 Telematics Applications for Transport Research Information4th Framework Research
TAP-Transport areas' results (4th FP)
Since the beginning of the Fourth Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration (1994-1998), the Transport sector of the Telematics Applications Programme (TAP) co-funded more than 100 RTD&D projects.
These co-operated in consolidating programme results as part of their concertation activities in a number of vertical areas and subareas.
The results summarised below are largely based on the synthesis reports on TAP-Transport projects published by the accompanying measures CONVERGE (Synthesis of Validation Results) and CODE (Area Reports).
This introduction, common to all areas is followed by the list of area results reports brochures. These brochures are in PDF.
THE MOBILE INFORMATION SOCIETY
Creating the User-Friendly Information Society is a key policy aim for the European Union. Industrial competitiveness, employment, quality of life and sustainable growth all depend on Europe being at the cutting edge in exploiting Information Society Technologies (IST).
The IST Programme of the EU builds on a decade of Research and Technological Development (RTD) work and on European policy in liberalising the telecommunications equipment, services and infrastructure markets. It is highly relevant to transport, travel and tourism, because it develops intelligent infrastructure and vehicle systems for efficient mobility management, for increased safety and for the delivery of information based value-added services.
The vision guiding the Transport and Tourism actions of the IST Programme is one of âBuilding the Mobile Society within the Information Societyâ. Its strategic objective is to realise the full benefits for Europe both by accelerating emergence of the Information Society and by ensuring that it meets the needs of individuals and businesses. To prepare for this Mobile Information Society, the Commission has taken very active initiatives. First, the Commission and the Member States have adopted the e-Europe Action Plan to accelerate the ânew economyâ in Europe. This Action Plan covers a number of domains and includes some priority actions on Intelligent Transport Systems. Second, the Commission has proposed directives on a common regulatory framework for electronic communication networks and services. These directives include some key aspects of universal services and user rights, authorisation, access, personal data and privacy protection to reinforce the competition in the European markets.
The Transport actions of the IST Programme are based on the results of previous RTD on Telematics for Transport - also known as Intelligent Transport Systems or ITS, in which the EU has played a leading role since 1988. Under the EUâs Fourth Framework Programme for RTD&D (1994-1998), the Telematics Applications Programme (TAP), administered by Directorate-General Information Society of the European Commission, has realised leading-edge systems and applications, promoting competitiveness in the European industry and improving the quality and efficiency of essential public services such as transport.
Information Society Technologies are contributing to safer, cleaner and more efficient transport by:
- providing travellers and operators with convenient access to real time information
- helping passengers, drivers, freight distributors and transport operators to avoid delays, congestion and unnecessary trips
- diverting traffic from overcrowded roads to alternative routes
- transferring road freight transport to other modes when possible including rail, coast-line and inland waterways
- encouraging integrated multimodal passenger transport
- reducing accidents, fatalities and injuries
- increasing productivity
- gaining extra capacity from existing infrastructures
- reducing energy use and
- reducing environmental pollution.
Intelligent Transport Systems are already in operation on land, water and air routes, and at passenger and freight terminals and depots. They have laid solid foundations for new advances under the EUâs Fifth Framework Programme for RTD&D, which began in 1999 with a number of projects under the IST Programme.
A number of TAP-Transport projects also cooperated to a horizontal sub-area on Satellite Navigation/GNSS.
Since 1997, a number of initiatives were also taken in the area of Tourism paving the way to the IST activities in this field in 5FP.
ãEuropean Communities, 2000
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged, save where otherwise stated.
Published in July 2000
Disclaimer
The content of this brochure is the sole responsibility of its publishers and in no way represents the views of the Commission or its services
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