Research reviews of socio-economic impact evaluation for VMS project on freeway

VMS project works as an essential component in ITS traffic information offering system. The paper reviews main international literatures of impact evaluation on VMS, points out issues existing in the past researches, analyzes socio-economic benefits produced by VMS and offers calculating models. Based on analysis in different evaluation methods, the paper applies benefit-cost analysis method, in an effort to show that socio-economic impact evaluation for VMS should begin with the control strategy of VMS, and subsequently technology evaluation, because above them are design and technology bases of VMS. Socio-economic impacts or benefits are reflected through its effects on traffic system and broad society and environment. The approach to identify VMS's socio-economic impacts in traffic network system is applicable to explore potential or indirect benefits of VMS, especially to evaluate integrative impacts among VMS and other components of traffic information offering system for ITS.