Overview
The national Information and Technology Centre for Transport and Infrastructure (CROW) is a non-profit organisation in which the government and businesses work together in pursuit of their common interests through the design, construction and management of roads and other traffic and transport facilities. Active in research and in issuing regulations, CROW focuses on distributing knowledge products to all target groups.
The core tasks involve:
- Research in the area of traffic, transport and infrastructure;
- Standardisation in this sector;
- Transfer of knowledge and knowledge management.
As regards the organisation itself, CROW has three substantial line departments in addition to the usual staff departments. The line departments are Research, Standardisation and Communication. The Research department consists of the traffic and transportation section and the road and railway section. The research programme, consisting of approximately one hundred research projects, is realised under the supervision of thirteen programming committees. Every project is realised under the supervision of a working group.
Every programming committee and working group is supervised by a CROW project manager and consists of specialists and interested parties from the traffic, transport and infrastructure sector. CROW works closely with other institutions and organisations from the same sector and related areas, both nationally and internationally.
Funding
The CROW-foundation is a not for profit institution. The collective approach to standardisation and research is not only reflected in the activities and the organization but also in the flow of funds. CROW's main funds come from:
- (Basic) contributions from a large number of participants;
- Project financing for clearly defined projects;
- Contributions from building specifications.