Pathways for ITS Adoption in Developing Economies

This chapter examines pathways for adopting Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in developing economies, where rapid urbanization, informal logistics, and infrastructure gaps shape distinct opportunities and constraints. It synthesizes key barriers (infrastructure, finance, governance, skills, regulation, informality) and enabling conditions (digital diffusion, low-cost innovations, policy reforms, public private partnerships (PPPs), capacity building, and knowledge transfer). Governance frameworks for coordination, financing, and standards are outlined, including tools such as urban transport funds, value capture, interoperable data standards, and performance metrics with feedback loops alongside case evidence from India, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. The chapter argues for adaptive, context-specific strategies that convert pilots into scalable programmes, link ITS to sustainability objectives, and include small operators in the digital transition. It concludes with practical takeaways for policy and implementation.