VeRT
Vehicular Remote Tolling

The road sector is one of the major potential markets for GNSS applications and therefore for EGNOS/GALILEO. GPS satellite navigation systems are now commonly installed in cars, providing advanced services for drivers, such as route guidance, remote assistance, theft protection and fleet management. The availability of EGNOS has extended the possibilities in this area to enable further services, such as: electronic charging, real time traffic information, or emergency calls. The VeRT project worked on the development of a prototype architecture, including advanced user terminals and a service control centre, to provide specific remote road tolling and pay-per-use services. In the EU, each country has its own EFC (Electronic Fee Collection ) system.

The lack of compatibility between these systems can pose serious problems. EGNOS/GALILEO provided the possibility of creating a single European EFC system, which, in addition to eliminating the compatibility problems, would facilitate the introduction of new payment schemes, taking into account the real-time information. VeRT examined the possbilities opened up in this direction.

The VeRT project examined ways of exploiting the new capabilities offered by the EGNOS and GALILEO to provide enhanced applications in the road sector. In particular, it looked at the development of an extended service concept of road tolling, referred to as 'remote tolling'. The concept covered basic road tolling services, but also additional 'pay-per-use' services both on motorways and in the urban environment (e.g. parking, access to restricted zones). Among other things, VeRT examined the possibilities for harmonisation of national Electronic Fee Collection (EFC) systems.

Description

The project was divided into two phases. The first phase involved the definition of user requirements for the development of services to be provided through the satellite tracking system; The second phase, involved the identification of pilot projects and the development of the necessary software to implement the projects. VeRT also studied the possibility of extending the EGNOS/GALILEO technology to LTZ (Limited Traffic Zone) access, 'pay-per-use insurance, and emergency services, creating a multi-functional platform integrated within a single (on-board unit (OBU), and introducing the 'single contract/single invoice' concept.

Objectives

The objective of the VeRT project was to examine ways of exploiting the capabilities offered by EGNOS (in the near term) and GALILEO (in medium long term) to provide new applications for the road sector; specifically, an extended service concept of road tolling - remote tolling - and additional 'pay-per-use' services on motorways, as well as in urban environment (parking and access to restricted zones). Its aim was to assess the applicability of the GALILEO system to traffic charging systems (motorway tolls and payed parking), vehicle tracking systems (management of commercial fleets, control of access to restricted areas), and satellite navigation systems for private and business users and local public transport.