This chapter of the text, in contrast to the preceding ones, which dealt primarily with traffic engineering techniques and practices that are widely applied, discusses systems that are only beginning to be developed. It does not present a picture of state-of-the-art traffic engineering pratice so much as a vision of what that state-of-the-art could be in the year 2000 and beyond. The term Intelligent Vehicle-Highway Systems (IVHS) applies to transportation systems that involve integrated applications of advanced surveillance, communications, computer, display and control process technologies, both in the vehicle and on the highway. The essence of IVHS is to make significant improvements in mobility, highway safety, and productivity by building transportation systems that draw upon advanced electronic technologies and control software. IVHS will also cause reassessment of how transportation services are provided. The communication of reliable, accurate information in real-time among users, vehicles, and transportation management centers will require partnership arrangements between the private and public sectors and among local and state government agencies to develop the applications, and to plan, design, build, operate, and maintain the types of systems needed. While the technologies and software used will be the most advanced available, the ideas behind the applications will not necessarily be new ones. The chapter provides a brief background on the history of IVHS, the reasons for the current strong interest in the subject, and briefly mentions associated research programmes such as ERGS, EUROPOLIS, CARMINAT, ATIS, PROMETHEUS and DRIVE.
Abstract