ROADS, TOLLING AND TECH CONFERENCE 2025


 

Today, Melbourne played host to ITS Australia’s Roads, Tolling and Tech Conference 2025, the nation’s leading industry event focused on the future of road operations and the cutting-edge technologies shaping our transport infrastructure.

Among the standout sessions was a compelling joint presentation by Beth Lilford, Head of Digital at Altus Group, and Aedan Hewitt of Fulton Hogan Egis, who together explored the transformative impact of Workzone Digitisation—specifically through the lens of a real-world deployment on the M5 East Motorway (M5E) in Sydney.

Data-Driven Results from the M5E Project

Beth and Aedan detailed how the M5E project integrated smart workzone technologies to reduce risks and improve on-site performance for roadworkers.

Technologies deployed included:

  • Portable Site Alarms to instantly alert teams of unauthorised entries.

  • Cone Sensors that detect when cones are struck or moved.

  • Sentry Lidar Lasers creating virtual barriers for restricted zones.

  • Intellitag Sign Tags for real-time asset tracking and alerting.


The data collected:

  • 74% of vehicles were detected exceeding the posted speed limit.

  • Cone strikes occurred in 59% of digital deployments.

  • Workzones with cone sensors experienced a 12 km/h average reduction in vehicle speeds.

  • Over 25 nights, 43 vehicles that breached the site exited safely without the need for traffic controller intervention.


These figures, combined with real-time insights from Altus Group’s MyWorkzone software platform, demonstrate how technology can drive meaningful change—not just in safety outcomes, but in how workzones are actively managed and monitored.

Beth Lilford, Head of Digital at Altus Group taking the mic to respond to questions during the Q&A Discussion panel.

Engaging With Industry: Q&A Panel Discussion

Following their presentation, Beth and Aedan joined a live Q&A discussion panel during the Technology and Innovation – Data, Safety and Traffic Management session. Road authorities and industry professionals posed questions ranging from real-world implementation challenges to data privacy, system scalability, and how these tools can be embedded in future roadwork contracts. Their responses emphasised the importance of cross-sector collaboration, ongoing innovation, and strong feedback loops between field teams and digital platforms.

With Workzone Digitisation, Altus Group is leading a digital transformation in how road projects are planned, monitored, and delivered. The M5E case study stands as a clear example of how smart infrastructure can improve safety outcomes and operational efficiency in even the most high-risk environments.

 As the road industry continues to evolve, Altus Group remains at the forefront—demonstrating that the future of traffic management is not just about roads, but about intelligence, insight, and innovation.

For Further Information:
- Please click here to read the complete case study.
- Find out more about the Workzone Digitisation system here.
- If you would like further information about Workzone Digitisation, please contact our Head of Digital, Beth Lilford at beth.lilford@altusgroup.com.au 

 
Samantha Wykeswzdnews