BULLETIN BOARD

University of Leicester and iFestival Host Workshops on Integrated Applications for Enhanced Mobility

European Space Agency and University of Leicester to hold workshop on 13 April 2010

Published 11 March 2010

On 13th and 14th April 2010, ESA and the Enterprise and Business Development office at the University of Leicester in the UK will hold two IAP workshops on Enhanced Mobility - the focus of the new Ambassador Platform hosted by the ESA centre at Harwell in Oxfordshire.

The first event takes place at the University of Leicester and is aimed at academics from the three local universities of Leicester, De Montfort and Loughborough who specialise in the fields of transport and/or personal mobility, plus any industry partners and user groups they are currently working with.

The second event, at the National Space Centre, is part of the iFestival (the UK’s largest innovation festival). It will present several case studies illustrating how integrated applications can address challenges in the transport sector. It is open to all interested parties (e.g. local authorities, transport companies and infrastructure operators, industry suppliers, service providers and transport user groups).

Both events will start with a plenary session in which ESA will provide a general introduction to the Integrated Applications Promotion programme, covering its aims, structure & funding mechanisms. This will be followed by a presentation focusing on Intelligent Transport and Personal Mobility, the main themes of the new Ambassador Platform in the UK. Both talks will be followed by Q&A and an open discussion. After lunch there will be an opportunity for one-on-one sessions, which may be scheduled in advance through the event organisers.

The aim is to generate ideas beneficial to the set up of activities in the frame of the IAP programme. The ESA representatives are particularly interested in meeting people who are new to working with the agency and its funding mechanisms. The workshop offers all those involved in the transport industry (whether from industry, academia or user communities), an insight to the main challenges and opportunities that could be addressed by integrated space applications, whether for road, rail, sea or air transport. Examples include the implementation of intelligent routing; the integration of multiple data collection systems for informed incident management; reductions in empty and part loads; intelligent transport systems to improve fuel efficiency; the tracking and management of dangerous and high value cargoes; development of integrated inter-modal transport; and the development of common information resources.

Registration for both events is by e-mail or phone to: Suzanne Coates, Regional Programmes Executive, Enterprise and Business Development, University of Leicester tel. +44 (0)116 2523390 or email sc389@le.ac.uk