Showing papers on "Fleet management published in 2005"

System, method and apparatus for collecting telematics and sensor information in a delivery vehicle

Abstract: The invention is directed to a data collection and evaluation system that includes a telematics device for collecting, time-stamping, and storing vehicle sensor data. Example of the type of data collected include door data, ignition data, speed data, global positioning data, and diagnostic and trouble code data. The system further includes an external data acquisition device, such as a mainframe computer system or a hand-held computing device like an iPAQ. The external data acquisition device is configured to communicate with the telematics device over a wireless network, which enables the telematics device to transmit the time-stamped data to the external data acquisition device and receive information and instructions from the external data acquisition device. The ability of the system to automatically collect and transfer data and communication with an external data acquisition device allows for the automation of fleet management processes, vehicle maintenance and repair processes, and certain security features.

Intelligent Control of Vehicle-Based Internal Transport Systems

Abstract: This doctoral thesis focuses on improving the material handling activities in supply chains, particularly within facilities. A typical material handling system consists of material handling infrastructure, equipment, personnel, a planning and control system, a communication system, and products on product carriers (can be seen as single loads). Most material handling (MH) systems are designed to reduce material handling costs. The author focuses on the role of intelligent control of vehicle-based internal transport (VBIT) systems, a component of an automated MH system. Among industrial vehicles, the author focuses on those vehicles which can be guided remotely by a system controller through a communication means such as radio-frequency (RF), infrared, induction wire, or laser. After an introduction, the monograph presents a detailed literature review, covering guide-path design, estimating the number of vehicles, vehicle scheduling, vehicle positioning, battery management, vehicle routing, and deadlock resolution. The remainder of the discussion is presented in four sections: control of VBITs using simple dispatching rules, control of VBITs using more intelligent dispatching rules, control of VBITs using a large number of vehicles, and scheduling of VBITs. The author concludes by discussing applications of dispatching rules for VBITs in real-world environments. Distance-based dispatching rules perform significantly better with respect to average load-waiting time than the time-based dispatching rules and the specific dispatching rules used by the companies, regardless of vehicle utilization rates.

Container movement by trucks in metropolitan networks: modeling and optimization

Abstract: Container movement by trucks with time constraints at origins and destinations is modeled as an asymmetric “multi-Traveling Salesmen Problem with Time Windows” (m-TSPTW) with social constraints. A two-phase exact algorithm based on dynamic programming (DP) is proposed that finds the best routes for a fleet of trucks. Since the m-TSPTW problem is NP-hard, the computational time for optimally solving large size problems becomes prohibitive. For large size problems, we develop a hybrid methodology consisting of DP in conjunction with genetic algorithms. The developed algorithms are compared with an insertion heuristic method. Computational results demonstrate the efficiency of the developed algorithms.

Global Intermodal Tank Container Management for the Chemical Industry

Abstract: The scale of the global chemical industry is enormous: in 2003, the total value of global production exceeded US$17 trillion International logistics is especially crucial to the high-value chemicals industry, since raw materials sources, production facilities, and consumer markets are distributed globally Fluctuating demand, imbalanced trade flows, and expensive transportation equipment necessitate dynamic asset management This paper focuses on asset management problems faced by tank container operators, and formulates an operational tank container management problem as a large-scale multi-commodity flow problem on a time-discretized network By integrating container routing and repositioning decisions in a single model, total operating costs and fleet sizes can be reduced A computational study verifies this hypothesis

A Scenario Aggregation-Based Approach for Determining a Robust Airline Fleet Composition for Dynamic Capacity Allocation

Abstract: Recently, airlines and aircraft manufacturers have realized the benefits of the emerging concept of dynamic capacity allocation, and have initiated advanced decision support systems to assist them in this respect. Strategic airline fleet planning is one of the major issues addressed through such systems. We present background research connected with the dynamic allocation concept, which accounts explicitly for the stochastic nature of passenger demand in the fleet composition problem. We address this problem through a scenario aggregation-based approach and present results on representative case studies based on realistic data. Our investigations establish clear benefits of a stochastic approach as compared with deterministic formulations, as well as its implementation feasibility using state-of-the-art optimization software.

