C-ITS

General information

C-ITS stands for Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems, meaning intelligent transport systems (ITS) that are capable to exchange real-time C-ITS messages with vehicles, road users, and infrastructure using trusted and secured communication. C-ITS service is provided for the user via C-ITS messages that are signed messages exchanged between C-ITS stations. The data and format of C-ITS messages have been standardized by ETSI and ISO and the message profiles as well as other specifications are formed in C-Roads collaboration platform. Harmonization is essential in order to ensure the interoperability across borders and different manufacturers.

There are multiple implementation possibilities for setting up C-ITS services depending on the service itself and communication technologies utilized among other things. Therefore, operations of C-ITS services require collaboration of several actors with different roles and responsibilities. These actors are e.g., national road authorities and traffic management centers, cities and municipalities and private service providers.

The key benefits of C-ITS services are related to the improved safety by accident reduction and collision avoidance as well as to enhanced traffic efficiency by reducing congestion and optimizing traffic flow. C-Roads platform has listed different services under following categories:

  • In-Vehicle Signage (IVS), including services such as traffic sign information
  • Hazardous Locations Notification (HLN), including services notifying on accidents, traffic jams, weather conditions and temporarily slippery roads
  • Road Works Warning (RWW), including services warning about lane and road closures as well as mobile road works
  • Signalized Intersections (SI), including services informing about signal phase and timing as well as traffic light prioritization
  • Automated Vehicle Guidance (AVG), including services supporting platooning and SAE level guidance
  • Probe Vehicle Data (PVD), including both vehicle and event data collection related services

Read more about C-ITS development and piloting in Tampere:

C-ITS Development
Piloting in Tampere