Transport Research Knowledge Centre

www.transport-research.info

Connecting Transport Research with EU Policy

Thematic publications

Transport research projects have an important role in supporting the policy development.

Project research results are analysed along 30 transport themes. The policy implications of the projects are analysed and compiled into Thematic Research Summaries. These reports are regularly updated as more information from completed research projects from both European and National research programmes becomes available.

The research summaries are comprised of:

  • associated policy issues;
  • a synthesis of findings from completed projects;
  • a list of references to policy documents; and
  • a list of projects contributing to each theme.

Please click here to see older issues of the thematic publications.

 
 
Intelligent Transport Systems - Thematic Research Summary (2010)
Intelligent Transport Systems - Thematic Research Summary (2010)

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) include several combinations of communication, computer and control technology developed and applied in the domain of transport to improve system performance, transport safety, efficiency, productivity and level of service, as well as environmental impacts, energy consumption and mobility.

364 Kb PDF
96 Pages 09-08-2010
 
 
 
 
 
Waterborne transport - Thematic Research Summary (2010)
Waterborne transport - Thematic Research Summary (2010)

There is a growing imbalance between modes of transport in the European Union – the growing success of road and air transport is resulting in worsening congestion, which could be helped by a greater focus on waterborne transport. This paper provides a structured guide to the results of Research and Technical Development projects relating to Waterborne Transport, carried out in transport research programmes throughout the European Research Area.

1338 Kb PDF
74 Pages 08-07-2010
 
 
 
 
 
Freight Transport - Thematic Research Summary (2010)
Freight Transport - Thematic Research Summary (2010)

Freight Transport addresses the movement of all kinds of goods from raw materials to finished goods and waste products. It makes use of local, regional, national and international transport systems and is increasingly adopting intermodal and multimodal solutions. It is also concerned with the organisation and management of the supply chain and logistics activities.


447 Kb PDF
0 Pages 08-07-2010
 
 
 
 
 
Rail Transport - Thematic Research Summary
Rail Transport - Thematic Research Summary

This Thematic Research Summary on rail transport aims to provide the reader with a synthesis of results of completed European research projects related to that theme. This is done spearately for three sub-themes identified as important in the rail-related research reported in this summary.


268 Kb PDF
0 Pages 08-07-2010
 
 
 
 
 
Economic Aspects of Sustainable Mobility
Economic Aspects of Sustainable Mobility

"Economic aspects of sustainable mobility" covers the ways in which economic efficiency and beneficial development can be pursued, measured and assessed. The report begins with a brief analysis of the scope of the theme, and a policy review. The second part is a synthesis of research results and policy implications, concluding with the implications for further research.

288 Kb PDF
63 Pages 28-06-2010
 
 
 
 
 
Road Transport
Road Transport – Thematic Research Summary (2010)

Road transport dominates the European transport scene. Policy developments at EU level have traditionally been related to the competitiveness and efficiency of road transport; connectivity, accessibility and quality of road transport; road safety and environmental effects of road transport. The second part of the publication includes a synthesis of the main findings and policy implications from research projects.

374 Kb PDF
81 Pages 16-06-2010
 
 
 
 
 
Infrastructure Provision (including TEN-T) – Thematic Research Summary (2010)
Infrastructure Provision (including TEN-T) – Thematic Research Summary (2010)

This document aims to provide the reader with a synthesis of available results from completed EU-funded research projects related to Infrastructure Provision. Research reported deals with the construction and maintenance of road and rail infrastructure, the development of the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T), the Galileo satellite infrastructure.

2049 Kb PDF
64 Pages 01-06-2010
 
 
 
 
 
Thematic Research Summary - Regulation / Deregulation (2010)
Regulation / Deregulation – Thematic Research Summary (2010)

Regulation, in the context of this theme, is defined as the use of physical regulation or the law to correct what is perceived to be failure, particularly market failure, in the transport sector. Regulation may also be used to achieve specific transport objectives, such as safety. Deregulation is the removal of regulations, often in order to adjust competition policy.

286 Kb PDF
44 Pages 19-05-2010
 
 
 
 
 
Financing, pricing and taxation - Thematic Research Summary (2010)
Financing, pricing and taxation - Thematic Research Summary (2010)

This synthesis helps the reader keep abreast of the latest research in the EU on financing, and on pricing and taxation. Getting the prices paid right is a means to ensure an efficient and sustainable use of the existing infrastructure.

