Since 1991, the Gevis VIS1000 licence-plate reader has been successfully used in toll booths across Austria. The latest versions of this system are more accurate and flexible, and can be integrated with free-flow electronic toll collection (ETC). The results of its semi-automated and automated clearance have been very good, and its costs have been low. As users of the systems 'video toll tracks' gain a congestion-free pass through a toll station, it is easier for them to accept the need to pay tolls on a toll road. Since Summer 1995, the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, which is Europe's most famous mountain sightseeing road, has been equipped with 12 VIS1000 toll tracks, whose purpose is to enforce tolls and prevent drivers from passing their tickets to other cars. At these roofless toll booths, the camera, lighting and trigger units had to withstand very low temperatures, more than 2m of snow, and hazards from snow ploughs in winter. The new models of the system are: (1) the VIS1000-SW, a full version of the VIS1000; (2) the VIS1000-CP, which can control up to four tracks or camera units with one computer unit; (3) the VIS V4.0, which uses new camera types and can identify even the faster vehicles; and (4) the VIS1000-EX, which is especially good for traffic flow analyses and online passenger information systems.
Abstract