Intelligent transport
- What is intelligent transport?
- Intelligent transport in the Government Programme
- National Strategy for Intelligent Transport
- FITSRUS project
1. What is intelligent transport?
Intelligent transport refers to information and communications technology applications which are used to improve the flow and safety of traffic. Intelligent solutions make travel easier and more predictable for people, whether they choose private motoring or public transport.
Intelligent transport represents an effort to shift the focus of transport policy from the construction and maintenance of the transport infrastructure to smoothly running travel and transport. It means:
- sustainable development
- equality
- user-friendly and affordable services
- protection of privacy
- use of familiar solutions
- interoperable services
- strong network cooperation
2. Intelligent transport in the Government Programme
The Programme of Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen's Government emphasises the importance of intelligent transport. According to the Programme, the Government is to promote new intelligent transport services, financial steering, and innovations on the basis of the National Strategy for Intelligent Transport.
The purpose is to improve transport efficiency. The Government is also to examine the introduction of GPS-based road user charges and make decisions on which new development projects will be launched first.
3. National Strategy for Intelligent Transport
Finland's Strategy for Intelligent Transport aims to bring Finland to the forefront of intelligent transport products and services as a significant producer and exporter in the field. In addition, efforts are made to promote widespread use of intelligent transport innovations and ensure a comprehensive and high-quality infrastructure for intelligent transport.
The goal is to closely link the opportunities provided by intelligent transport with the objectives of transport policy. An action plan has been drafted for the period 2010-2015. On 15 April 2010, the Government adopted a resolution - drafted on the basis of the Strategy - on the promotion of intelligent transport.
In reforming transport policy, information and communications technologies are central tools. The aim is to raise the service capacity of the transport system and the productivity of infrastructure maintenance; improve road safety, increase the popularity of public transport, walking and cycling, and promote the goals of climate and environmental policies.
Action is taken to promote internationalisation of the transport field and participation in international work. Easy and inexpensive accessibility of information for intelligent transport services will also be safeguarded.
The National Strategy for Intelligent Transport comprises eight key projects that have been evaluated, in euros, in terms of their financial impact. The Strategy also proposes how work and responsibilities should be divided between administration, businesses and other operators, and how communication at the level of society should be arranged.
Goals set out in the Strategy to be reached by 2020
- The productivity of transport infrastructure management and the transport system itself will have increasedby 10 per cent more than the increase in general productivity
- Every year, 50 lives will be saved in road transport
- Logistics costs will have been reduced to a level almost on a par with those of Finland's main international competitors
- Commuter traffic delays caused by congestion will have been reduced by 20 per cent
- Public transport, walking and cycling will make up a 20 per
cent larger share
of all trips
Vision for intelligent transport in 2020: the Finnish transport system will be one of the most advanced in the world
- Transport services will be better, safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly
- Travellers are provided with real-time information on traffic conditions
- The infrastructure is used efficiently
- Transport policy addresses problems associated with transport instead of just constructing infrastructure
- Efficient logistics improves Finland's competitiveness
- Finland is a significant player in the global ITS market. An ITS project will be carried out to improve the flow of traffic between Finland and Russia
4. FITSRUS project
The purpose of the FITSRUS project is to improve cross-border traffic between Finland and Russia. It aims to promote the creation of cross-border services and improve the flow of traffic. Another goal is to increase cooperation between Finnish and Russian actors in the private and public sectors.
FITSRUS strives to improve the safety, efficiency and environmental friendliness of passenger travel and goods transport by making use of intelligent transport services.
The project has been commissioned by the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The Ministry also directs the work. Other Finnish participants include VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Sito Oy, TIEKE Finnish Information Society Development Centre, NSN Oy, Indagon Oy, Vaisala Corporation and Siemens Osakeyhtiö.