The Role of GSO in Intelligent Transport Systems Standards (ITS)Systems Standards (ITS)

Eng. Omar Kanakrieh GCC Standardization Organization

GSO

GCC Standardization Organization

�Regional standardization organization.

� established under the umbrella of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (Muscat, Dec. 01). (Muscat, Dec. 01).

�Succeeding the GSMO (Est. 1984)

�Assumed its operation May 2004

�Headquarter: Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

�United Arab Emirates,

� Kingdom of Bahrain,

� Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,

� Sultanate of Oman,

Members

�Sultanate of Oman�State of Qatar�State of Kuwait�Republic of Yemen� Sultanate of Oman,

GSO Members are member bodies of

�AIDMO,

�ISO,

�Codex …etc.

All GSO Members are signatory to Annex III of the TBT Agreement;

Code of Good Practice for preparation, adoption and application

of standards

�Republic of Yemen

GSO Main Functions

�Formulation, preparation and publication of GCC

Standards and Technical Regulations.

�Formulation of GCC Conformity Assessment

Procedures, legal and industrial Metrology, Quality Procedures, legal and industrial Metrology, Quality

and other related standardization activities on the

GCC level.

�Facilitation of the intra GCC trade as well as

international trade through elimination of technical

barriers to trade

GSO Main Functions

�Protection of the consumer, health ,Safety &

environment.

�Assisting GCC Industry through harmonization of

GCC Standards, Specifications and Conformity GCC Standards, Specifications and Conformity

Assessment procedures with their international

equivalents.

�Serving the needs and requirements of the GCC

Customs Union and single entry point.

Degree of relevance:

40% (ISO),

80% (IEC),

Standardization Activities in the GCC

6

80% (IEC),

60% Codex

Covering major economic sectors.

Public policies cover technical regulations relating to: � Safety,� Security, � Health,

Standards & RegulationsA global consensus

� Health,� Social Protection� Environmentas well as policies to� Support Research And Development � Competitiveness Of Industry, � Quality And Efficiency Of Public Services

Governments tend to set up regulations aiming at controlling its markets to ensure an adequate level of health, safety, and security for its citizens.

Standards & RegulationsA global consensus

At the same time, multinational companies operate in different parts of the globe and invest in regions which offer attractive financial and technical incentives

Because of the globalization of trade, healthcare, climate change and security and safety, as well as the pervasiveness of information and communication technologies, standards are more and more in demand.

Standards & RegulationsA global consensus

technologies, standards are more and more in demand.

Moreover, the 151 signatories to the World Trade Organization are committed to using international standards in order not to create unnecessary technical barriers to trade through un-harmonized regulations and conformity assessment requirements.

Technical regulations and standards are important, but they vary from country to country.

Having too many different standards makes life difficult for

Standards & RegulationsA global consensus

Having too many different standards makes life difficult for producers and exporters.

they could be used as an excuse for protectionism. Standards can become obstacles to trade

Through standards covering areas as diverse as health technologies, workplace safety, disaster relief and consumer protection, standards makes a considerable contribution to the social dimension and is indispensable

Standards & RegulationsA global consensus

contribution to the social dimension and is indispensable for development.

Moreover, standards guide public procurement and through transparency, standards act as a barrier to corruption and boost governmental performance

Additionally, standards are integrated into national regulations and laws and referenced in international treaties. They create market incentives for private sector actors to follow the law which is in part based on these

Standards & RegulationsA global consensus

actors to follow the law which is in part based on these standards (at least from the technical point of view).

On the gulf level, GSO is acting responsibly in this area. Together with a considerably increasing catalogue of more that 6200 published gulf standards that are applied within the 6 G.C.C. states, and Yemen special attention

Standards & RegulationsA global consensus

within the 6 G.C.C. states, and Yemen special attention is paid for ensuring international references of published gulf standards.

Public policies can no longer be developed and implemented in isolation when they impact on trade, health, security or the environment. Increasingly, the use and referencing of standards, based on consensus

Standards & RegulationsA global consensus

and referencing of standards, based on consensus among the stakeholders, form part of good regulatory practice and good public governance.

Standards make an enormous contribution to most aspects of our lives. Without standards, consider how difficult –or even dangerous – it would be to carry out ordinary, daily tasks.

Standards & RegulationsA global consensus

tasks.

GSO Structures for Standards Development The development of regional Gulf standards is carried out mainly by GSO Technical Committees (GSO/TC). At present there are ten GSO/TCs:

Standards & RegulationsIntelligent Transport Systems

GSO/TC 1 – Chemistry and Textiles Secretariat held by: United Arab EmiratesGSO/TC 2 – Mechanical Products Secretariat held by: BahrainGSO/TC 3 – Electricity and Electronics Secretariat held by: Saudi ArabiaGSO/TC 4 – Metrology and Calibration Secretariat held by: Oman

GSO Structures for Standards Development

GSO/TC 5 – Food and Agriculture Secretariat held by: QatarGSO/TC 6 – Construction and Secretariat held by: Kuwait

Standards & RegulationsIntelligent Transport Systems

GSO/TC 6 – Construction and Secretariat held by: KuwaitBuilding MaterialsGSO/TC 7 – Oil and gas Secretariat held by: QatarGSO/TC 8 – Information Technology Secretariat held by: Saudi ArabiaGSO/TC 9 – Electrical Equipments Secretariat held by: Saudi ArabiaGSO/TC 10 – Water Equipment Secretariat held by: Saudi Arabia

According to the GSO Directives for Technical Work, proposals from �a member national standards body,� an existing technical committee/sub-committee,

Standards & RegulationsEstablishing new technical committees

� an existing technical committee/sub-committee,�The Technical Council, �The General Secretariat or �The Board of Directors. Such proposals must be approved by at least 4 participating members of the proposed TC and by the Technical Council which establishes the new TC.

As urbanization and traffic congestion impact the quality of life in many cities,

� ITS holds the promise of improving traffic management and vehicle safety.

Standards & RegulationsIntelligent Transport Systems

management and vehicle safety. � ITS enables both government and private industry to

improve safety, mitigate traffic congestion and reduce fuel consumption and emissions, as well as increase traveller mobility and convenience via the use of vehicle and infrastructure probe data..

The major trends are:

� integrating vehicles with roadway networks through the use of on-board wireless communications ; � conversion of vehicle and infrastructure data to

Standards & RegulationsIntelligent Transport Systems

� conversion of vehicle and infrastructure data to provide timely location based services to drivers and roadway operators ; � to improve advanced safety applications such as automatic crash notification, secure freight transport and crash avoidance ; � an improved environment through reduced fuel consumption

International Technical Committees ISO TC204covering the areas of Intelligent transport systems.

ISO/TC 204 addresses the newly emerging worldwide market that has come to be known as Intelligent

Standards & RegulationsIntelligent Transport Systems

market that has come to be known as Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).

ITS is the application of information technology, communications technology, and sensor technology, including the internet (both wired and wireless), to the general challenges and opportunities of surface transportation.