Q-Free is thrilled to have  been named a finalist in the Smart Transport Infrastructure Award category at the 16^th ITS Australia Awards, recognizing an innovative project that uses real-time data to encourage walking and cycling while supporting smarter transport planning.

The nomination acknowledges Q-Free’s Brisbane Counter Display project, a collaborative project delivered alongside the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and HMI Technologies . Installed along the Canon Garland Overpass in Brisbane, the solution captures and displays live active transport data to promote sustainable travel, improve safety, and improve community engagement.

The goal: Make active transport visible and valuable

As cities invest more in walking and cycling infrastructure, understanding how those assets are used becomes essential. This project set out to make active transport data more accessible, both to the public and to transport authorities, by capturing accurate, real-time counts of cyclists and pedestrians and displaying them directly on the path through interactive signage.

Using Q-Free’s HI-TRAC CMU, the system detects cyclists and pedestrians as they move through the corridor. The data is then processed through the  Kinetic® Mobility platform and shared with stakeholders – creating an important feedback loop between users, planners, and decision makers.

The approach: Engage the community, inform decisions

Rather than collecting data behind the scenes, the project puts it front and center. Real-time counts encourage participation, reinforce sustainable travel choices, and give communities a tangible sense of their collective impact. At the same time, transport authorities gain reliable information to monitor trends, identify high-use corridors, and support future investment decisions.

The system is solar powered and designed for long-term, low-maintenance operation, with a modular architecture that allows it to scale and integrate with broader transportation ecosystems.

“This project shows how relatively simple, well-designed technology can have a meaningful impact,” said Silje Troseth, Vice President Asia Pacific Q-Free. “By making active transport visible in real time, we’re not only supporting better planning decisions, we’re also helping the public see the value of walking and cycling as part of everyday mobility.”

The results: A scalable model for active transport networks

Beyond this initial installation, the project shows strong potential for expansion and replication, across Queensland, other Australian cities, and even future Olympic precincts. Its durability, adaptability, and focus on measurable outcomes make it a compelling example of how intelligent transport systems can support healthier, safer, and more sustainable communities.

Winners of the 16^th ITS Australia Awards will be announced at a gala dinner in Melbourne on Thursday, 12 February 2026.