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SOCRATES stands for “System of Cellular RAdio for Traffic Efficiency and Safety”. This paper provides an update on what many consider to be the technology with the greatest potential for successfully achieving the realisation of an Integrated Road Transport Environment (IRTE). SOCRATES is a complete system: developments within the SOCRATES projects include applications, in-vehicle equipment, information centres and system architecture, as well as communications. However, one of the key areas within the SOCRATES research concerns the potential future communications system and this paper will cover this area in particular. DRIVE Central Office has given the responsibility to the SOCRATES Kernel project to investigate how applications and communications bearers (particularly mobile) may be integrated in an efficient and standardised way.

In-vehicle information systems using new generations of communications and information technology are already with us. Developments in the European programmes DRIVE and PROMETHEUS are aimed at bringing closer full commercial implementation of sophisticated travel and traffic information systems which will provide benefits both to individual users and to the community in terms of improved transport efficiency. The objectives of many projects include the integration of several applications of Advanced Road Transport Telematics (ATT), often focusing on the provision of better information to travellers. This paper is based upon material to be published [1] in a book later in 1993. It provides information on the history and evolution of this potential multi-million pound industry.

SOCRATES is the largest project in the European Communities' research programme DRIVE. The objective is to investigate the use and feasibility of a Road Transport Informatics (RTI) system based on cellular radio, and to make recommendations which could lead to the use of a pan-European cellular radio system such as GSM as the basis of the DRIVE “Integrated Road Transport Environment” (IRTE). The overall concept is based on the collection, storage and processing of road traffic information within traffic control centres, and on the two-way information flow between vehicles and roadside infrastructure: firstly to send information to drivers and their in-car units, secondly to collect real-time traffic data and other messages from the vehicles. The paper presents an overview of the SOCRATES concept and its results and conclusions to date, including the implementation of the major test site in Gothenburg.

The DRIVE project TARDIS (Traffic And Roads - DRIVE Integrated Systems) has as its main objective the specification of functional requirements of an Integrated Road Transport Environment (IRTE), in order to provide a common framework for technical developments in which the different system operating philosophies in different countries can still be embodied. A framework has been developed for assessing various communication system architectures into which the following RTI/IVHS applications can be integrated: dynamic route guidance advanced traffic control parking management and information public transport management and information fleet management tourist information automatic debiting. Within this framework a simulation model has been developed which allows the analysis of the communications infrastructure necessary to support a particular scenario for integration.

Over the past two years a variety of European IVHS initiatives have emerged, quickening the pace set by earlier development work such as Autoguide and LISB. Migration from early conceptual development to tangible technologies, almost ready for large-scale exploitation is well underway. In particular, the EC DRIVE Programme and the European vehicle manufacturers PROMETHEUS Programme have acted as catalysts in generating interest in the application of the new technologies. The complete range of European IVHS initiatives is wide and varied. However it is not our intention to offer a comprehensive overview in this paper. Instead, this paper covers an outline of current European IVHS applications and develgpments, focusing on those technologies that are, or likely to be, implemented on a significant scale, over the next 5 years.