This paper explores the dynamic interaction between the development of information technology (IT) and the evolution of goods transport supply and demand systems, and considers seven general issues in this area. It then discusses the following applications of IT to road transport: (1) control systems inside vehicles; (2) motorist information systems; (3) automatic vehicle navigation; (4) interactive route guidance; (5) vehicle location and identification; (6) automatic debiting of user charges; (7) control of vehicle speeds and distances between vehicles; (8) collision avoidance; (9) automatic vehicle guidance. Four alternative scenarios for the year 2010 are presented, depending on whether car manufacturers and road infrastructure organisations collaborate. The author concludes that: (1) IT will continue to be the major agent of change in society during the next 30 years; (2) IT will have considerable effects on the demand for goods transport; (3) the strong inertia in transport infrastructure and operations may cause both structural and environmental crises; (4) IT can be used in the transport sector to adjust to changes in demand and improve resource utilisation; (5) there is a particularly large potential for combined transport by rail; (6) more research is needed to find proper policies.
Abstract