Low carbon smart mobility & green logistics

This review is intended as an overview of European and Finnish targets for greenhouse gas emissions from transport and logistics as well as the performed and proposed measures for achieving these targets with the use of intelligent transport systems (ITS). The review presents the relevant greenhouse gas emission targets and provides examples of performed ITS-based measures tackling the issue along with their estimated impacts. Proposed solutions and the estimates of their effect are also provided. It was found that the impacts of different solutions are evaluated by expert estimates or models and only rarely directly measured. The reason for the use of estimates is mainly the difficulty of differentiating one source from an overall change in emissions. The impact of ITS usually comes from increased usage of public transportation (decreased use of private vehicles), reduced congestion (improved traffic flow and alternative routing), and improved eco-driving (automatic solutions or informing based on analysis, such as speed suggestions). The influence of ITS is, typically, realized more from being an enhancing tool rather than a complete solution. The use of ITS does help in reducing emissions. However, other measures, such as technological advances in fuel efficiency, alternative energy, regulatory and financial guidance and more well-planned land use, may be more direct and powerful. Combining ITS and ICT with the aforementioned alternatives is recommended.