Author: Ryan Hall
We are all familiar with the phrase: “Think globally, act locally.” This popular expression reflects the notion that while we should be aware of global concerns—preserving the environment, maintaining peace, or addressing hunger—we should try to act locally by helping our neighbors or improving our town. In many instances, this is sage advice.
Sometimes, however, we are allowed to both think and act globally. Developing technologies that contribute meaningfully to reducing the staggeringly high roadway fatalities worldwide is that opportunity.
The World Health Organization estimates that 1.35 million lives were lost last year in traffic accidents, many of which could have been avoided if connected vehicle technologies were in play. The widescale deployment of connected vehicle and infrastructure technologies promises to reduce these fatalities by nearly 80%.
Making this a reality requires global cooperation by engineers and experts to develop, test, and deploy these potentially lifesaving technologies. We can only address problems of this scale and complexity by working together across borders and cultures.
The production of connected vehicle technologies is itself a microcosm of globalization. Thankfully, the ITS industry is well-positioned to take up this challenge. In one single C-V2X roadside unit (RSU), one might find a chipset designed in Israel, with a software stack developed in India, on a module fabricated in Taiwan, integrated into a radio built in Korea, with security certificates developed in Canada, tested at a lab in Spain, and installed at an intersection in the United States.
OmniAir Consortium’s diverse membership, in many ways, reflects these globalized supply chains and the growing demand for advanced transportation safety technologies around the world.
Engineers and transportation professionals from every corner of the globe actively contribute to developing OmniAir’s third-party testing and certification programs. We rely on this diverse membership—drawn from different backgrounds, often from different continents—to work together to analyze standards, write program scopes, and define test cases.
The great strides we have made in advancing testing and certification programs are a direct result of the contributions of OmniAir’s global membership. This cooperation has allowed OmniAir to develop the world’s only full-stack, independent, third-party testing and certification program for C-V2X radios, just as we did for DSRC-V2X several years ago.
We are continuing to push the envelope—developing tests for V2X safety applications, new programs for modules, and even programs for V2X-based payments and road usage charge (RUC) technologies.
In less than two weeks, engineers and transportation technology experts from across Europe, Asia, and the Americas will gather at Florida’s SunTrax for our OmniAir Florida Plugfest, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, and the University of Florida Transportation Institute, for a week-long testing event, that will help to ensure V2X radios are ready for deployment, and certification.
In our current time, where we are divided and external forces are pushing us apart, with international tension at an all-time high, it is refreshing to consider what we can accomplish together to improve transportation safety.
If we succeed in this endeavor, think about what other challenges we might overcome and leave a legacy we will leave behind by simply working together.
Jason M. Conley, Executive Director
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April 18, 2023 5:12PM
FDOT Secretary and Kapsch CEO to Deliver Keynote Addresses at OmniAir Florida Plugfest
Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue and Kapsch TrafficCom AG, Chief Executive Officer Georg Kapsch will offer keynote remarks at the OmniAir Florida Plugfest: Connected Mobility Workshop on May 3 at the SunTrax Test Facility in Auburndale, Florida.
The Honorable Jared W. Perdue, P.E.,
Secretary Florida Department of Transportation
Jared W. Perdue was named Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) by Governor Ron DeSantis on April 7, 2022. As Secretary, Perdue oversees the lead agency in state government with the statutory responsibility to coordinate the planning and development of a safe, viable, and balanced transportation system serving all state regions and to assure the compatibility of all components, including multimodal facilities.
Georg Kapsch, CEO of Kapsch TraffiCom AG
Georg Kapsch is the Chief Executive Officer of Kapsch TrafficCom AG. Kapsch TrafficCom is a globally renowned provider of transportation solutions for sustainable mobility with successful projects in more than 50 countries. Innovative solutions in the application fields of tolling, tolling services, traffic management, and demand management contribute to a healthy world without congestion.
