ITSA a Hit in Miami

Leaders of the transportation industry convened in Miami for the 11th version of the ITS America Annual Meeting and Exposition.

More than 3,300 were on hand to attend any number of the 100 technical sessions and seminars, as well as three mega-sessions addressing m-Commerce, technology convergence and the future of ITS.

Concurrently, 171 companies displayed products such as the Infra Red Inspection System, manufactured by I.R.I.S., and Cam Van II exhibited by Image Sensing Systems.

Of course, one of the biggest unveilings at ITS 2001 involved Transportation Management + Engineering. After many months of research within the marketplace, the Transportation Group within Scranton Gillette Communications decided to formulate a new publication geared specifically for traffic and transit system planners, designers, engineers and managers in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

Positive reactions were numerous as attendees and exhibitors alike thumbed through a sample issue of Transportation Management + Engineering.

"It?s good to see a new publication that focuses on North America, but more importantly, the core of the ITS industry?transportation management and engineering technologies," Lisa Dumke, vice president, business development for ADDCO Inc, St. Paul, Minn., told Transportation Management + Engineering during the ITS America Annual Meeting & Exposition.

3M announced the reorganization of its businesses serving the transportation safety industry in order to better serve the marketplace, according to company officials. Their Traffic Control Materials Division, which includes reflective sheeting and pavement marking tapes, welcomes the company?s ITS-based products for traffic priority control and transportation management. The move was made following 3M?s acquisition of American Electronic Sign giving 3M an opportunity to take advantage of a healthy message sign marketplace.

Also generating discussion were the announcements that Lawrence Yermack, president of PB Farradyne, Parsons Brinckerhoff?s ITS company, was elected chairman, and C. Michael Walton, who holds the Ernest H. Cockrell Centennial Chair in the University of Texas at Austin?s Department of Civil Engineering, elected vice chairman of the ITS America Board of Directors for 2001-2002. Additionally, Max Rumbaugh, executive vice president of the Society of Automotive Engineers, was elected secretary.

As with any major exposition, a host of new products were unveiled during ITS 2001. Highlights included Orincon?s TRAC System; iMPath?s ?I-Volution 4000?; Dynamic Technology Systems? upgraded Intelligent Traffic Management System; and Mark IV?s mGate reader.

Information on these products, and others introduced at ITS 2001, can be found in the Product Section on pages 36 and 38.

Annually, ITS America members recognize industry forerunners at the Best of ITS Awards Gala. This year?s winners were:

Awareness/Advocacy: Kansas Statewide ITS Plan;

Education/Training: U.S. DOT/FTA Mobile Showcase Program;

Research: Digital Subscriber Line;

Deployment Shown to Save Lives: Artimis Reference and Ramp Marker Systems;

Deployment Shown to Save Time: Next-Bus Information Systems;

Deployment Shown to Save Money: Heavy Vehicle Electronic License Plate Inc.; and

Deployment Shown to Improve Quality of Life: Oregon DOT TripCheck.com Traveler Information System.