eSafety at the 12th ITS World Congress in San Francisco

The 12th ITS World Congress in San Francisco this month attracted around 7,000 visitors from 57 countries. The event included an exhibition, a congress with many sessions as well as a large demonstration of ITS technologies on the parking lot of a baseball stadium.

The opening ceremony included a great number of senior executives from around the globe and delegates representing the US, California, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Jean-François Poupinel, President of the ITS Congress Association and Ex-chairman of ERTICO, delivered one of the welcome speeches, as did Rosalie Zobel, Director of DG Information Society and Media at the European Commission.

More than 40 demonstrations at the Innovative Mobility Showcase (IMS) gave attendees an opportunity to experience the latest implementations of ITS technologies. The IMS took place on the parking lot of a baseball stadium (SBC Park) but through live vehicle demonstrations in San Francisco’s city streets, including “ride and drives” in automobiles, trucks and buses fitted with ITS solutions. Delegates could also experience in real-life situations how the industry is moving into the future.

In more than 200 sessions the conference was organised by executive, special and technical sessions as well as few scientific sessions during the congress.

Global eSafety

This Executive Session discussed the actions taken to date by each region in the area of eSafety, the policies of governments that can facilitate or impede progress on eSafety initiatives, and the successes and difficulties encountered up until now.

The European speaker in this session was Rosalie Zobel, who described the progress of the European eSafety initiative since last year’s meeting in Nagoya, Japan. Both American and Japanese speakers presented their programs and explained how they compare with the respective European programme, and that they have the same goals. This confirms the fact that eSafety is now a global initiative. Further collaboration will take place when Europe is moving towards Cooperative eSafety Systems.

EU Funded Programs on Intelligent Vehicle Safety Systems

This Special Session focused on the research and development programs that the European Commission has promoted in the area of Intelligent Vehicle Safety Systems, with the objective to present the evolution of these programs both in terms of policies, strategies and results. Rosalie Zobel moderated the session and Mr Minarini, European Commission, presented the past, present and future of EU research programmes. Mr Brignolo from the FIAT Research Centre presented the SAFESPOT project, while Mr Kompfner from ERTICO talked about the CVIS project. Mr Pfliegl from VIA DONAU presented the COOPERS project and Mr Van Zyl from EUCAR showed the results of the eSafety’ R&D working group.

The congress was also an occasion to present - for the first time - the Integrated Projects, selected as a result of the recently published 4th call for proposal on cooperative systems by the European Commission.

Supporting eSafety Deployment

This Special Session focused on the progress of the eSafety initiative, which is a joint European industry-public sector initiative driven by the European Commission. The implementation of the 28 recommendations set out in the eSafety programme to deploy eSafety systems and technologies is progressing. More than 60 people attended the session.

This Special Session was chaired by Rosalie Zobel, with Juhani Jaaskelainen giving an overview on the ongoing deployment work in Europe in priority areas like eCall, Real Time Traffic and Traveller Information (RTTI), Human Machine Interaction (HMI) and User Outreach. Anu Lamberg from the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications and Michael Nielsen from ERTICO focused on eCall. Jacob Bangsgaard, also from ERTICO, presented eScope and more details on the work of the User Outreach Working Group during the meeting.

IP PReVENT

Fabrizio Minarini, European Commission, chaired this well attended Special Session. The Integrated Project (IP) PReVENT is co-funded by the European Commission to contribute to road safety by developing and demonstrating preventive safety applications and technologies. Preventive and active safety makes use of sensor data, communication, map and positioning technologies in order to provide solutions for improving road safety.

The presentations focused on the following areas: the IP PReVENT Cross functional activities on sensors and sensor Data Fusion (ProFusion), the Code of Practice for Development and Testing (RESPONSE3), In-vehicle Digital Maps (MAPS&ADAS) and the IP PReVENT functional field activities on Safe Speed and Safe Following (SASPENCE, WILLWARN), on Lateral Support and Driver Monitoring (SAFELANE, Lateral Safe), on Intersection Safety (InterSafe), on Vulnerable Road Users and Collision Mitigation (APALACI, COMPOSE), and on ADAS functions integration with the subproject INSAFE.

GST –Towards Global System for Telematics

The IP GST is creating open and standardised framework architecture for end-to-end telematics and is co-financed by the European Union’s 6th Framework Programme. Michael Nielsen from ERTICO, chaired the GST Special Session. Juhani Jaaskelainen, Project Officer of GST, gave an overview on the political framework and eSafety and their implications for the GST IP. Four speakers of the GST team, including the Project Coordinator Peter van der Perre, presented the current project status. The session took place in the afternoon of the final day, but was still very well attended.

GST is now moving from the definition phase to the realisation of the GST open system and the applications that will be demonstrated at test sites. Next year will be critical for the success of the project and its take-up.

International Cooperation Working Group

During the ITS World Congress the 6th meeting of the eSafety Forum International Cooperation Working Group (ICWG) took place at the Marriott Hotel, next to the conference centre. Jacob Bangsgaard from ERTICO chaired the meeting. The event was very well attended and indicated that there is added value in continuing with the ICWG meetings. During the meeting, the regions reported on the progress of eSafety. Juhani Jaaskelainen, European Commission, gave an update on European developments, complemented by Mr Bangsgaard’s presentation of the eScope activities.

Ray Resendes presented an overview from the U.S. perspective and from Japan Hiroshi Makino presented the “2nd stage of ITS” in Japan. Tony Kursius, Queensland, and Brent Stafford, Executive Director, ITS Australia shared the presentation of ITS in Australia. Australia is progressing fast in ITS. Queensland produced a strategy for Multimodal ITS and New headquarters for ITS were opened in Melbourne.

For the first time, ITS China and India had been invited to the WG meeting. Mr. Wang Xiaojing made an interesting presentation on the road safety situation in China. There are about 107.000 fatalities per year and 667.000 accidents with injuries. The figures are rising. 80 % of the accidents occur on highways. The main safety issue is the poor state of the highway network, but China has started research on Intelligent Vehicles. Amitabh Bajpai from ITS India had to cancel participation due to the visit of the Indian Minister of Transport to the World Congress.

The next meeting of the ICWG will take place during the London ITS World Congress (8-12 October, 2006).

The exhibition in the Moscone Center next to the congress featured more than 150 stands of various industry organisations.

At the closing ceremony, the next three World Congress venues displayed short video highlights of their sites: London (2006), Beijing (2007) and New York City (2008).

The ceremonial passing of the World Congress Globe closed out the event, with representatives from ITS Japan first laying hands, then ITS America and ERTICO (represented by CEO Olivier Mossé) in recognition of their hosting the 2006 World Congress in London.

For more information, please visit the ITS World Congress website.