Technology has been fundamental to transport throughout human history, but recent rapid advances in information technology promise to transform transport management in ways that would have been inconceivable until recently. Just as information and communication technologies are crucial for sustainable development, so can their use accelerate the “greening” of transportation. Such a transformation is essential. In Europe, almost 20 per cent of gross domestic product is generated by the transport sector. This equates to billions of euros and millions of jobs. Our collective challenge is to improve road safety, reduce the congestion of transport corridors for people and freight, and minimize the negative environmental impact of transport. By minimizing traffic congestion and making public transport more attractive, we can significantly reduce transport-generated pollution - including CO2 emissions - and stimulate sustainable economic growth. We can help emerging economies to leap-frog an outmoded development model and integrate more sustainably into the global economy. The answer lies in Intelligent Transport Systems, options that include real-time travel information services, new-generation systems for infrastructure charging and sophisticated management models across all transport modes. To be most effective, such systems need to be deployed systematically throughout a given transportation system and across countries. And, since a set of core technologies underpins most Intelligent Transport Systems, it will be necessary for all those responsible for managing them to have the necessary instruction in their application and use, particularly when deployed on a very large scale. This publication is the first step on this journey. (Author/publisher)
Abstract