ICT applications on the road to sustainable urban transport

Abstract

This paper addresses the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on sustainable transport by examining the direct application of ICT in urban transport. Following a discussion of various negative externalities of transport, the paper examines the extent to which existing and potential ICT applications in the transport sector can assist in making urban transport more sustainable than it is at present. The focus of analysis is on qualitative and quantitative impacts of several ICT applications on travel behaviour (including fatalities), factors that influence adoption, and impacts of adoption including potentially secondary effects. The literature suggests that ICT innovations are most effective in fatality reduction, but it seems that these are also quite effective in reducing fuel consumption through fuelintelligent vehicles.