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Procedia Engineering 134 (2016) 14 – 22

9th International Scientific Conference Transbaltica 2015

Improving Safety of Transportation by Using

Intelligent Transport Systems
Lucia Janušová*, Silvia Čičmancová
University of Zilina, 1. mája 32, 01001 Zilina, Slovakia

Abstract

As the intelligent railway is the trend of current development, the paper aims to show an overview of some examples of
intelligent systems and their functions that could help to protect transportation infrastructure. The paper deals with importance of
critical transportation infrastructure and ways to protect it. Intelligent transportation systems are advanced tools to improve and
support protection of critical infrastructure elements. The main purpose is to define intelligent transportation systems which could
be used to protect elements of critical road and rail transportation infrastructure. Protection of critical transportation infrastructure
is very complex issue. It is not difficult to identify a large number of critical infrastructure elements. The question is: “How to
protect/ensure them?” A compromise between funding of protection and finding really critical elements is to be found. There are
many systems that could be used to make infrastructure and whole transportation safer. A lot of projects are dealing with building
new systems, architecture of management system that could help users to manage traffic.

©
© 2016
2016Published by Elsevier
The Authors. Ltd. by
Published This is an open
Elsevier Ltd.access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee of Transbaltica 2015.
Peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee of Transbaltica 2015
Keywords: intelligent systems; transportation; railways; road; critical infrastructure; protection; security.

1. Introduction

In recent years the issue of critical infrastructure protection is very timely. Countries around the world pass laws
and suggest appropriate ways to protect critical infrastructure. Considerable funds are spent for its determination,
construction, development and protection.

* Corresponding author
E-mail address: janusova.lucia@fbi.uniza.sk

1877-7058 © 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the organizing committee of Transbaltica 2015
doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2016.01.031
 Lucia Janušová and Silvia Čičmancová / Procedia Engineering 134 (2016) 14 – 22 15

Transportation is one of the sectors that significantly affect the socio-economic development and growth of living
standards. Transportation infrastructure of each country is very vulnerable and if it is attacked, damaged or
destructed, it may be unavailable for several years. In recent years, the world faces with disruption of transport
infrastructure by natural disasters (flood, fire, and earth-quake), intentional attacks or accidents which are directly
related to operation of transportation systems (road accidents, release of hazardous substances). The issue of
improving the protection of critical infrastructures is still very significant. Experts are looking for new possibilities,
ways and effective solutions to minimize the threat.
Intelligent transport systems can be applied in every transport mode (road, rail, air, water) and services can be used
by both passenger and freight transport. Computers, electronics, satellites and sensors are playing an increasingly
important role in our transport systems. The main innovation is the integration of existing technologies to create new
services. Intelligent transport systems, such as traffic management software, security cameras, dynamic route guidance,
etc. assist in protection of transportation systems and infrastructures against all kinds of threats.

2. Importance of critical transportation infrastructure and the need of its protection

The transportation system framework is highly complex, composed of wide range of infrastructures, such as
terminal facilities, travel ways, transportation fleets, and information systems. Transportation had become one of the
critical infrastructure sectors in most countries of the world. Transport is considered as one of the most important
sector in critical infrastructure at national and international levels.
Specific position of transportation infrastructure results from requirements for transport. Transport should be
open and accessible (high degree of user accessibility), extensive and ubiquitous (vast amounts of physical
infrastructure and assets; most of infrastructure is unguarded and unattended; millions of vehicles and containers are
distributed over the network), effective and adaptable.
Critical transportation infrastructure has great importance for the national economy, security and functioning of
the state. It is essential for:
• national priority,
• providing basic services, their reliability and availability,
• ensuring trade flows,
• supports economic growth.
Transportation infrastructure has many critical spots that include elements, objects and nets, assets are widely
distributed geographically. Transportation sector could be affected by security risks that can affect function of
transport (Fig. 1).

