Day 2 of the 31st ITS World Congress will welcome visitors with an Opening Ceremony at 9:45 AM – 11:00AM in the Sidney Marcus Auditorium, Level 4 featuring Joanna Pinkerton, senior vice president, HNTB, Ramin Massoumi, global director – Intelligent Mobility Services, Arcadis, Laura Chace, president and CEO, ITS America, Joost Vantomme, CEO, ERTICO – ITS Europe, Solomon Caviness, transportation commissioner, Atlanta DOT and Anna Roach, executive director, Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC).
From AI-powered public transit solutions to cybersecurity challenges in connected vehicle networks, Monday’s packed schedule brings together global transportation leaders at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
Under the congress theme “Deploying Today, Empowering Tomorrow,” the technical sessions will showcase real-world implementations and future innovations across vulnerable road user protection, urban infrastructure optimization, and strategic data-driven decision making.
Networking opportunities punctuate the day, beginning with a complimentary lunch in the exhibit hall from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, and concluding with an evening networking reception from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, sponsored by AtkinsRealis and supported by the Suzhou Transportation Bureau.
You can find the full programme on the event website, but there follows our pick of five highlights to consider as you plan your day…
• Protecting Vulnerable Road Users Takes Center Stage, 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Room A305
The International Forum session “IF1: Protecting Vulnerable Road Users” brings together a powerhouse lineup to address one of transportation’s most critical safety challenges. The session will explore how artificial intelligence and V2X communication technologies can enhance safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users through real-world deployment examples from across the globe.
Leading the discussion will be Carlos Braceras, executive director of Utah Department of Transportation, alongside Shailen Bhatt, COO US & LATAM at AtkinsRealis, and Brian Cronin, director of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office at the Federal Highway Administration.
• AI Revolutionizes Public Transit and Urban Infrastructure, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Room A312
“SIS47: AI in Action: Enhancing Public Transit and Urban Infrastructure” promises to showcase how artificial intelligence is transforming city operations. The session will examine critical data sharing models between public and private sectors. Attendees will gain insights into how AI applications are optimizing traffic flow, enhancing road safety, and improving public transit efficiency while addressing privacy and regulatory challenges.
Speakers include Doug Priest from Microsoft’s Worldwide Government division and Jon Newhard, CEO of Yunex Traffic.
• Securing Tomorrow’s Transportation Networks, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Room A314
As intelligent transportation systems become increasingly connected, cybersecurity takes the spotlight in “SIS30: Securing Tomorrow: Addressing Emerging Vulnerabilities and Threats in Intelligent Transportation Systems.” Panelists will address emerging threats from cybercriminals and state-sponsored groups, discussing how quantum computing and AI manipulation could render traditional defenses obsolete.
The session features Craig Hutton, associate assistant deputy minister of policy at Transport Canada, and Kristin White, head of transportation strategy & partnerships at Google.
• Data-Driven Decision Making for Local Agencies, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Room A311
The USDOT session “Leveraging Data for Strategic Decision-Making in Local Agencies” will demonstrate how innovative data collection and analysis are transforming infrastructure planning.
Kofi Wakhisi, planning administrator at Atlanta Regional Commission, will join other experts to showcase real-world applications from the ITS4US Program, including standardizing infrastructure condition assessments and developing performance measurement dashboards for live operational data.
• State DOT Leaders Chart Innovation Path Forward, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM |Room A305
The “State DOT Roundtable” brings together the nation’s top transportation executives for a critical discussion on innovation and federal reauthorization. The roundtable will address what states need from federal innovation agendas and how to accelerate transformative technology deployment.
Garrett Eucalitto, AASHTO president and Connecticut DOT commissioner, will be joined by Russell McMurry, commissioner of Georgia Department of Transportation, Tracy Larkin, director of Nevada DOT, Marc Williams, executive director of Texas DOT, and Carlos Braceras of Utah DOT.
Notable DOT and Public Agency Participation
Beyond the marquee roundtable, JoAnna Hand, State TSM&O software manager at Florida Department of Transportation, and Ryan McNary, chief of traffic operations and performance at Pennsylvania DOT, will share insights on data modeling and traffic operations in the “Harnessing Data for Future Mobility Innovations” session.
International collaboration takes center stage with Kristian Hedberg, minister counsellor for Mobility & Transport from the Delegation of the European Union to the United States, participating in V2X development discussions alongside Niels Peter Skov Andersen, general manager of the CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium. The global perspective extends to Asia-Pacific representation through sessions on road infrastructure support for autonomous mobility, featuring officials from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
State-level innovation is further highlighted by Caitlin Mackay, connected, automated vehicles and electrification engineer at Michigan Department of Transportation, and Benjamin McCulloch, strategic data scientist at Texas DOT, who will address the challenges of managing mixed traffic environments as automated vehicles integrate with traditional transportation networks.
Beyond the Sessions
The learning extends well beyond traditional presentations on Monday. The outdoor demonstration area will feature live technology showcases throughout the day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, including Indra’s integrated 3D-LIDAR and C-V2X system that simultaneously handles both safety applications and electronic tolling from the same roadside infrastructure. Visitors can witness real-time pedestrian detection and vehicle-to-everything communication in action.
Miovision will demonstrate their Personal Signal Assistant and connected vehicle applications, showing how video detection capabilities can identify vulnerable road users at intersections while providing Green Light Optimized Speed Advisory (GLOSA) information directly to vehicles and mobile devices.
The exhibit hall serves as a hub for international innovation spotlights, including a special presentation on Estonia’s digital mobility solutions at 1:00 PM in the Transportation Hub. The session “Small and Wired: How Estonia’s Fully Digital Environment and Global Mindset Foster Innovation and Smart Solutions” will showcase how the digitally-advanced nation has deployed autonomous shuttles, intelligent parking systems, and scalable urban fleet models.
WSP will host a roundtable discussion from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM exploring global trends in intelligent mobility, covering the acceleration of autonomous vehicles, the evolution of shared services, and how transportation management centers are adapting to reduced incidents through better technology integration.
Images: UNIS Vienna Creative Commons via Flickr, AdobeStock
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