REVIEW OF INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS

This paper reviews the range of transport telematics products and services, being developed by industry and users in Europe, the USA, and Japan. It is generally agreed that major business in Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and Advanced Transport Telematics (ATT) is at an early stage of development, and that there is strong competition between its industrial organisations in Europe, the USA, and Japan. The main European Union research and development programmes in ITS have been DRIVE (1989-92), DRIVE II (1992-95), EU Fourth Framework (1995 on), and the parallel Prometheus programme. ITS America has organised itself into various Technical Committees, each covering an important aspect of ITS/ATT deployment, including: (1) Advanced Traffic Management Systems; (2) Advanced Traveller Information Systems; (3) Commercial Vehicle Operations; (4) Advanced Vehicle Control Systems; (5) Advanced Public Transport Systems; (6) Standards and Protocols; (7) Benefits; (8) Evaluation and Costs; and (9) Human Factors. The many Ministries and organisations promoting ITS in Japan are coordinated through VERTIS (Vehicle Road Traffic Intelligence Society). The useful applications of ATT include: improved traffic control, real-time information about the road and transport network and public transport, and route planning.