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Government Analytics

Smart transport in Australia

By Adrienne Valdez | 24 March 2011

Smart Transport Research Centre (STRC), based at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), will look at practical and innovative solutions to make the daily commute to work less of a hassle for Brisbane motorists.

The 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 opening of the centre follows a Commuter Pain Index released by IBM in February. The study indicated some 81 per cent of the 1,500 commuters surveyed in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide experienced travel stress.

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.

“Using South-east Queensland as a case study, STRC 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, STRC will develop a platform to test and evaluate proposed traffic management strategies and tools in a real-time environment.”

Projects at the centre would use real-time information, greater use of technology and experts 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.

The STRC 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.

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