FEBRUARY 2005
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ITS CANADA ANNOUNCES 2005 SCHOLARSHIP FOR ITS STUDIES
ITS Canada’s Michel Van Aerde Memorial Scholarship was set up to commemorate the contribution that Dr. Michel Van Aerde made to the ITS industry. Professor Van Aerde was a leader in the academic field, with positions at the University of Waterloo and Queens University, where he played a leading role in the development of ITS-related curricula. He was also very active in research, specifically in areas of operational and benefits assessments using modelling techniques. This led to the development of the INTEGRATION model, which was used extensively in some of the early evaluations of ITS projects, both in North America and internationally. Professor Van Aerde subsequently accepted a position at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, playing a senior role in their ITS program. In addition, Dr. Van Aerde was active in the private sector where he successfully pursued the commercialization of the INTEGRATION model. Dr. Van Aerde was one of the inaugural directors of ITS Canada.
This scholarship, in the amount of $5,000, is awarded for graduate studies in intelligent transportation systems, and is tenable at any Canadian university. The selection committee will recommend an award based on academic ability, stated career objectives, demonstrated understanding of ITS, an interview with the supervising professor (if applicable), and supporting letters of reference. To be eligible, candidates must be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants, and registered as full-time students in a graduate studies program at a Canadian university.
Full information regarding the scholarship is available on ITS Canada’s website at www.itscanada.ca/english/scholarships.htm.
Click on "2005 Submission Information".
Deadline for submission: April 30, 2005
ITS CANADA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND GENERAL MEETING
Technical Program and Registration Information
Significant Canadian and international participation is expected for ITS Canada’s Annual Conference, to be held in spectacular Quebec City, on May 15 to 17, 2005. The theme of the conference is "Time for Integration!" Conference sessions will provide simultaneous interpretation in English and French. The event will also feature a large exhibit area, technical tours, and a networking evening being held at the prestigious Musée de la civilisation. The technical program and registration information are now available on ITS Canada’s website at www.itscanada.ca/quebec2005.
Register now! Early registration discounts apply until March 18 only.
REGIONAL UPDATES
British Columbia
The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia have announced the signing of a contribution agreement for deployment of ITS in the province. Under the Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP), four projects have been allocated a total of $713,000 of federal funding, with the Province of British Columbia planning to contribute $1,013,000.
The four projects include:
- Development and installation of a weigh-in-motion server with links to Alberta and Washington State
- Deployment of an advance traveller data management system to collect and disseminate information on traffic flow to agencies in the Cascade Border region
- Installation of a web cam network at four key congestion points and the high occupancy vehicle lanes on the provincial highway network in the Greater Vancouver region
- Setting up a computer-aided dispatch centre for the Victoria custom transit system, a transit service for seniors and persons with disabilities; mobile data terminals and in-vehicle technology will be installed in buses to automatically connect them to the regional dispatch centre, allowing for automatic transmission of customer pick-up and drop-off requests.
ITS CANADA WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS
Sustaining Corporate Members:
Alcatel Canada Inc.
Sirit Inc.
Corporate Members:
BMP Metals Inc.
EtherWAN Systems
TAC NEWS
TAC Awards
Nominations for TAC’s Environmental Achievement Award are now being solicited. This award recognizes exemplary contributions by a TAC member in the environmental area with respect to providing transportation services. Those who have made a contribution to the protection and enhancement of the environment or who have been particularly innovative in their approach to solve an environmental problem are eligible for the award. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2005. The award is open to all members of TAC and their staff. For more information: www.tac-atc.ca/english/membersworkroom/enviro-award.cfm.
Nominations for TAC’s Sustainable Urban Transportation Award are now welcome. Members who have made a contribution to the development and enhancement of sustainable urban transportation and who have been particularly innovative in their approach to moving sustainable urban transportation forward would be eligible for the award. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2005. The award is open to all members of TAC and their staff, and is conducted in collaboration with Transport Canada’s Urban Transportation Showcase Program (UTSP). For more information: www.tac-atc.ca/english/membersworkroom/urbantrans-awards.cfm.
