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Intelligent
Transport Services (ITS) ITS involves the application of information and communications
technology (ICT) to improve the effectiveness, safety and efficiency of
travel and the transportation of people and goods. These systems are used in the transport
infrastructure and in vehicles: one of the key challenges for the future is
to integrate the information within vehicles' electronics with information in
the infrastructure, whilst protecting personal privacy and maintaining the
integrity of the transport systems during transition periods when many
vehicles are not equipped with these systems. ITS includes
initiatives in the infrastructure, such as: -
Urban Traffic Control
(UTC) - essentially traffic lights -
Urban Traffic
Management and Control (UTMC) - an evolution from UTC to use IP networks and
open interfaces to allow collection of real-time traffic information and a
variety of ways to distribute advice to drivers and travellers. -
Road usage charging -
particularly when using variable rates to manage and spread demand -
Real time passenger
information - for use trains, buses, boats and 'planes -
Ticketless travel -
based on electronic tickets, including use of cellphones and contactless
smart cards -
Personal travel advice
- advice for the user's specific journey which may need to be updated during
the journey -
Logistics and Fleet
management - for freight, public transport and a mobile field force. -
Emergency services,
who require all the above, plus access to specialist information, and
excellent co-ordination in-vehicle systems - Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) including: -
Satellite Navigation -
Automatic Cruise
Control (ACC) - reduce speed when slower vehicle detected ahead -
Electronic
Stabilisation Control -
Lane Departure Warning
Systems -
Parking-assist and warning
of objects in blind spot Cooperative Vehicle
Highway Systems (CVHS) where vehicles share
information with each other and the infrastructure -
In-vehicle display of
road-signage -
Intelligent Speed
Adaptation (ACC plus knowledge of local speed limits) -
Problem ahead warnings
(including accident on the intended route, vehicle stopped beyond a blind
corner or slippery road surface) -
Safe merging of
traffic at junctions -
Platooning, where a
small group of vehicles travel together in a convoy, with the drives of
following vehicles able to hand control to the lead vehicle - the ultimate
vision that may never be realisable in practice? ITS UK is the
specialist professional body representing and co-ordinating across the
industry. |
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Last updated 10th May 2009. (c) Shadow Creek
Consulting Ltd 2009 |