Project News: FESTA project kicks off!

Date: 16 November 2007

6-7 November meeting brings together stakeholders to discuss the future of Field Operational Tests.

The FESTA (short for Field opErational teSt supporT Action) project kicked off with a meeting that took place on 6-7 November 2007 in Brussels at the ERTICO - ITS Europe premises. Attending stakeholders agreed on project objectives and expected results, and planned future activities.

FESTA is a vital step in the realisation of scientifically robust and efficiently run Field Operational Tests (FOTs) in Europe which aim to evaluate key ICT systems and functions.

A consortium of European experts with a wide range of skills has been formed to develop a “best-practise” handbook that will guide the design and implementation of an FOT. The consortium includes ERTICO Partners CRF – Centre Ricerche Fiat, BMW Group, Volvo, Daimler, Continental, Delphi, Bosch, TNO Traffic and Transport, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Orange as well as other academic institutes and national research laboratories, vehicle manufacturers, suppliers and system providers and representatives of national road authorities. This allows for both scientific integrity and practical considerations to be included.

Running alongside the standard management functions, will be the development of two future key workshops to involve a wider participation of stakeholders. The first workshop will take place on 11 December and is open to all.

For further information on the FESTA project, please contact ERTICO Head of Sector - Safety & Security Maxime Flament