SOCIAL TRENDS AND RESEARCH NEEDS IN TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING. IN: SOCIAL CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

The growing role of information processing and telecommunications are recognized as the social trend that will have the greatest influence on transportation. Some examples of the use of information and communications technology (ICT) include on-vehicle collision avoidance systems, the provision of real time information about the arrival of transit vehicles, use of electronic toll collection, the capability to navigate around traffic congestion, and the ability to reserve a time slot to cross a congested bridge. The paper focuses on the needs for new planning methods that will incorporate technological and informational improvements to evaluate telecommunications enhancements that include the upgrading of communications capabilities. Also recognized is the need for research to assist transportation agencies develop the capability to understand and forecast the economic, social and environmental impacts of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) improvements on existing and new facilities.