IRF Talks Infrastructure-Supported Automation at ITS European Congress 2026
27 - 29 April 2026 | Türkiye, Instanbul - The International Road Federation (IRF) is actively contributing to the conversation on the future of connected and automated mobility at the ITS European Congress 2026, where transport experts, policymakers and technology leaders are meeting to advance innovation in intelligent transport systems.
Representing IRF at the congress, Project Manager Iona Kirkpatrick is participating in a series of technical sessions focused on the infrastructure requirements needed to support safer and more reliable automated mobility systems.
As part of IRF’s participation, Iona delivered a presentation during the Special Interest Session on Infrastructure-supported Automated Mobility, where she shared insights from iEXODDUS, an IRF-supported European project working to improve the interaction between infrastructure and automated vehicles. The presentation highlighted how intelligent infrastructure, which includes roadside sensors, digital twins and real-time contextual data, that can help extend the operational capabilities of automated vehicles, improving safety, efficiency and resilience across transport networks.
In addition to presenting, Iona also joined the panel discussion on “Next-generation roadside sensing ecosystems for autonomous-ready infrastructure", which explored how infrastructure systems can provide the real-time awareness needed for automated vehicles to safely navigate increasingly complex environments.
She is also joining a panel titled “From infrastructure intelligence to safer automation: ODD extension, edge-AI stacks, standardised road condition services and multimodal orchestration”, where experts examined the technologies and collaborative frameworks required to support automated mobility at scale. These discussions addressed the importance of reliable roadside intelligence, interoperable standards and coordinated infrastructure services in enabling the next generation of connected transport.
IRF’s presence in these discussions reflects its continued commitment to shaping practical, scalable solutions for automated mobility, bringing together infrastructure operators, researchers and industry stakeholders to address the challenges of deployment and standardisation.
A central part of this work is iEXODDUS, a European initiative focused on extending the Operational Design Domains (ODDs) of connected and automated vehicles through infrastructure support. By integrating real-time road data, digital infrastructure services and harmonised communication standards, the project aims to create safer and more adaptive mobility systems while helping road authorities prepare for the demands of automation.
Through its participation at ITS European Congress 2026, IRF is reinforcing the role of infrastructure as a critical enabler of automated mobility and ensuring that the voice of road operators remains central in the development of future transport systems.
IRF at Intertraffic Amsterdam 2026: From Dialogue to Delivery
The International Road Federation (IRF) marked a strong and multi-faceted presence at Intertraffic Amsterdam 2026, contributing to the event as a convenor of constructive dialogue, a provider of practical knowledge, and a platform for member engagement.
Across several days, IRF-led activities reflected a consistent objective: to translate challenges in road safety, sustainability and mobility into actionable solutions grounded in real-world implementation and cutting-edge solutions.
A Member-Led Programme on the Road Safety Stage
At the heart of IRF’s presence was a series of panels and technical sessions bringing together public authorities, industry leaders and research institutions. These sessions addressed a wide range of priority topics, including:
- Data-driven road safety management and impact assessment
- Protection of vulnerable road users through infrastructure and technology
- Connected infrastructure and the future of cooperative mobility
- Innovative approaches to enforcement and behaviour monitoring
- Sustainable road design and lifecycle management
- Future road funding models
A defining feature of the programme was its member-led format, ensuring that discussions were anchored in operational experience and cross-sector collaboration.
Master Classes Bridging Road Safety Knowledge and Practice
Complementing the panel programme, IRF delivered a series of high-level Master Classes led by IRF Lead Trainer Miguel-Angel Serrano Santos, focusing on critical aspects of road safety management. These sessions provided participants with practical guidance on:
- Best practice approaches to Road Safety Audits
- The design, selection and maintenance of road safety systems
- Safe work zone management
Grounded in established standards and field experience, the Master Classes reinforced IRF’s commitment to capacity building and the dissemination of applied knowledge, and are available through instructor-led training programmes.
A Platform for Engagement and Partnership
Beyond the formal programme, IRF maintained an active presence across the exhibition through two booths, which served as focal points for engagement with members, partners and new stakeholders.
This presence was further extended through:
- A technical tour of member booths, highlighting innovative solutions and facilitating peer exchange
- Continuous bilateral meetings and networking throughout the event
- The onboarding of new members, reflecting sustained interest in IRF’s international platform
Finally, this edition of Intertraffic was marked by even more opportunities to advance strategic conversations within the community, thanks to the announcement of a unification process between IRF and the European Union Road Federation (ERF).
Sustaining Momentum
Across all activities, a common thread emerged: the need to connect strategy with delivery, and dialogue with measurable impact.
These conversations will continue at the IRF 2026 Annual Conference, to be held from 16–18 November in Geneva, where the IRF will further build on the momentum generated in Amsterdam.
iEXODDUS Showcases the Role of Connected Infrastructure in Road Safety at Intertraffic Amsterdam
On 11 March 2026, the iEXODDUS project was presented at Intertraffic Amsterdam during the session “Connected Infrastructure and Vehicles: The Next Frontier in Road Safety”, held at the Road Safety Stage. The session brought together experts from European research initiatives and industry to discuss how connected vehicles and smart infrastructure are reshaping road safety and enabling more responsive transportation systems.
Moderated by Brendan Halleman, Senior Advisor at the International Road Federation (IRF), the session featured contributions from several initiatives working on connected and cooperative mobility, including EvoRoads, iEXODDUS, PoDIUM, and Miovision. Speakers explored real-world applications of connected infrastructure, the challenges associated with implementation, and the importance of cross-sector collaboration in advancing safer mobility systems.
