Overview
iMobility systems nowadays make vehicles smarter and safer than ever before! Using advanced Information and Communication Technology, iMobility systems provide new, intelligent solutions that have great potential in solving road transport safety problems.
The project vision was: safe, smart and clean mobility with zero accidents, zero delays, no negative impact on the environment and connected and informed citizens, where products and services are affordable and seamless, privacy is respected and security is provided.
The project mission was: work towards this vision. The Forum provided a platform for all ITS stakeholders in Europe to discuss, define, coordinate and support activities to further innovation, research, development, deployment and use of ICT based transport systems and services.
iCAR set out to convince the public at large that ITS technologies and applications are an investment for Europe's future. To encourage and create awareness, understanding and support from European citizens towards these technologies, iCAR encouraged the press and new media to play a key role in bringing knowledge about existing and future innovative transport solutions to the widest possible audience.
The objective of iCAR was to give support to the implementation of actions and recommendations resulting from the work of the iMobility Forum and the Intelligent Car Initiative. The project used a network of observers. Their task was primarily to maintain and strengthen the iMobility Observers community, in order to ensure:
- better synchronisation between the Intelligent Car and iMobility Forum priorities at European and national levels;
- Support the work of national iMobility initiatives within Member States;
- support EU iMobility initiatives.
Another goal of iCAR was to monitor ITS standardisation initiatives and to support relevant efforts. This was done through:
- coordination of Standards Development Organisations (SDO's) addressing similar standardisation topics. A number of SDO's had been looking at ITS communications. This topic was addressed in IEEE (primary focus bearer level), ISO (primary focus architecture and management level) and ETSI (primary focus frequency allocation and security). Experience showed these SDO's to be largely overlapping and the need to harmonise work between them.
- Providing a help desk on ITS standard. This included:
- being the point of contact on standard matters;
- monitoring key ITS standard activities and provide status information;
- providing guidance to R&D projects on standards;
- promoting R&D project results among standardisation bodies;
- advising EC and iMobility Forum on standardisation. This included identifying gaps, need for actions and recommendation for new work items.
As a target for the time period from 2010 to 2020, the iMobility Forum estimated for ITS the following potential contributions:
- 30% reduction in the number of fatalities across Europe;
- 30% reduction in the number of seriously injured persons across Europe;
- 15% reduction in road traffic related congestion;
- 20% improvements in energy-efficiency;
- 50% increase in availability of real time tra
iCAR Support was a supportive action. It provided support to the implementation of actions and recommendations resulting from the work of the iMobility Forum and the Intelligent Car Initiative. This included:
- supporting the iMobility Forum and all its constituencies (including its Working Groups and Task Forces);
- strengthening the iMobility cooperation among stakeholders;
- supporting the development of the Implementation Road Map for all iMobility systems;
- contributing to the implementation process of the European eCall system by supporting the European eCall Implementation Platform;
- supporting the i2010 initiative, in particular the activities dealing with user outreach and deployment of smarter, safer and cleaner vehicles in the future.
The project also supported dissemination and outreach activities, focusing on raising awareness of iMobility technologies among decision makers of relevant bodies.
The project used a network of observers. The iMobility Observers Network consisted of a panel of representatives selected from the EU Member States and ITS National Associations. The panel members were invited to report on their national iMobility activities and also to communicate with national stakeholders about EU Safety initiatives. These observers were actively involved in national industry, policy, or R&D activities and acknowledged experts in their domain or sector.
Funding
Results
The following main results were identified:
- The iCar Support project in 2011-2012 assisted the iMobility Forum in ongoing Working Group’s tasks, organising events, collecting results and information and disseminating the activities of the Forum.
- iCar Support organised 6 Steering Group chairs meetings, 6 Steering Group meetings, 1 Forum Plenary meeting, 1 iMobility Observers group meeting and in total assisted in providing administrative support to 10 Working Groups for this reporting period.
- Organisation of more than 30 Working Group meetings showing their commitment to the Forum objectives.
- All meetings were reported in the summary report on Forum activities and the project also published the iMobility Compendium 2012.
- The Forum activity database was also maintained in the website in order to provide information and news related to the iMobility Forum and also to other topics such as eCall, standardisation and international cooperation.
- iCar Support - Standardisation Team participated in more than 20 meetings with the focus on monitoring and supporting the Standards Development Organisations (SDOs) activities.
- iCar Support supported the International Cooperation Working Group co-chairs in the organisation of two International Cooperation workshops in China and Japan and an International Summit at the ITS World Congress, Vienna (2012).
- Support of the Implementation Road Maps by monitoring activities that were carried out on the basis of monitoring of the priority systems.
- In terms of ITS national implementation, iCar Support achieved its goal to support successfully the iMobility observers group.
- The iCar Support project also gave major support to the activities of the European eCall Implementation Platform (EeIP) through its different tasks as defined in the work programme, and to different public and private stakeholders working in the value chain of eCall.
Policy implications
The project focused on raising awareness of iMobility technologies among decision makers of relevant bodies. This will pave the way towards a better user acceptance and positive consensus among major stakeholders.
Other results
An important achievement of the iCar Support was to support the Steering Group and Working Groups Chairs in finalising the review of its 20 recommendations. To support the Steering Group and Working Groups chairs in this process, iCar Support organised the 5th “iMobility Recommendations Review” workshop on 19 June 2012.
Strategy targets
An efficient and integrated mobility system.