Skip to main content

Ertico partners in step for Europe-wide cooperative traffic systems

According to Ertico, the future of traffic management on urban and inter-urban networks will rely on direct communication and interaction between vehicles and the infrastructure, using new technologies called cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS) that support real-time exchange of traffic data. This cooperation can enable a wide range of applications such as vehicle-sourced data collection, green light and speed advice, automated hazard detection, selective vehicle priority, dynamic city logisti
December 5, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
According to 374 Ertico, the future of traffic management on urban and inter-urban networks will rely on direct communication and interaction between vehicles and the infrastructure, using new technologies called cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS) that support real-time exchange of traffic data. This cooperation can enable a wide range of applications such as vehicle-sourced data collection, green light and speed advice, automated hazard detection, selective vehicle priority, dynamic city logistics, parking management, virtual signage and multimodal traveller information.

The potential benefits of cooperative ITS are vast, including improved energy efficiency, reduced CO2 emissions and congestion, more effective incident detection and management, and increased road safety. Individual transport users will enjoy easier, more reliable and eco-friendlier travel choices, fleet operators for logistics and public transport will improve quality and cost-effectiveness of services while traffic and road managers will benefit from more complete and timely monitoring of their network, and better tools for traffic control and system-wide optimisation.

At the 19th 6456 ITS World Congress in Vienna six infrastructure suppliers announced their collaboration towards a common set of standards for cooperative mobility services, which are expected to be implemented in their future products. The statement, signed by Ertico partners Imtech Traffic and Infra, 108 Q-Free, 189 Siemens, 129 Swarco, Vialis and 4186 Xerox as part of an Ertico-ITS Europe initiative to speed up deployment, is a demonstration of their commitment to work together for cooperative mobility.

The 1690 European Commission has issued mandate M453 to European industry and governments to develop a minimum set of standards needed to ensure the functionality and interoperability of these new communication technologies, and enable connected vehicles to communicate intelligently with traffic management and control infrastructure throughout Europe.

This mandate is directed to the 6613 European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and the European Standards Committee (1701 CEN), that between them have already published many of the required standards.

Completion of these standards will open the way for a harmonised pan-European deployment of C-ITS, enabling cooperative intelligent roadside systems to communicate with equipped cars, trucks, emergency services and public transport vehicles.

Through their joint statement the infrastructure suppliers invite public authorities at national, regional and city levels to work with them to ensure that the respective products and services fulfill their needs and goals concerning interoperability and functionality.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Drastic action needed to boost EU-wide user-friendly road toll services, says Transport Committee
    April 24, 2013
    To improve interoperability of road charging systems, the European Commission must focus on better implementation of existing legislation and assess the need for new measures to encourage the development of a EU-wide electronic toll system, according to an own-initiative report adopted in the Transport and Tourism Committee. MEPs say incentives for road operators and toll service providers have not been sufficient and criticise lack of action by Member States to develop EU-wide standards, as set out in a Di
  • Ertico shoots for the moon
    October 14, 2021
    What can cities do in order to implement ITS technology and speed up the mobility revolution? Ertico has some answers. Along with partners ITS America, Swarco and Arriva, it has undertaken an ambitious piece of research, interviewing directors of transportation in 300 cities worldwide to ask exactly what they need to achieve this vital aim
  • Growing ITS capability, a way to increase infrastructure capacity
    February 2, 2012
    Iteris's Greg McKhann makes the case for policymakers to look more seriously at the use of ITS as a means of increasing existing infrastructure capacity
  • ITS initiatives provide travel information for disabled passengers
    December 4, 2012
    David Crawford investigates initiatives and issues in travel information for disabled passengers. World Health Organisation estimates suggest that 10% of the global population live with a disability. This can impact directly on their mobility, with implications for their independence; keeping active; and travelling to work, education and social activities; as well as the accessibility of information necessary to aid mobility. The EU-supported ‘CARDIAC’ project (Coordination Action in R&D in Accessible & Ass