“We are honored to welcome these distinguished keynote presenters at this year’s OmniAir Plugfest,” said Jason Conley, Executive Director of OmniAir Consortium. “We look forward to hearing their compelling visions on the future of transportation and connected mobility.”
OmniAir’s Florida Plugfest, hosted in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, and the University of Florida Transportation Institute, will take place the first week of May at the SunTrax Test Facility in Auburndale, Florida.
OmniAir Plugfests are the premiere testing event for connected vehicle technologies.
Connected vehicle technology providers worldwide will bring C-V2X devices for a week of interoperability, conformance, security testing, and laboratory and field environments.
Our Connected Mobility Workshop will take place on May 3. It will feature speakers and panels from leading transportation technology experts from government, industry, and academia. For more information or to register, please visit our event website.
About OmniAir Consortium
OmniAir Consortium is the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification for ITS, tolling, and connected vehicles. OmniAir’s membership includes public agencies, private companies, research institutions, and independent test laboratories.
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April 5, 2023 3:40PM
OmniAir Announces Speakers for Florida Plugfest – Connected Mobility Workshop
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
OmniAir Consortium® today announced the full line-up for its 2023 Connected Mobility Workshop on Wednesday, May 3 in Auburndale, Florida.
This one-of-a-kind event, hosted in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, and the University of Florida Transportation Institute, will feature leading experts from around the world to discuss the latest in connected vehicle research, testing, and deployment.
Keynote presentations from The Honorable Jared W. Perdue, P.E., Secretary Florida Department of Transportation, and Georg Kapsch, CEO of Kapsch TraffiCom AG will headline the workshop.
In addition, we have a fantastic lineup of speakers and panel presentations from key stakeholder organizations including:
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- Florida Department of Transportation
- Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
- E-ZPass Group
and leading transportation technology experts from government, industry, and academia.
Attendees will have the opportunity for tours and demonstrations of advanced connected vehicle technology, and Plugfest testing.
The Connected Mobility Workshop will take place in conjunction with the OmniAir Florida Plugfest, hosted at the world-class SunTrax Test Facility in Auburndale, Florida.
Interested parties are encouraged to register now, as seating capacity is limited.
Welcome
Jason M. Conley
Executive Director of OmniAir Consortium
Opening Remarks
Steve Novosad
Assistant Vice President, HNTB Corporation & Chair, OmniAir Consortium Board of Directors
Opening Remarks
Florida DOT
Morning keynote
The Honorable Jared W. Perdue, P.E.
Secretary Florida Department of Transportation (Invited)
Panel 1: Advances in V2X Implementation and Emerging Technologies in Florida
Moderator: Trey Tillander
Executive Director of Transportation Technology, Florida Department of Transportation
Panelists
Panel 2: V2X Testing and Certification Around the World
Moderator: Mike Brown
Institute Engineer at Southwest Research Institute and Chair of OmniAir Consortium Coordinating Council
Panelists
A National Strategy for V2X Deployment
Suzanne Sloan
Industry Analyst, U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe Center
Fireside Chat: Tolling, Testing, and Interoperability
PJ Wilkins
Executive Director at E-ZPass Group & IAG Service Corporation
Nicola Liquori
Turnpike Enterprise Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer at the Florida Department of Transportation
Afternoon Keynote Presentation
Georg Kapsch
Chief Executive Officer of Kapsch TrafficCom AG
Panel 3: Advanced V2X Use Cases & Applications: Beyond Day One
Moderator: Dr. Jim Lansford
Director, Technical Standards at Qualcomm
Panelists
Taiwan Plugfest Announcement and MOU Signing
Alex Jeng
Secretary-General of Taiwan Telematics Industry Association (TTIA)
Jason M. Conley
Executive Director of OmniAir Consortium
Concluding Remarks: V2X Today & Tomorrow: A View from the U.S. Department of Transportation
Carl Andersen
Technical Director, Operations R&D, Federal Highway Administration
Tour of SunTrax & Technology Demonstrations by
About OmniAir Consortium
OmniAir Consortium is the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification for ITS, tolling, and connected vehicles. OmniAir’s membership includes public agencies, private companies, research institutions, and independent test laboratories.