SUMMARY OF ITS INTEGRATION PROJECTS
Now Available Online
The ITS Joint Program Office of the U.S. DOT has published online the most recent edition of its Summary of ITS Integration Projects. This document provides a review of ITS projects initiated as a result of the enactment of the ITS Integration Component of the ITS Deployment Program, as defined in Section 5208 of the Transportation Equity Act (TEA-21). It includes multimodal ITS components in a variety of settings, including large regional areas (for example, statewide, multistate, or multicity), metropolitan areas, and rural areas. For more information: www.its.dot.gov/resources/IntegrationProject/index.htm.
MAJOR ITS INITIATIVES AT U.S. DOT
By William Johnson, Director – ITS Canada
The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) announced a restructured ITS Program at the 2005 TRB Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., in January. The ITS Program will have "Tier-1" initiatives that focus on nine major ITS initiatives, and will also provide continuing support for existing high-profile ITS projects. The Tier-1 initiatives were selected as problem-driven, supportive of U.S. DOT goals, multi-modal, engaging the public sector, pushing the ITS frontier, and moving ITS toward deployment. In this article, the Tier-1 initiatives are briefly outlined. Further detailed information can be obtained at www.its.dot.gov/initiatives.
Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety Systems (IVBSS) – In partnership with the automotive industry, this initiative builds on completed and ongoing Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI) field operational tests, as well as results from naturalistic driving studies. It will involve projects and studies that include private passenger vehicles, freight-carrying trucks, and transit buses.
Cooperative Intersection Collision Avoidance Systems (CICAS) – These systems use both vehicle-based and infrastructure-based technologies to help drivers approaching an intersection understand the state of activities within that intersection. They will have the potential to warn drivers and help them manoeuvre through cross traffic.
Next Generation 911 Service – The technological approach to the 911 system must be fundamentally re-examined in order to support communications in a wireless mobile society. The Next Generation 911 initiative will leverage the progress made to enhance location capability for 911 calls placed from wireless phones, and will establish the foundation for public emergency services in this environment.
Integrated Corridor Management Systems – This initiative will demonstrate how ITS technologies can efficiently and proactively manage moving people and goods in major transportation corridors within and between large urban areas. It will build on many tools developed, including integrated Bus Rapid Transit, freeway ramp metering, and adaptive traffic signal control strategies.
Mobility Services for All Americans – This initiative builds on the United We Ride program (U.S. DOT) to build a fully coordinated human service transportation system, in partnership with health and human services agencies and transit providers. The technologies that will be used include GIS, vehicle dispatching, vehicle location, e-payment, and traveller information.
National Surface Transportation Weather Observing and Forecasting System (Clarus) – This initiative will deploy a road weather observation network and will require a multi-year effort to build consensus across transportation and weather communities to design, build, test, and evaluate system components.
Emergency Transportation Operations – This initiative aims to provide effective management of all forms of transportation emergencies through application of ITS technologies, including in-vehicle and information systems, to disseminate real-time data about incidents and route conditions.
Universal Electronic Freight Manifest – A common electronic freight manifest would improve transportation system operational efficiency, productivity, and security. This initiative builds on the Electronic Supply Chain Manifest (ESCM) that was applied to truck-air operations (2002), and will be applied next to international transport operations.
Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) – This initiative will build on the applications emerging from the IVI Program, and on the results of related research and operational tests. It uses the radio spectrum at 5.9 GHz, specifically allocated for DSRC. The building blocks will require coordinated deployment of communications technologies in all vehicles and on major U.S. roadways. Presentations made on VII at a recent public meeting in San Francisco are located at www.itsa.org/vii_meeting.html.
In addition to these Tier-1 major ITS initiatives, the U.S. DOT will continue to support important ongoing ITS projects, including 511, CVISN, IVI, and ITS architecture and standards.
ITS CANADA DIRECTOR RUNS FOR ITE BOARD POSITION
Alf Guebert
Director, ITS Canada
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As one of the six members of ITS Canada’s Executive Committee, Alf Guebert, Transportation Manager at Earth Tech (Canada) Inc., has helped to steer ITS Canada’s direction during his term. With full support from Earth Tech, Alf is now running for the position of International Vice President of ITE. Founded in 1930, The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) is one of the largest and fastest-growing multimodal professional transportation organizations in the world. ITE members include traffic engineers, transportation planners, and other professionals responsible for meeting society’s needs for safe and efficient surface transportation through planning, designing, implementing, operating, and maintaining surface transportation systems worldwide.
