Transportation network applications Chapter | 16 185Similar traffic control and optimization techniques have been pro-
posed for sea and air transportation networks, focusing on the largest ports,
and airports around the world that suffer from congestions and flight delays
(Balakrishnan, 2016 ). The proposed techniques have several objectives such as
to improve port or airport efficiency (minimize delays and maximize passenger
and product flows), improve the network robustness over unpredicted events
(e.g., to minimize the propagation of a sudden delay) or guarantee user safety
(Stolzer, 2017).
Especially in the case of safety, monitoring, and sensing systems collect
data from various points and operations of the network, analyze them and early-
detect risks. For example, road monitoring and sensing systems as well as the
ability to transfer high definition complex data collected by vehicles to the road
network infrastructures allowed to automatically alert drivers for bad or danger-
ous road conditions, unexpected dangers, and obstacles (animals, fallen objects,
bad drivers, etc.) (Madli et al., 2015 ). Such applications provide increased situ-
ational awareness in almost real-time and contribute data that when properly
analyzed may reveal network malfunctions and dangers.
16.2.2.3 Smart urban transportation systems
In the context of cities, intelligent transportation systems are citizen-oriented
and citizens are either pedestrians, passengers, drivers, or city-administrative
staff. Based on this categorization, smart-urban transportation systems can be
divided into the following categories:
- Parking management systems that provide information on available parking
positions and guide the driver to them, allow drivers to pay tolls and fees
and gain access to the parking facilities, interface with public transportation
means to provide alternative rides, - Passenger and driver information systems that include variable message ves-
sels (VMS) for traffic information and for public transport, routing applica-
tions on web and mobile phones for passengers, internet services on buses. - Municipal-fleet management systems that provide fleet monitoring and man-
agement services to the city administrative staff and improve the operation
of the urban transportation system. They also allow management of other
vehicles and city infrastructure (e.g., management of waste collection fleet
and bins), the monitoring of city resources (e.g., municipal fuel consump-
tion, personnel), and allow to respond to emergency incidents and manage
crises.
16.2.2.4 More transportation-related applications
Under the umbrella of network-operation applications, we can also add busi-
ness-related applications that take advantage of the vehicles’ sensing and com-
munication capabilities and deliver smart automation solutions that optimize the
operation of the transportation network.