Dr. John Walewski Center for Transportation Research, University of Texas at Austin RFID Applications for Tolling and Congestion Management
Dr. John Walewski
Center for Transportation Research, University of Texas at Austin
RFID Applications for Tolling and Congestion Management
efficiency and interoperability
• $200 Billion per year
• Decreased fuel efficiency & air quality
• Increased costs of consumer goods
• Time, time, precious time
• Supply chain impacts:
– Diminishes productivity
– Increases transportation costs
Traffic Congestion
Source: “USDOT Congestion Initiative”, Federal Highway Administration, 07/2007
Congestion Sources
“USDOT Congestion Initiative”, Federal Highway Administration, 07/2007
Capacity
Constrained
40%
Traffic Incidents
25%
Work Zones
10%
Bad Weather
15%
Poor Signal
Timing
5%
Special Events
5%
TxDOT Mission, Vision, and, Policy:
“safe, effective, and efficient movement of
people and freight”.
Houston Toll Roads
Trans-Texas Corridor – ORT Concept
Candidate Toll Projects by District/TTCTxDOT District Total Number of Projects Project Total Cost ($ est.)
Atlanta 1 340,460,000
Austin 8 2,046,000,000
Beaumont 1 173,570,000
Bryan 2 549,912,000
Corpus Christi 7 2,027,000,000
Dallas 16 18,723,878,000
El Paso 12 2,184,024,771
Fort Worth 10 3,924,527,000
Houston 4 8,013,000,000
Laredo 3 564,600,000
Pharr 9 2,024,000,000
San Antonio 7 5,760,000,000
Tyler 2 288,496,520
Yoakum 1 324,000,000
TTC 4 9,010,000,000
Total 87 $ 55,953,468,291
Source: “Initiating the Toll Partnering Process”, SB792, 06/2007
Candidate Toll Projects
“Initiating the Toll Partnering Process”, SB792, 06/2007
Electronic Tolling Systems
• Purpose: Drive through without stopping or scrambling for cash
• System Components:1. Transponder
– Programmable
– Power source
2. Lane antenna
3. Lane controller
4. Host computer system
Transponder Types
• Type I: No processing capabilities– information is read only
– hard-wired id number
• Type II: Updateable area to encode information– time and point of entry
• Type III: Microprocessor enabled - smart” tags Communicate to roadside or overhead sensors
– account balance
– driver and vehicle information
– location
Transponder Types (cont)
• Passive: No internal power supply– Incoming radio frequency signals detected by antennae
– Signal powers up tag
– Limited data storage
• Semi-Passive: Battery power– Respond faster
– Stronger signal
– More data storage
• Active: Connected to vehicle power source– Store more information
– Receive and store information sent by roadside units
– Much greater range
Electronic Toll Collection
Other Benefits:
• Eliminates costs
• Limits revenue leakage
• Reduces safety concerns
• Interoperability
Issues
• Supply chain and freight impacts
• Big Brother and privacy concerns
• Infrastructure capacity
• Interoperability
• Technology
Supply Chain Impacts Freight Growth
• Freight shaped by globalization of
production and logistics
• System performance challenges tougher
as capacity lags demand
• Public sector infrastructure challenges
impact the economy
Truck Transportation Supply Chain
Changes with RFID Applications
• New mileage-based or ton-mileage fees
• More toll roads / truck-only lanes
• Tighter emissions limits
• New (e.g. carbon) taxes, and user fees
• Further workforce regulations
• Higher productivity equipment
Proposed Privacy Legislation
• Notice and consent to collect personal information
• Information relevant to services provided
• Protect individuals' rights to move without being tracked
• Security of electronic transactions
• Protect personal information
Future Applications and Research
Cordon Pricing
Additional Future Applications
• Automated crash notification system• Enterprise call box – OnStar on steroids
• Electronic vehicle registration
• Vehicle-to-vehicle communication
• Vehicle to roadside communication
• Odometer tolling
• Vehicle positioning systems• Satellite tolling
• Cell phone tolling
• More in-vehicle features• RFID
• GPS
Automated Crash Notification Systems
• 433 MHz RFID tag with vibration sensor
• Attached to guardrails, signs, etc.
• Detects crashes into tagged roadside objects
• vibration sensor activates the tag
• Proprietary protocol transmits ID
Vehicle Infrastructure Initiative (VII)
• Public/Private partnership
• vehicle-vehicle and vehicle-infrastructure
communications – wireless network
• Dedicated Short Range Communication
• coordinated deployments of communication
technologies
• On all major U.S. roadways
Vehicle Infrastructure Initiative (VII)
• Warning drivers of unsafe conditions, imminent
collisions, weather, congestion
• Proof-of-concept – Detroit 2006 and 2007
• Privacy issues
• On-board computers and data
Source: OnStar Corp.
Odometer Tolling
• Oregon pilot program– Distance based charge 1.2 a mile
– RFID equipped pump subtract gas tax adds mileage charge
– Track rush hour driving in congestion zone
– GIS monitors out of state travel
John Walewski, Ph.D.Austin IAC Program Manager
Center for Transportation Research
University of Texas at Austin
512-786-9345