Satellite-Based Tolling System

India plans to roll out the satellite-based tolling system based on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Read here to learn more about the new system.

A satellite-based tolling system uses advanced navigation technology to monitor and charge vehicles for road usage based on their location and distance travelled.

This approach leverages Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as GPS, to provide a more flexible, efficient, and user-friendly method for toll collection than traditional toll booths or gantry systems.

Satellite-Based Tolling System

Key Components

1. GNSS Technology:
   • Satellites: A network of satellites provides precise location data.
   • Receivers: Vehicles are equipped with GNSS receivers that communicate with satellites to determine their exact position.
2. On-Board Units (OBUs):
   • Devices Installed in Vehicles: OBUs receive satellite signals and record the vehicle’s location, speed, and distance travelled.
   • Communication: OBUs transmit data to central servers for processing.
3. Central Processing System:
   • Data Aggregation: Collects and processes location data from OBUs.
   • Billing: Calculates toll fees based on distance travelled, road type, and time of use.
   • Account Management: Maintains user accounts, processes payments, and manages billing.
4. Communication Networks:
   • Data Transmission: Secure networks transmit data between OBUs, satellites, and central servers.
   • Real-Time Updates: Enables real-time monitoring and updates.

Advantages

Efficiency:

• Reduced Congestion: Eliminates the need for physical toll booths, reducing traffic congestion and delays.
• Seamless Travel: Allows for continuous travel without stopping for toll payments.

Cost-Effectiveness:

• Lower Infrastructure Costs: Reduces the need for physical infrastructure like toll booths and gantries.
• Maintenance: Minimizes maintenance costs associated with physical toll collection systems.

Scalability and Flexibility:

• Easy Implementation: Can be deployed on new and existing roads without extensive infrastructure changes.
• Dynamic Pricing: Enables variable pricing based on time of day, congestion levels, or environmental factors.

Enhanced Revenue Collection:

• Accurate Billing: Charges users based on actual road usage, ensuring fair and accurate toll collection.
• Reduced Evasion: Minimizes toll evasion by eliminating physical collection points.

Environmental Benefits:

• Reduced Emissions: Decreases emissions from idling vehicles at toll booths.
• Promotes Sustainable Practices: Encourages the use of less congested or environmentally friendly routes.

Disadvantages

Privacy Concerns:

• Tracking: Continuous monitoring of vehicle location raises concerns about data privacy and surveillance.
• Data Security: Ensuring the security of transmitted and stored data is critical to protect user information.

Initial Setup Costs:

• Investment: High initial investment in technology and infrastructure.
• User Equipment: Cost of installing OBUs in vehicles.

Technical Challenges:

• Signal Reliability: GNSS signal reliability can be affected by environmental factors, leading to potential inaccuracies.
• Integration: Integrating with existing tolling systems and ensuring interoperability can be complex.

Legal and Regulatory Issues:

• Legislation: Requires supportive legal and regulatory frameworks to address issues such as data privacy, billing disputes, and enforcement.
• Compliance: Ensuring compliance with national and international standards.

Examples

Germany:

• Toll Collect System: Uses a combination of GPS, GSM, and Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) to charge trucks for using federal highways. It has been successful in reducing congestion and ensuring fair toll collection based on road usage.

Slovakia:

• SkyToll System: Implements satellite-based tolling for all vehicles over 3.5 tons on motorways and expressways. It combines GNSS with microwave technology for accurate tolling and has improved traffic flow and toll compliance.

Hungary:

• HU-GO System: Charges trucks based on distance travelled using a satellite-based system. It has effectively managed heavy vehicle traffic and optimized revenue collection.

Why in the news?

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has invited expressions of interest for the implementation of a satellite-based electronic toll collection system.

• The NHAI has said that it plans to implement the GNSS-based electronic toll collection system alongside RFID-based Fastags currently being used by vehicles.
• Each toll plaza will have two or more dedicated lanes for GNSS-ready vehicles, where barriers will remain open to ensure the free flow of vehicles.
• The lanes will have advanced readers to identify GNSS vehicles, which will have an onboard tracking unit deployed on them that will send out signals to enable the calculation of distance and time of vehicles.
• The payment system will be the same as the one being used for Fastag, where toll amounts will be debited directly through a vehicle owner’s bank account.
• The toll charger will send the calculated user fee to be charged to the vehicle owner through an SMS as well as a map that will show the path traversed by the vehicle.
• On the issue of privacy, the EOI document states that the selected company will have to develop a suitable mechanism for data transfer from vehicle locating and tracking devices to the control centre and only authorised devices should be able to transfer data to the backend control centre.
• The provider will also have to ensure that the security and privacy of data are maintained by the law and government guidelines.

