GNSS Road Pricing
Encyclopedia
GNSS road pricing or GNSS tolling is the charging of road users using Global Navigation Satellite System
(GNSS) sensors inside vehicles. Advocates argue that road pricing
using GNSS permits a number of policies such as tolling by distance on urban roads and can be used for many other applications in parking, insurance
and vehicle emissions. Critics argue that GNSS could lead to an invasion of people’s privacy.
have been around for decades, the idea of using satellites for road tolling is quite recent. The first successful demonstration of GNSS Road Pricing systems was given in 1994 during the ETC field trials on the A555 motorway between Bonn and Cologne (Germany). In 1998, the European Union
published a report which proposed the use of GNSS to charge vehicles by distance. Germany introduced the first the GNSS road pricing system for truck tolling in 2005. In 2007, the Netherlands
legislated the implementation of GNSS road pricing by 2011, and nationwide by 2016. However the project was declared controversial and subsequently put on indefinite hold due to the Dutch government collapse on February 20, 2010.
Official rejection of the proposed national road pricing in the Netherlands has been sealed after the largest party in Dutch government, i.e., the CDA, in March 2010.
system, in-vehicle sensors record time and position data. The vehicle data is processed into trip data, which is then matched to a set pricing scheme to produce a bill. Most systems process trip data at a back office, though some systems are designed with all the processing taking place inside the vehicle itself.
. In such a system, vehicles are charged based on when, where, and how much they drive. Some transportation experts see TDP road pricing as a fairer, more effective means of charging road users and managing travel demand
.
Global Navigation Satellite System
A satellite navigation or SAT NAV system is a system of satellites that provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning with global coverage. It allows small electronic receivers to determine their location to within a few metres using time signals transmitted along a line-of-sight by radio from...
(GNSS) sensors inside vehicles. Advocates argue that road pricing
Road pricing
Road pricing is an economic concept regarding the various direct charges applied for the use of roads. The road charges includes fuel taxes, licence fees, parking taxes, tolls, and congestion charges, including those which may vary by time of day, by the specific road, or by the specific vehicle...
using GNSS permits a number of policies such as tolling by distance on urban roads and can be used for many other applications in parking, insurance
PAYD
Usage based insurance, also known as pay as you drive and mile-based auto insurance is a type of automobile insurance whereby the costs of motor insurance are dependent upon type of vehicle used, measured against Time, Distance and Place....
and vehicle emissions. Critics argue that GNSS could lead to an invasion of people’s privacy.
History
Even though GNSS and electronic toll collectionElectronic toll collection
Electronic toll collection , an adaptation of military "identification friend or foe" technology, aims to eliminate the delay on toll roads by collecting tolls electronically. It is thus a technological implementation of a road pricing concept...
have been around for decades, the idea of using satellites for road tolling is quite recent. The first successful demonstration of GNSS Road Pricing systems was given in 1994 during the ETC field trials on the A555 motorway between Bonn and Cologne (Germany). In 1998, the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
published a report which proposed the use of GNSS to charge vehicles by distance. Germany introduced the first the GNSS road pricing system for truck tolling in 2005. In 2007, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
legislated the implementation of GNSS road pricing by 2011, and nationwide by 2016. However the project was declared controversial and subsequently put on indefinite hold due to the Dutch government collapse on February 20, 2010.
Official rejection of the proposed national road pricing in the Netherlands has been sealed after the largest party in Dutch government, i.e., the CDA, in March 2010.
How it works
Although the architecture of individual systems may vary, all GNSS road pricing systems share key common elements in how they work. In a typical road pricingRoad pricing
Road pricing is an economic concept regarding the various direct charges applied for the use of roads. The road charges includes fuel taxes, licence fees, parking taxes, tolls, and congestion charges, including those which may vary by time of day, by the specific road, or by the specific vehicle...
system, in-vehicle sensors record time and position data. The vehicle data is processed into trip data, which is then matched to a set pricing scheme to produce a bill. Most systems process trip data at a back office, though some systems are designed with all the processing taking place inside the vehicle itself.
