Transport Telematics

Transport telematics concerns the use of telematics with focus on transport organisation, information, and control. The term transport telematics is often used synonymously to the terms Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Transport Information and Control Systems (TICS). However, ITS and TICS are more general and certain applications related to transportation are also termed ITS or TICS applications if they provide transport related use of computer technology - even if no telecommunication is involved.

Some transport telematics applications are already widespread and well-known to many transportation professionals and private users. For example, many new (private) cars are equipped with on-board navigation systems considering real-time traffic and travel information. According to a study by Frost & Sullivan [1] the number of commercial vehicles equipped with telematics devices will rise from 75 550 in 2001 to over 5.4 million in 2009. Total market revenues are anticipated to grow from € 169.5 million in 2001 to € 4.7 billion by 2009. As commercial vehicles will be increasingly equipped with telematics devices, the market for commercial vehicle telematics will increase from € 84.3 million in 2001 to just under € 3.2 billion by 2009. It is anticipated that one of the main application of services demanded will focus on logistics and transportation management.

The following table gives a composite taxonomy of TICS services, as standardised by the International Organisation for Standardization [2]:

Table: Fundamental TICS services
Category Service
Traffic and travel information
  • Pre-trip information
  • On-trip driver information
  • On-trip public transport information
  • Personal information services
  • Route guidance and navigation
Traffic management
  • Transportation planning support
  • Traffic control
  • Incident management
  • Demand management
  • Policing/enforcing traffic regulations
  • Infrastructure maintenance management
Vehicle-related
  • Vision enhancement
  • Automated vehicle operation
  • Longitudinal collision avoidance
  • Lateral collision avoidance
  • Safety readiness
  • Pre-crash restraint deployment
Commercial vehicles
  • Commercial vehicle pre-clearance
  • Commercial vehicle administrative processes
  • Automated roadside safety inspection
  • Commercial vehicle on-board safety monitoring
  • Commercial vehicle fleet management
Public transport
  • Public transport management
  • Shared transport management
Emergency management
  • Emergency notification and personal security
  • Emergency vehicle management
  • Hazardous materials and incident notification
Electronic payment
  • Electronic financial transactions
Safety
  • Public travel security
  • Safety enhancement for vulnerable road users
  • Intelligent junctions

[1] Frost & Sullivan. Analysis of the European commercial vehicle telematics market. Frost & Sullivan Report B042, 2002.
[2] International Organisation for Standardization. Transport Information and Control Systems - Reference Model Architecture(s) for the TICS sector - Part 1: Fundamental TICS services. ISO/TC204/WG1/N310R, 1997.

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