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A traffic control centre

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and innovative transport management allows the creation of better transport capabilities and futures. The Barbara Hardy Institute's ITS research aims are many and varied such as: improving safety; minimising negative environmental impacts; increasing efficiency, accessibility and convenience and improving security. Ultimately, our research into ITS focuses upon utilising information and communication technology to significantly improve transport outcomes for all.

Expertise and current ITS projects include:

  • traffic control systems, in particular, new techniques for dynamic optimisation of signalised intersection performance against multiple design criteria
  • advanced computing techniques for dense network modelling and traffic simulation
    • Travel demand modelling (Macro and Meso)
    • Microsimulation modelling
  • automatic vehicle location (AVL) using satellite-based (GPS) and land-based systems
  • realtime congestion measurement and monitoring
  • incident detection and management
  • applications of GSM, satellite and other forms of mobile communications for digital data transfer
  • social and policy implications of ITS
  • the use of GIS as a tool for visualisation and analysis of urban transport operations and system performance
  • intelligent control systems for transport vehicles, including automated control systems for suburban passenger rail services and vehicle control systems for improvements to safety and efficiency at signalised intersections
  • advanced parking management systems
  • the impacts of ITS on greenhouse gas and air quality emissions
  • the impacts of ITS on urban freight vehicle operations

Our ITS infrastructure has been integrated into the National Laboratory for Transport Network Analysis (NLTNA), a facility for computer-based modelling and analysis of transport systems. The NLTNA includes a wide range of state-of-the-art Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and commercial network analysis software packages as well as in-house developed R&D.

We have close links to ITS research groups at universities in Hong Kong, Singapore, France, the UK, the USA and Japan and we are a key member of a network of Australian university-based research groups undertaking ITS research. This network also includes the Institute of Transport Studies (University of Sydney and Monash University), QUT Civil Engineering, UNSW Transport Engineering and the University of Technology, Sydney.

To learn about our testing capabilities and facilities, please click here

For further information, please contact Rocco Zito

Key projects

Key Barbara Hardy Institute projects within this research capability include:

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