Foreword

While considerable knowledge is available for transport telematics¹-related issues in the EU, in the area of environment telematics the empirical basis is unsatisfactory.  For central and east European countries (CEE), little or no information on the current status and framework of the implementation of telematics is available.

CAPE (Co-ordinated Action for Pan-European Transport and Environment Telematics Implementation Support) is a European Union (EU) funded project that aims to encourage the greater use of telematics or Information Society Technologies (IST) in the EU and central and eastern Europe. The project intends to generate a number of products that will serve both local self-governments across Europe, and help the European Commission facilitate the implementation of IST solutions at the municipal and district level.

CAPE’s goals are twofold:

First, the project aims to benefit local self-governing authorities in central and eastern Europe and the EU by raising their awareness to telematics applications and facilitating their implementation at the local level.

In CEE countries, CAPE will target those local self-governing authorities who have an immediate need for applying efficient and low-cost telematics systems in the areas of transport and environment. For the EU countries, CAPE will focus on those authorities not yet fully aware of the potentials of advanced telematics for environmental management.

Project results will be disseminated through:

• completion of a good-practice inventory in environment and transport telematics;
• conferences serving as dissemination events;
• workshops that serve as an opportunity to exchange information and experiences, and build networks between the EU and CEE;
• an Internet website which serves as part of the related dissemination activities.

Secondly, CAPE will extensively survey, through three quantitative and one qualitative survey, the needs, priorities and frameworks among CEE and EU local and regional public authorities for transport and environment telematics implementation.  This report presents the findings of one of these surveys, which it is hoped will assist in improving the understanding of local CEE self-governing bodies, their structure, activities, and environment and transport requirements. This in turn is expected to support preperations for future targeted support actions in the field of information society technologies/telematics. Through this, it is hoped to encourage future CEE involvement in the European Union’s 5th Research and Technological Development Framework Programme, and consequently a better environment.

 The CAPE partners

¹ Telematics or Information Society Technologies (ISTs) describes the application of telecommunication technologies to the world of informatics.  Products and services are intended to support the collection, storage and dissemination of information.  Ultimately these benefit the decision-maker and society, and consistent with European Commission policy, contribute to realising proposals for the Creation of a User-friendly Information Society

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REC * PROGRAMS * ISTs * LOCAL GOVERNMENT SSUTVEYS

Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe