VeRT Prototype Architecture and First Trials Campaign Results

Abstract

VeRT (Vehicular Remote Tolling) is a research program cofunded by GALILEO Joint Undertaking in the framework of the Activity C first call: Introduction of GALILEO services Using EGNOS GJU/03/118/issue2/OM/ms, 2003 31 st July. The program belongs to the GJU activities aiming at the APPLICATIONS RESEARCH coming from the EGNOS and GALILEO employment, which are competitive with respect to the only GPS system usage. VeRT belongs to the “Road Applications” area and in particular it focuses on research of applications, sustainable from the economic and social point of view, either for enhancing the “Road Tolling” services or for introducing new added value services to be employed in the,”mobility” field only by employing GALILEO. The VeRT programme aims at exploiting the capabilities offered by Galileo to provide new applications in the road sector, by means of the EGNOS system for demonstration purposes; specifically, an extended service concept of road tolling: it is indicated as “remote tolling”, such to cover basic tolling service, but also additional “pay-per use services” on motorways transport, as well as in urban environment (parking and access to restricted zones) or in both the environments as the pay per use insurance. The higher level of accuracy and integrity provided by GALILEO (respect to the GPS-only) represents an essential condition connected with the services. From a general point of view, the users must be sure that they are paying for the offered service they are using, thus the right positioning of the users and the guarantee of the service provided assumes an important role in the service architecture. The adoption of a satellite based toll and road services facility in the infrastructural approach, opens the way to further commercial opportunities. This aspect is taken into right account within the VeRT project: a market analysis has been conducted in which revenue mechanism for the service provision has been estimated by analysing market opportunities and defining the opportune marketing strategies.