Reliable Integrated Communications for Urban Intelligent Transport Systems

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) developed lately in the urban traffic in the form of Urban Traffic Control (UTC) and Public Transport Management (PTM) systems. As every system related to transports, these are wide area systems and need both fixed and mobile communications with a high level of reliability and security. The paper analyses the main design and exploitation problems for urban transports oriented communications systems, from the reliability point of view. The communication networks are analysed from their topological and architectural points of view. Groups of UTC outstations sharing a communications sub-network are all dependant on the reliability of the communication networks for central signal coordination. PTM communications are generally classified as long range reporting communications and short range preemption communications for prioritisation of vehicles at stop signals. Particular aspects for the mobile communications are analysed, as this type of communication has to use a reliable short range communication in an intense EM environment.