Illinois Tollway Experts Share Pioneering Innovations at IBTTA Technology Summit
Illinois Tollway leadership attended the prestigious Technology Summit hosted by the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, sharing their technical expertise while also learning about best practices from other toll agencies and industry experts.
The annual summit serves as a pivotal gathering for more than 800 industry leaders with visionary minds to exchange insights on forward-thinking digital strategies, explore emerging trends and shape the future of cutting-edge technologies deployed in today’s tolling industry.
“We have some of the sharpest minds in the toll industry exploring technologies that enhance our service to customers,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “We came ready to share our technological advancements with our industry peers and open to hearing from other industry leaders on the latest tolling technologies.”
The IBTTA Technology Summit showcases technological innovations and excellence that impact the tolling industry such as interoperability among the various toll agencies, artificial intelligence, automated vehicles, safety, electrification, mobility as a service and more. The summit, held earlier this May, focused on the theme “Advancing Global Tolling Solutions.”
Among the thought-leaders featured at the summit were Illinois Tollway Chief Information Officer Michael Shay and Chief of Business Systems Michael Catolico who addressed some of the key themes of the summit: artificial intelligence and use of data and analytics to improve customer experiences.
One focus of the summit was the emerging trend of artificial intelligence and the opportunities and challenges it presents for the toll industry. Sessions explored the impact of AI on customer service and roadside technologies for vehicle detection, axle counts and video-based tolling.
Other sessions offered a deep dive into the timely topic of cybersecurity, as well as data and analytics, “green” technologies, roadway safety, digital technologies in roadway operations and design and innovations in tolling technologies such as connected vehicle infrastructure and smart roads – subjects that are of great interest to the Illinois Tollway.
The IBTTA Technology Summit also included one unusual session: the Product Safety Shark Tank, where 10 innovative companies pitched their products. The audience had the opportunity to play the shark role, voting on one winner for the prize of IBTTA’s Most Innovative Product. The winner was Versilis, an Orlando-based highway safety firm, for its automated lane closure solution used for applications such as reversible lanes, bridge and tunnel approaches, flooded roadways and more. The system eliminates worker exposure to live traffic by replacing manual setup and dismantling of traffic cones.
Looking ahead, the Illinois Tollway remains committed to bringing thought leadership to the toll industry, serving as a catalyst for change, pushing the boundaries of innovation and spearheading transformative initiatives that will shape the future of tolling technology and, ultimately, better serve Tollway customers.