Knowledge production for transport policies in the information society: Dissertation

The dissertation explores and analyses the challenges and needs that developments in the information society are bringing to knowledge production supporting policy development and strategic decision making in the field of transport. Currently, the context of transport policies is about to shift from a transport infrastructure network design towards the development of a large socio-technical system, depending largely on ICT technology and applications. In this new context the traditional, analytical knowledge production approaches relating to infrastructure investments and project appraisals are alone not sufficient in providing the knowledge needed to understand the socio-technical nature of the transport system. The knowledge provided to make informed transport decisions needs to include also new forms to serve the needs of a wider variety of societal actors. Based on the fields of science and technology studies (STS) and policy and impact analysis the dissertation presents five emerging forms relevant to transport policy knowledge production in the future. These are knowledge production through system-based foresight, knowledge production through system-based evaluation, knowledge production in networks, knowledge production as processes of social learning and argumentation, and knowledge production as a source of renewal. Further, the basic characteristics of these forms have been identified. The dissertation proposes that the presented forms can shed light on the relationships between knowledge production, policy making and the society, which may lead to the implementation of new, socially embedded ways of developing transport systems and policies. Also implications of these emerging knowledge production forms for transport policy and business development and related future research needs are presented.