deliverable d3.3.6: mapping of eu its action plan areas (slovenia)

Deliverable D3.3.6: Mapping of EU ITS Action Plan areas

(Slovenia)

Darja Šemrov

February, 2013

Deliverable D3.3.6: Mapping of EU ITS Action Plan areas (Slovenia) 1

PROJECT INFORMATION

Title: Intelligent Transport Systems in South East Europe

Acronym: SEE-ITS

EoI Reference number: SEE/D/0099/3.2/X

Programme: South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme

Starting date: September 28th, 2012

Duration: 24 months

Web site: www.seeits.eu

PROJECT PARTNERS

No Name Short name Country

LP

Centre for Research and Technology Hellas

- Hellenic Institute of Transport CERTH-HIT Greece

ERDF PP1

Patras Municipal Enterprise for Planning and

Development S.A. ADEP S.A. Greece

ERDF PP2

AustriaTech - Federal Agency for

Technological Measures Ltd ATE Austria

ERDF PP3 Hungarian Transport Administration HTA Hungary

ERDF PP4

Bulgarian Association Intelligent Transport

Systems ITS Bulgaria Bulgaria

ERDF PP5 Intelligent Transport Systems Romania ITS Romania Romania

ERDF PP6 University of Ljubljana UL Slovenia

ERDF PP7 Institute for Transport and Logistics Foundation

ITL Italy

EU ASP1 Hellenic Intelligent Transport Systems ITS HELLAS Greece

EU ASP2 ITS Hungary Association ITS Hungary Hungary

20% ASP1 Italian ITS Association TTS Italia Italy

10% PP1 Albanian Association of Urban Transport SHKTQ Albania

10% PP2 Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, University of Zagreb

FPZ Croatia

http://www.seeits.eu/


DOCUMENT PROFILE

Document status: Final version

Deliverable code: D3.3.6

Deliverable title: Mapping of EU ITS Action Plan Areas (Slovenia)

Work Package: 3

Preparation date: 28/02/2013

Submission date: 29/03/2013

Total pages: 22

Dissemination level: Public

Author: Darja Šemrov

Contributors: Alexander Hausmann

Evangelos Mitsakis

Abstract: This report aims at screening EU policies regarding the political and

commercial framework in Slovenia.


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Intelligent Transport Systems can significantly contribute to a cleaner, safer and more efficient

transport system. A legal framework (Directive 2010/40/EU) was adopted by the European

Commission on 7 July 2010 to accelerate the deployment of these innovative transport

technologies across Europe. This Directive is an important instrument for the coordinated

implementation of ITS in Europe. It aims to establish interoperable and seamless ITS services

while leaving Member States the freedom to decide which systems to invest in.

The Directive establishes a framework in support of the coordinated and coherent

deployment and use of Intelligent Transport Systems within the Union, in particular across

the borders between the Member States, and sets out the general conditions necessary for

that purpose. The necessary standards to provide for interoperability, compatibility and

continuity for the deployment and operational use of ITS shall be developed in the mentioned

priority areas and for the priority actions. To that effect, the Commission shall request the

relevant standardisation bodies to make every necessary effort to adopt these standards

rapidly.

This report aims at screening EU policies regarding the political and commercial framework

in the different SEE-ITS countries. A basis for the analysis will be the EU ITS Directive, which

identifies the following priority areas for action regarding ITS services:

• Optimal use of road, traffic and travel data

• Continuity of traffic and freight management ITS services

• ITS road safety and security applications

• Linking the vehicle with the transport infrastructure

There will be one conclusion for all reports of Task 3.3, carried out in a separate document.


CONTENTS

1. Introduction ___________________________________________________________ 8

2. Legal framework ________________________________________________________ 9

2.1. National ITS law ____________________________________________________ 9

2.2. Prohibiting legislative elements _________________________________________ 9

2.3. Influence on commercial and private initiative _____________________________ 9

3. Stakeholders involved ___________________________________________________ 10

3.1. Ministry of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning (Directorates: Infrastructure, Transport) ______________________________________________________________ 10

