The quest to improve Australian road systems received a boost this week with the opening of a research centre at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane.
The centre has received the financial backing of the Queensland Government, Queensland Motorways, The University of Queensland and Brisbane Airport.
IBM was also involved in the project through its smart transport strategy and would attempt to address transport problems in Brisbane and particularly congestion.
However, details of the software and specific expertise it would provide remain under wraps. An IBM spokeswoman said in a statement that as the centre opened this week, it was not able to release further information.
Projects at the centre would include research into predictive routes to allow people to plan the easiest way to their destination using real-time information and greater use of technology such as electronic tolling to replace cash booths.
Offerings that worked in Queensland would than be extended to the rest of Australia. A time frame for when other states would receive the benefits was not provided.
The opening of the centre follows a Commuter Pain Index released by IBM in February. The Galaxy Research-conduct study indicated some 81 per cent of the 1,500 commuters surveyed in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide experienced travel stress.
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