Development of a framework architecture for smart governance of transportation networks
The framework architecture for smart governance of infrastructure networks can be considered as a generic canvas that enables agencies to find common ground. The National Infrastructure Agencies have to deal with political dynamics and policy ambitions related to new infrastructure, which is a different action arena than provision of service and maintenance and operation of available networks.
Secondly, although some infrastructure agencies have multiple modalities in their portfolio, many agencies manage and assign responsibilities for different modes in isolation, a sectoral assignment. National or international institutional frameworks do not currently optimize the entire system of networks holistically. The provided framework architecture does recognize the interlinkages and provides an entry to take synergetic behavior of networks into consideration.
Thirdly, contemporary infrastructure ambitions include a variety of concepts that need to be incorporated. These concepts, like commonly shared data, network resilience and sustainability, have wide implications. These are not restricted to a single activity or physical element. These concepts need to be embedded in systems and processes and are therefore shown in the framework architecture to include all around.
The framework architecture, as shown, offers a way to see all these interconnected elements and concepts in a coherent way. It connects new investments to available networks, it includes cross border and cross-modal considerations and it relates to policy ambitions and generic concepts to be pursued. The framework architecture is not a detailed guideline ready for use for infrastructure agencies. It does provide a very generic overview of the coherence of decision making and optimization of networks in order to provide best value. Such a generic overview is useful to support a common dialogue and common learning processes. This framework will be followed by specific guidelines that are far more detailed and will be more diversified towards specific challenges or network issues.
Figure: Framework Architecture
Along with the guidelines, the framework architecture will be tested and validated in living labs. These living labs will focus on regional contexts where a variety of interlined network problems play out and where investments, maintenance and operation play a role for different modalities.