3.2. Ministry of the Interior ______________________________________________ 10

3.3. Ministry of Defence ________________________________________________ 11

3.4. Other public agencies: ______________________________________________ 11

3.5. Motorway Company in the Republic of Slovenia (DARS d.d.) ________________ 12

3.6. Slovenian railways __________________________________________________ 12

3.7. ITS associations ____________________________________________________ 13

3.7.1. S-ITS, Slovenian ITS Association ___________________________________ 13

4. Policy framework ______________________________________________________ 14

4.1. National ITS action plan _____________________________________________ 14

4.2. Other relevant national policy documents _______________________________ 14

4.2.1. Resolution about transport policy of RS (OG of RS 58/2006) ____________ 14

4.2.2. The National program for investments in public railway infrastructure 2009-2012 14

4.2.3. The National program for road safety in the period 2012-2021 __________ 14

4.2.4. The Public Passenger Transport Act _______________________________ 15

4.3. Organisational and financial barriers ____________________________________ 15

4.4. Funding __________________________________________________________ 15

4.5. National standards _________________________________________________ 16

4.6. Vulnerable road users _______________________________________________ 16

5. Cooperation aspects ____________________________________________________ 17

5.1. Austria-Slovenia ___________________________________________________ 17

5.2. Italy-Slovenia ______________________________________________________ 17

5.3. Croatia-Slovenia ___________________________________________________ 17

5.4. Hungary-Slovenia __________________________________________________ 18

5.5. E-freight transport tracking __________________________________________ 18


5.6. Measures for public awareness ________________________________________ 18

6. SWOT analysis ________________________________________________________ 19

6.1. Strengths _________________________________________________________ 19

6.2. Weaknesses ______________________________________________________ 19

6.3. Opportunities _____________________________________________________ 20

6.4. Threats __________________________________________________________ 20

7. Conclusion and next steps _______________________________________________ 21


LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Slovenian ITS Association organogram __________________________________ 13


ABBREVIATIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

ACPDR Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection

and Disaster Relief (bodies affiliated to the Slovenian Ministry of

Defence)

AMZS Avto-moto zveza Slovenije - Slovenian Automobile Association

ASFINAG Austrian motorway operator

DARS Družba za avtoceste v Republiki Sloveniji - Motorway Company

in the Republic of Slovenia

EC European Commission

ERTMS European Rail Traffic Management System

ETC Electronic Toll Collection

ETCS European Train Control System

EU European Union

HAC Hrvatske autoceste - Croatia Motorway Operator

ITS Intelligent Transport Systems

NUCP National Traffic Management Centre

OG of RS Official Gazette of Republic of Slovenia

SEE Southeast Europe

SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

TCC Traffic Control Centre

TCS Traffic Control System for pedestrians

TMP Traffic Management Plan

Vehicle class R1 Vehicles with two axes and an admissible total weight of up to

3.5 tons

Vehicle class R2 Vehicles with two axes and an admissible total weight of more

than 3.5 tons

Vulnerable road users Non-motorised road users (pedestrians, cyclists) as well as

motor-cyclists and persons with disabilities or reduced mobility

and orientation

WIM weigh-in-motion systems


1. INTRODUCTION

Based upon the information each project partner provided in the questionnaire of Task 3.3,

this report performs a screening of policies in the SEE-ITS countries regarding the political

and commercial framework with respect to the EU ITS Directive and shows influences on the

commercial and private initiative regarding ITS implementation. It analyses instruments and

measures for ITS deployment such as laws, action plans and other policy related documents

as well as possible barriers for successful implementation of ITS applications and services. The

national funding landscape is analysed as well as current possible measures for vulnerable

road users, future European and regional cooperation and measures for public awareness

regarding Intelligent Transport Systems. Ultimately, a SWOT analysis is carried out and based

on it, next steps are evaluated.


2. LEGAL FRAMEWORK

This chapter includes the description of the legal and commercial framework in Slovenia,

especially focusing on the dedicated ITS law but also on how the legislative framework

corresponds to commercial and private initiatives related to ITS deployment.

2.1. National ITS law

In 2012 amendments to the Roads Act (OG of RS 48/2012) were adopted in a way that ITS

Directive is implemented in the Slovenian legal order. With this act National Traffic

Management Centre was set up. In this centre all the data for traffic control and traffic

information for road and railway users will be recorded, analysed and distributed. At the

moment the Ministry of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning is responsible to monitor the

research and development of ITS.

