Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Austroads has released a new framework to help transport agencies maintain continuity of operations when Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) fail – whether due to major weather events, cyber-attacks, technical failures, vandalism or planned maintenance.
Intelligent Transport Systems are central to the safe and efficient operation of road networks. From monitoring traffic flows to responding to incidents and providing real-time traveller information, ITS plays a vital role in Transport Management Centres (TMCs). But when these systems go down, the impacts can be swift and severe.
The new report, Transport Management Centre Responses to Intrusive System Change Outages, provides practical guidance for agencies to prepare for, respond to, and recover from ITS disruptions. It supports the development of Business Continuity Plans, Disaster Recovery Plans, and Degraded Operations Plans, and includes tools for assessing business impacts, identifying risks, and testing responses.
“As reliance on ITS grows, so does the need for resilience in our ITS systems,” said Amy Naulls, Austroads’ Transport Network Operations Program Manager. “This report helps agencies manage both routine system upgrades and unexpected ITS and communications outages through structured processes that protect critical services.”
Cybersecurity is a key focus, with the framework aligned to leading standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. It also considers the operational impacts of extreme weather events, vandalism, and technical faults.
“TMC operations and ITS environments depend on information systems and communications networks,” Naulls said. “Road managers are focussed on strengthening their ability to protect critical infrastructure, maintain essential services and recover quickly from disruptions.”
The report draws on a literature review and consultation with transport agencies across Australia and New Zealand. It highlights current practices, emerging trends, and the value of coordination between TMCs, IT and incident response teams, telecommunications providers, and emergency services.
Download AP-R741-25 Transport Management Centre Responses to Intrusive System Change Outages
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