Road User Charging

GSM Cell Based Detection

Our client was responsible for road charging within dedicated geographic areas (zones). The existing system used Automated Number Plate Recognition (APNR) cameras to identify vehicles entering within the defined charging zone.

The client wished to use a trials framework to evaluate other positioning technologies, including GPS and GSM, for vehicle location and traffic management systems either for area/zonal charging schemes or in the context of distance-based charging.

Business Challenge

• Assessing the feasibility of GSM based vehicle detection and location
• Testing the operation of location based data communications to/from vehicles to support complementary end user applications

Our Approach

To provide a platform for the trials, we designed and configured a private GSM network using micro- and pico-cell configurations covering radii of 100s and 10s of metres. By surveying existing cell sites and their location accuracy, we assessed whether they could be used to detect a customer with a SIM enabled mobile device.

After implementing a client owned base station, we carried out vehicle drive-by tests using vehicle detection to trigger specific applications relating to payment and traffic/route information.

Trial customer applications were specified and developed to provide best practice, location based services for journey planning. This included the use of customer location data to enable a selection of travel routes and a map based presentation at points of sale.

The applications ran on customer mobile phones using java and SIM toolkit software; and also provided interactive voice response for driver hands free operation.

Business Outcome

We provided an independent assessment of the potential technologies focused not only upon the individual components, but on the overall end-to-end system across a wide range of suppliers. 

Our approach provided a comparative assessment of the individual vendors and a benchmark to assess existing and future trials work. The trials have resulted in one application being brought into operational use by the Congestion Charging Scheme to enable customers to locate retail payment outlets.
Services Provided

• Technology trials design and implementation
• Mobile network operator service design & build
• Applications specification and development
• Radio coverage modelling
• Project management

Skills Deployed

• Mapping technology
• Application development
• Mobile operator
• Mobile devices
• Spectrum licensing

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