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Intelligent Transport Systems

Intelligent Transport Systems

The Heart of England provides an ideal location in which to conduct research and development into Intelligent Transport Systems - PDF - 495kb (ITS), particularly in terms of road related research. The region is at the heart of the UK’s motorway network and with innovITS Advance due for completion in spring 2010, the region offers a unique opportunity to those companies wishing to use both test track facilities and on-road testing and demonstration.

CONTACT ME

Phone: +44 (0) 121 380 3634 Email: David Fisken

Interactive map of leading ITS companies in the Heart of England

Interactive map of leading ITS companies in the Heart of England

Terrafix Ltd.

Terrafix Ltd, based in Stoke on Trent, have an established international reputation in the field of Automatic Vehicle Location, GIS mapping solutions and Mobile Data Communication systems. The Terrafix system is being adopted increasingly by companies, public authorities and government departments in situations where security and fast response are critical. www.terrafix.co.uk

Box Telematics

BOX Telematics have become one of the UK’s market-leading and most respected telematics providers, with over a decade of experience in the wireless m2m (machine2machine) industry. The success of BOX has been built on their consultative approach to the industry, and the provision of quality hardware and software solutions, including vehicle tracking under the Box Tracker brand. BOX’s product range is designed and manufactured at its 15,000 sq. m. (161,463 sq. ft )plant in Coleshill, Warwickshire. www.boxtelematics.com

Arup

Arup is a global firm of planners, designers, engineers and business consultants with a specialist ITS consultancy delivering policy, strategy and planning advice to project management of major projects with integral ITS components. www.arup.com

RDM Automotive

RDM Automotive has developed vehicle telematics systems that are different to existing services as it builds on the basic performance information by providing real time access to e-mails, music and data, such as traffic, entertainment and car parking. Autotxt leads the way in delivering security telematics systems and services provides the most advanced, automotive approved, and fully CAN-integrated, line side fit Stolen Vehicle Tracking (SVT) system in the world. www.rdmautomotive.co.uk

Denso

Denso, the world’s second largest global automotive supplier, operates an ITS R&D centre in Coventry, building on very rapid growth in the development and sale of powertrain control systems, electronic systems and electrical systems. The centre focuses on research, development, design and application engineering for engine management, intelligent transport and other electronics based systems, as well as quality assurance and service support with test facilities. www.denso-europe.com

Ricardo

Ricardo is a leading global provider of engineering and strategic consulting services for the surface transport and clean energy sectors. Telematics projects have included using wide area information to improve hybrid and conventional drivetrain efficiency, active safety and autonomous vehicles, communications security and robustness. www.ricardo.co.uk

Vaisala

Vaisala is the recognised market leader for national transport weather solutions, working in partnership with road authorities globally. Their mission is to provide actionable weather information and scalable solutions for road maintenance, traffic operations and management. www.vaisala.com

Mix Telematics

Mix Telematics are a global provider of vehicle tracking and fleet management solutions serving customers across six continents. The company offers solutions to help track, protect and manage vehicles and people whilst they are out on the road. www.mixtelematics.com

National Traffic Control Centre

National Traffic Control Centre is located at the hub of the UK motorway network, providing accurate real-time traffic information to the public, minimising congestion caused by incidents, roadworks and events and giving information on diversions to help motorists avoid the queues. www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/1291.aspx

QinetiQ

QinetiQ’s experience of developing robust technology for extreme defence environments means that their GPS solutions have unrivalled levels of integrity, continuity and availability, particularly in surveillance and tracking. QinetiQ leads a multi-layered network of organisations, actively carrying out research into traffic- and highway-related issues around ITS. www.qinetiq.com

Market Opportunity

The global market for ITS is expected to grow to US$44 billion by 2010 and then to US$65 billion by 2020. Europe and the UK represent a significant opportunity for sales and for R&D activity, as the third largest market and the home of many significant technological advances.

