We’re pleased to share this final wrap-up message for the 2019 TAC-ITS Canada Joint Conference & Exhibition.
The 70+ session recordings from the Joint Conference & Exhibition are now available in TAC’s Learning Centre. Topics include smart cities and big data; road safety and operations; CAVs and new mobility; materials, pavements and structures; and more. Conference delegates can access the recordings for free; login instructions were emailed to them on November 5th. Others can purchase the full set of recorded sessions for $300, five sessions for $100, or one session for $25. TAC members receive a 20% discount.
A brief 2019 Joint Conference & Exhibition ‘recap’ video is also online at the end of the highlights summary article. View it to relive the event or see what you missed.
Following the event, we surveyed delegates, exhibitors and presenters about their experience. Some key messages from the 240 survey respondents follow.
- Overall: Delegates gave the conference as a whole an average rating of 83 out of 100. A few individuals commented about the joint nature of the event; most saw benefits to the collaboration and very few felt that the joint nature of the event was a detraction.
- Technical Program: The presentation sessions, panel discussions and workshops were rated as Excellent or Good by 84% of delegates. A few delegates and presenters commented on low attendance in some technical sessions (which seems more related to new, emerging or specialized topics, rather than to a session’s day or time); some suggested that reducing the number of concurrent sessions and tours could boost session attendance. Survey results also indicate the need to think more about offering and profiling poster sessions.
- Events: The Nova Scotia Kitchen Party was rated Excellent or Good by 97% of those who attended it, and the lunches were rated Excellent or Good by 94% of those who attended them. Many respondents commented positively about the food at the Halifax Convention Centre, although we will consider adjustments to breakfast and reception menus in 2020.
- Exhibition: 87% of delegates rated the Exhibition as Excellent or Good, and only 2% didn’t visit it; some would appreciate more time to visit the exhibits. Exhibitors were less satisfied, feeling that traffic was lacking outside the Welcome Reception and Monday break. We will carefully examine the Exhibition schedule, floor plan and refreshment locations for 2020 with the aim of improving traffic for exhibitors.
- Communication: 93% of respondents used the conference App, and 84% of users rated it as Excellent or Good. Some survey comments indicate that developing tutorials or other tips for more effective use of the App’s features would be helpful; we’ll undertake this in 2020.
- Registration: Event registration, both online and onsite, was positively rated. However, feedback was mixed about the advanced registration process for technical tours, workshops and other onsite selections. Staff will refine that process so that making selections is easy, and delegates can recall, verify and abide by their choices.
Before we know it, the 2020 TAC Conference & Exhibition in Vancouver, September 27-30 will be upon us. Information about the event, including details about the Call for Conference Submissions for authors and presenters, will be posted soon on www.tac-atc.ca. Registration for delegates opens in April 2020.
