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Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, today inaugurated the 30th edition of the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress and Exhibition, organised by the Intelligent Transport Organisation of Europe (ERTICO), in collaboration with the Intelligent Transport Corporation of America (ITS America) and its counterpart in Asia-Pacific (ITS Asia-Pacific). The event is being held for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa region, under the theme: “Mobility Enhanced by Intelligent Transport Systems”. It will be hosted by Dubai from 16 to 20 September 2024, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, and will attract 20,000 participants and visitors from 100 countries, the highest number of attendees in previous sessions of the conference, more than 800 speakers from international experts and decision-makers in sustainable mobility, 200 scientific and dialogue sessions, and the participation of 500 exhibitors representing major international companies in Smart mobility field.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was received by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and Mr. Angelos Ameditis, Managing Director of ERTICO Europe.
The opening was attended by a number of senior officials, a crowd of global experts in the field of intelligent transportation, speakers from the global community of intelligent transportation systems, representatives of institutions, sectors, vehicle manufacturers, service providers and suppliers, communications, technical solutions developers, researchers and academics, in addition to a group of government and ministries representatives from all over the world.
His Highness watched a visual presentation on intelligent transportation systems and the previous sessions of the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) World Congress and Exhibition, which represents a summit for the future of global mobility and a gathering point for senior international decision-makers from all over the world for a better global mobility future.
Scientific revolutions
His Highness listened to a speech by Dr. Michio Kaku, a global expert in futurology and theoretical physics, and the keynote speaker at the conference, in which he stressed the importance of adopting scientific research, theories, visions and future ideas, especially those issued by scientists, which could change the course of world history and bring about radical transformations in prevailing ideas, even if they initially seem strange and impractical.
He stressed that the next revolution will be in the field of artificial intelligence, and that it will occur in trade, money, transportation, and all aspects of our lives, and that, as is the case with all revolutions, the people who can control these trends will succeed.
Digital mural
His Highness viewed a digital mural that included facts and figures about the World Intelligent Transport Systems Conference and Exhibition during its previous sessions, since sponsoring the event in 1990 and its first launch in 1994, and establishing a platform for technology, innovation, cooperation and global coordination for a better future for smart and sustainable transportation, through its previous sessions in a number of global cities, up to the current session hosted by Dubai, which is one of the largest sessions in terms of attendance, participation and exhibiting companies. Then, the attendees took a group photo with His Highness, expressing their appreciation for his honoring the opening of the conference.
His Highness then toured the World Intelligent Transport Systems Exhibition accompanying the conference, in which about 500 exhibitors from 100 cities representing major global companies in the field of smart mobility are participating. They presented the latest scientific innovations in the field of smart mobility over an area of 15 thousand meters, and a platform for emerging entrepreneurs to present their business ideas and participate in valuable communication opportunities with exhibitors.
The smartest city
HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), expressed his happiness at Dubai and the RTA hosting this global event in its 30th edition, for the first time in the history of the region. It is the largest and most important international forum in the field of intelligent transportation systems and digital solutions in the fields of traffic, roads and transportation. It provides an ideal platform for exchanging views on the future of mobility and the impact of technology on transportation investments among global thought leaders in the field of transportation, industry experts and decision-makers from all over the world.
His Excellency said: “Hosting this conference comes in light of the great achievements made by the Emirate of Dubai in the field of intelligent transportation systems, through the smart projects portfolio implemented by the Authority in the context of anticipating the future, which included smart control centres for public transportation systems, self-driving transportation, and the enablers of the Fourth Industrial Revolution such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence applications, machine learning, big data, the use of robots, and electric energy technologies and solutions in transportation.”
His Excellency stressed that the Roads and Transport Authority is keeping pace with the future trends of the Dubai Government in the transformation to smart, innovative and sustainable cities that use the latest communication technologies and modern digital means, as the Authority is moving forward in implementing the Dubai Smart Self-Driving Mobility Strategy, to convert 25% of the total transportation trips in Dubai to smart self-driving trips by 2030.
