Closing address

The initiative for this symposium came from the Department of Transport in its desire to generate more data more cheaply, and to stimulate the exploitation of new technology. In all aspects of DoT interests - from ports to highways engineers face a particular problem: how to sensibly take account of the latest developments that have been triggered off by the advent of micro-electronics. What is going on? What is available? How can i t be exploited? How can engineers get optimum use from a system when there are so many overlapping skills and interests in this field? What policy context is there for the development and exploitation of any new proposals?