TransITech Conference
Toronto, Ontario
February 18 – 20 2009
Call For Presentations: as a web page | In Adobe PDF
Submittal Form: In Adobe PDF | In Microsoft Word
Program At-A-Glance: coming soon
Final Program: coming soon
Registration:
Online
| In Adobe PDF | In Microsoft Word
Pre-registration list: coming soon
Product Showcase Reservation Form: In Microsoft Word | In Adobe PDF
List Of Exhibitors: coming soon
Exhibitor Only Registration Form: In Microsoft Word | In Adobe PDF
Exhibitor Manual: coming soon
Floor Plan: coming soon
Travel: Travel Discounts | Official
APTA Travel Agency
Lodging:
coming soon
Technical Tour: coming soon
Visitor Information: Go Transit | Tourism Toronto
Program Information: Contact Lou
Sanders , (202) 496-4886, or DeeNaye
Williams, (202) 496-4899.
Registration Information: Contact Anitha
Atkins, (202) 496-4839.
Exhibition Information: Contact Adam Martin, (202) 496-4845.
Sponsorship Information: Contact Heather
Rachels, (202) 496-4838.
| TO: |
All APTA Members |
| FROM: |
William W. Millar, President |
| DATE: |
September 8, 2008 |
| SUBJECT: |
Call For Presentations - 2009 Transitech Information Technology Conference, February 18-20, Toronto, Ontario |
The American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) 2009 TransITech conference will be held February 18-20, at the Hilton Toronto in Toronto, Ontario.
The TransITech 2009 planning committee has proposed significant changes to the format and content for the 2009 TransITech conference. The committee desires to shift the focus from technologies and software applications to highlighting technology-enabled business and transit service enhancements. The 2009 conference will feature a new “Roll Call of Transit Properties” extended session where all attending transit properties will be able to give a short update of recent, current and future technology initiatives, projects and applications.
The “Roll Call” will set the tone of the conference and help both APTA transit properties and business members understand the state of applied information technology in transit and our future needs. The conference will still feature many opportunities for individual and team presentations.
The following session topics are of broad interest among our members for
inclusion in the conference:
- Roll call of Transit Properties
- Building a Better Business Case and Technology Return on Investment (ROI)
- Technology as a Revenue Producer
- Using “Shelfware” Making the Most Out of What You Already Have
- Technology and Transit Workforce Development
- Understanding and Communicating Better With Your Customers
- “Green Tech” – Technology Supported Sustainability
- SOX, HIPAA, TWIC, GASB – Oh My!
- Do You Know Where Your Records Are?
- ITS Integration
- Transportation Industry Peers Panel
- So you want to be a CIO?
Please visit www.apta.com for additional information on TransITech 2009. Below please find session descriptions along with a copy of the submittal form.
You and your colleagues are invited to submit abstracts online using MyAPTA at www.apta.com. Click on MyAPTA, log in, access the drop down box next to ‘Meeting Registration,’ and click on ‘Main Abstract Page.’ Once you have accessed the page, upload your abstracts.
Or complete the attached “Proposed Technical Presentation Submittal Form” by October 17.
For assistance with the new online submission process, please contact David Bruening at dbruening@apta.com or (202) 496-4825. If you need assistance in creating a MyAPTA account, please contact Michael Hemsley at mhemsley@apta.com or (202) 496-4822. The deadline for submitting abstracts is Friday, October 17.
Abstracts can be accepted only from members of APTA. If your organization is not a member, you can request more information about joining APTA by contacting Helene Brett at hbrett@apta.com or (202) 496-4837. APTA’s policy on diversity encourages women and minorities to participate in all of its activities.
Session moderators are also needed. If you are interested in moderating a session, please let us know by submitting the form mentioned above. If you have any questions, please contact either Lou Sanders at 202-496-4886 or lsanders@apta.com, Saahir Brewington at 202-496-4834 or Sbrewington@apta.com or Dee Naye Williams at 202-496-4899 or dwilliams@apta.com.
Presentations will be limited to 15 to 20 minutes, and similar topics will be grouped together for one to two-hour sessions. We only require an abstract at this time. However, the development of a paper for distribution at TransITech is encouraged, and advanced visual aids and graphics are highly desirable.
The schedule is:
- abstracts and submittal forms are due to APTA October 17, 2008
- accepted authors notified November 21, 2008
WWM/ls
Enclosures
WWM/ls
Enclosures
Topics For 2009 TransITech
Growing Transit with Technology
Roll Call of Transit Properties
The Roll Call of Transit Properties extended session is a first at the 2009 conference. All attending transit properties will be able to give a short update of recent, current and future technology initiatives, projects and applications. The “Roll Call” will set the tone of the conference and help both APTA transit properties and business members understand the state of applied information technology in transit and our future needs. Information regarding the format and content will be provided to each Transit property represented at the conference in advance.
