Robust and sustainable transport systems - a pilot study

The aim of the study is to test whether the visions of a sustainable society are consistent with a robust society. In focus are urban transport systems which are dependent on IT. Case studies are carried out on; automatic rail systems, Internet shopping with home deliverance and extended public transport. These transport systems are analysed with regard to environmental effect, reliability, consequences of system failure, redundance and re-start characteristics. A key factor is the interdependence of different system levels. If a part of the overall transport system falls, other transport system falls, other transport systems or IT might provide a back-up function. A general conclusion from the case studies is that these transport systems might be at least as current systems, provided that attention is payed to robustness when systems are designed.