Many authorities recognize the need for characteristic numbers in the field of traffic and transport. These numbers include totals, means, coefficients and elasticities. They can be used to get a quick impression of the existing situation or of scenarios under the influence of autonomous developments or policy measures. The Dutch province of South Holland had the possibilities for such a system investigated. The VERDI knowledge centre performed an inventory under local and regional authorities of the wishes and aims regarding such a information system. The system can include all of the base information to be able to calculate any desired number, but it can also only contain the results of those calculations, a selection of numbers out of the very many that can be deducted (passive, book of tables). The system might also be able to deduct the numbers and use them to make calculations (active, expert system). The developments are in the stadium of balancing between wishes, technical possibilities and costs. This paper describes findings of the investigations, and gives a start for the discussion on the contents and features of the information system. (A)
Abstract