199The Future of Intelligent Transport Systems. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818281-9.00018-8
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Chapter 18
Intelligent transport systems and
smart mobility
18.1 Introduction
According to the United Nations (United Nations ESCAP, 2015), there are sev-
eral factors that are expected to boost the interest in intelligent transport systems
and smart mobility in the urban environment and its surroundings.
• The increase of population that is estimated to reach 9.5 billion by 2050,
• the intense urbanization that results in 85% of the population living in urban
regions,
• the population that is growing older,
• the expansion of urban activities to the surrounding regions,
• the increased demand for transportation services both for people and prod-
ucts,
• the increased demand for energy and natural resources, climate change,
and natural disasters, are among the reasons that urge the need for new and
smarter mobility schemes that adapt to people’s needs and demands.
The challenges for the forthcoming mobility schemes can be divided into
two main directions— (1) the ability to cover the increasing transportation
needs, while providing safe and widely accessible transportation means, and (2)
the achievement of several environmental objectives related to the reduction of
pollution and reduction of energy consumption and the use of different energy
sources. The national strategies for smart mobility comprise among other objec-
tives: (1) integrated and combined transportation networks that take advantage
of all the available means of transportation for developing continuous and con-
secutive transportation paths, (2) multi-modal and flexible transportation that
include ride-sharing, bicycle, and mass transportation, (3) a regulatory-frame-
work that reduces accidents and enforces the use of “clean” energy and green
mobility. The development of smart and sustainable mobility solutions is part of
a holistic framework for smart society development that also comprises—smart
economy, smart governance, smart environmental protection, and an upgrade of
the quality of life.
The role of public transportation in smart mobility schemes is important
since they can support the economy, promote equality, and increase autonomy.