2.2. Prohibiting legislative elements

All official documents in Slovenia related to ITS deployment are binding in case of a change of

the political framework. There are no legislative elements in Slovenia that would prohibit the

adoption of the EU ITS Directive.

2.3. Influence on commercial and private initiative

At the moment legal and legislative frameworks in Slovenia do not incapacitate, but also do

not stimulate the commercial and private sector to take part in ITS development and

implementation. There is one PPP for real-time traffic and travel information delivery on the

state level. In this case the national radio station Radio Slovenia International (Radio Si) is the

carrier for RDS-TMC messages, the private company TrafficNav Ltd. is the information

provider and Traffic Information Centre for Public Roads (PIC) is the main source. At

municipal level the first PPP in the form of an urban traffic management system was

introduced in the city of Maribor in 2012.


3. STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED

The following organisations and authorities are involved in planning, financing and

implementing ITS in Slovenia.

3.1. Ministry of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning

(Directorates: Infrastructure, Transport)

This is the central authority for transport policy and implementation, operating through

different agencies and operators for roads, rail, maritime and air transport. It is also

responsible for coordinating operations between road authorities and the Police.

The following bodies are affiliated to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning:

• Slovenian Roads Agency

Tasks: It undertakes technical, developmental, organisational and administrative tasks

relating to the construction, maintenance and protection of main and regional state

roads and some dual carriageway sections, as well as tasks relating to freight and

passenger road transport. The tasks of the Slovenian Roads Agency also include the

preparation of proposals for investment into state roads under its jurisdiction, as well

as coordination relating to the designing, construction and reconstruction of roads

and its facilities. The Agency collects and processes the various data required in the

assessment of road investment decisions and performs tasks adopted by the National

Assembly, the Government and the Ministry.

• The Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia

Tasks: Land survey service is responsible for the basic data on space and real estate in

the finalised databases. The strategic goals support the development of the real estate

system and the topographic system with the aim of supporting the implementation of

the spatial planning policy as well as the agricultural and land policies on the basis real

estate and spatial data or indicators based on those data. The development of the

basic geodetic system with the aim of development of modern methods of land

survey, acquisition of data and the introduction of new services based on satellite

technology for positioning (locational services) is also one of the strategic goals of the

land survey service.

3.2. Ministry of the Interior

The following bodies are affiliated to the Ministry of the Interior:

• Police, Traffic Police Division

Tasks: The two basic fields of work of Traffic Police Division comprise road traffic

safety and the regulation of traffic. It monitors and analyses safety conditions on

Slovenian roads, directs and, when necessary, coordinates work of the traffic control


units, road accident investigations, prevention and detection of criminal offences and

violations endangering the safety of road traffic, performs supervision and provides

expert assistance to units. The Division also monitors and evaluates efficiency and

participates in the supplementation of tactics and methods of police work in this field,

issues opinions and gives its consent in relation to the construction and

reconstruction of roads and roadside facilities and its opinion, consent and permission

for transport and exceptional transport and for the road-blocks during larger events

carried out on roads. This Division also co-operates with other Slovene and foreign

authorities and organisations and prepares regulations and instructions for its field of

work, and participates in the preparation of information for the public and in the

processing and collection of computer data. The specialized traffic control unit as an

internal unit of this Division also directly performs heightened supervision of traffic

through surveillance using video and technical devices, monitoring of cargo vehicles

and buses and when required escorts exceptional cargo transport and transport of

hazardous goods as well as co-operates and participates when there are events held

on roads.

3.3. Ministry of Defence

The following bodies are affiliated to the Ministry of Defence:

• Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster

Relief (ACPDR)

Tasks: It performs administrative and professional protection, rescue and relief tasks

as well as other tasks regarding protection against natural and other disasters.

ACPDR is divided into six internal organizational units (four sectors and two services)

based in Ljubljana as well as 13 other ACPDR branches operating throughout

Slovenia. Within each branch there is a regional notification centre that performs a

24-hour duty service. Altogether, 300 people are employed at ACPDR branches and

notification centres to communicate with different stakeholders in incident

management.

