A potential user conclusions on satellite based applications

1. ITALIAN TOLL MOTORWAYS A potential user conclusions on satellite based applications Dr. ing. Massimo Schintu

2. THE ITALIAN MOTORWAYS SYSTEM • Italian motorways system • as of 31-12-2006 • Tolled Km 5.637,8 • Toll free Km 894,0 Total Km 6.487,3 The tolled network is operated by 23 companies, under a concession scheme ; First toll schemes 1924/25; Most of the network in operation for more than 30 years i.e. a rather sound experience AISCAT is the national association of the 23 operating companies i.e. no direct operation but research, institutional activities etc. AISCAT is member of ASECAP

3. A POTENTIAL TIPICAL USER, BUT….. A lenghty transport network, along which some 80 billions of km are traveled each year seems to be a perfect market for satellite based services. Satellite based services could cover some of the current applications and allow for new ones. But….it is worthwhile to have a look at the current management and understand what critical issues should be taken into account.

4. NETWORK OPERATION: TECHNOLOGIES • The management of the network is already supported by technologies, such as: • DSRC (tolling); • video cameras assisted by advanced image processing softwares (tolling and monitoring); • inductive loops (monitoring) • many kinds of sensors and probes in order to monitor weather conditions, pavement and structures conditions; • fiber optics along the whole network (communications); • Etc.

5. NETWORK OPERATION: ORGANIZATION • The technologies are obviously supported by an appropriate organization, making it possible for the 23 companies managing the network to provide the users with a seamless service, e.g.: • interoperable tolling; the user can drive through different concessions but he does not need to stop each time to pay, as it still happens in the rest of Europe and of the world; • interoperable information; the companies provide national and local media with information under defined schemes and procedures; • road assistance: more than 30 Traffic Control Centers are located along the network, in order to ensure a timely assistance and a complete network coverage by means also of patrolling.

6. NETWORK OPERATION: LEGAL FRAMEWORK • The management of the network refers also to a precise and binding legal environment, defining rules and roles, posing also constraints on technologies and management, e.g.: • vehicles classification (tolling); • images processing and use (privacy); • Vehicles tracking (privacy); • relationship with institutional entities (e.g. ANAS, Road Police).

7. HOW TO “ADD-ON” ? Due to the presence of rather strict regulations and of very demanding market, technologies and operation had to be “tailored” on these constraints. The road infrastructures management has very important institutional profiles and specific features and, as a consequence, all the innovations must be thoroughly tested, formally approved and seamlessly integrated in the existing management. This concepts makes often the legal constraints more binding than the technical constraints

8. HOW TO ADD-ON SATELLITE SERVICES • Motorways Operators will have the opportunity to offer new services based on Galileo, as additional components of their present range of services offer to both private and commercial users; • With their local network of sensors and trasmitters they can offer continuity of the Galileo positioning information; • A pre-condition is of course the integration of this services in the organizational and legal framework as it results from the applicable legislation and contracts, innovated where necessary.

9. TOLLING: A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE • Although it could seem easy to use satellite applications for motorway tolling, this options proved to be difficult to apply, due to a number of factors; • The only satellite based tolling application in Europe is limited to vehicles above 12 t, in Germany, and its implementation was delayed of some months due to unexpected problems; • So far, a widespread satellite based tolling application would require in Europe a new and tailored legislation (vehicles classification, frauds enforcement etc.) this would take time, it cannot be done overnight.

10. TOLLING: EU LEGAL FRAMEWORK • The Directive 2004/52/CE is in force and the transposition deadline expired i.e. the EU Member states must apply its provisions; • it aims at setting up a regulatory frame for the deployment of a unique European EFC service in three stages: 1stJuly 2006: definition of the service After 3 years (planned for mid 2009): HGV and Long Distance Coaches After2 years trucks (planned for mid 2011): all vehicles • These deadlines are already to be adapted, because the definition of the service proved to be more complicated than expected, even because………

11. In other countries, toll does not have this status: to recover the toll is a civil procedure, independent from the penal one. In some countries, the concession ones, toll is part of an economic system. Any evasion can endanger the system. TOLL STATUS IN EU… In some countries, toll is a tax, not paying it implies to be pursued for the offence as well as for the amount not paid.

12. CONCLUSION • THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPLEMENTING OR NEW SATELLITE BASED SERVICES/PRODUCTS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE, SUBJECT TO THE SOLUTION OF SOME CRITICAL ISSUES, LIKELY TO ENDANGER THE DEVELOPMENTS IF NOT ADEQUATELY DEALT WITH, SUCH AS: • HARMONIZATION OF LEGAL PROVISIONS (MAINLY); • COOPERATION WITH THE OPERATORS IN CHARGE (AND LIABLE); • TECHNOLOGY (ALREADY AVAILABLE, ALMOST A TRIVIAL ISSUE). EUROPEAN TOLL MOTORWAYS OPERATORS ARE WORKING AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS, BASED ON DECADES OF OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE