Read the INTRO Scenario…

The scenario proposed by INTRO depicts the most probable world in which we might travel in 30 years; it is based on the extensive analysis of existing visions and on the experience of INTRO partners.  It paints a realistic future, for this reason it is strongly based on the current trends and research and counts on the progressive implementation of in-vehicle and in-road ITS.

In 30 years time the infrastructure will in many respects look like it does today. Various reasons incline us to say this: the first one is linked to the intrinsic long lifecycle of the infrastructure projects (a direct consequence is that implementation is more likely to happen during the maintenance operations). On the other hand, no revolution in vehicle design is envisaged within the next 20 years (cars and trucks will still have axles, wheels and an engine), even if due to the economic and environmental constraints, they may be lighter, have more rational dimensions and be driven by various clean technologies. The supply of transport will also undergo some major changes: promotion of intermodality, transferable freight modules, etc.

The INTRO partners trust in the advent of a more technological road. Current constraints will forced the authorities to plan, harmonise, assess and control some considerable changes.  Mobility needs are still increasing but the opportunities to expand the road network remain quite weak; one of the preferred ways to deal with this challenge today is to deploy more and more ITS (deployment rate is likely to increase though PPPs). Deciding which measures will be easier, as the majority of road users, who are now better informed about the technological opportunities, are more aware of the environmental constraints, of the possible lack of resources in the short term, and are directly concerned by the cost and problems related to mobility, appeal for some changes and are more willing to agree to moves to safe, clean, comfortable and reliable travel.  The market (automotive industry, financial companies, service providers, etc) will make the best of these developments and will support innovation to ensure a quick profitability.

Technologies already existing or in development allow an outline to be drafted of how the infrastructure will look during the next 30 years.  Many other technologies, unknown today, will have the potential to improve the infrastructure’s ability to measure, analyse, communicate, interact or furthermore to drive.

Despite a more or less unchanged aspect, some visible modifications having a direct impact on our everyday life will happen, like the optimised use of more dynamic, more interactive and more informative signs, etc.  In parallel, more intelligent vehicles will be supported by more intelligent roads and infrastructure; existing and further new communication means will lead to an explosion of wireless sensing and multidirectional interactions between vehicles and with the infrastructure; huge amount of data collected from various sources (including innovative embedded instrumentation and in-vehicle standard sensors) will provide more available information for service providers and road and traffic managers (road condition surveying, capacity optimisation, hazard warnings, environment management measures, etc), this through developments in data fusion and more complex algorithms.

Progressively technologies and developments clustered in the INTRO Vision will enter our everyday life and most of them will, within 30 years, reach the critical mass necessary for an optimal road use (transport and travel) management, this in close and intelligent liaison with the other transport modes.

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