3.4. Other public agencies:

• Slovenian Traffic Safety Agency

Tasks: Agency performs regulatory, developmental, technical and other tasks

regarding drivers and vehicles, analytical and research work in the field of road safety,

prevention, education and training. Agency also performs independent investigation

of the factors and causes of traffic fatalities and provides expert work for preparation

and implementation of national program on traffic safety. Agency assess, within its

jurisdiction, road infrastructure safety, provides education and raises public

awareness about new technical standards, solutions and other measures which

contribute to a greater safety of all road users. Regarding these areas, the agency is


involved in bilateral relations and various international organizations. Under its

jurisdiction is also the patronage over the main road accident database.

• Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Railway Transport

Tasks: Agency ensures a non-discriminatory access to the public railway

infrastructure of the Republic of Slovenia to applicants, i.e. transport operators –

consequently, agency holds the role of a railway infrastructure capacity allocation

authority (prepares and confirms the public railway infrastructure network

programme from the viewpoint of its legal responsibilities, administers and enforces

the user charges for the use of the public railway infrastructure, approves the time-

table, and it allocates train paths).

Agency also ensures the legislative framework and conducts formal procedures in the

field of railway transport safety – consequently, agency holds the role of a national

safety authority (issues licences and safety authorisations, issues safety certificates,

issues use permits and operating permits, fosters the development of the safety

regulatory framework, including the system of national regulations).

3.5. Motorway Company in the Republic of Slovenia

(DARS d.d.)

Tasks: Motorway Company in the Republic of Slovenia is national motorway operator and

concessioner. They must ensure the responsible and efficient construction, management and

maintenance of motorways and other infrastructure networks in the Republic of Slovenia and

provide the conditions for their safe use.

The Traffic Information Centre on behalf of both public state road operators in the Republic

of Slovenia (Slovenian Roads Agency which manages several expressways, main and regional

roads, and Motorway Company in the Republic of Slovenia which manages motorways and

four-lane expressways) collects information on the status of public roads and traffic on them

and submits it to public media and users of the national road network. The organisation of

providing information on the status of public roads and traffic is the duty of the above-

mentioned public road operators according to the Roads Act. Slovenian Roads Agency (public

agency) and Slovenian Roads Agency (part of Ministry of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning)

signed common agreement on the joint and uniform information provision for the public on

all public roads and traffic on them.

3.6. Slovenian railways

Tasks: Slovenian Railways is a wholly state-owned enterprise with six subsidiaries which

Slovenian Railways owns outright, or in which it retains a majority stake. Slovenian Railways

carries out its public service mandate, which consists of: infrastructure maintenance;

infrastructure management of the traffic on the railway lines responsible for preparing the

technical basis for the development projects and the preparation of investment and


maintenance annual plans; the carriage of passengers on domestic and cross-border regional

rail services and the transportation of passengers and goods, which is to be carried out under

market conditions and the collection of user fee.

3.7. ITS associations

3.7.1. S-ITS, Slovenian ITS Association Members: 17 legal bodies, 50 individual members. Involved organisations: road infrastructure operators and manager, research & development private and public organisations, industry, academics The mission of the Slovenian ITS association reads as follows:

• Working in the public domain as a professional organisation dedicated to promoting

the use of modern techniques and technologies for the benefit of all users of

transport

• Forming an expert group allowing exchange of ideas and information at:

o establishing a peer review, investigating and solving the problems

o promoting harmonized development of ITS

o standardization and preparation of legislation

o establishing a national strategy on Intelligent Transport Systems

• Continuous professional education of members, promoting ITS branch and providing

the information to general public

• Participation in European research projects and promoting synergy at national and

international level

• Organising and conducting scientific and professional congresses, seminars,

conferences and symposiums

• Taking care for the overall progress and growth of students education and technical

engineering staff

• Acting as civil society and non-political organization

Figure 1: Slovenian ITS Association organogram

GENERAL ASSEMBLY of S-ITS, Slovenian ITS Association

/all the members/

EXECUTIVE BOARD

SUPERVISORY BOARD

PRESIDENT


4. POLICY FRAMEWORK

This chapter focuses on the instruments that are utilised in Slovenia to implement or facilitate

the implementation of ITS. It also includes national funding programmes and standards used.

Furthermore possible barriers as well as measures for vulnerable road users are emphasised.

