When it comes to intelligent transport, AI is only as good as the data behind it. Susan Harris, chief executive of ITS Australia, makes the case for putting data quality, governance and integration first — and explains why that disciplined approach is already delivering results on Australian roads.
Digital technologies are reshaping transport, but it is data, that is driving the most meaningful improvements in safety, efficiency and network performance. From traffic management and incident response to protecting vulnerable road users, effective transport transformation depends on high-quality, well‑governed, harmonised and connected data that can be trusted and acted on in real time.
“AI is a powerful enabler, but it is not a shortcut”
At ITS Australia, our experience consistently shows that advanced analytics and AI only deliver public value when they are built on strong data foundations. AI is a powerful enabler, but it is not a shortcut. The real opportunity for the transport sector lies in strengthening how data is collected, governed, shared and integrated, turning information into practical intelligence that underpins decisions for operators, road users and communities.
This data first approach underpins ITS Australia’s research, advocacy and collaboration with government and industry. Our focus is not on technology for its own sake, but on ensuring emerging tools are grounded in evidence, operational reality and human‑centred design.
Evidence from Australian Research: Integrated Connected Data
The value of smart, connected data was clearly demonstrated through ITS Australia’s national research project, Integrated Connected Data for Safer, More Efficient Transport Management, delivered in partnership with the University of Melbourne and multiple state road agencies through the iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre.
This multiagency research examined how real‑ time connected vehicle and bicycle data, combined with traditional traffic inputs, can be integrated to support safer and more efficient network management. The findings were compelling. Connected data can help predict road conflicts, optimise signal timing, improve cyclist safety and provide more accurate‑ insights into traffic performance and emissions, enabling transport managers to make better decisions faster.
Importantly, the research showed that meaningful improvements do not depend on universal connectivity or massive datasets. Even relatively small samples of connected data, when well-integrated and governed, can deliver valuable operational insights. This reinforces a critical lesson for the sector: progress comes not from chasing novelty, but from integrating new data sources into existing systems in a disciplined, practical way.
Award Winning Examples of Data-Driven Safety
Recent ITS Australia Award winners provide further real-world proof of the value of smart data.
The C-ITS for Motorcycle Safety project demonstrates how existing road and traffic data can be transformed into actionable safety intelligence for vulnerable road users. “This project investigates how C-ITS technologies can connect motorcycles to infrastructure and vehicles to provide real-time safety alerts,” Mr Harsh Trivedi, Director of Safety Technology Assets at the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.
“By delivering real‑time hazard warnings to motorcyclists, the project significantly improved reaction times in high-risk scenarios such as blind intersections and forward collisions. Crucially, it shows that data‑driven safety innovation is deployable today, using infrastructure data that already exists.”
These initiatives succeed not because they are complex, but because they are grounded in clear data governance, integration and operational need.
Data can also improve decision making, and the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) created the Transport Victoria Open Data Portal to be a world-class, one-stop shop for consistent and accurate open data about the public transport and road network available to anyone who wants it, nominated in the 2026 Awards is an excellent example of sharing transport data.
Lessons from Texas and Global Practice
A recent ITS Australia study tour to Texas reinforced a clear global lesson: transport data is critical infrastructure. Success depends on long-term investment in integrated, secure platforms, not fragmented pilots. Texas is using connected and automated freight trials to fuse real-time and planning data, driving safer, more efficient, and policy-informed operations.
The tour also underscored the power of partnerships and governance. Strong collaboration between agencies, operators, and technology providers, anchored by clear use cases, enables effective data sharing. For Australia, this highlights the value of multi-agency data partnerships, scalable national platforms, and visible community benefits from coordinated, data-driven transport systems. Similar patterns are emerging across Europe and the Asia‑Pacific, where transport agencies are prioritising interoperability, data sharing and operational integration as the foundation for safer networks.
Building Trustworthy, Human-Centred Systems
As data driven technologies continue to evolve, trust remains essential. High‑quality data is nonnegotiable, but so too are strong governance, privacy protections, cybersecurity and domain‑specific validation. Just as important is the role of people.
Human centred design ensures that frontline operators, planners and responders remain central to decision making, supported – not replaced – by data driven insights. The most effective systems are hybrid ones, where human judgment and analytics complement each other.
Breaking down data silos requires sustained collaboration across public agencies, operators, technology providers, emergency services and researchers. Shared architectures for hazard, traffic and network data are critical to unlocking the next wave of safety improvements.
Moving Beyond the Hype
Smart data offers Australia a clear pathway to a safer, more efficient and more resilient transport system. But success depends on shared commitment: transparent data, strong governance, human centred design and cross-sector collaboration.
The scale and diversity of transport activity in Australia means we need to be pragmatic innovators and lean into technology and data to deliver the outcomes our community expects. Award-winning projects and further progress on data innovations will all be on show at ITS Australia Global Summit in Melbourne in September this year. The collaborative and pragmatic approach in Australia means we are open to hear from the innovations elsewhere and adapt them to our local network.
Looking beyond Australia, international research from 2023 in collaboration with ITS America and Cambridge Consultants highlights how AI can be harnessed responsibly to transform transport systems, offering lessons that complement our local data-driven approach improving safety, efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability. It stresses that responsible AI requires collaboration among planners, users, and deployers, alongside human-focused design and robust cybersecurity.
Harmonised regulatory frameworks, informed by global approaches, are essential to balance innovation with ethics and safety. Implementing these recommendations can create smarter, greener, and safer transport systems that benefit all Australians and address societal challenges.
When these foundations are in place, advanced analytics and AI move beyond hype. They become practical, everyday tools, quietly improving safety, enhancing operations and delivering better outcomes for every road user.
Susan Harris is CEO of ITS Australia
