24th April 2007

Information technology holds key to faster and predictable UK road journeys, says new transport director

Cambridge Consultants has appointed Dr Liz Orme as Director of Transport, where she will be responsible for the firm's intelligent transport systems activities. She rejoins Cambridge Consultants after seven years in senior transport consulting roles with PA Consulting Group and Arthur D Little. For the past year, Liz Orme has been seconded to head up the Highways Agency's National Intelligence Unit. Prior to this, she was programme manager and advisor to the DfT on a project to deliver interoperable ticketing across London.

A key target for Liz Orme in her new role is to exploit the unique combination of skills that Cambridge Consultants has in intelligent road transport systems and the enabling technologies required to improve operational performance. Intelligent upgrades to roadside network infrastructure, combined with better information links with on-road service providers and road users could, she believes, substantially enhance the efficiency and predictability of UK road journeys.

"It's impossible to build our way out of the road congestion crisis, and any move towards road charging has to be carefully managed to avoid damaging national competitiveness," says Orme. "Smarter, integrated systems are undoubtedly a major platform for progress, and the UK road network alone is large enough to justify such a development."

"The systems in use today at the roadside and in control centres are piecemeal, and relatively low-tech when contrasted against, say, the technology behind mobile phone usage," notes Orme. "Today's electronics, satellite, radar and wireless technologies have the potential to improve the quality of information gathering, leading to better intelligence on which decisions can be made by both service providers and drivers. The result is intelligence capable of making our road journeys more reliable."

She adds: "There is huge scope for making the UK's road network more efficient. The technologies to actively combat the effects of congestion exist, and the case for investment is straightforward. Development costs would be paid back many times over by savings in travel time, costs and emissions. Engineering a new generation of open and accessible roadside information networks will help to drive the UK's future economic growth."

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Notes for editors:

Cambridge Consultants develops breakthrough products, creates and licenses intellectual property, and provides business consultancy in technology critical issues for clients worldwide. For nearly 50 years, the company has enabled its clients to turn business opportunities into commercial successes, whether launching first-to-market products, entering new markets or expanding existing markets through the introduction of new technologies.

With a team of over 270 engineers, designers, scientists and consultants, in offices in Cambridge (UK) and Boston (USA), Cambridge Consultants offers solutions across a diverse range of industries including medical technology, industrial and consumer products, automotive, transport, energy and wireless communications. For more information visit: www.CambridgeConsultants.com

Cambridge Consultants is part of the Altran group. Altran Technologies, which is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange (FR:003463), employs over 16,000 consultants in 20 countries around the world. In 2007 the group generated a turnover of €1,591.4 million. For more information visit: www.altran.com

For further information:

Cambridge Consultants Ltd

Patrick Pordage
Marketing Communications Director
Tel: +44 1223 420024
Patrick.Pordage@CambridgeConsultants.com