An interview with Maria João Nicolau, researcher and specialist in Intelligent Transport Systems at the CCG/ZGDV, on developing this competence and its applicability in key sectors for more connected, autonomous and intelligent mobility.

 

How is competence in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) characterised in the context of the GCC/ZGDV, and how has it been developed?

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) integrate information and communication technologies to improve urban mobility, making it safer, more efficient and sustainable. At the centre of this competence are V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communications and vehicular networks, which enable the exchange of data in real time between vehicles, infrastructures and road users. These networks, supported by technologies such as 5G, software-defined networks (SDN) and edge computing, are essential for the continuous and safe operation of ITS.

At CCG/ZGDV, this competence has been consolidated through applied research projects in collaboration with industry. One is PAC (Portugal AutoCluster for the Future), a mobilising programme that addressed emerging challenges in urban mobility, sustainability and digital transformation.

 

What are the sectors in which this expertise is applied, and how does it contribute to each other?

ITS directly applies to the automotive industry, smart cities, logistics and civil protection. In the automotive sector, they enable driving assistance systems, vehicle coordination, and active safety. In the urban context, they optimise traffic and promote sustainable mobility. In logistics, they make it possible to monitor traffic in real time and manage fleets efficiently. In civil protection, they contribute to faster and more coordinated responses in emergency scenarios.

 

What is the future vision for ITS and vehicular networks, and what role can the CCG/ZGDV play in this evolution?

Vehicular networks will evolve to support autonomous mobility and collaborative decisions in real time, in a distributed way and through the intensive use of artificial intelligence. These networks are expected to enable more efficient mobility management and the creation of highly adaptive intelligent urban services, driving the digital transformation of cities and consolidating new user-centred transport paradigms.