement.
Various
jurisdictions have developed ITS programs, including proposed
ITS R&D programs. In 1999, the Transportation Association
of Canada commissioned a study to develop "A
Workplan for a National Agenda for Technological R&D in
Road and Intermodal Transportation", of which ITS
was one sector. This study reviewed ITS applications and user
services, and a range of R&D needs in each, identified
proposed priority rankings to each, and recommended a handful
of highest priority needs for action.
Transport
Canada has identified an ITS R&D Plan for Canada as one
of the five essential pillars in its ITS Plan for Canada.
The development of this plan is now complete, and it was released
at ITS Canada's Annual Conference on April 28, 2003.
For
more information:
Canadian
ITS Centres of Expertise
Universities
across Canada have ITS Centres of Expertise that provide groundbreaking
research, harnessing new technological innovations for the
rapidly expanding global market while providing tangible benefits
to Canada’s transportation system. Collaboration between
academia, the federal government, and Canadian industry is
enhanced with support provided by federal and provincial funding
programs. Universities are also networked together, both nationally
and globally, to provide a broad base and a comprehensive
perspective on ITS research and development. Some examples
of ITS Centres of Expertise include:
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Carleton University
– Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering |
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University of British Columbia/Sauder
School of Business – Bureau of ITS and Freight Security |
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University of Calgary/University
of Alberta – Centre for Transportation Engineering
and Planning |
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University of Calgary –
Cognitive Ergonomics Research Centre |
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University of Montreal –
Centre for Research in Transport – ITS Laboratory |
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University of New Brunswick
– Rural ITS Research Centre |
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University of Sherbrooke –
Project Auto21/Intelligent Systems and Sensors |
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University of Toronto –
ITS Centre and Testbed |
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University of Waterloo –
Civil Engineering/Transportation Research Group. |
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