Overview
To date, very little initiatives were taken to integrate traffic management information with fleet management systems. The THEMIS Thematic Network should change this. THEMIS is an initiative of the European Commission's DG Energy and Transport (DG TREN) to contribute to the creation of intelligent freight transport systems. The work of THEMIS shall contribute to the understanding of how Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Freight Transport (including intermodal freight transport) can be combined into Intelligent Freight Transport Systems, in order to realise a sustainable transport system including all transport modes.
The prime objective of THEMIS is to co-ordinate ongoing and past activities of research and development in the field of Information Systems in Intermodal Freight Transport in Europe, by providing at the same time a forum for dissemination and concertation activities among all parties concerned. THEMIS' area of work has been defined as the planning and operation functions of Freight Transport within the future European Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). THEMIS will attempt to define the position of European Freight Transport within the ITS infrastructure that is being developed, by utilising technologies and applying innovative logistics concepts in order to contribute to a rebalancing and integration of the different transport modes into intermodal transport chains. Of the various ITS applications and areas of development, THEMIS is focusing by way of priority into the relation and integration of the new, ITS based, Traffic Management Systems (TMS) with the Freight Transport Management Systems operation (FTMS).
The new approach to the Freight Transport system can be expressed by the notion that intermodal transport operation cannot be seen anymore in isolation, as a 'goal in itself'. It has to be considered as part of the deployment and operation of an overall Intelligent Transport System that has to be established at European level. ITS in this context is an enabling tool for a sustainable European (freight) transport system, i.e. efficient, environment-friendly and safe. The overall delineation of THEMIS' activities can be described as follows:
- Networking of EU funded projects and project results in the field of Freight Transport.
- Formulating of User Requirements for the Freight Transport system especially in view of its functioning within the future ITS.
- Reviewing the exploitation plans and implementation strategies set out for the application of specific technologies and systems, of relevance to Freight Transport, and recommending plans of EU related action as necessary (priority on FTMS in relation to TMS).
- Reviewing the future Information Communication Technologies that are applicable to Freight Transport and assessing their potential for 'integration' and service in the (user driven) future European Freight Transport system.
- Participating in the standardisation work in the field of Freight Transport and facilitating the promotion of appropriate European and world standards for ITS based Freight Transport operations.
Funding
Results
· Report on the integration of traffic management systems and freight transport management systems
· Links with various initiatives in the THEMIS domain, (various national initiatives)
· State of the art for transport and traffic management systems
· Identification of state of the art ITS architecture and standardisation
Policy implications
- State of the art for transport and traffic management systems (all modes)
- Point to information sources on current and past ICT projects
- Contribute to ITS architecture and standardisation to improve ICT interconnectivity
- Link people and companies with similar or matching challenges in the transport sector
- Point to sources for funding of R&D and implementation projects
Freight
Description of planning and operation functions of Freight Transport within the future European Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).
Intermodal
State of the art for transport and traffic management systems (all modes) To co-ordinate ongoing and past activities of research and development in the field of Information Systems in Intermodal Freight Transport in Europe, by providing at the same time a forum for dissemination and concertation activities among all parties concerned.
Efficiency
The new approach to the Freight Transport system can be expressed by the notion that intermodal transport operation cannot be seen anymore in isolation, as a 'goal in itself'. It has to be considered as part of the deployment and operation of an overall Intelligent Transport System that has to be established at European level. ITS in this context is an enabling tool for a sustainable European (freight) transport system, i.e. efficient, environment-friendly and safe.
Intelligent Transport Systems
To contribute to the understanding of how Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Freight Transport (including intermodal freight transport) can be combined into Intelligent Freight Transport Systems, in order to realise a sustainable transport system including all transport modes.