Road User Charging (RUC), Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) and Electronic Toll Collection (ETC), collectively known as Electronic Fee Collection (EFC), are increasingly important ITS applications. The technical development of EFC has been largely focused on Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC). The combination of an on-board positioning capability, typically using the GPS satellite system, with on-board processing and mobile communications now offers a viable alternative technology option for EFC. Recent trials in Hong Kong indicated that this approach - generically referred to as based on Vehicle Positioning Systems (VPS) - is fast becoming a viable alternative to DSRC, particularly where there are concerns over the environmental intrusion of roadside DSRC infrastructure and where integration with other Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) applications is an important feature. This paper describes VPS technology for RUC, and discusses its development in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, the UK and, in particular, the Hong Kong Electronic Road Pricing Feasibility Study. It describes the Initiative project that is demonstrating aspects of interoperability between DSRC and VPS-based EFC, and summarises the development of standards for VPS-based EFC within ISO and CEN. Finally it compares the advantages and disadvantages of DSRC and VPS for EFC and discusses the prospects for widespread interoperable implementation of VPS-based EFC systems.
Samenvatting