Minimum Vehicle Fleet Size Under Time-Window Constraints at a Container Terminal

Abstract: Products can be transported in containers from one port to another. At a container terminal these containers are transshipped from one mode of transportation to another. Cranes remove containers from a ship and put them at a certain time (i.e., release time) into a buffer area with limited capacity. A vehicle lifts a container from the buffer area before the buffer area is full (i.e., in due time) and transports the container from the buffer area to the storage area. At the storage area the container is placed in another buffer area. The advantage of using these buffer areas is the resultant decoupling of the unloading and transportation processes. We study the case in which each container has a time window [release time, due time] in which the transportation should start.The objective is to minimize the vehicle fleet size such that the transportation of each container starts within its time window. No literature has been found studying this relevant problem. We have developed an integer linear programming model to solve the problem of determining vehicle requirements under time-window constraints. We use simulation to validate the estimates of the vehicle fleet size by the analytical model. We test the ability of the model under various conditions. From these numerical experiments we conclude that the results of the analytical model are close to the results of the simulation model. Furthermore, we conclude that the analytical model performs well in the context of a container terminal.

User location driven identification of service vehicles

Abstract: A vehicle position aggregation system receives position information for service vehicles from various fleet management systems, and maintains the current location of the vehicles in a database, including information identifying each vehicle's associated fleet and related contact information. End users can query the vehicle position aggregation system to obtain information about service vehicles in the vicinity of the user's input location.

Public transport in developing countries

Abstract: Problems and Characteristics of Public Transport In Developing Countries. Public Transport Vehicle Types. Transport Infrastructure. Public Transport Stations and Terminals. Depots and Workshops. Ownership and Structure of the Public Transport Industry. Management Structure and Staff Functions. Routes and Schedules. Operating Systems and Procedures. Vehicle Design and Fleet Planning. Vehicle Maintenance and Manufacture. Personnel Management and Training. Operating Costs. Public Transport Revenue and Funding. Management Information and Record Systems. Financial Management and Control. Service Standards. Marketing, Publicity and Passenger Information. Regulation of Public Transport Services. Improving Public Transport Services. Glossary of Terms. Bibliography. Index.

An Integrated Model and Solution Approach for Fleet Sizing with Heterogeneous Assets

Abstract: This paper addresses a fleet-sizing problem in the context of the truck-rental industry. Specifically, trucks that vary in capacity and age are utilized over space and time to meet customer demand. Operational decisions (including demand allocation and empty truck repositioning) and tactical decisions (including asset procurements and sales) are explicitly examined in a linear programming model to determine the optimal fleet size and mix. The method uses a time-space network, common to fleet-management problems, but also includes capital cost decisions, wherein assets of different ages carry different costs, as is common to replacement analysis problems. A two-phase solution approach is developed to solve large-scale instances of the problem. Phase I allocates customer demand among assets through Benders decomposition with a demand-shifting algorithm assuring feasibility in each subproblem. Phase II uses the initial bounds and dual variables from Phase I and further improves the solution convergence without increasing computer memory requirements through the use of Lagrangian relaxation. Computational studies are presented to show the effectiveness of the approach for solving large problems within reasonable solution gaps.

Transport control of forest fuels by fleet manager, mobile terminals and GPS

Abstract: Chip transportation is undertaken by private transportation enterprises that are contracted by a larger wood fuel trader. Compared with industrial roundwood supply the volumes and value of wood fuel supply are markedly lower. As a result, the possibilities to invest in information systems for transport management are limited. New portable, wireless communication techniques and internet-based systems for fleet management enable more cost-efficient control systems with low investment costs in hard and software and also low operating costs. Mobile handsets with GPS, digital road map display and global positioning systems (GPS) or general purpose radio service data transfer protocol can be used as mobile terminals in chippers and trucks. In addition, transport management personnel can use them to locate in-forest wood fuel storage piles into the map database as well as point suitable routing to the storage piles. In a pilot study, conducted in Central Finland, an internet based management tool, Arbonaut Fleet Manager™, was tailored for forest fuel supply chain management and trailed for three months. It was found that use of mobile handsets with GPS and map display assisted especially in exact location of in-forest wood fuel storage piles by managers. They assisted also trucks and chippers in navigation to storages and landings, but the screen was too small for reading during driving. The management system was found helpful in stock accounting and GPS-based vehicle tracking gave transportation distances directly for invoicing.

