This report summarises research undertaken to understand what services highly automated and connected vehicles will need from their supporting infrastructure. It offers a valuable framework for anyone seeking to make informed and impactful investment decisions in relation to this emerging market.

Safer, more efficient, and more comfortable journeys are being enabled by the ability to communicate with other road users, infrastructure, and external systems. The European Commission has recognised the value of introducing these benefits to Europe’s road network and has funded various public-private consortia to undertake research projects to progress the definitions, protocols, and equipment needed to roll out connected and automated road transport. The latest of these research programmes is ICT4CART, which is looking to build, test, and evaluate the infrastructure required for vehicle connectivity.

Urban Foresight is leading on the market research, costing, and business models analysis for the project. This has so far comprised of researching, analysing, and compiling in this report information on the market needs that this infrastructure will meet. Our extensive programme of research included a literature review, interviews with 19 sector experts, and a participatory workshop. We handled this research using proprietary analysis frameworks on the market contents, performance requirements, and structures.

This analysis is the first in this technology space to take a technology-agnostic, user-focused approach to the value that connectivity will bring users of road networks and transportation. It seeks to move the thinking in connectivity of road transport away from technology and processes, and towards effective service delivery and commercially sustainable business models.

This summary publication presents our findings and recommendations on future actions, which includes continuing to apply the analysis frameworks and this user-centric approach in further research and development of connected and autonomous vehicle technology.

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