Challenges in providing integrated traveler information in a developing country environment

With information and technology becoming such a vital commodity in everyday life, it can be argued that informed travelers are the key to successful future transportation services. This study investigated the need for the provision of integrated traveler information in a developing country environment like South Africa (SA). However, because of the nation´s lack of integration and the tumultuous state of its transportation industry, the realization of extensive traveler information is complex. It is recognized that the development of a multimodal transportation system is needed in providing integrated traveler information. The relating challenges and the applicable considerations in attaining such an integrated system were researched. Following from this, a generic sequential framework that facilitates multimodal data integration and traveler information as a precursor to a fully integrated multimodal system was developed. In this framework four focus areas, related to the implementation requirements of the application environment considered, were identified. These focus areas are based on the premise that current technological evolvements need to be exploited in order to breach the missing intelligent link between the various application environments. The establishment of such a concise framework and the associated steps in attaining multimodal information will go a long way towards providing the impetus, and eradicate the barriers, in achieving sustainable traveler information services. Ideally, SA will be able to empower a better transportation service that spans across the nation´s social barriers.