ITS (UK) Smart Environment Interest Group Conference - Newcastle University

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Some History

The ITS (UK) Smart Environment Interest Group was launched back in 2001 at a time when research was producing evidence of the deleterious effect of congestion on air quality and the main criteria when putting together an investment business case were safety, network efficiency and low cost.

Ten years on and many Local Authorities have declared Air Quality Management Areas, mainly caused by heavily trafficked streets, and intelligent transport systems and in-vehicle technologies are playing an important role in reducing pollution to acceptable levels.

However, despite these efforts there is still much to do:  the House of Commons Air Quality – Environment Audit Committee reported in 2010 that up to 50,000 deaths in the UK annually have air pollution as a contributory factor. However, air pollution is not the only impact on the environment of our compulsion to travel: major roads cause severance and visual intrusion; evidence has emerged of the deleterious effect on health of traffic noise; carbon emissions are threatening our planet; etc.

In response mandatory limits have been set to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80% over 1990 by 2050 but can these be achieved whilst also delivering good air quality for improved health; managing the expectations of a population set to rise from 60M to 80M by 2050; maintaining economic growth and social inclusion?

The planned topics for the third Smart Environment Interest Group Conference this year aim to open up the wider debate and look at the role of ITS in delivering sustainability. The conference goal is to encourage ‘out of the box’ thinking to explore radical new approaches appropriate to the scale of the problems faced by Local Authorities. It is expected that this will require a long term vision and a strategic approach, with integrated vehicle and systems solutions driven by people changing behaviour and the introduction of novel business initiatives. The ITS(UK) strapline “Better transport through technology” may become “A better life through transport technology”.

1. Health Impacts of Air Pollution and Noise from transport-  tbc Health Protection Agency
2. Current Environmental Issues- tbc Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
3. Delivery of the air quality agenda- Ian Forbes Head, Air Quality  Department for Transport
4. Policies for improving the Environmental Performance of the Transport Sector for Sustainability  Graham Pendlebury Director, Greener Transport & International, Department for Transport

1. Assessing the Role of Alternative Fuels and Power Trains in a Future Sustainable Road Transport System- Marcello Contestabile , Research Fellow  at  Imperial College 
2. Networks- Application of Infrastructure to Vehicle Systems to Improve Air Quality - Bart van Arem, TU Delft
3. People  factors - Engaging the Public in understanding and delivering air quality improvements Paul Farrell, Liverpool City Council

1. The Consideration of Health Impacts from Global Climate change in English and German Local Spatial plans Christoph Schmidt  Research Associate, School of Environmental Sciences’ People Place and Space Research Liverpool University
2. An Evaluation tool for Carbon, Air ality and Health Impacts of Intelligent Transport Systems Dr Anil Namdeo Senior Lecturer Newcastle University