Representing the project, Iona Kirkpatrick, EU Project Manager at the International Road Federation, presented the iEXODDUS project and its work on extending the Operational Design Domains (ODDs) of automated vehicles. The presentation explored how connected infrastructure and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication can support automated vehicles in navigating complex environments where automation still faces limitations in GNSS-denied areas such as tunnels, road works, or incident zones. By improving localisation, infrastructure sensors, and connectivity, iEXODDUS aims to reduce the need for driver takeovers and enable safer automated driving under challenging road conditions.
Are the safety benefits of connected mobility reaching all road users?
During the panel discussion, Iona Kirkpatrick highlighted the growing evidence that connected infrastructure and V2X systems can contribute to improved road safety outcomes, particularly by supporting the extension of Operational Design Domains and reducing the need for handovers between automated systems and human drivers in complex environments. At the same time, she noted that these benefits are currently largely concentrated in highly automated vehicles available in specific market segments, meaning they are not yet evenly distributed across all road users.
Looking ahead, she emphasised the importance of ensuring that the technologies being developed — including those explored in iEXODDUS — are also implemented, in the future, in public transport vehicles, helping to ensure broader sections of society benefit from the safety improvements evidenced by connected mobility.
Advancing automated transport systems across Europe
IRF is pushing to enable resilient Operational Design Domains (ODDs) for automated driving systems across Europe’s diverse transport networks to support projects such as Augmented Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (ACCAM) and iEXODDUS.
ACCAM, coordinated by the Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL), consists of a multi-stakeholder Consortium of 26 Partners, from 12 European countries and one Associated partner from Switzerland, the International Road Federation (IRF).
iEXODDUS, on the other hand, is co-Funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe programme (GA No. 101146091) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). iEXODDUS, coordinated by Virtual Vehicle (ViF), consists of a multi-stakeholder Consortium of 14 Partners, from 5 European countries and one Associated partner from Switzerland, the IRF.
Automated transport systems
ODD touches on areas such as Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs), future mobility, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), resilient autonomous driving, smart infrastructure, mobility innovation and much more.
IRF is leading conversations around the links between global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)-denied localisation, Digital Twin integration, open standards and governance models.
As a global road transport leader, the IRF is also exploring essential elements towards scaling Automated Vehicles (AVs) beyond pilot zones into mainstream deployment using policy recommendations and roadmaps towards harmonised Physical and Digital Infrastructure (PDI) for large-scale CCAM deployment.
ODD Extension for Automated Driving
The ODD defines the conditions under which an Automated Driving System (ADS) can operate safely. ADS are currently limited by strictly defined ODDs, often excluding challenging environments such as tunnels, urban canyons and construction zones.
The objective is to extend ODD boundaries so that they become a foundation for safer, more inclusive and compatible autonomous mobility across Europe. Without the reliable localisation and harmonisation frameworks, AVs risk being confined to narrow use cases.
GNSS-denied Localisation
Today’s AVs depend heavily on GNSS for positioning, however safety is compromised in areas where signals become blocked or distorted. To address this, IRF is also supporting the iEXODDUS project, an initiative that introduces multi-sensor localisation which blends camera-based mapping for high-precision navigation, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) anchors for tunnel and urban environments, HD maps and digital twins for environmental awareness and map-less perception modes for dynamic, unmapped roads.
This layered approach ensures resilience and redundancy which allows vehicles to maintain safe positioning when GNSS is unavailable.
Digital Twins in AV Deployment
Digital twin architecture provides real-time, high-fidelity models for road infrastructure. By harmonising these across Europe, ADS can be seamlessly integrated into high-definition maps to enable cross-border interoperability and real-time safety validation.
The EU has already recognised the importance of Digital Twins in mobility as part of its Annual Union Work Programme for Standardisation. The next step is ensuring that AV-specific standards for Digital Twins support simulation testing and live operational deployment.
ODD Extensions for Europe’s CCAM Strategy
Resilient localisation and harmonised standards are key enablers for extending the ODD of automated vehicles.
These efforts have a direct impact on the reduction of road traffic accidents, deployment in environments such as city centres and cross-border corridors, assurance of seamless AV operation across Europe and transparent governance which includes clear liability structures.
The expected outcome is a Recommendation Catalogue that will be submitted to the CCAM Platform Association to support feedback to policy makers and regulators with a view to substantiating deployment topics and implementation of large CCAM initiatives.
These recommendations aim to guide industry, regulators, and cities in shaping resilient CCAM ecosystems.
Sharing the results
Writers Iona Kirkpatricka, Karin Baier-Müllerb, Selim Solmazc, Martin Kirchengastc, Jakob Reckenzaunc will present a paper on these recommendations during Q1 of 2026 at the Transport Research Arena (TRA 2026) Conference.
The TRA 2026 is the foremost European Conference on Transport and Mobility gathering researchers, industry professionals, public authorities and other stakeholders from all transport modes to share knowledge, foster collaboration and address challenges and opportunities in the transport and mobility sectors.
The paper will explore ODD extension strategies, localisation in GNSS-denied environments, standardisation of data and interfaces, and governance models for trusted deployment.
Focusing on challenging scenarios such as tunnels and urban canyons, the modular localisation framework that integrates infrastructure-assisted sensing, onboard odometry and inertial navigation to ensure continuous positioning without GNSS will also be presented.
