In this episode of Interlinks, I am joined by Paul Davison of AECOM and Vardmar Lunkar of TRT Trasporti e Territorio, both members of the team behind Project ISAC—Intelligent Access to the European Road Network for Freight Transport. Sponsored by CEDR, the Conference of European Directors of Roads, the project is exploring how better data, governance and digital processes can ensure that the right freight vehicle, carrying the right load, uses the right road at the right time. This is another in a series of Interlinks episodes tracking the progress of this important European project over the past two years.
We discuss why Intelligent Access is becoming increasingly urgent as Europe confronts rising freight volumes, ageing infrastructure, new vehicle configurations and decarbonisation requirements. Paul and Vardmar explain the project’s five building blocks—data provision, operational management, post-trip monitoring, digital permitting and compliance control—and the practical roadmap they offer for phased implementation. We also examine the barriers identified across Europe, including fragmented regulation, inconsistent data, privacy considerations and differing levels of digital maturity, alongside the potential benefits for road authorities, freight operators and other road users.
Project ISAC provides a strong illustration of the Macro-to-Micro Strategy perspective in action. At the macro level, it aims to help Europe’s road management authorities create an integrated, cross-border system for the intelligent access of freight-carrying vehicles to the road network—improving infrastructure utilisation, safety, sustainability and competitiveness. At the micro level, the project has clearly articulated the practical challenges and capabilities required to make that ambition real, from machine-readable infrastructure data and interoperable systems to streamlined permitting, compliant route planning and effective collaboration among the many stakeholders involved.
Patrick Daly
★ The Macro-to-Micro Strategist™╽ Turning Global Turbulence into Operational Clarity ╽ Helping Business Leaders Build Resilient, Profitable Supply Chains ╽ Multilingual Trusted Advisor ╽ Call/WhatsApp ☎️ +353868116030 ╽
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