Management of Network Operations Introductory Report

Network Operations is about the safe, efficient and reliable operation of our roads and highways. Roads authorities have long-standing responsibilities for building and maintaining the infrastructure and for managing the asset, but they are now acquiring new responsibilities. Present-day network operations are increasingly a matter of strategic importance, vital to the health of the local, regional and national economy. Highways need to be fully integrated with local transport networks, ports, ferry terminals, airports, railway stations and other long-distance modes. Strategies for traffic management, expressway operations, demand management and enforcement of traffic laws are urgently needed with congestion management and reduced incident response times high on the agenda. The overall theme for the Technical Committee on Network Operations (TC1.4) has been integrated network operations in the widest sense. This means integrating road network operations between different road authorities and agencies in the city and region, locally and long-distance, including international frontiers, for the benefit of all road users. Road network operations are set to benefit from a variety of technical developments, some of which will become widely available in the very near future: more accurate and cost effective data collection; systems for improving the efficiency of the network or making better use of it; data warehousing and intelligent systems for using static and real time data to predict the build up of congestion, journey times etc; cooperative systems, infrastructure and vehicles working together to improve safety and management; intelligent vehicles working together to improve safety; improved integration between road operators, police and emergency services; provision of driver information in vehicle and presented when required; development of new infrastructure-vehicle services such as car parking management/booking, traveller information/entertainment, tourist information/ attractions; integrated road and public transport traveller information; and enforcement and security systems aimed at reducing the level of illegal driving and dangerous or defective vehicles. For the covering abstract see ITRD E139491.