National Access Points for Intelligent Transport Systems Data: From Conceptualization to Benefits Recognition and Exploitation.

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) constitute a core representative of a paradigm shift in the transport sector. The extent to which the transport sector has adapted itself to this digital era relies considerably on the availability of suitable and reliable data. Currently, several data-related limitations, such as the scarcity of available datasets, hinder the deployment of ITS services. Such limitations may be overcome with the deployment of properly designed data exchange platforms that enable a seamless life-cycle of data harvesting, processing, and sharing. The European Union recognizing the potential benefits of such platforms has, through the relevant Delegated Regulations, proposed the development of a National Access Point (NAP) by each individual Member State. This paper aims to ascertain the role of a NAP within the ITS ecosystem, to investigate methodologies used in designing such platforms, and, through the drafting of an extended use case, showcase a NAP operational process and associate possible benefits with specific steps of it.