Advantages & Benefits

5th ITS South Africa International Conference and Exhibition, March 2009
South Africa has invested heavily in infrastructure upgrades in the past few years and Intelligent Transport Systems form part of the transport network. Several flagship projects have been deployed or are under construction.

Hosting the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010 has accelerated transport upgrades. This, in turn, will require a new emphasis on managing and sustaining the newly-deployed systems.

South Africa as a “New World Economy” typically experience challenges such as fast urbanisation, growing populations and a need to expand its transport infrastructure. New World Economies have transport priorities somewhat different from industrialised nations with established infrastructure that often have legacy systems in place. One of the major challenges is to promote sustainable public transport. Related challenges are congestion and incident management and road safety.

Member interaction
ITS South Africa facilitates interaction between members and qualified local and international specialists in the field. This assists members in selecting and implementing their own systems and to networking with the main ITS users and developers in Southern Africa.

World-wide news
By constantly providing members with local and international news items related to the usage of related technologies through weekly updates.

Workshops
Regular workshops are conducted on topics of both strategic and operation interest with by practitioners, suppliers and users of related technologies.

World-wide Database
By maintaining a database of worldwide vendors and users, which is available to members. By answering queries from members on the ITS hotline.

Neutral Forum
By acting as a neutral forum for vendors, users and potential users of ITS technology to discuss the application of the technology. The Society participates in both local and international forums devoted to debating setting of standards, strategies and the legal implications of ITS technology.

Education and Training
Education and training opportunities will be provided through a partnership with academic institutions. It is envisaged that four components will be explored, namely:

  • capacity building and motivation for ITS aimed at government officials and politicians
  • the development and incorporation of ITS in undergraduate curricula
  • the development and incorporation of ITS in post-graduate curricula
  • the development of appropriate ITS research programmes for Southern Africa

Acting as a Mechanism for Deployment of ITS funding
Through the realisation of funds into the ITS system, the Society can be a mechanism through which deployment priorities can be determined.

MOU’s with National ITS Associations
ITS South Africa establishes working relationships with the National ITS Associations in other countries to contribute towards opening up business opportunities and has signed MoUs with ITS Canada and ITS New Zealand.

Should any ITS South Africa member wish to pursue business or other collaboration abroad, please contact info@itssa.org.

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