IT-TRANS expands conference programme

SECUR.IT.Y places a spotlight on security issues

With a significantly expanded conference programme, IT-TRANS – International Conference and Exhibition on IT Solutions for Public Transport – will open its doors for the fourth time from 18 to 20 February 2014.

For the first time a total of eleven conference sessions will be held, giving experts from around the world an opportunity to demonstrate how information technology is making public transport safer, smarter and more efficient. The topic of security can be found on the conference programme for the first time. Under the heading “SECUR.IT.Y”, current issues related to security will be covered in three sessions.

"Security is key to attractive service. Although public transport is generally very safe, passengers who feel that their personal safety is at risk may choose not to use the system. On the other hand fear of assault is a demotivating factor for staff. Security therefore plays an important role in helping public transport to become the mode of choice for today’s citizens. Good levels of security can be achieved by a combination of well-trained staff, solid procedures and policies, and of course technology. IT technologies for security in particular are fundamental to public transport security", says Lindsey Mancini, security expert at the International Association of Public Transport (UITP). UITP holds the primary responsibility for the conference programme. The association organises IT-TRANS jointly with Karlsruher Messe- und Kongress-GmbH.

"At this IT-TRANS, a high-level plenary session will cover some of the key issues at stake, which will then be explored in dedicated sessions throughout the event. The session ‘Cyber Security – the big ‘unknown’’ points out that cyber security is one of the major challenges for tomorrow's public transport business. Furthermore, the session ‘Video Surveillance – a cornerstone of public transport security’ highlights the ever-promising progress in intelligent systems for video surveillance. The session ‘Computer-Based Training (CBT) – come and play’ emphasizes that well-trained staff is the biggest asset in security and new generations of CBT for security make training more flexible and cost-efficient”, continues Mancini, summarizing the three sessions which will address the issue.

Investment in modern security technology pays off – as can be seen in the example of Hamburger Hochbahn, which saw an almost 50-percent decrease in graffiti and vandalism after installing a video surveillance system in its underground trains. This leads to several million euros in annual savings on cleaning and repair costs.

CEO Day: Blazing trails for decision makers on day one

CEO Day is another new highlight on the IT-TRANS conference programme. The first day of the conference, 18 February 2014, will feature trailblazing and pioneering presentations aimed particularly at decision makers in transport companies and traffic planners from public authorities. "Where to go from here?", "SECUR.IT.Y" and "Information Technology" are the titles of the sessions scheduled for this day.

Solutions for "smart" passengers and efficient systems

In increasing numbers, people around the world are using mobile devices to obtain information and communicate quickly via social networks. As passengers they are placing new demands on the use of public transport. The IT-TRANS conference programme offers attractive sessions for “smart” passengers, such as “Social Media Dynamics” and “Travel Information”. Additional sessions will look at solutions for interoperable e-ticketing and control systems for intermodal transport systems. Back by popular demand, design workshops will again be featured in the programme. Here the focus will be on presenting passenger information in an appropriate manner for the target group.

Information: IT-TRANS premiered in Karlsruhe in 2008. Within a short period the event, which is held every two years, has succeeded in becoming the most important platform for IT solutions for public transport worldwide, www.it-trans.org, twitter.com/IT_TRANS