2.1. Current state of critical infrastructure

The USA has had a wide-reaching Critical Infrastructure Protection Program in place since 1996. Since then
critical infrastructure has started to be a popular term all around the world. After events in New York in 2001 a
question about protecting important infrastructures in countries and regions has become very urgent. The USA and
European Union have begun preparing documents and legislative norms about critical infrastructure identification
and protection.
In the context of homeland security critical infrastructures are „those physical and information technology
facilities, networks, services and assets which, if disrupted or destroyed, would have a serious impact on the health,
safety, security or economic well-being of citizens or the effective functioning of governments“(Directive
2008/114/EC).
Transportation is widely viewed as one of the most significant and is accepted as a critical infrastructure sector in
important documents of:
The USA: Homeland Security Presidential Directive which defines 16 critical sectors – transportation included);
European Union:
• Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament of 20 October 2004 –
Critical Infrastructure Protection in the fight against terrorism (9 most important infrastructures were defined –
Transportation is one of them),
16 Lucia Janušová and Silvia Čičmancová / Procedia Engineering 134 (2016) 14 – 22

Fig. 1. List of main risks that influence transport infrastructure (Source: by Fuchs, 2011).

• Green Paper of 17 November 2005 on a European program for critical infrastructure protection (indicative list
of 11 critical infrastructure sectors was established – transportation included. Each Member state should adopt
this document and create legal norms about critical infrastructure to their own needs.),
• Council Directive 2008/114/EC of 8 December 2008 on the identification and designation of European critical
infrastructures and the assessment of the need to improve their protection (transportation was established as
one of important European critical infrastructure sector, but each Member state should take measure to
identify European critical infrastructures in their area (Council Directive 2008/114/EC of 8 December 2008).
In Directive 2008/114/EC of 8 December 2008 on the identification and designation of European critical
infrastructures cross-cutting criteria and process how to determine elements of European critical infrastructure are
defined. Member States have transferred those criteria to its laws. On the basis of these criteria, the elements of
critical infrastructure at national level and also European critical infrastructures of each state should be determined.
Each state should define critical infrastructures at national and international levels (national critical infrastructures
and European critical infrastructures).
Critical infrastructure protection is a priority of ensuring the safety of the Slovak Republic, it is therefore
necessary to address the legislative instruments that regulate the issue at national level. Any such instrument should
be in line with European standards.
The most important document in Slovakia is Act No. 45/2011 Coll. about a critical infrastructure.
In current articles and works, the attention is drawn to particular critical infrastructure in the road transportation
sector. However, a more complicated is the issue of rail transportation subsector. In this sub-sector more facilities
and infrastructure elements can be considered to occur, since the possibility of detours are not as clear as for road
transport. Also, technologies which are used in rail transport are complicated and rail is less flexible than road
transportation.

2.2. Critical infrastructure resilience

Critical infrastructures have vital position and related obligation to ensure their resilience – defined as the
property system to overcome the disturbance, negative resist change and ensure the functioning of the system/
 Lucia Janušová and Silvia Čičmancová / Procedia Engineering 134 (2016) 14 – 22 17

component in a changed environment. Resistance can be affected by many factors – natural conditions, as other
infrastructure interconnectivity of infrastructure, economic conditions and the like.
Difficulty to identify threats and their rapid spread require better quality and more consistent approach to the
analysis and design of systems and equipment for the protection of critical infrastructure.
Resilience of critical infrastructure elements reflects interactions of negative external and internal factors and
safety and protection measures.
Therefore, new tools are sought to make the transport system and infrastructure effective, efficient and safer. One
of these tools, as well as intelligent transport systems – is an important tool for the traffic control and management
(Fuchs 2011).

