Transport Telematics Applications, also known as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) create important benefits for road users, for infrastructure operators and for the society in general. Telematics Applications aiming at managing traffic and incidents are considered to be a necessary component in every modern motorway that is meant to offer high level of service. In Greece, such applications have been implemented in a few so far cases, such as the ATTIKI ODOS motorway, at the fringe of the Greater Athens Area. Another case is the EGNATIA ODOS motorway that is still under construction, whilst almost 65% of its total length is already in operation. Egnatia Odos with a total length of 680 km includes over 50 tunnels and a equal large number of bridges, including several long tunnels that in some cases form quite complex road sections. Managing traffic in case of an incident in these sections is a quite difficult task and eventually leads to significant economic and social benefits for all involved. The respective study for a specific section, Polymylos - Veria, with a length of 25,5 km comprising 14 tunnels and 12 bridges indicates that the benefits from the implementation and operation of ITS exceed the investment and operations / maintenance costs of these systems. Road safety improvements alone account for approximately 1,0 ml . for year 2005. Additional benefits emerge from time savings in case of incidents, as well as from operating cost reductions. The total investment cost for a Traffic Management System for this particular road section has been calculated to approximately 6,0 ml .. For the covering abstract see ITRD E137489.
Abstract