Congestion pricing
Many cities that have already implemented congestion pricing are looking at ways to expand and improve their systems. Proponents of GNSS road pricing claim it can be used to charge vehicles for how much they travel within a cordoned area as opposed to a flat entry fee, thus avoiding "sharp pricing edges."Time distance place (TDP) road pricing
GNSS road pricing enables road pricing policies based on time, distance and place (TDP). TDP road pricing is very much based on the road pricing principles outlined by William VickreyWilliam Vickrey
William Spencer Vickrey was a Canadian professor of economics and Nobel Laureate. Vickrey was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics with James Mirrlees for their research into the economic theory of incentives under asymmetric information...
. In such a system, vehicles are charged based on when, where, and how much they drive. Some transportation experts see TDP road pricing as a fairer, more effective means of charging road users and managing travel demand
Transportation Demand Management
Transportation demand management, traffic demand management or travel demand management is the application of strategies and policies to reduce travel demand , or to redistribute this demand in space or in time.In transport as in any network, managing demand can be a cost-effective alternative to...
.
GNSS road pricing providers
- Intelligent Mechatronic Systems
- Trafficmaster plc
- GMVGMV, S.A.GMV, founded in 1984, is a privately owned corporate group with international presence. It has more than 1000 employees.- Areas of Activity :GMV operates mainly in the following sectors:* Aeronautics* Space* Defense* Health* Security* Transport...
- Satellic
- SkymeterSkymeterSkymeter is a location-based services company that provides GPS data for pricing and traffic information applications. Skymeter was co-founded by Bern Grush, Kamal Hassan and Preet Khalsa and is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario.-Technology:...
- ThalesThales GroupThe Thales Group is a French electronics company delivering information systems and services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets...
- Toll CollectToll CollectToll Collect GmbH is a German company that has developed and is running the tolling system for trucks on German motorways.The company is a consortium led by Daimler AG, Deutsche Telekom, and Cofiroute. It has won a bid for the development of a toll billing system from the German government. The...
- Kapsch TrafficComKapschThe Kapsch Group, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, is an international Road Telematics, Information Technology and Telecommunications Company. The corporate group, with more than 4,000 employees worldwide generated total revenue of € 829.9 Million as of March 2011 and has invested € 55.8 Million ...
- EFKON
- Siemens VDOSiemens VDOVDO , is a manufacturer of information and cockpit systems, navigation, telematics, communication and audio systems, and control and fuel systems....
See also
- Global Navigation Satellite SystemGlobal Navigation Satellite SystemA satellite navigation or SAT NAV system is a system of satellites that provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning with global coverage. It allows small electronic receivers to determine their location to within a few metres using time signals transmitted along a line-of-sight by radio from...
- Global Positioning SystemGlobal Positioning SystemThe Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
- Road PricingRoad pricingRoad pricing is an economic concept regarding the various direct charges applied for the use of roads. The road charges includes fuel taxes, licence fees, parking taxes, tolls, and congestion charges, including those which may vary by time of day, by the specific road, or by the specific vehicle...
- Congestion pricingCongestion pricingCongestion pricing or congestion charges is a system of surcharging users of a transport network in periods of peak demand to reduce traffic congestion. Examples include some toll-like road pricing fees, and higher peak charges for utilities, public transport and slots in canals and airports...
- TelematicsTelematicsTelematics typically is any integrated use of telecommunications and informatics, also known as ICT...
- Electronic toll collectionElectronic toll collectionElectronic toll collection , an adaptation of military "identification friend or foe" technology, aims to eliminate the delay on toll roads by collecting tolls electronically. It is thus a technological implementation of a road pricing concept...
- Congestion Control (Road Vehicles)Congestion Control (Road Vehicles)Congestion control is a proposed alternative to congestion charging, which is used in a number of cities around the world...
- Vehicle miles traveled taxVehicle miles traveled taxVehicle Miles Traveled Tax is a policy proposed in the United States of taxing motorists based on how many miles they have traveled. It has been proposed as an infrastructure funding mechanism that would eventually replace the fuel tax.-Overview:...
(VMT tax)