4.1. National ITS action plan

A national ITS action plan is being prepared and will be adopted at the end of 2013. In this

document the vision and strategy for the period 2013 - 2017 is proposed, including rules and

responsibilities of different ITS stakeholders, business model and financing of ITS in Slovenia.

At the moment main projects (measures) for the next five years were introduced in the last

report to EC by the Slovenian Ministry of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning.

4.2. Other relevant national policy documents

4.2.1. Resolution about transport policy of RS (OG of RS 58/2006) It specifies the baselines, objectives and measures needed to realise the goals and the key operators and institutions bearing responsibility for transport policy. For the implementation of this document the Government will elaborate implementation documents which will determine the measurable and concrete goals and activities for their achievement, competencies and responsibilities as well as performers of activities and the financial perspective. In this document the priority objectives of transport policy at the national level are listed and one of them is establishment of national ITS architecture to fulfil the implementation of regional, national and European policies and initiatives.

4.2.2. The National program for investments in public railway infrastructure 2009-2012

This is a main Slovenian document for implementation of ETCS/ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) which supports also real-time traffic and travel information for railway transport.

4.2.3. The National program for road safety in the period 2012-2021 This document is prepared and ready to be adopted. Its contents are as follows:

• strategic goals

• business model: organization of implementation

• fields of activities (transport infrastructure, vehicles, traffic education, rescue services,

supervision, safety and health at work, help for victims and relatives)

• aspects of road safety (speed, alcohol/drugs, car drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, safety

belt and baby car seats, young drivers, senior drivers, road and railway crossings)

• implementation and evaluation of national program


• financing

4.2.4. The Public Passenger Transport Act This document is in its preparing phase. With this act the integrated public transport will be established in Slovenia, including e-ticketing, real-time schedules for all transport modes and management of passenger transport.

4.3. Organisational and financial barriers

In Slovenia ITS is subordinate to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning, but in

practice development and implementation will be distributed also to other “bodies”, specially

to the organisations dealing with road safety, like for example:

• The police (the constituent body of the Ministry of the Interior)

• Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (the

constituent body of the Ministry of Defence)

• Motorway Company in the Republic of Slovenia (DARS d.d.)

• Slovenian Roads Agency (the constituent body of the Ministry of Infrastructure and

Spatial Planning)

A special committee was established for the coordination of the different bodies that are

involved in traffic management. The work of the Committee is still at the beginning.

One of the ITS benefits is the low investment costs for benefit on safety, capacity utilisation,

etc. Usual these external costs are not recognised by infrastructure managers and operators

and therefore they don’t invest in ITS until there is relevant regulation or legislation to do it.

There is a lack of understanding that ITS is a “win-win” for all parties involved in transport.

They must understand that maintaining efficient transport infrastructure, which serves as a

platform for integrated global supply chains, is crucial for meeting the increased demand for

transportation services.

At the moment ITS effectiveness in Slovenia is low. Due to financial crisis and spending cuts

other investments are more important, so investments in ITS are on the side track.

Infrastructure managers and operators don’t invest in ITS due to lack of budget despite the

technology is ready.

4.4. Funding

There are no funding programmes and initiatives in Slovenia specifically dedicated to ITS

deployment. On national level ITS deployment is financed by government budget and

revenues from tolls, money collected from charges for setting road signalling in case of road

(lane) closure due to renovation works, heavy goods transport and from telecommunications.

The municipalities also spend money on ITS deployment, especially the City of Ljubljana. A


large amount of the revenues earned from public services are used for the development of

ITS.

4.5. National standards

There are no specific national standards regarding ITS implementation in Slovenia.

4.6. Vulnerable road users

There are the following measures for vulnerable road users in Slovenia: • Real time traffic information on buses and passenger trains (audio and visual

announcement of current and next stop)

• Urban TCS (special push-button call for pedestrians and cyclists at intersections with

traffic signals)

• Text emergency call (SMS112, WAP112 – application adjusted to deaf and hard of

hearing people)


5. COOPERATION ASPECTS

This chapter concentrates on cooperation agreements of Slovenia in the course of ITS

implementation (joint research, data exchange, co-financing, etc.) at regional and European

level, but also on measures undertaken for public awareness.