377 Kb PDF
62 Pages 21-04-2010
 
 
 
 
 
Land Use Planning - Thematic Research Summary (2010)
Land Use Planning - Thematic Research Summary (2010)

The land use planning tool focuses on the land use patterns which generate the demand for transport. The overall emphasis is usually on shaping the pattern of development and influencing the location, scale, density, design and mix of land uses in order to reduce the need to travel and reduce the length of journeys.

3970 Kb PDF
36 Pages 28-01-2010
 
 
 
 
 
Decision Support Tools - Thematic Research Summary (2010)
Decision Support Tools - Thematic Research Summary (2010)

This document aims to provide the reader with a synthesis of available results from completed European EU-funded research projects related to Decision Support Tools for transport planning. Decision support tools are concerned with methodologies and information tools for transport policy making.

769 Kb PDF
74 Pages 28-01-2010
 
 
 
 
 
Passenger Transport - Transport Research Summary (2010)
Passenger Transport - Transport Research Summary (2010)

The Passenger transport theme refers to all forms of the public and private transport of people, by air, land or water, whether scheduled or unscheduled, urban, rural, coastal, local, long distance or cross-border and involving one or more modes.

922 Kb PDF
78 Pages 28-01-2010
 
 
 
 
 
Regional and Rural Transport
Regional and Rural Transport - Thematic Research Summary (2010)

Rural transport deals with transport in low-density and remote areas, with projects focusing on accessibility and management of local roads. Regional transport is more concerned with national and EU connectivity and cohesion. Several projects in this theme concentrate on medium-distance transport corridors in Europe.

2153 Kb PDF
36 Pages 20-01-2010
 
 
 
 
 
User Aspects - Thematic Research Summary (2009)
User Aspects - Thematic Research Summary (2009)

This theme covers User Aspects and the ways through which users interact with transport systems, infrastructure and services, for all modes. The theme's scope is technical and behaviourist, using these levers to enhance mobility and journey quality in the EU.

514 Kb PDF
59 Pages 21-12-2009
 
 
 
 
 
Urban Transport - Thematic Research Summary (2009)
Urban Transport - Thematic Research Summary (2009)

Urban Transport is concerned with passenger and freight transport internal to built-up areas, and those trips having at least one end in an urban area. Typically wholly urban trips are no longer than 15 km. The main elements of urban transport are motorised private traffic, public transport, non-motorised transport, service vehicle traffic, last-mile freight traffic.

725 Kb PDF
121 Pages 06-10-2009
 
 
 
 
 
Information and Awareness - Thematic Research Summary (2009)
Information and Awareness - Thematic Research Summary (2009)

Possible measures involve making improvements to the information available to transport users and operators, to make them more aware of the implications of their use and the operation of the transport system. Some measures are traditional fixed information systems; others draw on real time applications of information technology.

331 Kb PDF
50 Pages 30-09-2009
 
 
 
 
 
Transport Management - Thematic Research Summary (2009)
Transport Management - Thematic Research Summary (2009)

This paper covers the management of traffic and transport services for all modes, including changing the way in which existing transport systems are used and the strategic and tactical control of traffic. It is based on results of projects covering mobility & traffic management in urban areas, freight & logistics management, and traffic & network management for road, rail, waterways and airspace.

6362 Kb PDF
70 Pages 15-09-2009
 
 
 
 
 
Safety and Security - Thematic Research Summary (2008)
Safety and Security in Mobility - Thematic Research Summary (2008)

‘Safety’ implies freedom from danger; ‘security’ is the undertaking to protect human beings, transport means and transport infrastructure against unauthorised and unexpected actions. In reality, a complete absence of risk is impossible – this paper aims at providing a synthesis of research results and policy implications from completed projects relevant to the theme.

3817 Kb PDF
66 Pages 18-12-2008
 
 
 
 
 
Environmental Aspects of Sustainable Mobility - Thematic Research Summary
Environmental Aspects of Sustainable Mobility - Thematic Research Summary (2008)

The impact of transport on the environment has become fundamental to the development of European transport policy. This thematic research summary provides the reader with a synthesis of the results of completed European projects relevant to the theme, such as assessments of social impacts, an analysis of mitigation measures, and the development of environmentally-friendly technologies.

