FEATURE: ITS Atlanta 2025 highlights – Traffic Technology Today

 

Report on the 2025 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) World Congress in Atlanta

Introduction: A Global Platform for Sustainable Mobility

The ITS World Congress, scheduled for August 24-28, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia, will convene the global intelligent transportation industry to showcase deployable technologies under the theme, “Deploying Today, Empowering Tomorrow.” The event will highlight how advanced transportation solutions are critical for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Atlanta serves as an exemplary host city, not only due to its logistical capacity but primarily because it functions as a real-world “day one deployment district.” The city features the most extensive Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) deployment on public infrastructure in the United States, providing a living laboratory for attendees and demonstrating a tangible commitment to building sustainable urban environments.

Alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The initiatives and technologies showcased in Atlanta provide a clear framework for advancing several key SDGs. The congress emphasizes practical applications that contribute to a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure & SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Atlanta’s transportation strategy is fundamentally aligned with building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation to create sustainable cities.

• Infrastructure Investment: The city’s investment of over $168 billion in safer roads, public transportation, and active mobility directly supports the development of quality, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure (SDG 9).
• Connected Ecosystem: The C-V2X network, covering 1,200 signalized intersections, transforms disparate corridors into a cohesive, intelligent ecosystem. This initiative, as noted by Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry, is foundational for smart city development (SDG 11).
• Scalable Technology: The deployment demonstrates that advanced ITS solutions can be implemented cost-effectively, at approximately $10,000 per location, offering a scalable model for other municipalities worldwide seeking to enhance their infrastructure (SDG 9).

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

A primary objective of the ITS technologies on display is the enhancement of road safety, directly contributing to SDG Target 3.6, which aims to halve fatalities and injuries from road traffic accidents.

• Life-Saving Technology: As stated by Ramin Massoumi, 2025 ITS World Congress Board Chair, V2X technology is proven to save lives. The real-world deployment in Atlanta offers tangible proof of its value in creating safer transportation systems.
• Vulnerable Road User Protection: Demonstrations at facilities like the Infrastructure-Automotive Technology Laboratory (iATL) will feature technologies for school zone safety and vulnerable road user protection, key components in making cities safer and more inclusive (SDG 11).
• Predictive Safety: The use of machine learning and AI for predictive traffic operations, along with the delivery of safety messages to commercial vehicles, represents a proactive approach to accident prevention, furthering the goals of SDG 3.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Efficient transportation networks are a cornerstone of productive economies. The ITS deployments in Georgia have yielded measurable economic benefits.

• Improved Freight Efficiency: A 20% improvement in freight efficiency near the Port of Savannah has been achieved through signal prioritization, enhancing supply chain productivity and supporting sustainable economic growth (SDG 8).
• Enhanced Transit Reliability: A 35% improvement in transit on-time reliability improves mobility and access to economic opportunities for urban populations.

Conference Program and Technical Demonstrations

The congress program, featuring nearly 800 speakers, is designed to bridge theory and practice through high-level discussions and immersive technical tours.

Plenary Sessions: Charting a Sustainable Path Forward

1. Creating a Safer Future with Connected and Automated Technologies: This session will explore how automation and connectivity directly support SDG 3 by reducing human error and enhancing vehicle safety.
2. Realizing Growth through Secure and Interoperable ITS: Focusing on the economic benefits of digital infrastructure, this plenary will address how interoperable systems are essential for building the resilient infrastructure mandated by SDG 9.
3. Building a More Resilient Transportation System with AI & Emerging Technologies: This session will discuss how AI can enhance infrastructure resilience against climate change and other disruptions, aligning with SDG 11 and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Technical Tours: Witnessing Sustainable Innovation in Action

Exclusive technical tours will offer attendees firsthand experience with deployed technologies that are actively contributing to sustainability targets.

• Infrastructure-Automotive Technology Laboratory (iATL): A facility demonstrating how public-private partnerships (SDG 17) can accelerate the deployment of life-saving ITS technologies.
• Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners: A living lab for autonomous vehicles and 5G C-V2X technology, showcasing the integrated smart city infrastructure necessary for achieving SDG 11.
• Truist Park & Cobb County TMC: A case study in managing traffic for major events, demonstrating advanced systems that improve efficiency and safety in high-density urban areas.
• Georgia DOT Transportation Management Center (TMC): An insight into the operational nerve center of a statewide ITS network, illustrating how mature systems manage mobility and emergency response to ensure resilient infrastructure (SDG 9).

Investing in Future Generations for Sustainable Progress

The Future Leaders Program: Cultivating Talent for Tomorrow’s Challenges

In alignment with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), the congress is actively investing in the next generation of transportation leaders. The Future Leaders Program, sponsored by the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), provides a global platform for students to engage with industry pioneers.

• Global Engagement: A worldwide essay competition invited students to propose solutions to regional transportation challenges, with winners presenting their research in Atlanta.
• Career Development: The program includes dedicated sessions, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities designed to encourage careers in transportation technology, ensuring a skilled workforce to continue advancing sustainable mobility solutions.