Polyhedral Analysis and Algorithms for a Demand-Driven Refleeting Model for Aircraft Assignment

Abstract: The current airline practice in conducting fleet assignments is to begin assigning aircraft capacity to scheduled flights well in advance of departures. However, the accuracy of the passenger demand forecast improves markedly over time, and revisions to the initial fleet assignment become naturally pertinent when the observed demand differs considerably from the assigned aircraft capacities. The demand-driven refleeting (DDR) approach proposed in this paper offers a dynamic reassignment of aircraft capacities to the flight network, when improved demand forecasts become available, so as to maximize the total revenue. Because of the need to preserve the initial crew schedule, this reassignment approach is limited within a single family of aircraft types and to the flights assigned to this particular family. This restriction makes it computationally tractable to include more relevant path-level demand information into the DDR model. Accordingly, we construct a mixed-integer programming model for this enhanced problem context and study its polyhedral structure to explore ways for tightening its representation and for deriving certain classes of valid inequalities. Various schemes for implementing such reformulation techniques are investigated and tested using a set of simulated and real instances obtained from United Airlines.

System for monitoring economic trends in fleet management network

Abstract: A computer-based system monitors economic performance within a fleet of carriers comprises components of a communication network that provides information regarding at least individual carriers within the fleet of carriers to a processor. The processor contains a software program that: tabulates at least some of the information to provide a resource of economic performance within the fleet of carriers; enables graphic representation of at least some measures of the economic performance; and enables viewing of metrics including at least two parameters for evaluating the economic performance of a specific carrier. The processor may automatically evaluate individual carrier metrics and automatically alert a designated party of failure to operate within acceptable operating tolerances. The processor may also provide signals to a display unit that receives information from the processor that automatically displays reports that are key performance indicators. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the application. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

New centralized automatic vehicle location communications software system under GIS environment

Abstract: Recent advances in wireless communications and networks have integrated relatively new technologies such as Global Positioning System (GPS), to the popular Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), second generation cellular systems and the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) is based on a combination of GPS, GIS and telecommunication technologies Automatic Vehicle Tracking systems are more and more used for different purposes, especially those related to tracking one vehicle or a fleet of vehicles In this work, we introduce a new AVL system, which is based and developed under GIS software environment The centralized software at the control station offers a new technology of transferring the intelligence of tracking system from the car unit, into the control office PC software Centralized software will reduce the programming efforts in the car unit and will offer better fleet management Moreover, the core of our system is based on the objects or the controllers of the GIS software, which reduces dramatically the overall system cost Our system provides an easy access to change the functions of the system, with great possibility to satisfy the local needs The design of our software will be presented with an explanation of the new supporting technologies that were to create the system Finally, our software system has been validated using data from local road networks Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Estimating the cost of work motor vehicle incidents in Australia

Abstract: To determine the costs of motor vehicle crashes companies have previously relied upon roughly estimated cost multipliers. Establishing the insurance cost of fleet crashes and obtaining more precise cost multipliers will assist fleet policy planning and provide a framework for cost-benefit analysis of safety measures. This project was designed specifically with this aim and was unique in that it co-ordinated a collaborative research process across insurance agencies that typically restrict access to their data. The data represented all vehicle incidents that occurred between 1999 and 2003 where a property damage claim was filed in relation to the researched fleet. During this period, 10,170 property damage claims were filed. Property damage claims were matched with workers compensation and third party claims. It was found that the average total insurance cost of the 43 matched incidents including property damage, workers compensation and third party costs was $28,122. Cost multiplier values that could be applied to property damage costs to estimate total insurance costs were calculated. The cost multiplier range was found to be between 4.1 and 14.5. Therefore, even at the minimal level an incident costs a further 300 percent in excess of property damage costs. The findings from this report provide current Australian benchmarking data that could be useful to government and industry.

A dynamic real-timefleet management system for incident handling in city logistics

Abstract: Unexpected incidents, such as adverse traffic, unavailability of parking space and vehicle breakdowns, that occur during urban deliveries, lead to delays, higher costs, and inferior customer service. This paper presents the architecture of a real-time fleet management system that handles unforeseen events by monitoring distribution vehicles and by recommending intelligent re-routing interventions in order to improve urban delivery performance.

Planning and Design of a Taxipooling Dispatching System

Abstract: Shifting people from driving to using public transportation has been important in alleviating urban traffic congestion. Intelligent transportation system technologies applied to public transportation can provide useful data to system operators and users and increase the use and productivity of high-occupancy vehicles. Integration of metropolitan rapid transit, feeder buses, and taxipooling can attract more public transportation users. Advanced taxipooling transfer assignment systems, a type of advanced public transportation systems program, aims to apply advanced technologies to taxi operations, including dynamic taxi fleet management, taxipooling strategies, and safety monitoring systems. Success in using taxis as a feeder service to mass transit systems requires advanced information technologies such as the Global Positioning System, geographic information systems, wireless communications, and, most important, an efficient taxi dispatching algorithm. The objectives and background of a dedicated taxipooling fleet in a metropolitan area are given. Also, a real-time, two-step taxipooling dispatching system is presented. A case study with parameter values obtained from Taiwan is explained; the simulation result is interpreted to illustrate the feasibility of the algorithm. Sensitivity analysis proves the robustness of the dispatching algorithm and shows the flexibility decision makers can have to serve certain purposes. Assumptions and constraints of the proposed dispatching system are evaluated, and the possibility of system expansion is discussed.

