14^th Transportation Working Group Meeting
Seoul, October 19-23, 1998

Review of existing projects
ITS Project

APEC Transportation Working Group-14^th Meeting-Seoul, Republic Of Korea

ITS Special Interest Group Meeting-19 October 1998

APEC Transportation Working Group Research Project-Development of a Framework of Standards for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

BACKGROUND

• At the 8^th Transportation Working Group (TPT-WG) meeting in Sydney in 1995, the ITS Special Interest Group (ITS-SIG) was formed, aiming to facilitate the exchange of information on ITS.

• In June 1997, in recognition of the potential benefits ITS has to offer transport, APEC Transportation Ministers endorsed an Australian proposal to develop a framework of standards for ITS implementation. Ministers requested the TPT-WG to expand its activities to include new developments in infrastructure technology and to develop a framework of standards for the initial application of ITS to vehicle identification, safety, location and tolling. The group was requested to report by the end of 1998.

• The project was introduced at the 12^th TPT-WG meeting in Chinese Taipei in September 1997. The meeting accepted Australia’s offer to lead the project.

• The ITS-SIG meeting in Berlin in October 1997 clarified the project aims. The goal of the project, in conformity with Ministers’ directions, is to identify the extent of ITS implementation, and to develop a framework to achieve interoperability, where differences in standards would create inefficiencies and/or have adverse impacts on transport safety and the environment.

• The ITS-SIG meeting in Mexico in April 1998 agreed to focus on a definable list of key ITS applications, where a high degree of interoperability across APEC Members, achieved through a relevant framework of standards, would facilitate the beneficial use of ITS to help solve major APEC transport problems.

• The Mexico meeting also agreed that the final report to Ministers should include: (1) a protocol on how Member Economies would cooperate to achieve a framework of standards and improve cooperation on ITS issues, and (2) a draft Ministerial Vision Statement on APEC ITS Cooperation for consideration by Ministers.

ISSUES DISCUSSED

The ITS-SIG met on 19 October 1998, as part of the APEC TPT-WG meeting in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The following Economies were represented at the meeting:

• Australia
• Brunei/Darussalam
• Canada
• Japan
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Peoples Republic of China
• Philippines
• Republic of Korea
• Singapore
• Thailand
• United States of America.

The focus of discussion among Member Economies was the draft Report to APEC Transportation Ministers on a Framework of Standards for ITS. In relation to this Report, Member Economies discussed the elements of ITS cooperation (set out mainly in the Protocol for the Development of a Framework of ITS Standards for APEC, and in the draft Ministerial Vision Statement) and also the Economy-specific information (set out in Appendices to the proposed Report), which summarise current levels of ITS implementation and standards-development by Member Economies.

OUTCOMES

The meeting reached the following major outcomes

1. Following positive discussion, the body of the Report to APEC Transportation Ministers on a Framework of Standards for ITS, was agreed (attached). This includes the text of both the ‘Protocol for the Development of a Framework of ITS Standards for APEC’ and the ‘Ministerial Vision Statement on Cooperative Development of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in the APEC Region’.
   
2. In relation to the Economy-specific Appendices to the Report, which contain information on the current levels of ITS implementation and standards development by Member Economies, it was agreed that those Member Economies which wished to update their input, should provide it to the Chair of the ITS-SIG by 13 November 1998, at the latest.
   
3. In summary, the Report to Ministers proposes Member Economies agreeing: to work with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and other international standards-making bodies to the maximum practicable extent; to adopt ISO standards, where they are consistent with the needs and priorities of APEC; to consult on ITS developments which have major implications for other Member Economies; to promote ITS trade, best practice models, technology transfer and research; and to establish an APEC ITS Group to facilitate this cooperation and to further develop ITS cooperation between Member Economies.
   
4. The meeting also discussed some important aspects of how the proposed APEC ITS Group would function. Member Economies agreed that this Group should replace the current ITS Special Interest Group, following acceptance of the ITS-SIG’s Report by Transportation Ministers. In the interim, the ITS-SIG would continue to function, operating under the terms of the proposed APEC ITS Group. Initial tasks would include exploratory liaison with TC204 and other ITS organisations. Procedures to agree a new Chair of the Group will also be progressed, with the objective of the new Chair being agreed prior to the next APEC TPT WG meeting.

RECOMMENDATION

5. That the ITS Special Interest Group’s Report, following agreement of the Appendices, be forwarded, by the end of 1998, to APEC Transportation Ministers for their consideration.

This page was last updated on 12 March, 2008