ITS-Based Transport Concepts and Location Preference: Will ITS Change ‘Business as Usual’?

Abstract

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are expected to solve problems regarding safety, congestion and environmental issues. Currently, automotive industries develop many applications, which are implemented in car driving, freight transportation and public transport. Our theory is based on the assumption that especially further integration of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and travel based Information and Communication Systems (ICT) results in new and more attractive ITS concepts. These concepts will influence the performance of both passenger and goods transportation. Consequently, these integrated ITS concepts might in the long run influence the spatial dynamics and more specifically the development of firm locations. To test this hypothesis we use a systemic approach of scenario building. The construction and validation of these scenarios must result in both plausible and attractive images of future ITS. We need these images to conduct a survey and test our hypothesis. The scenarios will provide different futures of an urban region, with differences in accessibility and image of the transportation system. Besides the reaction of firms, we are also interested in responses of actors that develop locations, so-called suppliers. Both suppliers of and demanders for locations create our future space.