The Centre for Connected and Automated Transport has celebrated its National Launch in Sydney at the National Maritime Museum.
Guests came from across the transport community, with leaders from both government and industry in attendance. They heard from speakers Rahila David, CCAT’s Executive Director, Charles Griplas, CEO and Managing Director of ConnectEast, Phillip Davies, Partner at Deloitte and former CEO of Infrastructure Australia, and Ian Webb, CCAT’s Chair about CCAT’s mission and the importance of long-term planning for connected and automated transport.
Guests also got to experience the technology first-hand, with vehicles brought on-site from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics. Dr Stewart Worrall and his team showcased their intelligent car and buggy which are fitted out with lasers and sensors to collect driving data for autonomous vehicle research.
The national launch was also a chance to announce CCAT’s plans for the future. Ian Webb announced the first National Summit for Connected and Automated Transport Infrastructure, to be held in 2024.
The Summit will bring together government and industry to plan for a national approach to the application of connected and automated technologies to our transport systems.
“Our transport sector is already undergoing major transformation with the introduction of electric low and zero emission vehicles” said Ms David, after the launch. “But we won’t future proof our transport infrastructure if we’re only planning for electric vehicles. We need to recognise that automation is following right behind electrification in fact new vehicles coming into the Australian market are technology capable but not enabled for higher levels of autonomy. This transformation will be the largest in not only road transport but also rail, ports, agriculture, mining and defence and its time we started planning for it nationally.”
Connected and automated transport technologies have the ability to provide massive benefits in safety, productivity, decarbonisation and accessibility. But these benefits won’t be achieved unless Australia and New Zealand’s physical and digital infrastructure is ready for the technology. 
The Summit will bring government leaders together with leaders in infrastructure provision, vehicle manufacturing, software development, transport operations, research, law and consulting, to address how we plan nationally for the implementation of connected and automated technologies in transport. Themes include:
- Infrastructure to support connectivity and automation in urban, regional and rural areas.
- Infrastructure to support automation across jurisdictional boundaries.
- The interaction of connected, automated and low and zero emission transport technologies.
- Public infrastructure to enable automation in private sites like mines and farms.
Mr Webb said “We’re playing catch-up to ensure our electric vehicle charging infrastructure supports the electric revolution in road transport. It’s time to harness the energy that’s going into the decarbonisation agenda and use it to make sure we’re equally prepared for the connected and automated transformation. 
“Automation is the partner of decarbonisation. It’s the pathway to a safer decarbonised future. All future vehicles that support a low emission outcome will be autonomously enabled – the question is can we as a nation take advantage of it? Are we ready to take advantage of the safer, smarter outcomes?
CCAT is inviting all organisations with an interest in Australia’s and New Zealand’s transport future to join as partners of the Summit. For more information, email info@ccat.org.au