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By Jon
Makler – May 8, 2007
Dr. Sussman at
ITS Oregon meeting.
On Friday, March 9th, the Intelligent
Transportation Society of Oregon (ITS-OR) hosted a luncheon
for Professor Joseph Sussman of the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology. Professor Sussman was in Portland to lead
the weekly transportation seminar hosted by Portland State
University. The luncheon was attended by approximately 20
members and guests, representing public, private, and academic
organizations.
Professor Sussman, who was introduced
by Dr. Robert Bertini of PSU as a "grandfather of ITS"
is a past president of ITS America and also a past chair
of the TRB Executive Committee. In 2005, he published "Perspectives
on Intelligent Transportation Systems" and was the
first Distinguished University Scholar at IVHS America in
the early nineties.
During some brief opening remarks,
Dr. Sussman talked about the ability of technology to enable
and ease the pricing of transportation systems; the importance
of managing transportation at a regional scale; and, the
importance of public-private partnerships. He also discussed
the importance of linking research activities to the work
of transportation agencies.
To the members of ITS Oregon,
he suggested that the chapter focus on cultivating young
professionals to work in the field of ITS. He also emphasized
the importance of working with forward-thinking executives
of high-tech companies, many of which are based in Oregon's
"silicon forest."
Dr. Sussman speaking
to Galen McGill, Luci Moore, Nathaniel Price, Denis Mitchell
and others as they discuss ITS strategy.
ITS Oregon steering committee
meetings are held on the third Friday of every month. Events
such as the luncheon with Dr. Sussman occur periodically.
Coming up this summer, ITS Oregon members Galen McGill and
Dean Deeter have agreed to share what they see and hear
after they return from the ITS America annual meeting in
Palm Springs, CA.
For more information, visit www.itsoregon.org
or contact Jon
Makler.
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