The 18th ITS World Congress concluded in Orlando on 20 October after five successful days. This year thousands attendees from over 60 countries participated in the event and attended the 4 plenary and 282 educational sessions.
On the opening night Patrick McGowan World Congress Chair (and President of Telvent North America) warmly welcomed delegates and gave a brief summary of upcoming highlights of the Congress.
The plenary sessions focused on developments of ITS strategies and policies to keep “the economy moving”.
During the first plenary Ananth Prasad (Secretary – Florida Department of Transport) John Mica (Chairman of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee USA) Zhongze Wu (Chairman of ITS China) Fotis Karamitsos (Director of DG MOVE European Commission) and Catharina Elmsäter-Svard (Swedish Minister for Infrastructure) discussed the importance of innovation political involvement and a strong cooperation between academia industry and governments for the creation of new business models. It was agreed that all efforts have to be done to bring ITS into deployment.
The second plenary session centred on how to implement ITS policies for economic growth. Robert L. Darbelnet President and CEO of the American Automobile Association welcomed delegates and introduced the day’s speakers: Ray LaHood (US Secretary of Transport) Allison Cerra (Vice President of Marketing Communications and Public Affairs for the Americas Alcatel-Lucent) Hiroyuki Watanabe (Chairman ITS Japan) and Hauke Jürgensen (CEO of Intelligent Transport Systems Siemens). The panellists addressed major opportunities for ITS in the context of the importance of transport to the economy and the contribution of ITS in safety issues as well as the creation of jobs.
The 32.516 square metres exhibition area was also very successful; visitors had the opportunity to visit 210 exhibits including the European Pavilion where international stakeholders met with representatives from ERTICO – ITS Europe ITS Sweden and ITS Finland.
The Closing ceremony on 20 October was hosted by Patrick McGowan (World Congress Chair and President of Telvent North America) and William C. Ford (Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company) while John Peracchio International Programme Committee Chair presented the awards for the best scientific and technical papers of the Congress. Following the awards Reinhard Pfliegl (Chair Vienna 2012 Host Organising Committee) Midori Ito (Senior Director Tokyo Metropolitan Government) and James Barbaresso (Vice President for ITS at HNTB) introduced the forthcoming ITS World Congresses in Vienna Tokyo and Detroit.
Finally following the successful 18th ITS World Congress in Orlando the “Passing of the Globe” ceremony took place whereupon Ingolf Schädler Deputy Director General Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport Innovation and Technology received the globe from the Americas.
The full report will be available soon on the i-Mobility Network website.
Opening the 18th ITS World Congress
Ray LaHood US Secretary of Transport
ERTICO – ITS representatives at Orlando Plenary meeting
The European Pavilion
“Passing of the Globe” ceremony: Ingolf Schädler Deputy Director General Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport Innovation and Technology received the globe from the Americas
Looking forward to the next ITS World Congress
Link to original Article
http://www.ertico.com/18th-its-world-congress-concluded-in-orlando/
Original Publication Date: Thu 03 Nov 2011