Implementation of the satellite-based tolling system

Implementation will involve an On-Board Unit (OBU), or a tracking device, fitted inside a vehicle whose location can be mapped using GAGAN, the Indian satellite navigation system with an approximate accuracy of 10 metres.

• The co-ordinates of the entire length of the country’s national highways will have to be logged with the help of digital image processing, and software will be used to assign the toll rate on a particular highway, calculate the toll amount for a vehicle as per the distance travelled by it and then deduct it from a wallet linked to the OBU.
• The system will additionally have gantries, or arches mounted with CCTV cameras, at various points on a highway for enforcement purposes.
• These will capture an image of the vehicle’s high-security registration plate and cross-verify if a road user is trying to trick the system by either removing the tracking device or travelling without an OBU onboard.

FASTag vs Satellite-based tolling system

	FASTag	GNSS-based tolling system
Technology	Utilizes RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. Tags are scanned by RFID readers installed at toll plazas.	Utilizes GNSS (e.g., GPS, GLONASS) for real-time vehicle tracking. Can incorporate additional sensors and communication modules for data transmission.
Infrastructure	Requires installation of RFID readers at toll plazas. Toll plazas remain operational with barriers for vehicles without FASTag.	Requires less physical infrastructure on roads. Centralized system for tracking and toll calculation based on vehicle movement.
Cost	Lower initial investment for users (cost of the tag). Infrastructure costs are moderate, mainly involving RFID readers and integration with payment systems.	The higher initial investment for equipping vehicles with GNSS devices. Lower infrastructure costs due to minimal roadside equipment needs.
Operation	Vehicles slow down or stop briefly for tag scanning at toll plazas. Effective for specific points of toll collection.	Continuous tracking of vehicles allows for distance-based tolling. Can eliminate the need for toll plazas, enabling seamless travel.
Coverage	Limited to highways and roads equipped with RFID readers. Not suitable for distance-based tolling.	Wide-area coverage, including urban and rural roads, highways, and more. Suitable for complex tolling scenarios, such as congestion pricing.
User experience	Minimizes congestion at toll plazas, reducing wait times. Requires users to ensure their FASTag account is adequately funded.	Provides a seamless travel experience without stopping at toll points. Users need to install GNSS devices in their vehicles and ensure data connectivity.

GAGAN (GPS-Aided GEO Augmented Navigation)

GAGAN is an acronym for GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation, which is a Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) implemented by the Indian government.

• GAGAN enhances the performance of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to meet the precision and reliability requirements for civil aviation and other applications.
• It is a joint project by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
• Enhances the availability and continuity of GPS signals, ensuring consistent and reliable service across the region.
• Covers the entire Indian subcontinent and a significant portion of the Indian Ocean region, enhancing navigation capabilities over a vast area.
• Supports dual-frequency (L1 and L5) operations, which helps mitigate errors caused by ionospheric delays.

Components:

Ground Segment:

• Reference Stations: A network of GPS reference stations (INRES – Indian Reference Stations) that collect GPS data.
• Master Control Center: Processes the data collected from reference stations to compute corrections and integrity messages.
• Uplink Stations: Send the processed information to geostationary satellites.

Space Segment:

• Geostationary Satellites: Three geostationary satellites (GSAT-8, GSAT-10, and GSAT-15) transmit correction signals and integrity information to users.

User Segment:

• GAGAN-Compatible Receivers: Users need to have compatible receivers to benefit from the enhanced accuracy and integrity provided by GAGAN.

Conclusion

Satellite-based tolling systems offer a modern, efficient, and scalable solution for road usage charging. By leveraging GNSS technology, these systems provide numerous benefits, including reduced congestion, cost-effectiveness, and accurate billing.

However, addressing privacy concerns, ensuring data security, and managing technical and regulatory challenges are crucial for successful implementation.

As countries seek to modernize their infrastructure and improve traffic management, satellite-based tolling represents a promising and forward-looking approach.

-Article by Swathi Satish