Objective
The main objective of IFMS is to develop system architectures for integrated freight/logistics, fleet/resource and vehicle/cargo management and to validate them within pan-European pilot demonstrators.
A system architectures are being developed for integrated freight and logistics, fleet and resource and , vehicle and cargo management. These will be validated within pan European pilot demonstrators.
Within the integrated freight logistics fleet and vehicle management system (IFMS) project open system architectures for computer aided and integrated transport (OSA-CAIT) are being specified, implemented and validated within pilot projects in the areas of controlled logistics on a pan European scale including urban operations.
A total of 11 pilot operations based in 7 countries were selected covering a board range of freight and fleet management applications and advanced transport telematics (ATT) technologies. The feasibility of the pilots was proven in the light of the overall IFMS approach. The design phase was concluded for most of the pilots and implementation including technical trials has commenced.
In the area of mobile data communication an internal draft standard (EDIMOB) was developed which will be used in the related pilot operations.
The framework for OSA-CAIT was established including the specification of functional modules and interfaces. Requirements for a communication platform were identified based on pilot specific needs.
Technical Approach
Within the IFMS project Open System Architectures for Computer Aided and Integrated Transport (OSA-CAIT) will be specified, implemented and validated within pilot projects in the areas of controlled logistics on a pan-European scale including urban operations.
In the centre of the whole configuration are the IFMS core functions stratified according to the well-defined management levels:
Freight/Logistics Management,
Fleet/Resource Management,
Vehicle/Cargo Management.
In order to communicate between the management levels and with external systems (e.g. freight-related database resources) an Integrated Transport Communication Platform will be established. Specific interfaces will be built, e.g. for logistics EDI, Transport Authority Clearance, Traffic Management Systems and Multimodal Transport Inter-Operations. A variety of ATT technologies will be used and compared comprising mobile communication (satellite-based systems as well as cellular systems), automatic equipment localization and identification and vehicle/cargo sensors.
The general architectural framework of the OSA-CAIT concept, the ATT technologies and IFMS functional modules will be validated in a number of pilots within carefully selected typical transport operations and geographical urban and interurban environments with links to selected POLIS and CORRIDOR projects. The pilot demonstrators will be developed in a phased approach ranging from regional/long-distance transport operations via interregional/intermodal transport chains to an integrated transport pilot network.
Within the scope of the pilots the operational and commercial benefits for the shippers and transport operators involved, as well as benefits for society and environment of the use of advanced information and telecommunication techniques for improving freight operations will be demonstrated. Based on the pilot experiences, recommendations for functional specifications and standardization will be given and strategies for pan-European IFMS implementation will be derived.
Key Issues
Open System Architecture for Computer-Aided and Integrated Transport (OSA-CAIT)
Integrated Transport Communication Platform
Generic systems and interface configurations
Validation by staged pilot demonstrators: regional transport operations - interregional/intermodal transport chains - integrated transport pilot network
Interfaces to POLIS and CORRIDOR pilot projects
Common functional specifications and standardization proposals
Implementation recommendations
Expected Achievements
Substantial benefits are expected by the implementation of the OSA-CAIT concept, especially for:
Effectiveness and efficiency of (transport) operations along the logistic chain
Working conditions of drivers and dispatchers
Interoperability of freight and fleet management systems with each other and with external / infrastructure-based information systems
Based on the experience gained from the pilot operations and on the response of related projects, it is expected that so-called generic modules and interfaces as well as proposals for standardization will be agreed.
Expected Impact
The IFMS project aims at improving the efficiency, reliability and safety of freight transport by a stepwise integration of ATT-based systems into commercial freight and fleet management. By propagating an open system architecture for computer aided and integrated transport compatibility and interoperability of different information, planning and control systems related to various modes of transportation will be assured. Additionally, needs for standardization from the viewpoint of freight and fleet management will be specified and proposals for common functional specifications will be derived and validated.
Contribution to Standardization
Following the line of standardization proposals within DRIVE I, the ATT freight-related potential pre-standards will be specified, tested and proposed to European standardization bodies.
Potential pre-standardization areas include:
OSA-CAIT (Open System Architecture for Computer Aided Integrated Transport)
EDIFACT/IFTM add-ons (including real-time transactions based on near real-time data exchange with driver, vehicle, cargo, consignment identification, documentation, monitoring and tracking, route plans and schedules)
EDIMOB - International mobile messaging standard for commercial fleet and vehicle management (integrating general mobile traffic message standards developed within other ATT projects)
International codifications of commercial vehicles, cargo units, consignments, positions (geographical), locations (loading/unloading addresses), transport network nodes.
Fields of science
- social sciencessocial geographytransportfreight transport
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcontrol systems
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabases
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata sciencedata exchange
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
Data not availableCoordinator
70567 Stuttgart
Germany