The man leading leading the West Midlands’ work in hosting the 2027 Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress says nominations for two major ITS award reflects the region’s leading role in advancing transport technology.
Transport for West Midlands’ Strategic Head of Transport Innovation Chris Lane is celebrating nominations in ITS UK’s Connected and Automated Mobility and Changing Behaviour with Technology Award categories at the event next month, saying it gives “independent recognition” of all the work in transport technology being done across the region.
The Connected shortlisting is for TfWM’s role in the SINFONICA project, looking at public acceptance of Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility. This involves engaging citizens, assessing the current situation on CCAM deployments, mixing results in with known trends from social sciences and developing tools and useful guidelines and recommendations.
Meanwhile in the Changing Behaviour category, two linked projects Reserve & Charge and Save-a-Space (pictured) are nominated. With the Save-a-Space app, drivers can pre-book your EV charger alongside your parking space all in one smooth experience, all powered by the EV charger reservation solution called Reserve & Charge.
The West Midlands was the first of the UK’s Future Transport Zones, trialling new transport technologies, services and business models, leading innovation in transport in a way that improves sustainability, reduces reliance on private cars, lowers emissions, and better integrates different modes of travel.
“From the moment we were tasked by the Department for Transport to use technology to innovate in transport, the West Midlands has grabbed the opportunity with both hands,” Mr Lane explained. “CCAM is only one of the ways we’re doing that, we’re delighted we’ve got the recognition for this groundbreaking project we’re carrying out with 13 partners in six other European countries.”
The West Midlands has also been leading research into battery technology, light rail solutions and smart ticketing.
“We know the West Midlands has so many examples of transport technology, and we know we will be able to demonstrate so much to visitors to the World Congress in two years’ time,” Mr Lane added. “But this sort of recognition gives independent recognition of all the great work we’ve been doing.”
Expected to welcome more than 15,000 participants from across the globe, the 2027 ITS World Congress will feature an extensive exhibition, a high-level summit for transport leaders, five days of technical and special interest sessions, hands-on demonstrations, technical visits, and robust networking opportunities. Under the theme “Connect Ideas. Transform Transport.”, the Congress will serve as a unique platform to showcase how intelligent transport systems are transforming mobility worldwide.
The ITS UK Awards take place on Tuesday 21 October at Church House in Westminster, London.
(Picture – TfWM)
