Intelligent Transport Systems

16 New Approaches in User Services Development for Multimodal Trip Planning

Asier Moreno, Itziar Salaberria and Diego López-de-Ipiña

University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain

16.1 Introduction

Transportation systems’ efficiency is essential for economic development. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are usually associated with technological systems for infrastructure operations, vehicles and goods in urban transportation and roads. Their use is widespread and there are a wide range of research works and applications. So, ITS can be defined as a set of applications within computer science, electronics and communications aimed at improving mobility, security and transport productivity, optimizing the use of infrastructures and energy consumption and improving the capacity of the transport systems [1].

Therefore, technological progress within the scope of software applied to transport services is enabling the development of new applications types. The aim of these applications is usually to improve the management of urban mobility and the quality of life in the cities.

At institutional level, promoting the use of public transport is a priority, so that it becomes a preferential transport option, favouring economic development [2]. Thus, according to data from the International Public Transport Association [3], it is expected that public transport will duplicate its market share in 2025 in regard to 2009, completing the transition to a more sustainable transport model.