New Smart Transport Research Centre opening today at QUT - 1pm.
A new transport research centre will look at practical and innovative solutions to make the daily commute to work less of a hassle for Brisbane motorists.
Based at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), the Smart Transport Research Centre will tackle Brisbane's transport stress-points head-on with a series of research-based solutions to traffic congestion that can then be extended to the rest of the country.
The Smart Transport Research Centre (STRC), which opened today (Wednesday, March 23), combines expertise from QUT, Griffith University and The University of Queensland with internationally recognised government agencies and private sector partners who specialise in smart transport.
QUT Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering Executive Dean Professor Martin Betts said the research centre would integrate data from roads and public transport to develop the first holistic, real-time picture of the entire Brisbane transport network.
"Findings from Centre industry partner IBM's Australia Commuter Pain Study highlight our collective observations, with 48 per cent of commuters saying road traffic has become worse in the past three years," Professor Betts said.
"Using South-east Queensland as a case study, the Centre aims to address a nationwide need, and an increasing international need, for more reliable travel journeys that reduce both the time and cost of travel through sustainable transport options that maximise the use of existing infrastructure.
"Using simulation, modelling and visualisation techniques, the Centre will develop a platform to test and evaluate proposed traffic management strategies and tools in a real-time environment."
Professor Betts said the Centre had already brought together more than 10 researchers in traffic and control engineering, mathematics, computer science and social science, from universities, government and industry to work in four areas:
•Predictive routes: to allow people to plan the easiest, fastest route to their destination using real-time and predictive information
•Congestion reduction: to reduce motorway congestion by developing enhanced traffic management strategies such as ramp metering to minimise queues
•Fair road use: to investigate the effect of economic principles on route choice to inform strategies for more equitable road-use
•Smarter technology: to optimise public transport utility with new technologies such as dynamic management of special purpose lanes.
Chair of the Centre Cathy Ford said initial modelling of improved motorway flow showed increased capacity and safety, reductions in travel time, fuel savings of up to five per cent, and significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
"Expertise and resources from government, industry and academia are needed to undertake this kind of research, and we are proud of such a unique collaboration."
The Smart Transport Research Centre is a joint initiative of QUT, Griffith University and The University of Queensland, and also includes the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Motorways Limited, IBM Australia, Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation, Thales Australia and Brisbane Airport Corporation.
Media contact:
Ian Eckersley, QUT media manager, 07 3138 2361 or 0432 754 897 or ian.eckersley@qut.edu.au
Niki Widdowson, QUT media officer, 07 3138 1841 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au
