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Introduction to Intelligent Transport Systems

In the current situation of ever-increasing mobility and hence congestion, transport authorities are turning to existing and new technologies to preserve mobility, improve road safety, and minimise congestion, pollution and environmental impact. The roads and vehicles of tomorrow are beginning to see major changes brought about by the integration of computers, information and communication technologies. This new area of technology is known as Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) [gloss.].

The goal of ITS is to apply advanced technologies to make transportation operate more safely and efficiently and to ensure that the above-mentioned aims are met. The theory and practice of ITS is being continually studied with an ultimate aim of providing maximum benefit to as many transportation users (that is, a large proportion of the world's population) as possible.

Based on the ITS America Strategic Plan, there are five functional areas of ITS:

• Advanced traffic management systems (ATMS): traffic signal control, ramp metering and incident management systems.
• Advanced traveller information systems (ATIS): information given directly to the traveller about which route would be best to take given certain levels of congestion, as well as local significant geographic information.
• Advanced vehicle control systems: using computers to control vehicle movement, particularly with respect to light rail.
• Commercial vehicle operations: management of fleets, emergency vehicles, to improve efficiency of dispatch and response times.
• Advanced public transport systems: providing information on bus/train arrival times, payment of fares by smartcards, bus/tram priority measures.

Examples of use of positioning systems within ITS

Consider a bus information system. The various components of the system could include the following:

• Human-machine interfaces in the form of information displays at bus stops and at operator console at main computer.
• A positioning system to determine the location of buses - using GPS/Galileo satellites.
• A computer to gather data from the buses, process it and send it to the display.
• A communication system to allow data transfer between all the interfaces.

 A 'Real-time' Bus Information System in use in Greater London

Now consider a system to combat congestion on motorways:

• Sensors, such as a video camera or induction loop in the road, to monitor traffic flow at a particular location.
• Central control computer to consider all inputs from sensors.
• Output devices – variable message signs [gloss.] on roadside and in-car navigation devices to warn drivers of conditions.
• Operator interface to the control computer.

 VMS in use on the M25 motorway, showing a variable speed limit and message.

 Consider...

With this information, consider how traditional stand-alone GPS navigation systems could be modified.

 Question...?

What other applications of ITS can you think of?

 This road sign can provide information about temporary traffic restrictions.

Useful Links

• ITS Assist (www.its-assist.org.uk/)
  *Particularly useful*
  
  
• Understanding the Benefits and Costs of Intelligent Transport Systems: a Toolkit Approach (www.itstoolkit.co.uk)
• Foresight: Intelligent Infrastructure Systems (www.foresight.gov.uk/Previous_Projects/Intelligent_Infrastructure_Systems/Index.html)
• UK Government's ITS Policy for the Roads Sector - November 2005 (www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents/page/dft_roads_610509.pdf)
• DfT document on ITS Benefits - March 2003 (www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents/page/dft_roads_508240.pdf)
• ITS and Air Pollution (www.epcc.ed.ac.uk/ttn-Transport/)
• Latest ITS International Articles (www.itsinternational.com)
• Transport Research Laboratory ITS (www.trl.co.uk/)
• ITS UK (www.its-focus.org.uk/)
• Research Paper on ITS (www.heydon.org/robin/its.html)
• ITS America site (www.itsa.org/whatits.html)
• Glossary of ITS Acronyms (www.ertico.com/en/what_is_its/glossary/)
• Traffic Message Channel (www.tmcforum.com/)
• Public Transport Information Provision (www.traveline.org.uk/)
• Transport Direct - the UK's national transport information service (www.transportdirect.gov.uk)

In this topic...

	topic overview
	intelligent transport systems
	satellite positioning systems
	exam-style questions

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