2.3. Critical infrastructure protection

Critical infrastructure protection should eliminate any threats, but this is not possible. Critical transportation
infrastructure is influenced and connected to other infrastructures and it is not possible to completely eliminate all
sources of risk. Therefore, protection of critical transportation infrastructures serves as the preparation and
implementation of measures designed to minimize any risks. The aim is to ensure the continuity of operations of
transport facilities, equipment, resources and staff. So, that disruption of functions, activities and services are short,
manageable, albeit makeshift manner and spatially limited and that affected the smallest population (Theoharidou
2012).
The protection of critical infrastructures includes the resistance of transport infrastructure. This sector is
considered to be vital in the world due to its economic importance and given the interdependencies with other
infrastructures and industries.
Critical infrastructure protection is a set of activities, mechanisms, manpower and resources to:
• prevent of the effects of risk factors,
• avert threats to critical infrastructure component,
• prevent negative impacts that threaten an element,
• ensure the stability and functioning element,
• increase security in transport infrastructure,
• reduce the negative effect on the environment,
• quick clean-up and return to operation (Vidriková 2011).
Nowadays it is necessary to evaluate the protection of critical infrastructures and readiness operators who are
involved in it. Building integrated systems looks very competitive because systems that are interconnected,
interoperable and operatively engaged in case of crisis. This is true not only to systems, but also to the individual
components and bodies that have been created to protect critical infrastructure elements.

3. Using intelligent transport systems to protect critical transportation infrastructure

Traffic management is currently under constantly increasing traffic volumes do without the support of
information and communication technologies, which are the backbone of the intelligent transport systems. The use
of intelligent transport systems in traffic management leads to a reduction of negative impact on the environment
and has a positive impact on increasing the safety and continuity.
Intelligent transport systems are information and communication technologies or systems placed in transport
infrastructure or in a vehicle. They provide for the transfer collection, processing and exchange of information
between service providers of traffic and transport infrastructure users.
Intelligent transport systems help operators of transport and emergency responders in monitoring and traffic
controlling, and help with detection and response to incidents and in informing the public about the traffic situation
by the means of internet, transport equipment and media. During the use of intelligent transport systems, the
transport infrastructure is supplemented by information and communication technologies to enhance passenger
safety, reduce transit time and fuel consumption. With the advent of modern communication and computing devices,
low cost sensors can acquire and evaluate data from multiple sources (Faktor 2012).
18 Lucia Janušová and Silvia Čičmancová / Procedia Engineering 134 (2016) 14 – 22

Using intelligent transport system is the best way to solve or at least minimize traffic problems. Intelligent
transport system includes all modes of transport and intersects the various components of each mode – vehicles,
infrastructure, communications and operating systems. Different countries have developed strategies and techniques
that are based on their geographic, cultural, socio-economic and environmental level to integrate the various
components into interconnected systems. The main objective is to assess, develop, analyze and integrate new sensor,
information and communication technologies and concepts for achieving transport efficiency (James 2012).
Intelligent transport systems allow having sufficient information and making better choices to all interested
parties.

3.1. The importance and role of intelligent transport systems

Transport is a complex process of service provision. The basis of its good functioning is to have enough adequate
and timely information.
The foundation of every intelligent transport system must be:
• collection of traffic data – check the status of traffic flow condition, information about traffic accidents and the
current situation, the changes in the organization and regulation of traffic data on the state of the road surface;
• evaluation of the collected data traffic over whole region and the individual sections – to analyze the
possibility of detours count time roll, record the problem areas;
• provide information to those who organize the transport (roads administrators, police, ...), as well as other
traffic – on the state of sections of the current situation, to redirect traffic information display in mobile
navigation (Martinez 2010; Zákon 317/2012).
An important feature of the system has to be the complete openness. The system should be able to work with data
from all available sources. Also, they must be able to provide services to all potential customers. This feature of the
system is very important, as the information and communication technologies are developing extremely rapidly
(James 2012).
For proper functioning of intelligent transport system the speed of obtaining information is also important.
Therefore, in modern systems data are transmitted online and are processed in real time (James 2012).

