Like members of social networks, vehicles will be in constant contact with each other and with the larger community, exchanging volumes of crucial information. When the potential of the fully networked car is realized, vehicle crashes, traffic jams, and car theft will be greatly reduced, if not entirely eliminated. Vehicles will detect the speeds and locations of other nearby travelers and alert drivers if the cars ahead are slowing or if there is an obstruction in the road. Emergency vehicles will have a clear path once drivers are signaled in advance through the network to make way for them. Drivers will become something like search-engine spiders, capturing and uploading information to the network about road conditions and traffic speeds and even providing each other with detailed, real-time directories of information about restaurants, entertainment venues, and points of interest on the virtual map. In addition, some experts are convinced that the use of green automotive technologies, along with effective traffic management and driver assistance systems will help reduce the impact of motor travel on climate change.

Development of the information and communication technologies (ICT) necessary for the realization of this dream requires diligent work to lay sturdy foundations. Estimated in multiple billions of dollars, the ICT market will offer significant enhancement of safety, security, and lifestyle value for consumers. But first, there are numerous issues to consider. How will technology move forward during development of the network itself, the vehicle interface, and the vehicle-to-road grid? How will the industry address economies of scale and privacy issues? How will the automotive and communications industries link to each other, and what policy and legal restrictions must be put in place? It is universally understood that the critical first step must be the development of standardization and coordination among standards organizations, vehicle manufacturers, and ICT industries.

ISO reports that it has technical committees that are addressing these issues:

• ISO/TC 22, Road Vehicles. Its scope covers questions concerning standardization of interchangeability, compatibility, and safety and addresses terminology and testing procedures for performance evaluation of mopeds, motor cycles, motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, light trailers, combination vehicles, and articulated vehicles, as well as their equipment.

• ISO/TC 204, Intelligent Transport Systems. Its scope covers standardization of communication, information, and control systems in urban and rural transportation, including its multimodal aspects, traffic management, public transport, commercial transport, emergency services, traveler information, and commercial services in intelligent transport systems (ITS).

• ISO/TC 207, Environmental Management. Its scope is the development of standards in the field of environmental-management systems and sustainable development. These include the three ISO 14064:2006 standards for greenhouse-gas accounting and verification, as well as ISO 14065:2007, which provides the requirements for the accreditation of bodies that carry out these activities. These standards will be useful as organizations seek ways to address climate change.

15 Inverness Way East • Englewood, CO 80112-5776 • USA
Tel: 303-397-7956 • 800-854-7179 • Fax: 303-397-2740
webstore: store.ihs.com