Traffic and mobility are undergoing a radical change and intelligent transport systems are boosting as a result of the impact of information and technology on our actions. The Finnish Transport Agency plays a significant role in steering the Finnish infrastructure in a direction which enables intelligent transport systems (ITS). For example, the Finnish Transport Agency will use the already available ITS applications for the Midsummer traffic.
The amount of data and the use of this data are increasing at a fast rate, which enables new kinds of services for all types of transport infrastructure. Mobility as a service is a growing trend around the world. More efficient use of data and technology in traffic also ensures enhanced productivity.
The approach Mobility as a service creates a new type of business environment and enables new actors, within for example automation and vehicle robotisation.
“In the future, the presence of intelligent transport systems will continue to grow in Finland, and the Finnish Transport Agency wants to play a significant role in developing our country’s infrastructure to enable intelligent transport services”, says Mr Antti Vehviläinen, Director General of the Finnish Transport Agency.
For example, the Finnish Transport Agency’s road traffic management centres gather information to make road traffic smoother by means of the journey time system, the automatic traffic counting system and traffic cameras. The Finnish Transport Agency will use the already existing intelligent traffic applications among other things for the busy Midsummer traffic.
“In addition to the traditional press releases on traffic, this data will help us to manage traffic by means of variable message and lane signs and speed limits long before the actual congestions, for example, this Midsummer weekend", says Sami Luoma, Head of Road Traffic Management at the Finnish Transport Agency.
Cars and other vehicles, which are able to communicate with each other and with the transport infrastructure, are becoming more frequent on the roads.
"This kind of real-time situational awareness enables safer, smoother and more comfortable driving – and eventually automated traffic, says Risto Kulmala, Chief Specialist at the Finnish Transport Agency.
The Finnish expertise in intelligent transport systems has also been developed in maritime traffic. An example of this is the two-way navigation service ENSI (Enhanced Navigation Support Information), which improves vessel traffic safety in the Gulf of Finland. The service will first be introduced on oil tankers in the Gulf of Finland and will thereafter be extended to cover all vessel traffic.
Last week, intelligent transport systems were presented at the worldwide ITS congress at Messukeskus Expo & Convention Centre in Helsinki (ITS Europe Helsinki 2014). One of the main themes of the congress, which started on Monday and continued until Thursday, was how to combine intelligent transport systems and business.
The 10th ITS European Congress started last Monday at the Messukeskus Expo and Convention Centre in Helsinki. The congress is the largest networking event for all actors in the field, the public sector and the academic world.
(Source: FTA)
