Sustainable Transportation
Sustainable transportation is one component of the broader concept of sustainable development, which has commonly been defined as:
"Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs."
(World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987)
Sustainable transportation systems are those which, for example, aim to reduce emissions, fossil fuel consumption, the consumption of agricultural land, park land and wildlife habitat. Most fundamentally, this means an emphasis on reducing the role of the private automobile as the prime mode of transportation and shifting travel toward other sustainable modes such as public transit cycling and walking. Transportation infrastructure has a strong impact on urban land use patterns, and congestion, both of which result in profound environmental impacts. Hence, advances in the transportation planning process and in the efficiency of transportation systems through technologies such as ITS are key components of the development of sustainable transportation infrastructure.
Researchers
Chris Kennedy
Heather L. MacLean
Eric J. Miller
Amer Shalaby