3.2. Requirements for intelligent transport systems

Intelligent transport systems help to keep constant driving speed, safety distances between vehicles, and vehicle
dynamic route guidance to a pre-defined target and optimize the path between source and destination. Other
systems optimize the transportation of persons and goods by using multimodal methods of transportation; increase
the rate of transportation of persons and goods. Passengers shall provide comprehensive information, enhances
the safety and comfort of travel. Using traffic management within the intelligent transport systems mitigates the
formation of congestion, increases safety, and reduces the cost of transportation and emissions in the atmosphere;
improves service delivery (Faktor 2012).
The aim should therefore be:
• to implement the most intelligent transport systems,
• to complete systems with intelligent transport systems,
• when planning the construction of new buildings of transportation infrastructures, include deployment of
intelligent transport systems in proposals/plans,
• Interconnect existing intelligent transport systems to effectively manage larger areas, not just isolated parts
(crossings, tunnels).

4. Intelligent transport system in subsector “Road”

Sub-sector of critical infrastructure “Road traffic” is the most widely used mode of transport. The Slovak
Republic is facing many problems in this area which need to be tackled:
• improve road safety,
 Lucia Janušová and Silvia Čičmancová / Procedia Engineering 134 (2016) 14 – 22 19

• prevent the formation of congestion, which increase transport costs and lengthen the time,
• reduce the negative impact on the environment, save energy,
• provide time savings,
• improve the competitiveness and performance of freight transport,
• encourage the use of public transport,
• optimization and management of road traffic, mobility management,
• streamlining the management and maintenance of roads (James 2012; Martinez 2010).
The transport system is important to monitor roads, individual vehicles and transport processes (Table 1).

Table 1. Examples of ITS according to their roles (Source: by Martinez 2010).

Role of ITS
reducing the accident rate
mitigate congestion
environmental protection
efficient and effective operation
Example of ITS
• CCTV,
• anti-collision systems,
• automated traffic management,
• detection of crisis events,
• eCall,
• adaptive rate control,
• information boards,
• monitoring of air quality,
• controlled access to cities,
• automatic vehicle location,
• electronic fee collection,
• traffic management.

Every problem can be solved through the use of intelligent transport systems. There are large number of
intelligent technologies that can help achieve the goals which are set for improving and streamlining of road
transport and the protection of its infrastructure (Table 2).

Table 2. Examples of ITS according to their main focus (Source: by James 2012).
The main focus of ITS Functions of ITS
Monitoring of the roads • monitoring technical
condition and safety,
• monitoring of climatic
conditions,
• monitoring devices,
Tracking of individual • preventing collision
vehicles situations,
• obstruction recognition,
• alert the driver,
• emergency call,
Monitoring and • informing drivers,
management of • stop the flow of traffic,
transport processes
• change of driving parameters,
• preventing collision state.
Example of ITS
• Detection of exceptional events and warning systems
• CCTV
• Weather Stations
• Lighting control system of tunnels
• Traffic sensors
• eCall
• Electronic toll collection
• GPS, Galileo
• Anti-collision radar
• Driver assistance systems
• Monitoring system drive
• Automatic identification of vehicle costs
• Intelligent system of analyze density of traffic from video
• Dynamic vehicle guidance
• Automatic control system operation in the critical place of transport
infrastructure
20 Lucia Janušová and Silvia Čičmancová / Procedia Engineering 134 (2016) 14 – 22

5. Intelligent transport system in subsector “Rail”

A modern railway relies on sophisticated monitoring technology to help inform important asset management
decisions, particularly those related to maintenance and renewals.
Harmonization of railways is an important task for the further improvement of European infrastructure. The
railways industries have agreed to use GSM for the signalling on high speed railways, as well as for conventional
railways when interoperating across national borders (European commission 2012).
The use of intelligent systems in rail transport could help with:
• wheel defect detection,
• noise reduction,
• vehicle maintenance,
• incident prevention,
• track quality,
• automatic vehicle identification,
• access charging,
• pantograph condition,
• axle bearing monitoring,
• ride comfort,
• overhead voltage,
• weighing in motion (Lloyd’s Register – improving safety, quality and performance, 2014) (Table 3).

