Annex 3 - Italy

(Information provided by Bruno Dalla Chiara)

The current provision of ITS training in Italy consists mainly of initiatives of an academic character. These consist generally of postgraduate courses leading to a Research Doctorate (lasting 3 years) or a Masters (one year). There are, in addition, courses run by private companies, but these generally focus on industrial logistics or information technology applied to specific transport sectors, in particular the railways.

Undergraduate courses
Undergraduate courses "transportation" and "telematics" are usually taught in engineering faculties (traditionally in Civil Engineering departments, but in some universities Mechanical Engineering departments). Some transport-related subjects (e.g. industrial logistics or corporate organisation) are studied within economics faculties, and others such as navigation rights and foreign commerce are found in legal science faculties.

At this level, there is no evidence in Italy of teaching wholly and specifically dedicated to transport telematics (ITS), although there are proposals for a "freight transport and external logistics" course which includes telematics in the curriculum.

Undergraduate engineering courses in Italy are traditionally based on a 5-year cycle which provides a basis in analytical subjects (mathematical analysis, physics, chemistry) in the first two years, and further instruction of a more specific nature in the subsequent years.

After completing a first degree, it is possible to take a Doctorate of Research which, in engineering, normally lasts three years. However, a recent national reform, has partially redefined the organisation of the university system, bringing it closer to the UK model.

It is now possible to take a three-year degree (first level) in engineering after the secondary school diploma (normally taken at 18-19 years of age). To obtain the existing five-year or specialist degree (second level), it is possible either to undertake a five year course of study from the outset, or to add two extra years of study to the three-year degree. In this latter case, the specialist degree can be either in the same field (e.g. Civil or Mechanical Engineering) or other related areas (e.g. Information Technology).

Specialist degrees
With regard to the specialist transport degree in Civil Engineering, the curriculum is aimed at those intending to work in the transport field in Europe. The curriculum takes into account the requirements for the design and planning of future transport systems.

An important characteristic of this specialist degree in transport (offered for example by Turin Polytechnic University) is its transversality, and the introduction of modelling and dynamic systems. A multidisciplinary and strong analytical education is considered essential, especially in sectors fundamental to future transport systems, i.e. multimodal and intermodal transport, high speed railways, automated guided vehicles and subways, demand responsive transport services, etc, and their impact on the environment and ITS.

The alternative paths of university education in engineering are shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 1: Path of university education in engineering in Italy

The Doctorate of Research (third level) is mostly targeted to those wishing to continue with academic activities or to undertake industrial research. A Ph.D in Transport can be taken in nearly all Italian Universities. Since the reform, it is now also possible to take an 'enhanced' 1 year Masters degree. This is normally oriented towards applied training, and are therefore closer to the needs of business, industry and the market.

A Ph.D in "Automation and Computer Sciences for Transportation Systems" can be taken in the Polytechnic University of Turin and University of Genoa. This was introduced in 1995 in response to the growing need for specialist ITS education. The aim is to create a sound knowledge basis in this new area and to stimulate interdisciplinary research in Transportation Engineering, Information Sciences, Automation and Telecommunications.

The main subjects covered are:

• techniques and economics of transport
• project and design of transportation systems
• management and operation of transportation systems
• planning of transport
• simulation of transport services and systems
• systems of traction
• theory of transportation systems
• theory and technique of circulation

In addition, telematic methodologies permitting the automation of the above are studied:

• automatic vehicle location systems
• automatic vehicle and equipment identification systems
• electronic data interchange
• telecommunication supports for vehicle-infrastructure and vehicle-control centre communication
• traffic monitoring and control systems
• cartographic data-bases and geographic information systems (GIS)

The Ph.D. curriculum includes:

• technique and economics of transport
• project and design of transportation systems
• numeric calculation and programming
• statistics
• operations research
• transport planning
• models and simulation
• automation and computer science

At the University of Genoa, since the academic year 2001-2002, it has been possible to take a PhD in Transport and Logistic Services. This has an interdisciplinary programme, including elements of ITS as well as Engineering, Economics, Jurisprudence and Architecture. It is aimed at the industrial environment.

Masters degrees
There are a number of Masters in the transport area, some offered by universities, others by non-academic bodies, in some cases financed by public bodies. The non-academic Masters are mainly concerned with logistics and have very little content relating to ITS.

Some of these (e.g. Turin and Milan Polytechnics) are open both to graduates in technical-scientific subjects or economics and to professionals already working in the transport sector. They therefore respond at the same time to the need of new graduates for specialisation and permanent training for those already in the workplace.

The Masters in "Transport and Sustainable Mobility" in Turin (www.corep.it/matras/) is a one-year programme divided into two terms: October to April with daily courses (600 hours) and April to July with an internship (250 hours). The aim is to train experts in the disciplines and methodologies needed for the planning, design and management of transport.

Around half of the 600 hours are classroom lectures with the presentation of numerous "case studies." The other half consists of laboratory work with the use of innovative methods and instruments, and seminars held by international experts.

The courses are divided into nine modules of 60 hours each, covering the following:

1. mobility management
2. regulation of the market, investments and financing
3. planning theories and models
4. environment and sustainable mobility
5. mobility in extended areas
6. mobility in urban areas
7. mobility safety
8. transport of goods and external logistics
9. technology innovation in transportation

The internship is undertaken at a company or other host which guarantees to organise suitable work experience, and is supervised by an academic and a corporate advisor.

Figure 2: Transport educational at the Polytechnic University of Turin (2002)

Other professional courses
Outside universities, various types of course are organised in the field of transport, e.g. by the National Organisation for Professional Training (ENFAP), ISFORT, La Spezia National School for Transportation and Logistics, the International School of Research, SIMCO consultancy firm, Consultman, Dieffe, and SITRANET.

These courses are mainly for operators in the transport sector, and generally held within private companies. They mostly pertain to industrial logistics or the management of trains, ships, handling equipment, etc. and have only limited ITS content.

SIMCO (www.simcoconsulting.it) is an Italian consultancy specialised in the organisation and planning of the supply chain. It organises dozens of seminars every year in logistics, involving around 25 instructors who include senior consultants, managers, and university lecturers.

SITRANET is a project providing operative training for personnel working in the intermodal centre of Novara (CIM). There is a sub-project involving the simulation of transport modes which is run with remote tutorship via a website. This should perhaps be classified as a training project oriented towards the use of advanced instrumentation rather than strictly ITS.

Figure 3: Transport courses offered in the Polytechnic University of Turin 2002 (courses pertinent to ITS shown in yellow boxes)