Social Science Perspectives on Transportation, Information, and Communications Technologies Andrew Gillespie and Donald G. Janelle STELLA Transatlantic Thematic Network Focus Group 2 – ICT, Innovation and the Transport System National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia January 2002

Space Adjusting Technologies ICT/Transport Space-Time Transformations Convergence Compression Extensibility Trackability Social Science Research Paradigms & Challenges Policy Concerns & Measures Social Patterns & Processes Human Creativity & Investment

Space Adjusting Technologies transportation systems communication systems wireless communication intelligent transportation systems Location-based Services Information Enhancement via robotic systems expert systems smart cards digital storage media display technologies voice recognition image recognition systems... and more

Space-Time Transformations Time-space Convergence Space-timeCompression Human Space-time Extensibility Trackability and LBS

Social Patterns & Processes Individuals - flexible, mobile, connected Groups - opportunistic collaboration / projects Places, Regions, and Spatial Alliances Space-time Reorganization Processes –Decision-making –New labor contract arrangements –New systems of supply-chain management –Speed and timeliness of response

How Effectively does Social Science Transportation Research add to Understanding of Changing Patterns and Processes? The dominant paradigm stems from engineering and neo- classical economics: –Optimization –Maximization –Efficiency –Cost effectiveness / cost-benefit analysis –Prediction / extrapolation Challenges arising to the dominant paradigm, e.g., –Questioning the Desirability of Mobility –Structural Changes in Societies and Economies –Emerging Non-traditional Value Systems / Objective Functions (e.g., environmentalist)

How might Social Science Respond to Emerging Challenges? Determine the extent to which mobility (the consumption of distance) is intrinsic to human society Conceptualize, measure, and model the social and cultural context of ICT and transport innovation -- e.g., accessibility, equity Document and interpret behavioral responses to new space-adjusting technologies Seek to understand how these behavioral responses impact on patterns and processes of regional and local space economies, equity, social cohesion, quality of life, and sustainable environments Seek to understand how new technologies are socially constructed and embedded in the distribution of authority, power, and opportunity – e.g., what is transport informatics in terms of how it is socially constructed?

Policy Issues and Measures Promotion of technological development Equitable provision of transport infrastructure to service the New Economy Facilitating constructive uses of new technologies to enhance transport services for people and freight Protecting/respecting individual autonomy over personal information and behavior Protecting/respecting a minimum basic economic and cultural autonomy for places, regions, and nations Protecting vulnerable environments and populations from destructive uses of new technologies