5.1. Austria-Slovenia

There is a cross-border management infrastructure for monitoring traffic situation and reaction in case of incidents on motorway tunnel Karavanke (cross-border tunnel). There are traffic management plans (TMP) set up by DARS d.d. and ASFINAG as motorway operators from Slovenia and Austria specify measures in case of incidents on the road corridors Munich (Germany) – Karavanke tunnel (Slovenia/Austria) – Zagreb (Croatia) and Munich (Germany) – Graz (Austria) – Maribor (Slovenia) – Zagreb (Croatia), where road corridor blockade for more than five hours is planned. The same TMP is signed with HAC (Hrvatske avtoceste) in Croatia. A service for automatic data exchange between NCUP and centres in Austria, Croatia and Hungary with common strategic traffic management of motorway corridors following the example of Italy is planned.

5.2. Italy-Slovenia

There are measures for cross-border traffic management for improved traffic flows and safety on cross-border link between Italy and Slovenia. Cooperation model for strategic actions and coordinated procedures for traffic management, including real-time traffic monitoring and exchange of information about the control was established in project PROMET (PROject for the Management of European Traffic, co-financed by EU TEN funds). Two existing TCCs in Palmanova (Italy) and Kozina (Slovenia) are the basic nodes for the cooperation.

5.3. Croatia-Slovenia

There are traffic management plans (TMP) set up by DARS d.d. and ASFINAG as motorway operators from Slovenia and Austria specify measures in case of incidents on the road corridors Munich (Germany) – Karavanke tunnel (Slovenia/Austria) – Zagreb (Croatia) and Munich (Germany) – Graz (Austria) – Maribor (Slovenia) – Zagreb (Croatia), where road corridor blockade for more than five hours is planned. The same TMP is signed with HAC (Hrvatske avtoceste) in Croatia. A service for automatic data exchange between NCUP and centres in Austria, Croatia and Hungary with common strategic traffic management of motorway corridors following the example of Italy is planned.


5.4. Hungary-Slovenia

There is no deep cooperation with Hungary in information exchange, but interest for mutual cooperation was recorded in the field of freight management and traffic information exchange. A service for automatic data exchange between NCUP and centres in Austria, Croatia and Hungary with common strategic traffic management of motorway corridors following the example of Italy is planned.

5.5. E-freight transport tracking

Offered by Slovenian Railways, real-time wagon tracking and monitoring allows users to track their consignments or wagons throughout their transport journey on Slovenian and other railway networks in Austria, Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands, Hungary and Slovakia.

5.6. Measures for public awareness

The main distribution channel for public awareness regarding ITS is via different type of media, manly done by infrastructure and public transit operators. They prepare brochures and videos for users, named “Directions” which are available at their online media centres and from time to time they are shown also on national TV. There is information which could contribute to safer and more comfortable driving on the road network or to decide which days are most appropriate to start a journey by using traffic calendar. There are also instructions how to use system and services, including different route planners. Examples:

• Locations of parking zones on motorways;

• What to do in a case of an accident on the motorway;

• Safely through the tunnel;

• Traffic information centre/National Radio Traffic Service;

• Drive carefully, radar;

• Driving in outstanding weather conditions;

• Avoid the traffic jam;

• ABC for cargo vehicles above 3,5t (ETC);

• Variable Message Sings on Slovenian motorways.

These publications are available in Slovenian and at least in English. Additionally the Slovenian ITS association (S-ITS) promotes ITS via different articles in Slovenian media (such as newspapers and magazines) and also by (co)organising different workshops and symposia. One of them is ISEP – International Symposium on Electronics in Transport, which takes place annually. Furthermore the Slovenian automobile association (AMZS) taking care about public awareness about ITS in-vehicle systems, especially those which are in connection with traffic safety.


6. SWOT ANALYSIS

In this chapter the results of a SWOT analysis of the ITS actions in Slovenia at policy,

legislative and organisational levels are presented.

6.1. Strengths

• ITS in Slovenia is deployed successfully by utilisation of domestic knowledge and

experience that could be gathered in various projects.

• In Slovenia there is both tradition and highly educated manpower (internationally

certificated) in the field of ITS.

• There have been investments in research and development previously and also tax

reliefs for the R&D sector.

• Scientific and research activities in the public sector are widely branched, with well-

established international cooperation.

• There is excellent knowledge of foreign languages and ability to adapt the culture of

other nations.