Alf joined ITE in 1984 and, since then, has pursued an active role in the organization, including three years on ITE’s International Board of Direction, representing District 7 (Canada). He has held each of the elected positions on the District 7 Executive Committee, including President, and also served the Saskatchewan Section as the founding President. He has served on ITE committees at all levels (Section, Chapter, District and International).
Alf’s vision of ITE is an organization with a reputation as THE source for transportation-related technical resources. It is an organization with a growing international presence and membership, and is making huge strides to replenish the transportation workforce. Most importantly, ITE members are helping make a significant difference in reducing the number and severity of collisions, providing a positive benefit to the general population and communities not just in Canada, but around the world.
Alf’s goals in seeking this position are to help guide priorities for the organization, and to aid in setting strategic direction that will support both national and international growth. "Within North America," says Alf, "as well as around the world, we need to reach out and welcome others in the transportation profession. We need to develop more of our technical products in additional languages, and explore a regional ambassador approach to meet diverse global needs."
Alf also believes strongly in workforce development. "ITE needs to encourage the brightest and best people to join the profession. We need to continue to create enhanced professional development and mentoring opportunities for our members."
"Alf would be well suited to this role in ITE," says Joseph Lam, Chairman of ITS Canada. "Alf has provided dedicated assistance to ITS Canada during his term on the Executive Committee, and I have no doubt that he could provide an enthusiastic and knowledgeable contribution to ITE as International Vice President, and subsequently as President. Our loss will be ITE’s gain."
Ballots for the election will be distributed to ITE members in mid-June. For more information, visit Alf’s website at www.alf4ite.com or call him at (403) 254-3301.
"We can make a real difference in the quality of life globally as transportation professionals," says Alf. "ITE’s role is to provide us with the tools we need to improve the safety of our transportation systems. As International Vice President, I commit to working hard on your behalf to represent your needs. Please contact me now or in the future with any suggestions you may have on how we can improve ITE."
ITS CANADA MEMBERSHIP DUES
As reported in the October 2004 newsletter, the following membership dues will increase as of April 1, 2005:
Corporate $375
Individual $75
These fee increases will help defray increasing administrative costs and allow the Society to continue to improve member services.
NEWS bITS
U.S. DOT ITS Program
Mitretek Systems, a non-profit, scientific research and engineering corporation that operates in the public interest, has been awarded a five-year contract of US$64.6 million to provide engineering support for the U.S. DOT’s ITS Program. Supported initiatives are expected to include:
- Vehicle Infrastructure Integration
- Road Weather Systems
- Communications Technologies
- Electronic Freight Management Systems
- ITS Transit Systems
- ITS Standards
- Integrated Corridor Management.
For more information, visit www.mitretek.org/home.nsf.
Traffic Data Quality Measurement
The Federal Highway Administration has completed a project to develop methods and tools to enable traffic data collectors and users to determine the quality of traffic data they are providing, sharing, and using. Their report, now available online, presents the framework that provides methodologies for calculating traffic data quality. For more information, visit www.itsdocs.fhwa.dot.gov/JPODOCS/REPTS_TE/14058.htm.
New Product for Payment and Ticketing
In February 2005, Nokia announced the world’s first Near Field Communications (NFC) product for payment and ticketing, which will allow customers to conduct local transactions with a mobile phone, simply by touching a point of sales device or ticket gate. Payment credentials, such as debit and credit cards, and transport tickets are securely stored in the integrated smart card chip of the phone shell. The shell is compliant and interoperable with contactless smart card infrastructure, and will be available in mid-2005. For more information, visit their website: press.nokia.com/PR/200502/979695_5.html.
Report on the Greater Vancouver Area
Visit ITS Canada’s website for a report on current and upcoming transportation projects in Vancouver: www.itscanada.ca/english/reports.htm.
