New Generation of Intelligent Transit Systems: Theory and Applications

Dear Colleagues, 

We are facing complicated and difficult issues in terms of sustainable development, and transport systems could contribute to build more sustainable societies. Integrated development of all passenger transport modes and shift towards sustainable mobility play a key role in sustainable mobility planning. In this context, telematics innovations can offer new opportunities both under the view of travelers and transit operators, improving safety, traffic efficiency and travelers’ comfort by helping people to make the best decisions and adapt to traffic situations. 

The availability of infrastructure and traffic/travel data across the whole transport network will also cover new developments such as connected and automated mobility (e.g., self-driving vehicles), as well as online platforms, allowing users to access several modes of transport. The revision of the EU Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Directive is defining the road ahead. 

In this context, multimodal transit systems, which comprise traditional transit services together with new components, such as car/bike-sharing and micromobility in general, are being adopted as new public transport pattern worldwide. Making such multimodal transit systems more attractive and efficient is of key importance in smart cities to increase modal shift from private to public transport. Transport agencies and operators are called to the hard task of planning, managing, governing, and controlling these increasingly complex and integrated systems in order to satisfy the growing mobility needs of travelers both effectively and efficiently. The new technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), big data (BD), blockchain (BC), and artificial intelligence (AI), are useful for establishing smart multimodal transit systems. 

This Special Issue will highlight new opportunities and challenges for planning, managing, and controlling sustainable multimodal transit, focusing on the potentialities offered by the mutual interactions among the new enabling technologies (e.g., internet of things, big data, blockchain and artificial intelligence) for transit mobility and transport engineering tools. We welcome papers on:

• Analyzing transit systems in order to support real-time info for operations control and for supporting people along their travel;
• Developing methods and models for advanced multimodal transit system simulation and assessment;
• Developing advanced transit trip planners which take into consideration passengers’ attitudes and preferences as well as the current and forecasted status of the transport system;
• Evaluating the applications of innovative technologies in transit systems, focusing on the integration of information technologies and transport systems;
• Case studies that evaluate transport actions/initiatives, such as personal transit advisors, as well as the management and operations control tools, and so on;
• Future perspectives on sustainable transit systems.

Prof. Dr. Antonio Comi
Guest Editor

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