Aerial night view of the skyscrapers along the Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, UAE
Traffic Technology International presents its preview of next week’s ITS World Congress in Dubai, featuring insight from the organizers and event partners, plus conference and exhibition highlights #ITSDubai2024
From September 16-20, 2024, the Dubai World Trade Centre will host the ITS World Congress with the theme ‘Mobility Driven by ITS’. This will be the event’s first ever visit to the MENA region, reflecting the area’s growing importance in smart mobility innovation.
This year’s organizer ERTICO-ITS Europe has collaborated closely with the official hosts – Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). As ever there has also been input from the world’s other two key ITS organizations, ITS America and ITS Asia-Pacific.
For Joost Vantomme, CEO of ERTICO, the Congress comes at a particularly exciting time in the industry. “Currently we are experiencing the transformative power of technologies such as 5G, edge computing, generative AI, and machine learning that are revolutionizing the ITS landscape,” he says. “There are also emerging trends in autonomous mobility, with driverless vehicles becoming more prevalent.”
To enable real transformation and innovation in the ITS industry, it’s crucial to connect various stakeholders and bring a wide range of experts to the table
Joost Vantomme, CEO, ITS Europe
These exciting new trends will be discussed in detail in over 200 high-level sessions, thematic plenaries, international and regional forums, and a range of technical sessions, which will together feature over 800 international expert speakers. “To enable real transformation and innovation in the ITS industry, it’s crucial to connect various stakeholders and bring a wide range of experts to the table,” says Vantomme. “This facilitates the exchange of ideas, allows us to benefit from potential synergies, and provides opportunities to build potential partnerships and learn from each other.
“True dialogue and open communication about needs, barriers, and solutions will ensure a shared understanding and more effective partnerships. By exchanging information, cities, governments, public institutions and private companies can gain insights, optimize services and innovate to meet specific mobility needs.”
A key event on the morning of the first day of the Congress will be the Future of Mobility Summit, which will invite top decision-makers, governmental representatives, mayors, municipalities, regional authorities, and industry leaders for critical discussions on sustainable mobility benchmarks. “This will look into the possibilities of establishing global indicators to measure the impact of mobility transitions, and the progress towards sustainability goals,” says Vantomme.
But as ever the World Congress isn’t just about exchanging ideas and information, there will also be live demonstrations that will showcase practical applications of the latest ITS, including autonomous vehicle systems such as the electric and autonomous self-driven last-mile shuttle from CTAG – a Level 4 self-driving vehicle which will carry up to 12 passengers on a demonstration route at the event.
“There will also be technical visits ranging from renowned landmarks of Dubai such as the Museum of the Future, to innovative sites of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park (DEWA Innovation Center) and Dubai Intelligent Traffic Systems,” says Vantomme.
The choice of Dubai as the host city reflects the strategic vision of this modern metropolis, which positions itself as an ideal setting for global thought leaders, industry experts, and policymakers to exchange ideas and insights.
“Hosting the ITS World Congress 2024 in Dubai underscores the rising global standing of the Emirates in the field of ITS, the confidence of reputed entities in the role of Dubai, and the ability of the city to stage successful global events,” says His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of RTA.
This year’s event is expected to draw up to 20,000 participants from over 100 countries and will serve as a platform not only for showcasing cutting-edge hardware but also the software and data collection systems that are at the heart of modern ITS.
“Digitization involves transforming physical infrastructure into virtualized systems, which allows the ITS industry to leverage advancements in cloud and edge computing”
Jon Newhard, CEO, Yunex Traffic
Harnessing data
For Jon Newhard, CEO of congress partner Yunex Traffic, data is the key to the future of ITS, which in turn enables digitization. “Digitization involves transforming physical infrastructure into virtualized systems, which allows the ITS industry to leverage advancements in cloud and edge computing,” he says. “This transformation is not unique to the ITS industry but is part of a broader technological shift affecting multiple industries.”
Newhard, who will be speaking at a number of sessions in Dubai including Plenary 3 Accelerating Mobility Transition Towards Smarter and More Sustainable Cities (9am, Thursday September 19) continues: “This trend seamlessly integrates with autonomous driving. Currently, we rely on products designed to detect vehicles, but in the future, vehicles themselves will be capable of self-detection and data sharing.”
“ITS advancements are enhancing data availability and sharing, which are critical for more sustainable, safer and more efficient mobility solutions,” agrees Vantomme. “There is also a growing interconnection to experience with other industries such as telecommunications, IT, and the energy sector.
“We’re moving towards integrated mobility ecosystems that break down traditional silos. Interoperability is crucial for providing seamless transitions between different transport modes, enhancing the overall user experience.”
Regulation and policy
When companies are reluctant to cooperate, regulations can step in to mandate collaboration through policies such as open data, which can benefit society as a whole. “Data sharing and availability is vital for fostering innovation and efficiency, necessitating clear specifications for interoperability and standards,” says Vantomme. “Other important elements are cybersecurity and resilience, requiring stringent standards to protect the system and its users.”
An industry gathering on the scale of the ITS World Congress enables international discussion on regulations and policy frameworks beyond data sharing. “Regulations should foster customer choice and convenience while ensuring equal access to the mobility system,” says Vantomme. “They should acknowledge technological progress without being overly prescriptive, embracing a stance of technology neutrality.”
