Electronic licence plate technology: automatic vehicle location and identification

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the current level of technology in automatic vehicle identification (AVI). The technology is often referred to as electronic licence plate technology, due to the use of unique vehicle identity transponders (electronic licence plates) affixed to particular highway vehicles. Interrogator or roadside receiver units placed at strategic locations or nodes on a highway network can locate and identify the particular vehicle.The main thrust of the paper is on the different types of AVI systems and the technologies employed. The discussion includes the widespread applications for AVI from both a highway administrator and road transport industry point of view. Finally, the paper discusses two AVI demonstration projects. These projects are the urban system implemented in Hong Kong and the highway system in the United States and parts of Canada known as the Heavy Vehicle and Electronic Licence Plate Project (HELP). Key words: automatic vehicle identification, electronic licence plate, road pricing, automatic vehicle classification, weigh-in-motion, commercial transportation, vehicular traffic control, pavement, Heavy Truck and Electronic Licence Plate Project.