NS FRITS

Background and Aim

Aim
An electronic communications and data capture network will be developed into an intelligent transport system that will be placed at strategic positions in key transport corridors to provide live, up to date information regarding traffic flow, congestion, safety and security.

The intelligent transport system will initially be aimed at the freight supply chain and will employ the most relevant Information and Communication Technologies and equipment to transmit and receive data in a series of languages to lone workers as they travel throughout North Sea Region.

Background
The concept of 'just in time' deliveries is an essential element in competitive business practice and this places heavy reliance on goods delivered on time, every time. Increased journey times, poor delivery predictability or loss of goods has a negative impact on economies and communities, causing significant financial costs to businesses and environmental damage through increased journey times and vehicle emissions.

The North Sea Region has a unique position in terms of goods transport and logistics in Europe, playing a key role as Europe's biggest transport hub and is at the heart of this economic activity. The use of ICT, telecommunications and data capture within the supply chain will help increase the North Sea Region's competitiveness in global markets and support sustainable economic, social and environmental improvements and growth for the future.

The project developed an intelligent transport system based on a multi-sectoral partnership and the use of ICT to enable the North Sea Region to develop a dynamic logistics solution, which was scalable across the EU. By investing in research and development and introducing innovative products and processes into the logistics sector, the project contributed to the aims of the Lisbon and Gothenburg Strategies.

The innovative use of ICT provided important opportunities to improve accessibility within the North Sea Region by ‘shrinking' real distances that exist between places and offering good access to facilities and information. It also supported the development of a knowledge-based economy and the wider use of ICT in businesses of all sizes.

A transnational and multi-sectoral partnership approach between the public and private sector enabled the wider adoption and use of ICT applications to enable the North Sea Region to further develop efficient and effective logistics solutions.