Building a Better Business Case and Technology Return on Investment (ROI)
Technology projects must increasingly compete for limited capital investment funds with other critical transit infrastructure. Can you “sell” your next project to bottom line orientated CEO’s and Board members? If you do sell your project, will you be able to deliver the ROI and the promised benefits and savings? Learn how others are building and selling technology business cases and creating and measuring the return on investment (ROI) for technology projects.
Technology as a Revenue Producer
Technology is often viewed as a growing cost center, however, many technology applications can have a direct and positive impact on revenues. Hear examples of how to optimize and manage transit revenues with information technology. Fare systems management, real estate, property and other asset management applications may also help your agency unleash new revenue sources. Many technologies have direct revenue producing abilities from the technology assets themselves. Examples include leasing space on communications towers, selling unused fiber or duct bank capacity along right-of-way, sharing wireless capacity as well as leveraging advertising opportunities on websites and other new media.
Using “Shelfware” Making the Most Out Of What You Already Have
Most transit agencies have significant investments in existing software and technology applications. Often these systems have modules and functionality that were not implemented or needed when the system was originally installed. Additionally, software providers are constantly adding new features and functionality in new versions of software you already own and the web offers many free or low cost “software-as-a-service” opportunities. You may already own or have access to software and systems to meet that next business need. Listen to transit agencies and suppliers discuss making the most of technologies you already own or can access for free.
Technology and Transit Workforce Development
Training is often overlooked or the first thing cut when planning a technology project. As a result, many transit workers have missed gaining the skills needed to make the most of an onslaught of new technologies. How can technology managers help transit workers gain the skills needed to succeed? Learn about new training and workforce development tools available to help boost technology skills throughout your agency.
Understanding and Communicating Better With Your Customers
It’s all about the customer – right? How is your agency communicating with your customers and better understanding their needs? Technology has revolutionized communications and is continuing to do so at an ever increasing pace. Many industries have adopted customer relationship management systems to better understand and meet customer expectations. New communication technologies are growing rapidly and can be valuable tools for transit. Social networks like My Space and Facebook, short message services (SMS) like Twitter, and video sharing sites, like YouTube can, be leveraged to reach both a new audience and existing riders.
“Green Tech” – Technology Supported Sustainability
Going Green? Seems everyone and everything is in tune to the needs of the environment and sustainability. Public transit by its very nature is a major contributor to sustainability. But do we “walk the talk” within our own internal operations? Technology is a major consumer of energy and the myth of the “paperless office” has not been realized. The reality is that we now generate a record amount of paper. Can we use our technology to lessen our impact on the environment? Electronic distribution of information though Intranets and the Internet can both reduce costs and promote sustainability. Bar codes, RFID, and sensor enabled monitoring also contribute while simple actions such as duplex printing, printer and server consolidation, and telecommuting can make a cumulative difference.
SOX, HIPAA, TWIC, GASB – Oh My!
Regulatory jungle or alphabet soup? How are you supporting legal compliance with burgeoning new programs like SOX, HIPAA, TWIC, and GASB just to name a few? Technology can play a major part in cost effective support of legal compliance. Learn how our industry is tackling new legal requirements in new and innovative ways.
Do You Know Where Your Records Are?
Can you find them? Enterprise content and electronic records management is a must in today’s electronic systems driven workplace. Yet many records management programs have failed to grasp the switch to electronic records. Enterprise Resource Plan (ERP) systems automated much of our financial and human resource records, yet these systems are often not cataloged and managed the way the old systems were. Intranet and Internet websites contain vast amounts of official communications to employees and customers, but do these dynamic sites comply? Are your records managed and stored in a way that both protects them and ensures their use and compliance with state and federal retention requirements? Learn about the solutions that exist and have been applied successfully in transit.
ITS Integration
Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technologies are playing an important role in integrating transit with other modes. Learn about new approaches and the state of ITS investment and integration in Transit.
*Planned Panel Discussions Not Open for Presentations
Transportation Industry Peers Panel
Transit is not alone in facing the challenges of growing demand and how to best apply technology to support our business. Through this intermodal panel discussion learn how your peers from other transportation sectors like highways, airports and ports handle many of same issues we face in transit.
So you want to be a CIO?
Career development and retention of Information Technology staff is an issue every transit property and business partner face. While not every IT professional desires to become a manager or CIO, most are seeking upward mobility in responsibility as well as new challenges and rewards. This informative panel will discuss trends in the Information Technology workplace and how individual employees and organizations can prepare for the future.
Some of these pages may include links to documents in the Adobe PDF format. Please download the Adobe PDF reader if you have not already done so.
