The communications/information revolution is increasingly affecting people's lives in all manners of ways and roads and road users are/will be no exception. The communications/information revolution is the most widely advertised revolution in history, but the one whose impacts are least known. It is also true to say that when it comes to predicting what the impacts will be, commentators tend to be over-optimistic when it comes to predicting 3-5 years ahead, but notoriously cautious when it comes to predicting 30 years ahead. The Congress session will focus on effects on organisations, on inter-modal opportunities, on design and maintenance, and on new skills and user needs. It will then consider how these issues and opportunities will impact on items such as capacity improvements, network control and management, integration and safety, etc. It is important to ensure that the opportunities that this revolution presents are fully explored and exploited, including its application in developing and transitional countries. As well as drawing on the experiences of two PIARC Committees - Intelligent Transport (C16) and Road Safety (C13), experts from related fields will also supplement the experience of PIARC members, providing: a visionary insight into the future of communications and information technology in particular demonstrating the possible impact on transportation by providing examples based on other industries; opportunities presented by a computer platform in the automobile, including issues and solutions arising from in-vehicle-equipment; the need for partnerships between all aspects of the transport industry and operators; the need for international co-operation to ensure inter-operability and the maximization of benefits to users. For the covering abstract see ITRD E118727.
Samenvatting