The Phase II "Electronic Supply Chain Manifest" (ESCM) project is a public-private partnership that is completing the design and testing of a secure electronic cargo manifest for transfer between manufacturers, trucking companies and airlines. The system utilizes cutting-edge ITS technologies including encrypted Internet transactions, 8K smart cards and biometric fingerprint readers. Used in combination, these technology advances permit the ESCM research team to demonstrate efficiency and security improvements in the transfer of electronic cargo data -- when compared to traditional processes and paper-based manifest systems. The operational test is being conducted in conjunction with manufacturing, trucking, and airline distribution chains in the Chicago-O'Hare International Airport and New York City-JFK International Airport service areas. The ATA Foundation is spearheading the public-private coalition, which includes the US DOT Office of Intermodalism, the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, the State of Illinois, and the Chicago Department of Aviation. The operational test is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2002.
Abstract