Intelligent Transport System

Trafc control has been an issue since humans put the frst wheels on the
frst cart. The modern world demands mobility. Cars represent the main
method of mobility, but todays congested highways and city streets dont
move fast, and sometimes they dont move at all. Intelligent trafc systems
(IT!, sometimes called intelligent transportation systems, apply
communications and information technology to provide solutions to this
congestion as well as other trafc control issues. Intelligent Transportation
ystems (IT! represent a ma"or transition in transportation on many
dimensions. IT is an international program intended to improve the
e#ectiveness and efciency of surface transportation systems through
advanced technologies in information systems, communications, and
sensors. IT (Intelligent Transport ystems! is a system which is designed to
promote advance technology, to ensure that the $lectronic Toll Collection
ystem ($TC! is e#ective and to support safe driving. %ith this system,
people, roads, and vehicles use the latest information communication
technology.
The intelligent transport system (IT! ta&es the frst step towards meeting
this challenge by providing e#ective, reliable and meaningful &nowledge to
motorists in time. 'roblems li&e high trafc congestion, low transportation
efciency, low safety and endangered environment can be solved through
innovative and sophisticated ways of handling latest techni(ues that have
emerged in recent years in integrating information technology, electronics
and telecommunication with roads and trafc management. Intelligent
transportation systems, or IT, encompass a broad range of wireless and
wireline communications)based information, control and electronics
technologies.
%hen integrated into the transportation system infrastructure, and in
vehicles themselves, these technologies help monitor and manage trafc
*ow, reduce congestion, provide alternate routes to travelers, enhance
productivity, and save lives, time and money. Intelligent transportation
systems provide the tools for s&illed transportation professionals to collect,
analy+e, and archive data about the performance of the system during the
hours of pea& use. ,aving this data enhances trafc operators- ability to
respond to incidents, adverse weather or other capacity constricting events
.enefts of Intelligent Transport ystem
The investments in IT will help increase the benefts and efciencies of
transportation systems, thereby reducing the need for much costlier physical
e/pansion of systems. This optimism is not to be confused as any &ind of
illusion that new infrastructure e/pansion in India can be avoided altogether
by resorting to IT. ignifcant e/pansion of infrastructure will still be needed
in India for a long time to come. .ut including IT in the overall development
strategy of Indias transportation system can increase the number of
benefciaries of the system, signifcantly enhance the transportation)related
safety which is a ma"or concern in most parts of India and in some cases
reduce the scale of infrastructure e/pansion.
Thus, a realistic approach to IT deployment in India would consist of a
balanced component of IT as part of the ongoing e/pansion of
transportation system. IT initiatives in industriali+ed countries have clearly
identifed a number of benefts associated with such pro"ects. $ven though
IT pro"ects are implemented with specifc ob"ectives with specifc benefts in
mind, the overall benefts to the society may prove to be (uite substantial in
many cases. 0or e/ample, Torontos C12'3 0reeway Trafc 2anagement
ystem, one of the frst and successful IT pro"ects in the world has been
sub"ected to a great deal of scrutiny to evaluate its benefts. C12'3 has
been found to reduce the incident response times from 45 minutes to 67
minutes, the overall vehicle delay by 8.6 million vehicle)hours per year, the
overall emission by 6,977 tones per year and the operating costs of
commercial vehicles by :88 million per year. Cities in the ;nited tates have
reported an increase in throughout by <8= and reduction in travel times by
<8= after implementing appropriate IT initiatives.
The following is a list of identifed benefts of IT pro"ects >
? @educed rush hour congestion and delay
? Increased safety and personal security
? Time savings and operation efciencies
? @educed fuel consumption and emissions
? Improved customer service and reduced frustration
? @educed road accidents and fatalities and
? $nhanced economic productivity.
Classifcation of IT
3dvanced public transport system> (3'T!
3'T technologies are a collection of technologies that increase the
efciency and safety of public transportation systems and o#er users greater
access to information on system operations. The implementation of 3'T
technologies is transforming the way public transportation systems operate,
and changing the nature of the transportation services that can be o#ered by
public transportation systems. The goal is to provide public transportation
decision)ma&ers more information to ma&e e#ective decisions on systems
and operations and to increase travelers Convenience and rider ship. 3'T
technologies can be organi+ed into three broad categories that describe the
technologies relevance to transit applications. $ach category is comprised of
a variety of technology choices that are available to help transport agencies
and organi+ations meet travelers service needs while increasing safety and
efciency. The three 3'T technology categories are> *eet management
system, travelers information system and electronic payment system.
3dvanced Traveler Information ystem> (3TI!
3dvanced travelers information systems (3TI!, a part of new technology
applications in transportation, provide accurate and timely information that
help travelers to select routes, times of travel and travel modes. They wor&
even better with inclusion of geographic tourist guides and yellow pages that
enable travelers to select destinations based on pro/imity to other places.
Aeliver data directly to travelers, empowering them to ma&e better choices
about alternate routes or modes of transportation. %hen archived, this
historical data provides transportation planners with accurate travel pattern
information, optimi+ing the transportation planning process.
3dvanced Trafc 2anagement ystem> (3T2!
This system can beneft the public with improved trafc and public safety, by
monitoring the *ow of trafc and ma&ing appropriate decisions in a timely
manner. 3dditional benefts include less fuel consumption and reduced
environmental impact. They employ a variety of relatively ine/pensive
detectors, cameras, and communication systems to monitor trafc, optimi+e
signal timings on ma"or arterials, and control the *ow of trafc.