In high season, individual mobility generates congestion and pollution, creating discomfort for residents and tourists.

From November 2007 to October 2008, more than half (51.2%) of the almost 14 million light vehicles entering South Tyrol were related to tourism¹Scuttari et al., 2013. It is well known that Tourism without transportation is inconceivable, as the tourist system is intertwined with transportation systems²Pearce, 2005. The process of accessing and returning from tourist sites alone, i.e. travel to the tourist location, requires approximately 90% of the energy used globally in tourism³UNWTO, 2014.

The growing trend in international mobility pressures the environment, from land and spatial use, energy consumption, air and noise pollution, and greenhouse emissions. Monitoring transportation-related data provides an early warning of possible infrastructure pressures, and it might help forecast and therefore prevent congestions on peak days. In South Tyrol, 85.5% of incoming tourists enter the region by means of private transport and 55.7% use this means to travel around during their holiday⁴ASTAT, 2009; ASTAT, data available on demand. The fact that South Tyrolean tourism markets are not relying on the use of air connections is positive in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the absence of an airport translates increases the pressure on the local road infrastructure.