Decision Support Tools - Thematic Research Summary - Transport ...

authorities and operators in planning local public transport services have been developed.Finally, an expertise centre to support cities to incorporate cycling in urban planning hasbeen created.4.2.2 Research objectivesThe efficient and effective planning and deployment of transport policy relies upontransport demand forecasts. Consequently, a first group of research objectives within thissub-theme has been concerned with the provision of transport demand forecasts(EXPEDITE, 2002), as well as a foresight exercise on the influence of non-transportfactors and policy on mobility and transport (FORESIGHT for TRANSPORT, 2004).Since there are different organisations which provide this kind of forecast operating atdifferent levels in Europe (European, national, regional), in order to promote cooperationand coordination, it is necessary to ensure a common understanding of transportevolutions. Furthermore, transport policy making processes are becoming more and morecomplex, and decision makers need advanced tools and models to cope with theirdemanding tasks. Consequently, a second group of research objectives has beenconcerned with the establishment of thematic networks to improve plan-related decisionmaking processes and in particular to provide a common platform of understanding fortransport forecasts to encourage and facilitate co-operation in the development of transportpolicy (THINK-UP, 2003), as well as to investigate how to make advanced transportmodels scientifically reliable, fully transparent to end-users, and better integrated withpolicy-making processes (SPOTLIGHTS-TN). Research has also investigated how toimprove decision making processes through effective stakeholders’ engagement(GUIDEMAPS).A critical aspect of transport planning is the possibility to estimate the impacts caused bythe implementation of policies and develop and investigate future scenarios, consequentlya third group of objectives in this sub-theme has focused on the development of tools,models and scenarios to perform impact assessments which are as accurate and reliableas possible. In this respect, research has produced a model to assess the potentialimpacts of e-Economy on future demand of passenger and freight transport in cities andregions (POET, 2005a). Research has also developed, compared and assessed possiblefuture scenarios for the transport system and energy supply (STEPS, 2006), as well as foraviation and its emissions (CONSAVE, 2050).Thematic Research Summary: “Decision Support Tools” Page: 22 of 74Transport Research Knowledge Centre