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ITS Australia Research Projects and Findings 2018 - 2023

ITS Australia works with our members to design and deliver major research projects that work to solve some of the sectors biggest challenges and answer our key questions

Let's look at the last six years of transport technology research led by ITS Australia exploring new mobility solutions and how technology can shape future transport in Australia...

This research is delivered through the iMOVE Cooperative Research Centres program, a Commonwealth Government initiative.

Mobility as a Service. 2018-2019

In 2018 ITS Australia worked to better understand the potential for Mobility as a Service in Australia through the publication of our report, Mobility as a Service in Australia: Customer insights and Opportunities, and the establishment of the Mobility Reference Group.

Published in 2019 the MaaS report has provided real data to transport agencies, new mobility operators and technology providers to better understand what Australians thought about the potential for MaaS for them and their communities.

Key Findings

Type of trip was one of the primary levers to change travel behaviour. For a majority, work commutes are a fixed pattern and would need a major disruption to change mode or route (something we have seen during long transport strikes and more recently with COVID 19). Entertainment and opportunistic travel was identified as the most likely trip type to consider a MaaS transport product.

The invisible costs of private vehicle ownership was a key limitation in changing travel behaviours, that is respondents that owned even two cars reported their transport costs as being substantially lower than the reality private vehicle ownership.

Respondents that use wheelchairs, mobility aids or ride motorbikes most strongly appreciated the potential for MaaS to improve their transport options and mobility.

The stakeholder consensus during the exhaustive interview process was that the ideal goal for Mobility as a Service or the Future of Mobility was to reduce reliance on private vehicle ownership and in the first instance target multiple vehicle households and build shared mobility options on a strong public transport foundation.

Unlocking Shared Mobility. 2020-2021

Australian local government councils and city and transport planners recognise that managing the kerb side is a complex challenge with many competing interests. Sharing these public spaces is only more important in a socially distanced environment. This important research project investigates the tools and tricks to enable car-sharing with free-floating parking which also answers the questions of allocating our kerb side spaces to a range of other activities.

Free-floating car sharing services (FFCS) have been introduced in many big cities around the world. It allows users to pick up and return cars anywhere within specified areas in parking spots negotiated between the car share company and local government authorities (LGAs). (Executive Summary)

Findings

Car sharing can be an ideological and political battleground (in Australia and internationally) where attempts to mediate between residential parking demands and car sharing has quickly turned into complex disputes with consequent drawn-out battles over parking rights

the dilemma faced by LGAs is balancing long-held notions of parking rights and access against a societal need – especially in urban areas - to tackle congestion with alternative transport models to private vehicle ownership.

Competing interests and the need for collaboration

For local governments and their constituents, before implementing or creating support systems for FFCS to operate, it is crucial to understand the impacts of this mode in their cities. This will ensure that it offers benefits rather than competing with existing public and active transport systems.

Pilots and experiments are powerful tools.

This process requires rethinking how urban space (kerb space) will be used, and the way parking will be allocated, as well procedures that encourages local authorities to consider the changes and discuss about how to implement them. (Full Report)

Connectivity in C-ITS. 2020-2021

Recent technological advancements in vehicle‐to‐vehicle and vehicle‐to‐infrastructure communications can support and accelerate cooperative transport systems for Australia making our roads safer and more efficient.

But the potential safety and efficiency benefits from connected vehicles (CVs) are unlikely to be realised in the immediate future in Australia due to the age of our fleet and the limited connectivity of new vehicles.

ITS Australia led this project with research partner the University of Melbourne to better understand how connectivity and intelligent transport systems can improve safety and productivity outcomes for our communities and networks. (Final Report)

Findings

In regional Australia, small cities, and towns almost 25% of crashes could potentially be mitigated through reduction of speeds on curves (Curve Speed Warning)

in urban environments nearly 25% of crashes could benefit from reducing ‘fender benders' through applications of Cooperative Forward Collision Warning (CFCW). (traffic simulation report)

Trucks are over-represented in fatal crashes at 5%, followed by bus crashes at 3% and motorcycle crashes at 2% and motorcycles are 8% of crashes while bikes or scooters are 6% with lower fatality rates but high serious injuries crashes. (road safety data analysis)

There are numerous use cases for CVs which have been trialled and simulated to test and demonstrate the safety, environmental, and mobility benefits which CVs can provide, and include large pilots such as CAVI operated by Queensland Transport & Main Roads and CITI by Transport for NSW. (literature review)

Stakeholders interviewed advised that significant standardisation and regulation is required, as well as a unified national approach toward C-ITS communications. (stakeholder interviews)

Community Transport of the Future. 2021-2022

This important project investigates the systemic issues, opportunities and barriers for overcoming transport disadvantage and enhancing community transport in Australia.

