One of the most influential professionals in the UK ITS industry, Graham Hanson, has won the Rees Hills Award for Personal Contribution and Achievement at the Intelligent Transport Systems UK awards in London, while Valerann, AGD Systems, Westcotec and Yunex Traffic were among others honoured at the prestigious event.
The Rees-Hills award is named in honour of Neville Rees and Peter Hills, two of the early pioneers of the use of technology in transport, and is given to a professional with a proven and sustained track record of innovation, leadership and talent as well as someone who has a made real difference to the ITS industry in the UK.
Mr Hanson (main picture) first worked for the DfT in 1982. In his citation, those him said that: “Without doubt very little of Government’s involvement in recent years would have happened without him and his energy.”
Graham Hanson’s effectiveness was put down to “making full use of expertise gained from a long career in transport policy and delivery, his unsurpassed networking skills across the globe (honed and polished over a beer occasionally) and an entrepreneur’s eye for an opportunity with new technology.”
He was described as working tirelessly to build and exploit the capability of the UK ITS sector, as well as being an ambassador for the UK internationally. He spotted that the UK was lagging behind in reacting to the opportunity of connected technologies and took decisive action, pioneering the UK presents in Connected-ITS and smarter parking.
“I am deeply honoured,” Mr Hanson told Highways News. “To be appreciated by your peers – there’s no greater privilege. It’s my Kate Winslet moment!”
Talking about why he so supported ITS, he added: “I saw the change that technology was bringing, the power of data, bringing systems together, and working with local authorities to create a national picture which enables connectivity.”
Meanwhile Alicia Blatiak of Gridicity won the Eric Sampson Award for Early Careers Professional of the Year, with Clearview Intelligence’s Nora Ali being Highly Commended. Jill Hayden of AtkinsRealis won the Jennie Martin Award for ITS Woman of the Year, 4way Consulting’s Tom Siddall was Frontline Hero while Jon Harrod Booth was the first ever recipient of the Richard Harris Award for International Achievement, named in honour of the late Richard Harris and presented by his widow, Jane.
The advanced road traffic management solutions company Valerann picked up Exporter of the Year – a new prize recognising considerable growth and dynamism in establishing new markets overseas, and exporting goods and services from the UK to the world. Valerann has picked up contracts in Ireland, the USA, Costa Rica and Central and South America with its analytics platform, Lanternn by Valerann™ product, which provides road traffic authorities with insights to help them to improve road safety through proactive road management. It has also won the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award 2024 for the effective use of AI and advanced data analytics in road safety.
Elsewhere Start Up or Scale Up of the Year Award went to EMSOL and the Public Sector Body / Client of the Year was won by Solent Transport with a Highly Commended forTransport for Wales.
For projects, AGD Systems took the prize for Better Mobility or Accessibility through Technology Award for its Cone solution that was discussed in the latest Highways Voices podcast. The tactile indicator, when fitted to the familiar nearside crossing signals, allows a blind or sight-impaired person to hold a cone which protrudes from the signal. When it is safe to cross, the cone starts rotating as the green man appears.
Westcotec’s Heathrow airport perimeter road casualty reduction scheme won the Changing Behaviour with Technology Award and the Digitisation & Digital Services Award went to Connect Plus Services for Extending working windows on the M25.
Yunex Traffic won the Sustainable Environment through Technology Award for its Yutraffic Actis setting new sustainability standards for traffic signals.
The Connected & Automated Mobility Award was won by Arup for Commercialising Automated Public Transport, TfWM won the Better Safety through Technology Award for its work using VivaCity’s Near Miss data as a UK-first AI project, which brought them Project of the Year too, while Transport for Greater Manchester won the Public Transport Award – ITS Supporting the Bee Network.
Max Sugarman, Chief Executive, Intelligent Transport Systems UK (ITS UK), said: “Many congratulations to all the winners of the ITS UK Annual Awards. Now in our 18th iteration, this year’s event was the biggest yet, with 16 awards presented across a range of categories.
“What is clear from the range of entries and the winning individuals, projects and organisations is the clear dynamism, innovation and excellence of the UK transport technology sector, and its capabilities in supporting a more integrated, safer and greener transport network for all.
“Congratulations all the winners!”
The ITS UK Awards are part of the annual President’s Dinner, hosted as always by Life President and former Transport Minister Steve Norris. It was held in the Kensington area of London.
(Picture – Highways News)