Table 3. Examples of rail systems and their roles (Source: by Traintic 2014).
Example of ITS Role
Train control and supervision system train control and monitoring based on communication standards
Variable monitoring systems measure and monitore a wide range of variables (bearing temperature, oil levels, acceleration, etc.)
Train parameter recording system logging a train’s parameters („black box“)
Passenger information and video system travel guaranteeing, that passengers are informed, safe and comfortable
Train telecommunication system Inform from one location to another

The intelligent transport technologies could help to make rail transport economical, effective, and
environmentally friendly. So, the intelligent systems could be divided into main groups according to the goals they
should achieve (Table 4).
European Rail Traffic Management System is a major industrial project being implemented to enhance cross-
border interoperability through Europe by creating a single standard for railway signalling. It is the new signalling
and management system, which will enable interoperability on the European rail network. It integrates a new
control-command system with a new radio system for voice and data communication. It therefore brings
considerable benefits in addition to interoperability:
• Increased capacity on existing lines and a greater ability to respond to growing transport demands: as a
continuous communication-based signaling system, ERTMS reduces the headway between trains enabling up
to 40% more capacity on currently existing infrastructure,
• Higher speeds: ERTMS allows for a maximum speed up to 500 km/h,
• Higher reliability rates: ERTMS may significantly increase reliability and punctuality, which are crucial for
both passenger and freight transport,
• Lower production costs: one proven, harmonised system is easier to install, maintain and manufacture making
railway systems more competitive,
• Reduced maintenance costs: With ERTMS level 2, trackside signaling is no longer required, which
considerably reduces maintenance costs,
 Lucia Janušová and Silvia Čičmancová / Procedia Engineering 134 (2016) 14 – 22 21

Table 4. Examples of rail systems and their goals (Source: by The intelligent transport society for UK 2012).
Goal of ITS Example of ITS
Reduce costs • automatic train location
• train movement management
• train data management
• remote train maintenance management
• smartcards
• RFID
• passenger counting.
• on-vehicle security and surveillance
Bring down the • parking guidance at stations
carbon • information to enable informed modal choice for journeys to and from rail stations, for example Transport Direct
emissions Passenger counting for intelligent timetabling and train formation
Maximising • ticketing via mobile phone, using barcodes for example
capacity
• reliable passenger counting,
• intelligent ticketing/pricing to spread journeys
• average crowding information included in journey planners/ticket purchasing portals to enable informed choice
Help to • on train multimedia systems (audio and visual)
customers • train information on services connecting with rail road network, buses, trams, ferries, national coach services, and air
• taxi availability and booking information on train
• on-train security and surveillance
• station security and surveillance
• real time departure board and other station display
• station parking information and guidance
• advanced booking systems

• An opened supply market: customers will be able to purchase equipment for installation anywhere in Europe
and all suppliers will be able to bid for any opportunity. Trackside and onboard equipment may be made by
any of the six ERTMS suppliers, which makes the supply market more competitive,
• Reduced contract lead time due to the significant reduction of process engineering,
• Simplified approval process in Europe and greatly reduced certification costs traditionally associated with the
introduction of new systems,
• Improved safety for passengers (The European rail traffic management system, 2013).

6. Conclusions

1. Intelligent transport systems improve transportation infrastructure. Their implementation is very important,
because of their positive effects on traffic safety and efficiency, reducing costs.
2. Slovak Republic does not use intelligent transport systems that much in comparison with other states. It is
vital to implement intelligent transport systems as much as possible to make transportation infrastructure more
resilient and protected.
3. Road transport has more possibilities to use intelligent transport systems than rail transport. And it is easier to
use many technologies in road transport. We have to find ways how to include more technologies into
railways to make them safer.
22 Lucia Janušová and Silvia Čičmancová / Procedia Engineering 134 (2016) 14 – 22

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