The 14th Annual ITS Australia Awards, has unveiled this year’s finalists. These awards recognise excellence in the field of intelligent transport systems (ITS). With 35 finalists across seven categories, this year's awards showcase talent and innovation from across Australia's ITS sector. Celebrating the ITS Australia Awards Finalists from Victoria Congratulations and all the best to the finalists for the nationals early next year, with winners, to be unveiled on 15 February. We’re sure they will continue to drive advancements within the intelligent transport systems sector in Australia and beyond. Victoria boasts a strong presence among the finalists, with innovative projects and organisations making their mark across roads, vehicles, infrastructure and more, including: HMI Technologies HMI Technologies has developed an accessible app that empowers individuals with disabilities to control automated shuttles effectively. This app allows users to hail shuttles, manage doors, select destinations and request assistance. It's part of a broader initiative leveraging 5G V2X technology to enhance automated shuttle capabilities, addressing challenges encountered in earlier trials. Transurban Transurban made history by conducting trials of a highly automated truck on public motorways in Melbourne. These trials involved sharing roadside data with the truck's automated driving system (ADS) to improve understanding of road and traffic conditions beyond the truck's sensors. Cubic Transportation Systems Cubic Transportation Systems aims to boost urban transportation efficiency through the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Focused on Melbourne, the project predicts and responds to traffic patterns on motorways, arterials, and ramps, optimising the movement of goods and people between urban and suburban areas. Kapsch TrafficCom Australia Kapsch TrafficCom Australia's Intelligent Corridor on Nicholson Street in Carlton, supported by an Australian Research Council Linkage grant, seeks to optimise corridor efficiency for moving people effectively. Yarra Trams operated by Keolis Downer Yarra Trams has developed the Patterns platform, analysing GPS data to improve tram services in Melbourne, enabling a deeper understanding of mobility patterns and patronage. Sprightly Transport Solutions Sprightly Transport Solutions has introduced a groundbreaking solution for public route buses, integrating real-time safety and efficiency features into one streamlined system. Victorian Department of Transport and Planning The Victorian Department of Transport and Planning is implementing an account-based payment system for public transport customers, offering a seamless and user-centric ticketing experience. Transurban Transurban's pacemaker lighting system in the Burnley Tunnel enhances driver safety and reduces congestion, part of a broader tunnel improvement project. ITS Australia is headquartered in Port Melbourne with more than 145 member organisations across the country. ITS Australia works to promote the development and deployment of technologies that enable all Australians to move more safely, efficiently, and sustainably through the nation’s transport networks. Further information about ITS Australia please visit its-australia.com.au
Each month we profile People who make the DIF and Georgina Jerums spoke to Ron Gauci, AIIA CEO, a tech-industry expert to understand the essential role technology has played in ushering us through coronavirus (COVID-19). “The best way for businesses to rebound beyond COVID-19 is for leaders to take the opportunity to find a new way to do things better and smarter, creating a brilliant new experience for customers and staff,” observes Ron Gauci, CEO of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA). These words go to the very nub of the matter when it comes to how we can rethink workplaces and redefine economies post-pandemic. It’s becoming apparent that Australia’s $130 billion technology sector – which Ron tips could double in value in the next decade provided investment in innovation and skills is prioritised – has played a key role in our pandemic response. First, through the development of the COVIDSafe tracing app, and second, by helping multiple industries migrate to a ‘remote working’ model in numbers never seen before. In the past few months, it’s clear many jobs aren’t as location specific as first thought. Tech giants such as Google and Facebook have even advised most of their employees to work remotely for the rest of 2020, while Twitter has told employees that they can work from home “forever”. This isn’t news to Ron. But helping sectors make the switch to remote working can have teething problems, which is why his organisation, in conjunction with the federal government, recently launched a website, www.australianbusinesscontinuity.com.au. The site offers businesses access to free tools, tech solutions and expertise when it comes to taking their businesses online where possible. “Technology impacts every industry: never in history has that been more prevalent and relevant than now.” - Ron Gauci. “As the COVID-19 situation progressed and self-isolation was being announced, we could see our members (small, medium and large businesses) looking to provide support as they did so well to those affected during the summer bushfires. With the support of the ServiceNow platform and their delivery partner Enable, the website was built and launched within a week. "Since then, we’ve had many more organisations post offers of services, solutions and support that has been provided to tens of thousands of visitors. Given the challenges businesses face at the moment, organisations need to be able to find the right digital solutions quickly and easily: we’re pleased the initiative has had such a positive impact on so many.” Ron isn’t a stranger to leading during challenging periods having been the former CEO of Federation Square, the Melbourne Storm rugby league club and Melbourne Polytechnic as well as holding executive positions at Microsoft and IBM. What, then, are his biggest lessons for our times? “COVID-19 has taught us much about the way we have been and could be working,” Ron says. “We have the technology to work remotely, and, combined with the benefits that come with physically working together, we should be able to leverage the best of both worlds. This will cause organisations to reconsider the costs associated with working spaces and the opportunities associated with flexible working from home from a productivity perspective. “As I’ve always said to my team, even prior to COVID-19, I don’t need to set parameters about where, when or how the job gets done as long as it gets done with the best possible result. This is our opportunity to create a new, better way of working. We’ve learned much during this pandemic about how we work, rest, play and engage: hopefully we’ll take those positive learnings and create a new norm.” The AIIA awards – or iAwards – sponsored by the Victorian Government has been the pinnacle event of the annual Digital Innovation Festival since 2016. AIIA has also come up with a new model called The Biggest Pitch to meet the challenges of 2020. “With COVID-19 having such a devastating impact on small to medium businesses we felt that now more than ever, we needed to provide more support and create more opportunities to showcase innovation,” explains Ron. Judges will be on the lookout for technology that will make a real difference to people’s lives whether personal or in business, says Ron: “What significant difference can your innovation make to our world? Australia has always been a global leader in life-changing innovation; we’re looking for the next innovation heroes.” Do you work in the digital industry? Find out more about the iAwards. Article by Georgina Jerums for the Victorian Connection Originally published 11 June 2020 The Victorian Connection are a content and news site, published by the Victorian Government’s Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. 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The Australian Technologies Competition National Finals and Awards Ceremony is coming to Melbourne for the first time. Hosted at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday 29 October, this event is an opportunity to connect, network and be part of Australia’s thriving tech ecosystem. Opened by Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D ’Ambrosio, the event will host a panel of entrepreneurs, pitches, and Q&As by 17 national finalists with the judges and audience. There will also be interviews with finalists by master of ceremonies James O’Loghlin and a speech by Federal Senator for Victoria James Paterson. Capping off the event will be the national awards presentation across 10 key sectors and the overall award for Australian Technology Company of the Year. Participating in the competition are four Victorian finalists: Navi Medical Technologies Tournicare Aspire Unpackaged Eco Who should attend? From startups, scaleups and innovators to entrepreneurs, accelerators and incubators, this is the perfect event for anyone interested in Australia’s innovation and tech ecosystem. Supported by the Victorian Government’s Department of Land, Water and Planning alongside the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, the event highlights Melbourne as the tech capital of Australia and a growing global hub for innovation. Purchase tickets and view the event program on the Australian Technologies Competition website This article originally appeared on DJPR news >>