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March 24, 2023 2:08PM
OmniAir Welcomes Brandmotion as our Newest Member
OmniAir Consortium®, the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification for ITS, tolling, and connected vehicles, announces that Brandmotion has joined OmniAir Consortium as an Associate Level Member.
Brandmotion was founded in 2005 with a vision to be the world’s premier provider of vehicle integration solutions. Living up to that vision, Brandmotion has launched 42 CV deployments since 2016 with over 5000 vehicles.
Brandmotion’s approach goes beyond the installation of OBUs but also includes application development, HMI and UI development, over-the-air updates, and workforce training. They also manage the projects from start to finish with dedicated project managers with a long history and knowledge base of CV technology and deployments.
“We are excited that a vehicle integrator and deployer of Brandmotion’s caliber and experience in deploying connected vehicle technology for fleets, government agencies, and vehicle developers has joined OmniAir,” said Jason Conley, Executive Director for OmniAir. “As we add committed members to our consortium, we are one step closer to providing connected vehicle technology that promises to reduce road-related deaths by 80 percent.”
OmniAir offers independent, third-party testing and certification for tolling and connected vehicles, including DSRC and C-V2X (LTE-V2X PC5) for C-V2X OBUs, RSUs, and modules.
radios. For information about our certification programs and readiness testing events, visit our website at www.omniair.org.
About OmniAir Consortium
OmniAir Consortium is the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification for ITS, tolling, and connected vehicles. OmniAir’s membership includes public agencies, private companies, research institutions, and independent test laboratories.
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March 9, 2023 2:04PM
OmniAir Announces the First 12 Test Stations for the Florida Plugfest
OmniAir Consortium®, the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification for ITS, tolling, and connected vehicles, announces the first 12 test station providers for our upcoming OmniAir Florida Plugfest, at the world-class SunTrax Test Facility in Auburndale, FL.
For this Plugfest, OmniAir® is partnering with the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, and the University of Florida Transportation Institute for the best, most comprehensive OmniAir Plugfest yet!
With a dozen secured test station providers that include leading test laboratories, test equipment providers and PKI security providers, we will be able to offer devices under test with unparalleled access to the latest test equipment and experts in testing.
Test Laboratories
- DEKRA
- TTA
- TÜV Rheinland
- University of Florida Transportation Institute
Test Equipment
- Keysight
- Iteris
- SEA/NI
- Wayties
PKI Security
- Blackberry
- INTEGRITY Security Services
- Microsec
- SaeSol Tech
“OmniAir is committed to ensuring the readiness of C-V2X technology for mass deployment through testing and certification,” said Jason Conley, Executive Director of OmniAir Consortium. “This Plugfest will bring together leading test laboratories, test equipment providers, and government partners to offer the most comprehensive connected mobility testing event yet.”
The OmniAir Florida Plugfest will test LTE-V2X (C-V2X PC5) devices for conformance, interoperability, and security in laboratory and field environments. Devices under test will have access to comprehensive for nearly 300 test cases and a variety of applications provided by OmniAir staff, member test laboratories, test equipment, and PKI provider personnel.
If you are planning on attending, please register as soon as possible. Plugfest planning meetings are already taking place for registered guests. If you would like to be added or add a colleague to the planning meetings, email Ryan Hall, Vice President of Business Development.
Register before March 15 to take advantage of Early Bird pricing!
About OmniAir Consortium
OmniAir Consortium is the leading industry association promoting interoperability and certification for ITS, tolling, and Connected Vehicles. OmniAir’s membership includes public agencies, private companies, research institutions, and independent test laboratories. Learn more about OmniAir at www.omniair.org.