The Congress can also be an opportunity for public agencies to form new partnerships with trusted advisors who can help them to deploy new technology that works, without every compromising their vital commitment to public safety. “By drawing on the expertise and experience of these trusted sources, agencies can gain confidence in adopting new technologies that have been proven to be safe and effective,” says Newhard.
Looking forward
While AI has been part of ITS for several years now, the advent of generative AI has provided renewed focus on existing tech giants as well as creating new ones. But, despite the ambitions some of these companies may have to break into the ITS world Newhard believes existing customer relationships and industry expertise will always outplay tech for tech’s sake.
“It’s not about trying to outpace tech giants in developing AI technologies,” says Newhard. “Instead, our focus should be on applying these tools effectively, because we understand our industry intimately, and our customers trust us to comprehend their needs and challenges, and always work in their best interests.”
As the 30th ITS World Congress approaches, it promises to be a pivotal event in the field of intelligent transportation systems. By bringing together global leaders, innovators, and decision-makers, the congress in Dubai is poised to play a crucial role in advancing the ITS industry and addressing the complex challenges of modern transportation. With its focus on cutting-edge technologies, collaborative opportunities, and strategic discussions, the event is set to shape the future of mobility on a global scale.
“I am particularly looking forward to engaging with industry leaders and customers, sharing visions and using this platform to elaborate new partnerships and opportunities to build solutions that are answering tomorrow’s mobility challenges starting today,” concludes Newhard.
Swarco will be welcoming the international audience to its stand H8-G20 in the Dubai World Trade Center. The company looks forward to connecting with industry experts who share the commitment to a sustainable future.
Through its interactive GoGreen Virtual Reality experience, Swarco will showcase how intelligent traffic systems and solutions can help mitigate climate change by transforming urban landscapes, prioritizing air quality, traffic flow, and safety for (vulnerable) road users.
Driving the future of mobility for Swarco also means low-energy technology in smart traffic signals and brilliant LED variable message signs. Scalable software solutions to optimize urban mobility environments in an eco-friendly way and improved intersection and corridor management with the help of Artificial Intelligence will be on display.
Intercomp – Booth H7-D13
Intercomp manufactures high-speed, low-speed and static weighing solutions. The company’s portable and in-ground sensors and scales can weigh vehicles-in-motion for cost effective monitoring of weight data. These sensors and scales are essential for a number of uses, including data collection, preventative road maintenance and overweight vehicle control including high speed direct enforcement.
Intercomp’s solutions are based on strain gauge technology and stand out for their high accuracy, stability, and longevity. Intercomp has been serving the transportation industry for 45 years with applications in over 80 countries.
Jenoptik – Booth H6-G8
Jenoptik Smart Mobility Solutions will be displaying a full range of solutions to make roads safer and support communities getting closer to Vision Zero. AI, deep learning, sustainability and safety as a service are all topics that are embedded into its product portfolio, and resulting solutions are presented at the stand. The exhibits range from enforcement systems for standard applications to new application areas, such as moving vehicle offences and noise detection.
Miovision – Booth H7-C12-A
Miovision enables cities to reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions while improving public safety through scalable ITS.
Its AI-powered platform helps communities improve traffic efficiency at the intersection and make roads safer for all types of road users – drivers, emergency responders, transit riders, pedestrians and cyclists.
Miovision is headquartered in Kitchener, Canada, and has offices in Germany, Serbia, and the US. Since 2005, Miovsion’s systems have detected over 30 billion vehicles and 1.5 billion pedestrians, assisting nearly 2,000 customers in 63 countries.
Triplesign – Booth H7-G13
Triplesign VMS offers a groundbreaking approach to traffic management with its low power signs consuming just 0.14 Watts per hour. These signs utilie secure wireless communication and require no cables, ensuring simple installation.
Incorporating sensor technology and AI, Triplesign VMS can operate autonomously, adapting to real-time conditions to provide accurate, timely information to drivers. As a sustainable solution, energy consumption is reduced while increasing traffic safety. Using this technology, efficient traffic management is achieved without extensive infrastructure changes.
Intellias – Booth H6-H6
Intellias is a global technology partner with 22 years of experience delivering product engineering and consulting services to Fortune 500 companies.
Leading OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, transportation and mobility service providers, including TomTom, DKV, EVO Global, BlaBlaCar, Here Technologies, and Rand McNally, rely on Intellias to co-create custom solutions and digitally transform their businesses.
Intellias answers mobility challenges with deep expertise in connectivity, eMobility, and intelligent transportation proven by the highest industry certifications (ASPICE and TISAX) and global partnerships (Linux Foundation, Azure, AWS, Blackberry, Renesas, Covesa). Recognized by global awards, Intellias continues to contribute to the future of mobility software solutions worldwide.
Tom has edited Traffic Technology International (TTi) magazine and its Traffic Technology Today website since May 2014. During his time at the title, he has interviewed some of the top transportation chiefs at public agencies around the world as well as CEOs of leading multinationals and ground-breaking start-ups. Tom's earlier career saw him working on some the UK's leading consumer magazine titles. He has a law degree from the London School of Economics (LSE).
Swarco – Booth H8-G20
Miovision – Booth H7-C12-A
Triplesign – Booth H7-G13
