ITS Experts to Meet in Miami

ITS 2001, the 11th Annual ITS America Meeting & Exposition, takes place June 4-7 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Fla. This year, the theme for the event is "Connecting the Americas," putting emphasis not only on the ITS-related activities in North America but on the potential for ITS that lies within the Latin American market as well.

"Because our theme is ‘Connecting the Americas,’ we are expecting a good number of people from Central and South America to attend ITS 2001," said Edgar Martinez, manager, tradeshows and promotions, ITS America. "In fact, the awareness and enthusiasm has already been generated via our trade mission that we did last fall which was quite successful and with all the marketing help from ITS Florida."

As of press time, over 160 companies are expected to exhibit and nearly 4,000 people are expected to attend.

Simply pick one of the 15 ITS-based subject tracks and let the show program guide you through ITS 2001. Every track encompasses a predetermined schedule for each day and includes sessions, megasessions and hours exclusively dedicated to the exhibition area and even your lunch break.

"ITS America has developed dedicated hours within the program so that attendees and exhibitors will have more time to network, do business, and build the future of ITS," said Martinez.

The 15 subject tracks are architecture and standards; commercial vehicle operations; enabling technologies; traffic and operations management; intelligent vehicles and human factors; marketing/education and training; policy/legal; regional deployment; rural applications; telematics; transit; traveler information; evaluation; public safety; and ITS in the Americas.

As of press time, a total of 105, 90-minute sessions focusing on nearly every aspect related to ITS were scheduled.

Taking the sessions to another level, a series of information-packed megasessions are exclusively scheduled so as to not interfere with the other sessions or exhibit hours as determined by the session tracks.

The megasessions are:

Empowered Mobility: Bringing the Car, the Computer and the Consumer Together is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Monday, June 4. This roundtable discussion encompasses leaders from the automotive and information technology markets wherein they discuss the plans and challenges of incorporating telematics into the vehicle of tomorrow.

L-Commerce and ITS: The Business and Politics of Locations Services and Data is scheduled for 1-2:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 5. This session unites location technology business leaders with public agencies and private business to discuss these technologies and how they can be used to save lives, time and money.

The Future of ITS is scheduled between 8:30-10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 6. Industry leaders from a variety of companies and government offer commentary on the short- and long-term future of ITS.

"Top-notch panels have been developed for these megasessions and attendees will see leaders from the automotive industry, auto-interface industry, location technology industry and political figures such as Norm Mineta giving us their insights on these fast-growing segments of the ITS industry," said Martinez.

In addition to the sessions, a special workshop, an awards program, a symposium, the ITS Florida Annual Meeting and other assorted committee meetings also have been scheduled during ITS 2001.

The exhibition area at ITS 2001 includes over 160 companies, both domestic and international, offering products and services related to almost every possible aspect of ITS.

"The Annual Meeting is a great time to visit with more than 160 exhibiting companies which provide products and services that are taking ITS from the drawing broad to reality," said Martinez.

Be sure to check out the ITS World booth #1334 where you can set up meetings with the editorial and sales staff, pick up a free subscription to the magazine.

As in years past, ITS America coordinates a number of facility site tours presenting the local ITS-related applications to attendees.

ITS 2001 offers attendees the opportunity to go on four site tours in the Miami area.

• Metrorail, Metromover and Transit Fleet Monitoring System takes place at the Miami-Dade County Central Control System Area and features an on-site demonstration of the monitoring and control system for Metrorail and Metromover as well as the operation of the AVL system. Hosted by the Miami-Dade County Transit Agency, the tour is scheduled for Monday, June 4 from 2-4 p.m. and again on Wednesday, June 6 from 2:30-5 p.m. The tour is limited to 20 people.

• Port of Miami’s Stolen Automobile Recovery System takes attendees on a tour of the STAR System Control Area and includes a demonstration of the gamma imaging system used to inspect vehicles and containers for contraband. Hosted by the Miami-Dade County Seaport Department, two tours, limited to 15 people each, are scheduled for Tuesday, June 5 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, June 6 from 10:15 a.m.-12 p.m.

• Miami-Dade Public Works Traffic Control Center compares the city’s traffic signal control systems installed in the 1970s with the ATMS currently being installed. Hosted by the Miami-Dade Public Works Traffic Control Department, the tour is scheduled for Monday, June 4 from 2-5 p.m. and is limited to 20 people.

• SunGuide Control Center provides an overview of the growth of ITS in South Florida over the last few years as well as a look at future ITS applications for the area. Attendees also can expect to see freeway management operations incorporating AVL, CCTV and numerous other ITS-related applications. Limited to 15 people, the tour is hosted by the Florida DOT, Department 6, and takes place Tuesday, June 5 from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

An independent study by the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida shows that the South Florida Commuter Services program reduces automobile traffic congestion in the region, achieving record results in 2000.

Conducted annually by the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based URS Corp. on behalf of the Florida DOT, the objective of the program is to reduce commuters’ dependence on, and use of, single-occupant vehicles, particularly during peak hours, by promoting alternatives such as carpooling, public transit, bicycling, telecommuting and flex time, to name a few.

According to the Center for Urban Transportation Research study, in 2000, the work of Commuter Services resulted in:

• A reduction of 1,273,232 vehicle trips, equaling 24,499,448 vehicle miles;

• An increase of 2,598 parking spaces; and

• A savings in commuting costs of $7,133,209 (US) as compared to $2,938,028 in 1999 (based on a vehicle operating cost estimate of .29 cents/mile).