Project participants

  • ITS Australia
  • Department of Transport Western Australia
  • Transport for NSW
  • Transport & Main Roads (Queensland)
  • Department of Transport Victoria
  • UTS
  • iMOVE

Like many developed countries, Australia has a high median age with a relatively large proportion of its population aged 65 and over. With population projections indicating significant growth the profile of the older population is also projected to change. In 2017, 15% of Australians (3.8 million) were aged 65 and over; this proportion is projected to grow steadily over the coming decades.

Project overview

This research delivers a study to inform government policy and investment and help enable government and industry to bring technology advances to market to improve local and community transport outcomes.

Conducted a holistic review of policy, funding and service delivery ecosystems for enabling transport inclusion in Australia, as well as opportunities and barriers for making better use of innovative technologies, and develop insights to inform future policy, investment and delivery.

Provides evidence-based analysis, insights and guidance on strategic whole-of-government issues, options and priorities for enabling and accelerating innovative, flexible, cost-effective and accessible transport services, which are aligned to community needs.

With almost 1 in 4 Australians projected to be over 65 by 2057 Community Transport users are a growing and complex stakeholder group with challenging needs and expectations and in 2020 the Commissioner for Senior Victorians published a report which found 92% of seniors rated personal mobility as critical to health, social wellbeing, and independence.

Technology can provide the pathway to improve access to and enhance services available to those that need them, both now and into the future, and technology is increasingly permeating community transport.

The research was published in 2022 with an Executive Summary along with the full report of the project and findings in Community Transport of the Future

Integrated connected data for safer more efficient traffic management operations - 2023

A major project with ITS Australia in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, Victorian Department of Transport & Planning, Transport for NSW, Transport & Main Roads QLD, Main Roads Western Australia, Transport Accident Commission, and iMOVE Australia.

Project partners

The project aim is to identify and analyse specific aspects of existing and emergent connected and other vehicle and traffic data, to identify how these could supplement and improve existing network management approaches and be integrated with modern traffic control systems in the near-term. Such a project would be highly consistent with long-term safety and mobility goals, while providing specific traffic system and driver behaviour improvements in the short term.

The focus of this activity is locations where operators have an ability to control or manage the use of the network. As such the focus would be on outcomes primarily at signalised intersections, however considering inputs from all locations across the system.

Slide identifying driving behaviours

Current traffic management systems are typically controlled based on relatively simplistic inputs, such as inductive loops. In recent years there has been significant growth in the sensors available to network operators as well as the data sources available, including the gradual emergence of connected vehicles and infrastructure.

The potential for these new and emerging sources to contribute to existing network control practices, particularly signalised intersections, present opportunities to improve traffic movement and reduce congestion. Traffic signal control management could be more effectively optimised utilising traffic probe features transmitted from modern vehicles in real time. Such use of data is also critical to an on-going drive to improve safety in and around intersections – not only for personal vehicles but also for vulnerable road users, public transport service vehicles and freight vehicles.

This project is underway and the Methodology and Scope are explored in more detail here.

Accessibility guidelines for LZEV charging infrastructure - 2023

Charging a Low and Zero Emission vehicle should be easy for all users, including people with disabilities and older people. This project will develop guidelines for Low and Zero Emission Vehicle charging infrastructure by comparing best practices and collaborating with people with disability and industry.

  • Austroads
  • La Trobe University
  • ITS Australia

The project objective is to support industry and governments in the transition to LZEV by developing guidelines for LZEV charging infrastructure to ensure inclusiveness and educate the industry.

In order to achieve the main objective, the sub-objectives are:

  1. Collate known issues and challenges of LZEV charging infrastructure
  2. Review current best practices internationally
  3. Collate feedback and input from PWD and their peak body representatives
  4. Understand the compliance challenges from industry point of view
  5. Summarise and integrate in Austroads current guidelines and raise awareness (e.g., webinar)

ITS Australia and La Trobe University hosted a webinar about this project on 10 August 2023. Panellists shared findings from the project’s literature review. Recording available.

EV charging consultation document

The Stages of EV Charging (PowerPoint presentation)

Additionally, in connection with these documents, and the project, the research team is also looking for feedback, and welcome your participation at: Accessible EV Charging – Consultation feedback form