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 until recently 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. Policy decisions in both Germany and the UK will lead to the implementation of distance based charging systems for heavy goods vehicles within the next few years, and both systems are expected to be based on this approach - generically referred to as based on Vehicle Positioning Systems (VPS). 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, Sweden, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. It describes the INITIATIVE project that is demonstrating aspects of interoperability between DSRC and VPS-based EFC, and summarizes the development of standards for VPS based EFC within ISO and CEN. It updates the paper presented at last year's World Congress with a review of developments during 2002, and includes a discussion of the potential for introducing VPS technology as part of a road user charging system such as that proposed for London. 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.
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