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
The City of Calgary has awarded International Road Dynamics (IRD) a contract of US$536,000 to develop a traffic control system to improve traffic flow and safety at three at-grade rail crossings in the vicinity of Barlow Trail and 50th Avenue SE. The main goals of the system will be to alert approaching motorists to seek an alternate route, and to move traffic quickly once the railcars have cleared the crossings. Traffic detection sensors, dynamic message signs, and wireless communications will be integrated with a traffic signal controller and the railway track crossing circuits. Although the dynamic message signs will be controlled by the traffic signal controller output, the City of Calgary will also be able to control the signs from their Traffic Management Centre using cellular modem communication in order to display desired messages.
NAVTEQ has now completed a full coverage map of Italy, and is working toward a full coverage map of Western Europe. With approximately 800,000 kilometres of roads in Italy, all 8,103 cities are covered along with the isles of Sardinia and Sicily.
The Beijing Traffic Integration and Model Evaluation System (BETIMES) project will provide development and implementation of an incident management system for Beijing to help resolve constantly increasing pressure on the transportation system. Traffic congestion, a significant problem, is a key focus item with the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games to be held in Beijing. The BETIMES project includes a decision support system for traffic planning, traffic control design, optimization, and traffic management. This project is being undertaken by Delcan Corporation, along with their Dutch partner DHV.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India’s technology capital Bangalore will build an $87 million toll motorway to help battle the city’s growing congestion problems. Opening April 2007, 33 percent of the cost will be paid for by the private sector. This project will form part of the larger 111 kilometre, four-lane Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP), to solve the growing congestion problems due to high growth. A four-lane elevated concrete toll expressway is proposed (expandable to six at a later date).
OPPORTUNITIES IN THAILAND
By Colleen Baker, Embassy of Canada, Bangkok
Road Transport: Current Developments
According to information gathered from secondary sources, the Thai Government has set as policy the need to build inter-city motorways through greater use of private sector involvement. It has also set the need to augment the urban expressway network to facilitate ease of travel in metropolitan areas. In late 2003, the Office of the Commission for Management of Land Traffic (OCMLT), a planning agency under the Prime Minister’s Office, approved an investment budget of 900 billion Baht for the mass transit development plan (2004-2009) covering Bangkok and the suburbs, including the construction of mass transit megaprojects (rail) and infrastructure improvements such as bridges, tunnels, expressways, and flyovers. Another budget of 300 billion baht for financing projects related to roads, expressways, and rail network systems was approved by OCMLT.
It is important to note that there are many government agencies involved in the road transport sector. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (the municipal government) has a limited role and very little budget for local traffic management. The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (www.ocmlt.go.th) under the Ministry of Transport plays an active role in developing strategies related to traffic control. Also part of the Ministry of Transport are the Department of Highways (www.doh.mot.go.th) and Department of Land Transport (www.dlt.go.th – not yet in English). The Department of Highways is responsible for construction, repair, and maintenance of all highways in the country. A state enterprise under the Ministry of Interior, Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (ETA; www.eta.co.th) is responsible for the construction, maintenance, and management of expressways and public transportation infrastructures, as well as other efforts related to expressways.
Master Plan for Traffic in the Cards
The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) is working on a master plan that it hopes will stop government agencies from repeatedly investing in similar traffic projects, and will improve traffic in Bangkok and outlying provinces. The master plan aims to provide fundamental solutions to issues concerning transport, traffic accidents, congestion, and pollution using ITS. The OTP said ITS would deal with these issues through the most advanced communications and control technology.
Chula Sukmanop, Director of OTP’s Transport System Development Division, said ITS was expected to help traffic flow in the capital, and would result in Bangkok motorists spending less time on the roads. "The objectives of ITS are to enhance traffic safety, to smooth traffic flow, and to improve the environment," Mr. Sukmanop said.
Recently, the Traffic Control and Management Commission approved a 20 million Baht budget for the development of the master plan, with the hope of turning the plan into reality within five years. The master plan will be integrated into existing intelligent transport systems. It is expected to reduce accidents and congestion, while saving energy and protecting the environment.
