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."
About
Cambridge Consultants
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
250 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 of companies. Altran
Technologie, which is listed on the
Paris Stock Exchange (FR:003463),
employs over 17,000 consultants in
20 countries around the world. In
2006 the group generated a turnover
of €1,495.6 million. For more
information visit: www.altran.com
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