2153 Kb PDF
48 Pages 17-10-2008
 
 
 
 
 
Increasing the effectiveness of aeronautical research in Europe. © Big Foto
Air transport: Thematic Research Summary (2006)

Air traffic has grown at an average rate of 5% over the last 15 years. While this enables the aviation industry to remain as one of the strongest sectors of Europe’s economy, it creates capacity problems for air traffic management and passenger movement through airports. This paper provides a guide to the results of Research & Technical Development projects relating to Air Transport, carried out in transport research programmes throughout the European Research Area.

987 Kb PDF
62 Pages 12-04-2005
 
 
 
 
 
understanding of the impact of EU transportation policies (c) Gettyimages
EU Accession Issues: Thematic Research Summary (2006)

The importance of this theme is self-evident. EU accession has been a serious and topical issue for some time, and reports have regularly been released on the progress made by accession countries on the modernisation of their transport sectors. This paper provides a structured guide to the results of Research and Technical Development projects relating to EU accession issues, carried out in transport research programmes throughout the European Research Area. 

463 Kb PDF
34 Pages 04-04-2005
 
 
 
 
 
integrating the Swiss transportation network into the TEN (c) GettyImages
Long-distance transport: Thematic Research Summary (2006)

Long-distance transport covers rail, road, sea and air shipping, and in light of increasing integration between European countries, long-distance transport from, to and within Europe is becoming increasingly important. This paper provides a structured guide to the results of Research and Technical Development projects relating to long-distance transport, carried out in transport research programmes throughout the European Research Area.

552 Kb PDF
27 Pages 04-04-2005
 
 
 
 
 
rural transport - (c) FreeFoto.com
Rural transport: Thematic Research Summary (2006)

Rural transport is concerned with passenger and freight transport in low density areas that experience a high level of dependency on cars. Without effective implementation of transport and urban policy proposals, rural traffic levels could outstrip the growth in urban areas. This paper provides a structured guide to the results of Research and Technical Development projects relating to Urban Transport, carried out in transport research programmes throughout the European Research Area.

396 Kb PDF
31 Pages 04-04-2005
 
 
 
 
 
experimental 'magnetic levitation' train (maglev) - (c) BKI
Other modes: Thematic Research Summary (2006)

‘Other Modes’ covers all transport not covered within the definitions of road and rail and includes new modes developed with the intention of introducing innovation in concepts - of great importance given that the European Union is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. This paper provides a structured guide to the results of Research and Technical Development projects relating to Other Modes, carried out in transport research programmes throughout the ERA.

455 Kb PDF
37 Pages 04-04-2005
 
 
 
 
 
Optimising multi-modal transport
Intermodal transport: Thematic Research Summary (2006)

Intermodal Transport is one of the approaches on the European level to solve the actual and the expected problems in freight transport; growing freight transport means the European Union transport system is showing signs of inefficiency from a socio-economic point of view. This paper provides a structured guide to the results of Research and Technical Development projects relating to Intermodal Transport, carried out in transport research programmes throughout the European Research Area.

520 Kb PDF
44 Pages 04-04-2005
 
 
 
 
 
Developing low-cost components for FCV hybrids and ICE hybrids in Europe. © Free Foto
Vehicle technology: Thematic Research Summary (2006)

This theme covers transport vehicles in all modes and their associated technologies. The overarching objective of research in this area is to facilitate the development of vehicles and their subsystems while assuring the sustainable growth of transportation. This paper provides a structured guide to the results of Research and Technical Development projects relating to vehicle technology, carried out in transport research programmes throughout the European Research Area.

1058 Kb PDF
72 Pages 04-04-2005
 
 
 
 
 
road toll collection systems
Pricing and Taxation and Financing Tools: Thematic Research Summary (2006)

Transport pricing has been an actively debated topic in the European Union for a number of years, stimulated by both the Commission and various national policy initiatives. This is a structured guide to the results of Research & Technical Development projects relating to Pricing, Taxation, and Financing Tools, carried out in transport research programmes throughout the European Research Area.

590 Kb PDF
48 Pages 04-04-2005
 
 
 
 
 
transport project image
Integration: Thematic Research Summary (2006)

Integration refers to the strategic integration of different policy instruments to achieve improved performance of the transport system. It can involve the coordinated planning of several modes so that each contributes more effectively. This paper provides a guide to the results of Research & Technical Development projects relating to Integration, carried out in transport research programmes throughout the European Research Area.

612 Kb PDF
51 Pages 04-04-2005
 
 
 
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