Exploratory Advanced Research . . . Next Generation Transportation Solutions

A New Path to the Future 

Transportation System

comprehensive system and the social, political, 

economic, and legal factors that will govern its 

realization. 

Need for the Research

The IATS research is driven by the expectation 

of major changes in the U.S. transportation system 

over the next several decades, driven by changes in the cost and availability of conventional 

fuel and energy, continuing growth in urban 

density, and major social, economic, and political shifts that may result from global events. It is 

unclear, for example, how climate change, economic upheaval, peak oil, and other tectonic 

shifts may impact the transportation system 

and the realization of technological progress. 

Anticipated changes in vehicle size and dynamics will likely inhibit some operational aspects 

while introducing others. It is also likely that 

continued technological progress will facilitate 

new capabilities in safety, congestion mitigation, and energy efficiency. 

In parallel with these observations is the fact 

that, despite 25 years of development effort, the 

gap between what is technically possible in the 

transportation system and what is actually realized out on the road continues to grow. Automated vehicles were demonstrated by the FHWA 

Automated Highway System Program in 1997, yet 

today, the only automated features available 

on production vehicles are parking systems and 

a few high-end emergency braking systems. 

Extensive work has been done on vehicle safety 

systems, which have been demonstrated for at 

least two decades, yet today only a few vehicles 

are sold with driver warning systems. 

So, while it is clear that major shifts in factors 

associated with road transport are imminent, it 

is unclear how these shifts may impact the 

transportation system and equally unclear what 

may be the best way to respond to these events. 

By developing a deeper understanding of these 

impacts and a technically realistic and realizable 

long-term vision for the transportation system, 

FHWA can better plan for the future.

The Exploratory Advanced Research Program Fact Sheet

The Concept

The Integrated Active Transportation System 

(IATS) is a system in which all vehicles in all 

modes of transport interrelate seamlessly with 

each other and with infrastructure systems. 

Vehicles share information and actively adapt to 

the local situation and the larger system state 

to meet the transportation system objectives 

of mobility, safety, and energy efficiency. Accidents are infrequent, and the flow of people and 

goods through the system is smooth and efficient, just as people move effortlessly in many 

directions through large crowds without colliding and with optimal throughput. Vehicles with 

increasing levels of automated capability make 

increasingly sophisticated decisions to achieve 

their occupants’ transport objectives, independently or in concert with infrastructure systems. 

This IATS study is aimed at understanding the 

technical capabilities needed to realize such a 

Anticipated shifts in fuel availability, 

energy use, and vehicle size and 

density combined with continuing 

technological innovation will provide new 

challenges and opportunities in traffic 

management. Developing the concept 

of an integrated transportation system 

for the future is the focus of “Feasibility 

for a New Concept of Integrated Active 

Transportation Systems,” an Exploratory 

Advanced Research (EAR) Program 

project launched by the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA) in 2009 and 

conducted by the University of 

California at Berkeley.
Goals of the Study and 

Accompanying Risks

The IATS research is aimed at identifying technologies and technical strategies that can best 

meet expected challenges and at understanding 

the processes that inhibit or enhance industry’s 

ability to apply these technologies in the transportation system. It is also aimed at developing a 

broad strategic framework for the evolution of 

the transportation system to a more integrated 

state where various modes are coordinated in a 

smoothly functioning system. 

Two key, related challenges in the project are 

accurately projecting how social, political, economic, and legal elements relevant to transportation may evolve over the next 20 to 40 years 

and then determining how those changes could 

impact the realization of the IATS. All projections 

are subject to errors. To control the potential for 

error, this study utilizes a focused scenario development process, concentrating on specific 

variables or factors in each field, and a separate 

expert panel is assessing the integrity and realism of the analysis.

Looking Ahead

The FHWA will use the results of the IATS study 

to guide future research, emphasizing the technologies that are most needed to address future 

needs. In addition, FHWA will use the IATS technical strategy and scenario-planning results to 

provide leading indicators for major shifts that 

may impact the transportation system and to 

provide contingency strategies for adjustments 

to accommodate those shifts.

The primary benefit anticipated from the 

IATS research is development of a clear, longrange strategy that will allow FHWA to adapt to 

expected major changes in transportation constraints and needs and lead the way to a future 

system where goods and people flow efficiently 

through a cooperative infrastructure in a safe 

and environmentally acceptable way.

What Is the Exploratory 

Advanced Research Program?

FHWA’s Exploratory Advanced Research 

(EAR) Program focuses on long-term, 

high-risk research with a high payoff 

potential. The program addresses underlying gaps faced by applied highway 

research programs, anticipates emerging issues with national implications, and 

reflects broad transportation industry 

goals and objectives. 

To learn more about the EAR Program, visit the Exploratory Advanced 

Research Web site at www.fhwa.dot.gov/

advancedresearch. The site features information on research solicitations, updates 

on ongoing research, links to published 

materials, summaries of past EAR Program events, and details on upcoming 

events. For additional information, contact 

David Kuehn at FHWA, 202-493-3414 

(email: david.kuehn@dot.gov), or Terry 

Halkyard at FHWA, 202-493-3467 (email: 

terry.halkyard@dot.gov).

A New Path to the Future 

Transportation System

Publication No. 

FHWA-HRT-12-021

HRTM-04/10-11(1M)E

Learn More

For more information on this project, contact 

Kunik Lee, Ph.D., FHWA Office of Safety Research and Development, at 202-493-3491 

(email: kunik.lee@dot.gov). Photo credit, page 1: 

© Shutterstock.com/

Josh Resnick