Easy sustainable transportation
“Dubai has taken the lead in transforming the city’s transport infrastructure by working towards easy and sustainable transport that includes the adoption of the latest innovative technologies,” said Joost Fantom, CEO of ERTICO Europe.
He added: “The World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems will be held in Dubai this year, in its 30th session, with the attendance of transportation sector leaders from all over the world, providing an opportunity for the smart mobility community to present their best and latest in this field.”
4 axes
Over the five days of the conference and through more than 200 diverse sessions of official events, international and regional forums and technical sessions, participants will discuss four important main themes: urban mobility, innovation in the field of transportation and logistics, sustainable mobility, and self-driving mobility. The “Urban Mobility” theme discusses topics related to regulatory challenges for transportation authorities, an easy transportation experience, safe, sustainable and efficient transportation, data and digital transformation, smart infrastructure, and the next generation of traffic management and control systems in urban areas.
The second axis, “Innovation in the field of transportation and logistics services,” discusses topics related to big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, first and last mile solutions, smart freight movement, all means of land, air, sea, trains, information and communication technologies, and other vital topics.
The third theme of the conference, “Sustainable Mobility,” focuses on topics including: “Systems and Solutions to Support Sustainable Cities,” electricity and alternative fuels, challenges of adopting sustainable mobility plans, energy efficiency systems, and life cycle assessments. Meanwhile, the “Self-Driving Mobility” theme raises a number of discussions related to organization and management, automated transportation by air, sea, and trains, self-driving systems, high-resolution mapping, business models, information and communication technologies, impact assessment, and security considerations.
General sessions
During the conference days, participants will discuss a number of important topics that clearly embody the conference’s main slogan: “Mobility Enhanced by Intelligent Transport Systems”, including: Innovations across Horizons: Automated transport on water, rail, airspace and beyond; Connected Horizons: Communication, Cybersecurity and 5G in Transport; Leading Change: Government Policies, Sustainable Planning and Future Fuels; Activating the Future: Innovations in Sustainable Mobility and Smart Systems; Revolutionizing Mobility: Customer-Centered Technology and Cybersecurity Standards; Securing Tomorrow’s Journeys: Dealing with Cyber Challenges in Mobility; Sailing Towards Tomorrow: Big Data, Digital Transformation and Smart Technologies in Urban Mobility; Urban Mobility Innovation: Digitization and Smart Infrastructure; Accelerating Mobility Transformation towards Smarter and Sustainable Cities; and the Importance of Harnessing Cities to Create Smart, Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Transport Systems that Improve Traffic Flow, Reduce Congestion, Reduce Emissions and Enhance Comprehensive Urban Sustainability.
Future Mobility Summit
The ITS World Congress & Exhibition, an exclusive summit for the future of global mobility, brings together senior international decision-makers from across the EMEA, APAC and America regions, including ministerial and government representatives, mayors and regional authorities, as well as selected industry experts to engage in important discussions aimed at bringing together key stakeholders in sustainable mobility.
Exceptional exhibition
The conference includes a state-of-the-art hall to showcase the latest innovations and technologies in intelligent transportation systems from around the world, covering an area of approximately 15,000 square meters, with the participation of approximately 500 exhibitors from 100 countries, providing attendees with practical experiences of advanced technologies that form a more sustainable, smarter and cleaner transportation ecosystem. The exhibition also includes exciting topics such as 3D displays of drone simulations, intelligent traffic management systems, and artificial intelligence in the field of transportation.
The Dubai session offers a distinctive addition to the exhibition through: (Startup Village), where each start-up company has a dedicated exhibition pavilion with an area of approximately 4 square meters, which is a vital platform for emerging entrepreneurs to present their business ideas, and participate in valuable networking opportunities with exhibitors.
Keynote Speakers
The conference features a roster of distinguished keynote speakers including: Roger Millar, Secretary of Transportation, Washington State Department of Transportation; Susanna Zammataro, Director General, International Road Federation (IRF); Ioannis Kivaras, Secretary General of Transportation, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Greece; Eric Dietz, President and CEO, Michelin Mobility Intelligence Companies; Abbas Muhaddis, President and CEO, Umovity; and Dr. Michio Kaku, Futurist and Physicist.