The 15th International Road Federation World Meeting 2005 will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from June 14 to 18, 2005. Ontario Exports Inc. are organizing a Canadian booth at the show. Interested members should contact:
Shirley Townsend, Ontario Exports Inc.
Telephone (416) 325-6816
E-mail shirley.townsend@edt.gov.on.ca
VANCOUVER TRANSIT CENTRE
Visit ITS Canada’s website for information about Vancouver’s new transit centre, to be operational by 2006: www.itscanada.ca/english/newsandevents.htm.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- ITS Business Opportunities Forum
March 8, 2005 – Brooklyn, New York
New York Transportation Agencies will present ITS project opportunities
www.its-ny.org
- Predit Mid-Term Carrefour (conference/exhibits)
March 15 to 17 – Clermont-Ferrand, France
www.predit.prd.fr
- 12th Industrial Automation Fair – Otomasyon
March 17 to 20, 2005 – Istanbul, Turkey
www.win-fair.com/eng/index_en.htm
- GTA Transportation Summit
March 22 to 23, 2005 – Toronto, Ontario
registrations@strategyinstitute.com
- 40e Congrès annuel de l’AQTR
April 10 to 12, 2005 – Laval, Quebec
www.aqtr.qc.ca
- TAC Spring Meetings
April 14 to 18, 2005 – Ottawa, Ontario
www.tac-atc.ca
- Smart Moving 2005 / Traffex
April 19 to 21, 2005 – Birmingham, UK
smartmoving@its-uk.org.uk
- ITS America Annual Meeting and Exposition
May 2 to 4, 2005 – Phoenix, Arizona
www.itsa.org/annualmeeting.html
- e-Transport: Innovative Solutions
May 10 to 13, 2005 – Cape Town, South Africa
info@sasits.com
- ITS Canada Annual Conference
May 15 to 17, 2005 – Quebec City, Quebec
www.itscanada.ca/quebec2005
- Intertraffic Eurasia
May 18 to 20, 2005 – Turkey
www.intertraffic.com
- ITS Hannover 2005 – 5th European Congress and Exhibition on ITS
June 1 to 3, 2005 – Hannover, Germany
www.itsineurope.com/hannover
- Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Annual Conference
June 3 to 6, 2005 – St. John’s, Newfoundland
www.fcm.ca
- 15th Annual Canadian Conference on Intelligent Systems
June 5 to 7, 2004 – Quebec City, Quebec
www.precarn.ca
- 2005 CITE Conference
June 5 to 8, 2005 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
www.cite7.org/saskatoon
- Canadian Multidisciplinary Road Safety Symposium
June 5 to 8, 2005 – Fredericton, NB
info_auto21@uwindsor.ca
- ITS New York 12th Annual Meeting
June 9 to 10, 2005 – Saratoga Springs, NY
www.its-ny.org
- 15th IRF World Meeting
June 14 to18, 2005 – Bangkok, Thailand
www.irf2005.com
- Intertraffic Asia
June 14 to 17, 2005 – Bangkok, Thailand
www.intertraffic.com
- 5th International Conference on ITS Telecommunications
"Telecommunications in a Futuristic Transport World"
Call for papers issued June 27 to 29, 2005 – Brest, France
http://conferences.enst-bretagne.fr/itst2005
- 7th Asia-Pacific ITS Forum and Exhibition
August 9 to 11, 2005 – New Delhi, India
www.itsindia.org
- TAC Annual Conference
September 18 to 21, 2005 – Calgary, Alberta
www.tac-atc.ca
- Intertraffic North America
September 27 to 29, 2005 – Baltimore, Maryland
www.intertraffic.com
- 12th World Congress on ITS
November 6 to 10, 2005 – San Fransicso, CA
Call for papers – deadline January 14, 2005
www.ntpshow.com/shows/itswc05
- 2nd International Conference on Driver Behaviour and Training
November 15 to 17, 2005 – Edinburgh, UK
www.cranfield.ac.uk/soe/drive
- Gulf Traffic
December 12 to 14, 2005 – Dubai, UAE
www.gulftraffic.com
Newsletter published by ITS Canada.
Submissions or comments can be emailed to itscanada@itscanada.ca.
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