GNSS road pricing a step closer

GNSS road pricing a step closer. Today, road transport faces major challenges such as the ever-increasing need for safety, as well as for reduced congestion and pollution.
February 23, 2012 Read time: 2 mins

2462 IRF BPC bringing GNSS-based road pricing a step closer to maturity

Today, road transport faces major challenges such as the ever-increasing need for safety, as well as for reduced congestion and pollution. These problems are particularly critical in highly populated zones, notably big cities and their surrounding areas.

Different schemes are being proposed to improve the situation, including road pricing systems to automatically charge drivers for their use of road infrastructures.

The booming use of Personal Navigation Devices (PND) opens new and challenging opportunities for the implementation of innovative satellite-based applications beyond basic navigational functions. Apart from road pricing systems, these include other promising applications such as Pay-As-You-Drive (PAYD) schemes for the insurance sector and leasing companies and the like, as well as Value Added Services (VAS) such as local mobility information.

Nevertheless, there are still several obstacles to larger scale uptake of such extended services based on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technologies. For example, the technical and economical feasibility of large scale road pricing based on GNSS only is not yet proven. Likewise, the practicalities of using the same on-board equipment for different applications have to be established.

Given the high potential of key applications, the GINA (GNSS for INnovative road Applications) project, co-funded by the 2465 European Commission and the European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA), was recently launched to address current obstacles with a view to bringing road pricing and road VAS a step closer to reality.

Over the next 24 months, the 12 project partners, coordinated by the Spanish company GMV, will conduct analysis to demonstrate that the adoption of the European GNSS (currently EGNOS, and Galileo from 2013) for road pricing and VAS is both technically and commercially feasible.

Following an in-depth analysis of real end user requirements, GINA will initiate the implementation of a nation-wide demonstration in the Netherlands. In the second stage of this project, 100 cars equipped with dedicated equipment will circulate on the Dutch road network for a period of six months. By the end of the project, new business opportunities should be clearly defined for the road sector.

The future looks very promising for the installation of GNSS applications in both urban areas and at national level. Hopefully, GINA will trigger wider interest in adopting the GNSS approach from EU cities and countries.
Highway & Network Management

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • GRAA focuses on winning project profile: Brisbane Airport Link, Northern Busway & Airport
    May 19, 2014
    The revolutionary AUD$4.8 billion Airport Link has delivered a landmark infrastructure project for Australia, tackling traffic congestion, enhancing the busway network and removing an infamous traffic bottleneck through an innovative and inspired design. The Airport Link in Brisbane, Australia included three separate projects – the Northern Busway (a 3km two-way dedicated busway), the Airport Roundabout Upgrade and the AirportlinkM7 (a 6.7km toll road including 5.2km of tunnel). Together, they represent the
    Read More
  • Tampere road tunnel - a strategic link for central Finland
    April 4, 2016
    Progress has been good for an important underground road link in Finland reports Adrian Greeman. Assuming all goes well, the new Ranta, or Lakeside, tunnel in Tampere will open in full six months early; traffic could be running by the end of this year. Work on transforming the rundown city centre with new developments will get a major boost. It is a major achievement on a four-year-long project bringing significant benefits to one of Finland's largest cities. From the government's point of view the scheme w
    Read More
  • Working towards safer India mobility...
    July 18, 2012
    Sibylle Rupprecht, IRF-GPC Director General, looks towards sound mobility management at the 3rd Regional Conference of the International Road Federation 3rd-4th October 2008 in New Delhi, India More than 1.2 million deaths and 23 million injuries are caused by road accidents worldwide every year. Of these, India accounts for 10% of fatal accidents. These alarming figures were disclosed by the speakers at the 3rd Regional IRF Conference on 'Mobility and Safety in Road Transport' to some 250 engineers and exp
    Read More
  • Boost to eSafety technologies funds
    May 14, 2012
    The FIA Foundation-coordinated eSafety Challenge, the annual event to promote life-saving eSafety technologies, has received a €1.6 million contribution from the European Commission to support its campaigning activities. The technologies are crucial for helping drivers make the right decisions in emergency situations and have the potential to save thousands of lives on the roads around the world.
    Read More

Highlighted Content