An intelligent transportation system (ITS) is an advanced application that aims to provide services relating to different modes of transport and traffic management and enable users to be better informed and make safer, more coordinated, and "smarter" use of transport networks. Some of these technologies include calling for emergency services when an accident occurs, using cameras to enforce traffic laws or signs that mark speed limit changes depending on conditions. Although ITS may refer to all modes of transport, the directive of the European Union 2010/40/EU, made on July 7, 2010, defined ITS as systems in which information and communication technologies are applied in the field of road transport, including infrastructure, vehicles and users, and in traffic management and mobility management, as well as for interfaces with other modes of transport. ITS may be used to improve the efficiency and safety of transport in many situations, e.g., road transport, traffic management, or mobility. ITS technology is being adopted across the world to increase the capacity of busy roads, reduce journey times and enable the collection of information on unsuspecting road users.
Background Governmental activity in the area of ITS is further motivated by an increasing focus on homeland security. Many of the proposed ITS systems also involve surveillance of the roadways, which is a priority of homeland security. Funding of many systems comes either directly through homeland security organisations or with their approval. Further, ITS can play a role in the rapid mass evacuation of people in urban centres after large casualty events such as a result of a natural disaster or threat. Much of the infrastructure and planning involved with ITS parallels the need for homeland security systems. In the developing world, the migration from rural to urbanized habitats has progressed differently. Many areas of the developing world have urbanised without significant motorisation and the formation of suburbs. A small portion of the population can afford automobiles, but the automobiles greatly increase congestion in these multimodal transportation systems. They also produce considerable air pollution, pose a significant safety risk, and exacerbate feelings of inequities in the society. High population density could be supported by a multimodal system of walking, bicycle transportation, motorcycles, buses, and trains. Other parts of the developing world, such as China, India and Brazil remain largely rural but are rapidly urbanising and industrialising. In these areas a motorised infrastructure is being developed alongside motorisation of the population. Great disparity of wealth means that only a fraction of the population can motorise, and therefore the highly dense multimodal transportation system for the poor is cross-cut by the highly motorised transportation system for the rich.
Intelligent transportation technologies Intelligent transport systems incorporate a wide range of technologies, from basic management systems such as car navigation, traffic signal control, and variable-message signs, to more advanced, interconnected applications. These technologies can be broadly categorized into several key areas:
A foundational component of modern operations is the use of telematics systems, with GPS devices
Monitoring and Enforcement Systems: This category includes technologies like automatic number plate recognition, speed cameras, and security CCTV systems used for traffic monitoring and law enforcement. Data Collection and Analysis Systems: These systems gather and process information from various sources. Examples include parking guidance and information systems and Road Weather Information Systems. A major application is providing real-time information to passengers, such as predicting the arrival time of public transport. This is achieved by processing data collected from transit vehicles with telematics and GPS tracking units. This data supports vehicle tracking, emergency services like eCall, and usage-based insurance policies. These systems are distinct from in-vehicle infotainment systems, which focus on entertainment and smartphone integration. Management Applications: These applications use ITS data for operational control. Examples include container management and intelligent fleet management systems, which leverage telematics to optimize routes, improve fuel efficiency, and enhance the safety of logistics and public transport fleets. Cooperative Systems: A significant trend in ITS is the development of Cooperative ITS (C-ITS), where vehicles and infrastructure are interconnected. Data is shared through vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication. This cooperative data exchange allows for real-time hazard warnings and coordinated traffic flow, enhancing safety and efficiency beyond the capabilities of stand-alone systems. Additionally, predictive techniques are being developed to allow for advanced modelling and comparison with historical baseline data. Specific technologies are described in more detail in the following sections of this article.
Wireless communications
Various forms of wireless communications technologies have been proposed for intelligent transportation systems. Radio modem communication on UHF and VHF frequencies are widely used for short and long-range communication within ITS. Short-range communications of 350 m can be accomplished using IEEE 802.11 protocols, specifically 802.11p (WAVE) or the dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) 802.11bd standard being promoted by the Intelligent Transportation Society of America and the United States Department of Transportation. Theoretically, the range of these protocols can be extended using mobile ad hoc networks or mesh networking. Longer-range communications use infrastructure networks. Long-range communications using these methods are well established, but, unlike the short-range protocols, these methods require extensive and very expensive infrastructure deployment.
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