About us

its-ch (ITS-Switzerland) is an institutional transport telematics forum in which the representatives of the Confederation, the cantons and the communes, industry, planning, scientific research, standardisation, associations, international relations and other interested parties cooperate in dealing with transport telematics issues in the domain of road-related and combined passenger and goods transport. To this end, its-ch draws its inspiration from the general principles of the road transport telematics model.

its-ch serves both as a coordination forum and as a platform. The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) is responsible for the structure of its-ch and for managing the platform. The various tasks of its-ch are allocated to the participating institutions according to their strengths and resources and delegated to project groups. Except for the remuneration of the secretariat, the work is carried out on a voluntary basis.

The country’s geographical conditions have led to an intense use of the available surface. Tunnels, bridges and dense traffic across the whole network have led to the use of many ITS technologies and systems.

A number of transport projects involving ITS technologies are in progress in Switzerland. The most ambitious project is the creation of a national traffic management system (VM-CH project). The project should be finalised by 2008 and will be an important improvement in the existing practice regarding traffic management.

Viasuisse provides real-time traffic information for the whole network.

Switzerland was the first country to introduce an Electronic Fee Collection system (EFC) system for lorries. The system developed in Switzerland has proved to be very reliable and cost-efficient considering its operations.

its-ch (ITS Switzerland) was officially launched in Bern on 12 May 2004 with the support of the Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO).

Mission

The aim of the Swiss Transport Telematics Platform (its-ch) is to encourage decision-makers and political circles to introduce telematics services and products. its-ch wishes to become the spokesperson for all other Swiss and international organisations concerned with transport telematics.

Aims

Acting in the interest of an effective use of intelligent transportation applications, its-ch seeks to:
- speed up and actively influence and promote the use of transport telematics
- increase the understanding of the potential of telematics in political and professional circles and by the general public
- take part in actions and forums concerned with the promotion of transport telematics
- obtain information on international developments and make it available in appropriate forms to the Swiss market
- support Swiss-specific needs and solutions and represent them at the international level
- keep the media informed of developments in transport telematics and publish articles on projects relating to this area in Switzerland and abroad
- take on the tasks of coordinating the use of transport telematics and publicise and communicate coordination needs
- issue recommendations on transport telematics
- put forward proposals for projects, pilot tests, developments and research ideas
- promote education and training in the area of road and transport telematics
its-ch seeks to achieve widespread recognition and a broad, balanced participation.
its-ch sets priorities and selects individual telematics issues requiring urgent treatment
its-ch intends to pay close attention to the ever increasing network integration between modes of transport and to promote the necessary extension of telematics beyond road transport alone

its-ch offers the following:

a public its-ch technical conference each year in early December
the its-ch platform every spring for members of the its-ch Partner Network (free of charge)
the integration of Switzerland into the European network of national ITS institutions (more than 20 member countries, over 20 joint projects)
candidacy and preparation for a European ITS Congress (ERTICO) in Switzerland in 2008
links to research into ITS conducted by FEDRO
advisory services