Conclusion: A Blueprint for Global Deployment

The 2025 ITS World Congress in Atlanta serves as a critical milestone, demonstrating that intelligent transportation solutions are no longer theoretical but are being successfully deployed at scale. The event underscores the integral role of technology and innovation in addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. By showcasing a city-wide connected ecosystem, the congress provides a replicable blueprint for creating safer, more efficient, and sustainable transportation systems globally, thereby empowering communities for a better tomorrow.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the ITS World Congress in Atlanta highlights advancements in smart mobility and transportation technology, which directly and indirectly connect to several Sustainable Development Goals. The primary focus on creating safer, more efficient, and resilient transportation systems touches upon goals related to infrastructure, sustainable cities, health, economic growth, and partnerships.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The emphasis on “saving lives,” creating “safer roads,” and deploying technologies for “school zone safety” and “vulnerable road users” directly aligns with improving public health by reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The article details the “Future Leaders Program,” a global essay competition for students to address transportation challenges. This initiative invests in the “next generation of transportation technology professionals,” aligning with the goal of providing relevant skills for employment.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article discusses the “economic benefits of digital infrastructure” and measurable improvements in “freight efficiency,” which contribute to economic productivity. The legacy of the 1996 Olympics, which tripled the downtown population, also points to the economic growth spurred by major infrastructure and events.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: This is a central theme. The entire article revolves around innovation in transportation infrastructure, including the “largest C-V2X (cellular vehicle-to-everything) deployment,” building a “resilient transportation system,” and expanding “broadband connectivity statewide.”
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The focus on Atlanta’s “smart mobility” addresses this goal directly. The city’s investment in “public transportation, and active mobility,” improving “transit on-time reliability,” and managing traffic for a major city makes urban areas more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article repeatedly emphasizes the importance of collaboration. It explicitly states that “Public-private partnerships are key” and lists numerous partners involved in the congress, including ITS America, ERTICO – ITS Europe, ITS Asia Pacific, and private companies like Arcadis and Google, showcasing a multi-stakeholder approach.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 3.6: Halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents. The article’s focus on “saving lives” and deploying technologies like “emergency vehicle preemption,” “vulnerable road user technologies,” and sending “safety messages directly to truck cabs” directly supports this target.
2. Target 4.4: Substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment. The “Future Leaders Program” is designed to connect students with industry pioneers and “encourage careers in transportation technology,” directly contributing to this target.
3. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation. The article highlights a “20% improvement in freight efficiency” and the “economic benefits of digital infrastructure,” which are clear examples of achieving this target through technological innovation.
4. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being. The article describes Atlanta’s investment of over “$168 billion in safer roads, public transportation, and active mobility” and the effort to build a “more resilient transportation system with AI & emerging technologies.”
5. Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology. The plan for “expanding broadband connectivity statewide” and the large-scale deployment of “C-V2X” technology are direct actions toward this target.
6. Target 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all. The article mentions a “35% improvement in transit on-time reliability” and investments in “public transportation,” which are key components of achieving this target.
7. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article explicitly mentions that “Public-private partnerships are key” and details the collaboration between government bodies (Georgia DOT), non-profits (ITS America), and private companies (Arcadis, Google, SwRI) to organize the congress and deploy technology.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• For Road Safety (Target 3.6):
  • Deployment of specific safety technologies such as “emergency vehicle preemption, school zone safety, and vulnerable road user technologies.”
  • Implementation of a system to “deliver safety messages directly to truck cabs in high-risk areas.”
• For Sustainable Transport (Target 11.2):
  • A quantitative improvement of “35% in transit on-time reliability.”
  • A financial investment of “more than $168 billion in safer roads, public transportation, and active mobility.”
• For Infrastructure and Innovation (Targets 9.1, 9.c, 8.2):
  • A quantitative improvement of “20% in freight efficiency near the Port of Savannah.”
  • The scale of technology deployment, covering “1,200 signalized intersections” with C-V2X technology.
  • The cost-effectiveness of deployment, cited as “about $10,000 per location.”
  • The expansion of infrastructure, such as “expanding broadband connectivity statewide.”
• For Education and Skills (Target 4.4):
  • The existence of the “Future Leaders Program.”
  • The selection of “three winning students” from a global essay competition to present at the congress.
• For Partnerships (Target 17.17):
  • The explicit mention and formation of “Public-private partnerships.”
  • The list of diverse sponsors and organizers, including ITS America, RX, Arcadis, Miovision, Google, and Southwest Research Institute (SwRI).

4. Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs	Targets	Indicators Identified in the Article
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	3.6: Halve global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.	Deployment of technologies for emergency vehicle preemption, school zone safety, and vulnerable road users; system for delivering safety messages to trucks.
SDG 4: Quality Education	4.4: Increase the number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment.	Establishment of the “Future Leaders Program”; a global essay competition for students; providing opportunities for students to present research to industry leaders.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through technological innovation.	“20% improvement in freight efficiency”; leveraging digital infrastructure for economic benefits.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure	9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure. 9.c: Increase access to ICT.	Deployment of C-V2X technology across 1,200 signalized intersections; investment of $168 billion in transportation; expansion of statewide broadband connectivity; building a resilient system with AI.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.	“35% improvement in transit on-time reliability”; investment in public transportation and active mobility; managing traffic for a 42,000+ seat stadium.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.	Explicit statement that “Public-private partnerships are key”; collaboration between government (Georgia DOT), non-profits (ITS America), and private companies (Arcadis, Google, SwRI).

Source: traffictechnologytoday.com