Evaluation Report: Intellitag Assessed in TfNSW Innovation Program

 

Australia’s infrastructure sector is grappling with a major workforce shortfall of nearly 197,000 and a 0.8% drop in productivity, as highlighted in Infrastructure Australia’s 2024 Report - making innovation more vital than ever. In response, Transport for NSW launched the Gateway to Innovate (GtI) program, an industry-first initiative that attracted interest from over 3,000 industry members to test bold ideas during project planning and delivery; Altus Traffic was proud to be one of three organisations selected for live innovation trials.

Click to download Program Evaluation Report.

The Challenge
Transport for NSW posed a key challenge to industry:
“What tools or processes could we introduce or change to increase productivity on our projects and make our industry more efficient?”

 Altus Traffic’s response: Intellitag®  -  a digital solution that transforms how we monitor and manage traffic assets by replacing manual inspections with smart, real-time monitoring.

The Innovation: Intellitag®
Intellitag® creates a digital twin of the work zone by attaching smart tags to road signs, cones and barriers. This system provides real-time visibility over traffic control assets, streamlining compliance, enhancing worker safety, and reducing environmental impact.

The technology was trialled on the Mamre Road Upgrade, delivered in partnership with Seymour Whyte. The results were compelling.

 Performance Outcomes

Key achievements from the Intellitag® trial:

  • 99.96% signage compliance rating with near-perfect uptime

  • 125 routine vehicle trips avoided

  • 1,640 km of travel saved, reducing fuel use

  • 1.150 tonnes of CO₂e emissions avoided

 
Benefits at a Glance

  • Safety: Reduced crew exposure to live traffic conditions

  • Productivity: Freed up crews to focus on higher-priority tasks

  • Economic: Lower fuel, maintenance, and supervision costs

  • Environmental: Fewer trips and emissions, contributing to net zero targets

  • Data Integrity: Verified, timestamped data improved transparency and decision-making

  • Culture Shift: Real-time visibility led crews to take greater ownership of signage quality

What We Learned
Early integration into project planning and strong onboarding are key to driving adoption and unlocking full value from the system. An unexpected but welcome result was the improvement in signage practices, driven not by enforcement, but by visibility and pride in work.

Scalable Impact
The trial has proven that Intellitag® delivers measurable value and is ready for broader application. On just 25 Transport for NSW projects, Intellitag® could help:

  • Avoid 18–25 tonnes of CO₂e emissions

  • Eliminate over 2,000 vehicle trips

  • Reallocate more than 1,800 crew hours to higher-value work

  • Reduce incidents and insurance costs

  • Enhance compliance, auditability, and response times

 Looking Ahead
As we continue to scale Intellitag® across projects nationwide, Altus Traffic remains committed to driving innovation that improves safety, productivity, and sustainability on Australian roads. We thank Transport for NSW and our delivery partners for their collaboration in this landmark trial. The success of Intellitag® demonstrates the power of bold thinking, trusted partnerships and a shared vision for a safer, more efficient future in traffic management.

Download the Transport for NSW Gateway to Innovate Program Evaluation here. 

 
Samantha Wykeswzdnews