The 4th Israeli Smart Transportation Research Center Annual & Students Conference was hosted by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev on the 27th of June 2024.
This year's annual conference was overshadowed by the tragic events that unfolded on October 7th, 2023, in the Western Negev, where over 1,300 Israelis lost their lives, communities were devastated, roads turned into kill zones, reliable information was scarce, and residents were forced to flee and evacuate their homes to avoid harm. In respect, the conference was held in Beer Sheva at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, spotlighting the crucial issue of safeguarding transportation resilience in the face of disruptions and disasters.
The scope of the conference considered all aspects of transport systems research, including (but not limited) to: Vehicle and transport modes, Traffic management and control, Innovative transportation services, Transportation policy, Transportation planning, Transportation and road users’ behavior, Transport safety, Transport security, Automation and connectivity, Transportation systems in the context of Smart Cities.
The ISTRC team wishes to express its deep appreciation to the members of the Academic and Organizing Committee: Prof. Eran Ben-Elia (chair), Prof. Tal-Oron Gilad, Dr. Igal Bilik and Prof. Hillel Bar-Gera for their invaluable contributions to the conference's success.
CONFERENCE TALKS
The conference commenced with a keynote address by Prof. Yoram Shiftan (Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion and Head, ISTRC), who explored the critical question, "From restoration to resilience – Can technology recover transportation systems?".
The parallel sessions included 11 presentations. 9 of these presentations featured research projects funded by ISTRC, and their recordings can be accessed through the RECORDINGS link above.
This year, students from 11 academic institutions showcased their research projects through 41 poster presentations.
The event concluded with a Panel discussion on “Resilience to Disruption: Is Smart Transportation the Solution?” led by Prof. Emeritus David Shinar (Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, BGU) and Idan Gilat (Director of Technological Entrepreneurship in the Technology and Innovation Division, Ayalon Highways).
AWARDS
2024 ISTRC Conference Best Poster Award
The Academic and Organizing Committee of the conference selected Dan Peled from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev as the recipient of the 2024 ISTRC Conference Best Poster Award.
Yuval Hadas Memorial Award for Best Poster Presentation
This award was generously provided by the Hadas family in memory of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Yuval Hadas ז"ל from Bar-Ilan University, who passed away earlier this year.
Yuval was one of the pillars of ISTRC, a member of the leading team that conceived and established it. He served as the head of the "Innovative Transportation Services" Professional Committee, as the chair of the 1st Israeli Smart Transportation Students Conference and was an active member of multiple committees. Yuval made significant contributions to the center’s success. His positive attitude, professionalism, and dedication were invaluable.
We deeply miss Yuval, both professionally and personally. May his memory be a blessing.
The recipient of the Yuval Hadas Memorial Award for Best Poster Presentation is Alex Lewis from the Jerusalem College of Technology.
Israel National Road Safety Authority (Ralbad) Award for Best Poster Presentation
Nicole Li from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is the recipient of the Ralbad Award for Best Poster Presentation .
Congratulations to the young researchers for their exceptional work!
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Remembering Dr. Adi Ronen ז"ל
The conference participants honored the memory of Adi, a valued member of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, whose impactful research focused on Human Factors Engineering and Traffic Safety. - BGRacing, the Formula Student team from Ben Gurion University of the Negev showcased the vehicle they developed and shared insights into their future projects.
The conference was funded by ISTRC and participation in the event was free of charge.