Road transportation is a major contributor of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately 24% of total global emissions. ITS are emerging to help meet the traffic safety, transport efficiency and climate challenges. The convergence of vehicle and information technology, including ‘vehicle to vehicle’ and ‘vehicle to infrastructure’ communication is now being realised worldwide and much of the work is being researched and implemented here in the Heart of England.

The Fututre of Intelligent Transport Systems

The universities in the Heart of England are a key group conducting research into the area of ITS which will take this area forward in the future:

  • The Centre of Excellence for Product and Automotive Design (CEPAD) at Coventry University is a key partner in the European Automotive Digital Innovation Studio (EADIS) project which uses a virtual work environment to train and develop professional designers in working on the impact and application of vehicle telematics so that new technologies can be integrated into future products within the automotive industry.

  • Also based at Coventry University is the Automotive Engineering - Applied Research Group. Their TS work is focussed on the design and implementation of automotive telemetry, telematics and advanced control systems with applications in vehicle tracking, road congestion analysis and optimal traffic control.

  • The School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham is home to the Centre of Excellence in Advanced Telematics, a joint initiative with Sun MicroSystems. The Centre has worked with over 30 companies on a variety of collaborative projects, and offers subsidised development and consultancy services to firms located in the region. The Telematics Centre also serves as an interface for businesses that wish to work with research staff on joint projects.

  • The Technology & Information Group at the University of Warwick has undertaken a number of major ITS projects, including TARM which has mapped out the development of telematics applications, and the compilation of a database of telematic systems. The University has also played a key role in recent UK ITS Systems Architecture projects such as Co-Driver and facITS.

The System to System project looks at the simulation of Human- Machine Interfaces (HMI) and intelligent recognition of the environment external to the vehicle.

  • The Transport and Automotive Systems Research Centre at the University of Wolverhampton runs various ITS research projects. One of these is FRETSET (framework for modelling and evaluation of in-vehicle telematic systems) focussed on the development of the in-vehicle technical infrastructure and design tools that will support the widespread deployment of ITS/Telematics devices in commercial vehicles.

Funding and Support

There are a number programmes that can offer support to ITS companies in the region:

  • innovITS, a national centre of excellence, which seeks out inventive telematics technologies which can be integrated on a realistic scale and validated for their value to travellers and transport operators.

  • innovITS - ADVANCE is a futuristic R&D centre due to be completed in 2010. The facility will enable customers from the telecommunications, automotive and electronics industries, as well as highways authorities and operators, to develop, test and validate future transport technologies in a safe, highly controlled environment.

  • Midlands Institute of Transport, based at the University of Wolverhampton, is involved in the development of ITS devices and frameworks and provides direct access to technological and management developments for the automotive industry, transport operators and manufacturers.

Advice and Further Information

The Heart of England Inward Investment team offers the following range of free and confidential services to international and UK based companies that are considering investing, expanding or pursuing other business opportunities within the region;

  • Land and property searches and advice

  • Tailored investment proposals addressing specific information requirements

  • Regional visit programmes

  • Introductions to providers of business and professional services

  • Introductions to universities and research and technology providers

  • Information on potential sources of financial assistance and other forms of support

Find out how well connected the Heart of England is.

Find out why the Heart of England is a great place to move your company.

Find out what else the Heart of England has to offer.

Find out more about Intelligent Transport Systems and how easy it is to move your business here - call us on +44 (0)121 380 3500 or email.

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  1. The ‘Centre of Gravity’ of the UK’s automotive industry - 33% of UK car production in 2008 within 37 miles (60 km) of central Birmingham.
  2. Central and accessible location, providing quick and optimum connections to all UK vehicle assembly plants.
  3. Number one UK region for automotive employment and skills - the region has 40% of all UK automotive employment.
  4. More than 60% of UK automotive R&D (by value) is located in the region, with specialism in low carbon vehicle technologies and niche vehicles production.
  5. 1,500 dedicated automotive suppliers, with 16 of the top 20 global first tier suppliers.
  6. World-famous names include; Jaguar Land Rover, BMW, Aston Martin, JCB, Tata, Shanghai Automotive and Morgan.

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