ITS vs Cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS)
Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) allow vehicles, including semi or fully-autonomous ones, to directly communicate in real time with:
- Each other;
- Nearby road users, such as pedestrians;
- Roadside infrastructure; and
- Central data management systems that road managers or vehicle manufacturers run, for example.
Rather than having fragmented transport modes, a C-ITS-enabled set-up is the basis for a suite of technologies that create a holistic transport ecosystem. The key technology is the Internet of Things (IoT), which connects all the transport parts and modes. Hence, C-ITS is even safer, more efficient, and sustainable than the generic ITS. C-ITS improves the flow of information to human and automated decision makers in our road network.
Examples of C-ITS include connected vehicles, platooning (where vehicles travel in a convoy), cooperative braking, and even forewarning about a road hazard over a crest or around a bend on the road. C-ITS adds predictive analytics to the mix.
ITS is the umbrella term, and C-ITS is a subset.
ITS and road safety
ITS offers an opportunity to address road safety across the globe. About 1.3 million people die each year due to road traffic crashes, says the World Health Organization (WHO). Vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, account for more than half of those deaths. And there’s an economic cost. On average road traffic crashes cost countries 3% of their gross domestic product. WHO is part-way through implementing a Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.
Future of intelligent transport systems
Globally, vehicles are replaced on average every 13 years. Extrapolating from that means we’re about 13 years away from ITS technologies to be commonplace. But that assumes they’re ready to switch on now whereas that tech is still emerging and developing. There’s also a transition period, not a flick of a switch to a new ITS.
Despite the swag of iMOVE and other organisations’ projects underway, it does seem like early days for a holistic transport ecosystem, or C-ITS, to exist closer to home. The Australian government has shown leadership in releasing its five draft principles for a national approach to C-ITS in early 2023. The key areas are national consistency, international alignment, market readiness, plus privacy and security. You can find out what iMOVE said about them in Response to Draft Principles for a National approach to Co-operative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) in Australia. As of September 2023, the Federal Government is considering submissions to its public consultation process.