Currently, the transport system faces a series of challenges and its development has increased the level of competitiveness and the development of energy-efficiency technologies. The objective of urban transport is to promote the use of cleaner vehicles especially since the traffic volume in urban areas is constantly increasing. Therefore, a more accessible transport system has to be prioritized in traffic management. As regards freight transport, for making the entire transport system efficient, apart from encouraging projects based on applied scheme for freight transport and the development of new goods delivery solutions, intelligent technologies and the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) play an essential role in achieving the objectives set by performing, efficient and sustainable transport policies.
The role of the ITS is generated by problems such as traffic congestion and the development of new technologies in simulations for real time control. Communications networks offer the opportunity of approaching urban traffic management aspects in an innovative way. Congestion affects the efficiency of transport infrastructure and has a negative impact over travel times, pollution and energy consumption. ITS include a large variety of applications for different transport modes in both segments, passengers and freight, and contribute to achieving broader objectives in transport policies. Intelligent systems can facilitate the link between the different modes of transport such as the planning of multimodal integrated journeys or tracking freight transport services. There is no sole instrument for traffic management and the cities have applied a series of solutions for several years. The control of parking lots, pedestrian areas, traffic signals and ensuring freight transport for supply and access control are several management applications which should be present in a sustainable city.
ITS offers added value to urban authorities in traffic management which varies from the management of conventional traffic flow to public transport, urban access and urban logistics. In traffic management and urban logistics, the ITS system brings added value to the transport policy, but also to the traffic control and operating control. At the level of transport policies, it is necessary to set objectives that would positively influence life quality, life and work conditions. As regards traffic control, it is necessary to implement measures and to create scenarios according to local conditions and the use of adequate technical instruments.
“In traffic management and urban logistics there are key factors which represent the basis of the successful ITS implementation and include the implication of decision factors, the development of partnerships, the application of essential tasks, the optimisation of the network performance, the maximisation of the automation level and the minimisation of human intervention at operating level”, declared Stakeholder Manager, Technology Delivery Group at Transport for London during the ITS World Congress.
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