Big data project to fast-track transport planning

The plethora of Australian vehicle traffic data collected via satellite could soon be put to use by the Australian Government to help plan for future investments towards transport infrastructure.

Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Paul Fletcher, has released the terms of reference for the ‘Data Collection and Dissemination Plan’ project, with a draft plan scheduled for release within six months.

The project was launched this week in Sydney at an event hosted by the SMART Infrastructure Facility, from the University of Wollongong. This initiative forms part of the Australian Government’s response to Infrastructure Australia’s Australian Infrastructure Plan.

“Technology is having a transformative effect on transport and infrastructure and the opportunities provided by data are immense,” Mr. Fletcher said. “This project—which involves the federal, state and territory governments, and representatives from the transport sector and academia—will examine how this wealth of big data information can be used to better inform the decision-making process.”

The Australian Government is committed to utilising this emerging technology to help address the future infrastructure needs of Australia’s growing population.

“By providing information on freight routes, speeds and fleet composition, big data has the potential to improve the productive capacity of both current and future transport networks,” Mr. Fletcher said.

The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics will lead the project, overseen by a Steering Group comprising industry, academia and government representatives.