Intelligent transportation systems—Enabling technologies

Intelligent transportation programs take many different names throughout the world; in the United States it is ITS, in Europe it is Prometheus, and in Japan it is AMTICS and RACS. All of them share very similar objectives, i.e., the development of advanced Traffic Management Systems, Traveler Information Systems, Vehicle Control Systems, Commercial Vehicle Operations, Public Transportation Systems, and Rural Transportation Systems. Several key technologies stand to serve the synthesis of each and every one of these objectives. These technologies are: Digital Maps, Computers, Path Planning, Human Factors, Sensors, Communications, Vehicle Control, and Traffic Control. This paper discusses each one of these subjects in enough detail to provide the reader with an introduction to both the technology and its state-of-the-art. In addition, the paper discusses socio-politico-economic issues associated with the implementation of the various programs. We believe that this highly neglected subject will serve to temper the development and deployment of these programs.