• The Slovenian road infrastructure, especially motorways, is of high quality.

• The Slovenian automotive (supply) industry is well established.

6.2. Weaknesses

• The Slovenian government has a weak policy and no strategy regarding ITS

implementation.

• Existing ITS are being developed bottom-up instead of top-down.

• Recent ITS deployment has been focussing on low-level system applications, resulting

in a lack of interoperability.

• Available knowledge is used poorly.

• There is a low share of innovative companies and low level of innovation culture.

• Both public authorities and the private sector do not invest much in R&D of ITS.

• Education is primarily oriented towards scientific results without a clear contribution

to the competitiveness of Slovenia. The existing educational and research system

almost renders any collaboration with the ITS industry impossible.

• Subvention measures by the government are inconsistent for the reason of the

inefficiency of the Slovenian tax system.

• There is too much intolerance towards business risk and failure. Consequently it is

very difficult to develop completely new solutions.

• The networking in the home environment is quite poor and the formation of strategic

partnership with foreign partners is insufficient.

• There is a lack of management personnel with advanced business knowledge and

experience abroad.

• The general focus predominantly is on traditional markets.


• There is a lack of financial resources to achieve goals of existing programmes.

6.3. Opportunities

• Slovenia has an advantageous geostrategic position within important transport

corridors in Central and South East Europe.

• The Slovenian economy is export-oriented.

6.4. Threats

• With the continuation of the global financial crisis and the problems in the domestic

economy the progress of ITS development could be slowed down.

• Due to the anti-competitive business environment foreign investors might withdraw.


7. CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS

Based on the SWOT analysis, this chapter contains possible options for improving the process

of ITS deployment in Slovenia.

In principle Slovenia has very good premises for a high-quality deployment of Intelligent

Transport Systems. There seems to be a clear and advantageous operative model with the

Slovenian Roads Agency and the Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia

being affiliated to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning representing a suitable

framework. ITS applications and services in Slovenia have already been deployed successfully

by utilising of domestic knowledge and experience that could be gathered in various projects.

There was an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system on motorways for personal vehicles in

use from 1995 to 2008 until it was replaced with toll stickers (vignette) for the vehicle classes

R1 and R2. The same ETC system is now in operation for heavy load vehicles. Additionally

there are traffic surveillance and management systems on motorway sections with higher

potential risk indicators depending on weather conditions, traffic volume, TMS effectiveness

and road characteristics, cross-border traffic data exchange and WIM (weigh-in-motion)

systems.

However Slovenia is a small country, regarding climate, relief and traffic loads it is very

heterogeneous and therefore an ideal testing site for interoperable ITS. It holds an

advantageous geostrategic position within important transport corridors in Central and South

East Europe nearby important EU countries like Italy, Germany and Austria and access to the

Western Balkan region. There has already been much cooperation with the neighbour states

of Slovenia, which is an important step towards regionally and internationally integrated ITS

deployment.

The problem seems to be that the Slovenian government has a weak policy and no strategy

regarding ITS implementation. The governmental approach is too hesitant and conservative

to facilitate research and development of spearheading mobility technologies although

knowledge and technology would be available and ready. There are various political

documents that are somehow connected to ITS and comprise not only road transport but

public transport and rail. This is yet another sign for Slovenia being capable to realise

integrated ITS deployment on national and international level. But recent ITS deployment has

rather been focussing on low-level system applications, resulting in a number of isolated

services.

The current organisational and legal framework in Slovenia does not incapacitate, but also do

not stimulate the commercial and private sector to take part in ITS development and

implementation. Consequently the industry’s participation is way too little. One of the most

important benefits of ITS is the relatively low investment cost necessary to increase the

efficiency of existing transport infrastructure. To put it simple, this actually means that less

investment causes more positive impact. But it probably needs a governmental impetus for

the Slovenian industry to break out of the existing structures and create awareness for ITS


being a win-win situation for all stakeholders involved. Creating a dedicated funding

programme for ITS and new mobility technologies in general would probably give an

important impetus to the Slovenian ITS industry. Due to its size and geographic position it is

also important for Slovenia to increasingly participate in cross-border projects and initiatives

to utilise its geostrategic advantages at the best possible rate.

deliverable d3.3.6: mapping of eu its action plan areas (slovenia)

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