Management of network operations: the future for the best traffic engineers?

There is no doubt that a mind set change is taking place in road administrations. It is the acceptance that road and traffic authorities have two equally important roles: 1. management of road infrastructure assets; and, 2. management of network operations. This paper will investigate the second of these - management of network operations, using the strategic direction set by the World Road Association in late 2003. The World Road Association has asked the technical committee to look at the role of management of network operations from three viewpoints -with each viewpoint haying three components. They are: 1. new ideas for wide network operations; 2. information management and the public interest; 3. appropriate use of ITS for an integrated transport system This paper will show that from a management and technical perspective the challenges for up and coming traffic engineers will be breathtaking. They will be working to optimise a system that extends well beyond roads, and has billions of stakeholders who often have very different objectives. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E211783.