The RUNE project: the integrity performances of GNSS-based railway user navigation equipment

Abstract: The RUNE project (railway user navigation equipment) is aimed at demonstrating the use of GNSS integrity and safety of life service characteristics for defining a satellite-based system to perform train location for safe railway applications. ALS-Laben is leading a consortium for the development and demonstration of the RUNE equipment, under ESA contract. The project involves both a HW-In-the-Loop laboratory set-up as well as a 3 months field-testing on-board an experimental train of the Italian train operator Trenitalia. The primary objective is to demonstrate the improvement of the train self-capability in determining its own position and velocity, with a limited or no support from the trackside, and to show that the equipment can comply with the European Railway Train Management System requirements. The RUNE technical solution is based on GNSS receivers: navigation data will come from GPS with differential EGNOS corrections (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) to enable autonomous and reliable determination of train position, velocity under practically all environmental conditions. The system will offer another technological approach for the train location function: the use of GNSS signals integrated with inertial sensors and on-board odometers, in an "intelligent" system of mutual calibration, error filtering and error correction, represents a technical, industrial and operational challenge. Availability and integrity requirements are the most challenging obstacles towards an ERTMS/ETCS compliant GNSS aided railway navigation equipment. RUNE is designed to take advantage of the current EGNOS integrity and wide area differential correction service and extend its availability through an hybrid navigation system based on GPS/EGNOS, INS and Odometer data processed by a navigation EKF. The achievement of such objective would lead to the reduction of the frequency of physical balises by replacing them with virtual ones, with a significant reduction of the infrastructure costs (initial investment and recurring maintenance costs), whilst still maintaining the level of safety currently provided. This will be made possible by RUNE by producing to the on-board train control equipment a balise-crossing message when a virtual balise is detected. RUNE will also assist the locomotive engineer on approaching signal locations on the basis of a track map, and on controlling the train velocity on the basis of allowed velocity profiles, with resulting improvements in the safety and security of operations. In the long run, RUNE is expected to provide real time/continuous information also to the railway traffic control centre on trains position and speed. This will permit not only increased safety and security of the operations, but also possible increases in operating speeds, increases in track capacity, reductions in conventional infrastructure investments and maintenance, fuel consumption reductions, enhanced fleet management, as well as improved customer service. This paper will focus on safety analysis of the RUNE demonstration prototype and can be considered as the basis for the building of the safety case of future signalling systems using RUNE functions.

The impact of information and communication technology on road freight transportation

Abstract: Surveying the recent trend toward e-commerce and computerization in the trucking industry, this paper establishes a framework for analyzing the impact of information and communication technology on road freight transportation in terms of commerce, logistics and fleet management, and proposes hypothetical mechanisms of influence. The authors note that the rapid growth of e-commerce and freight fleet management systems make it difficult to arrive at firm, statistics-based conclusions about their impact on road freight transportation, but suggest that more sophisticated government management of transportation demand as well as freight fleet management systems could cancel out the negative impact of e-commerce on road transportation.

Combining vehicle routing models and microscopic traffic simulation to model and evaluating city logistics applications

Abstract: The distribution of goods based on road services in urban areas contribute to traffic congestion, generates environmental impacts and in some cases incurs in high logistics costs. On the other hand the various stakeholders involved in the applications may have possibly conflicting objectives. Industrial firms, shippers, freight carriers, have individually established to meet consumer demands looking to maximize the company effectiveness and as a consequence from a social point of view the resulting logistics system is inefficient from the point of view of the social costs and environmental impacts. As a consequence the design and evaluation of City Logistics applications requires an integrated framework in which all components could work together. Therefore City Logistics models must be models that, further than including the main components of City Logistics applications, as vehicle routing and fleet management models, should be able of including also the dynamic aspects of the underlying road network, namely if ICT applications are taken into account. Some of the methodological proposals made so far are based on an integration of vehicle routing models and, dynamic traffic simulation models that emulate the actual traffic conditions providing at each time interval the estimates of the current travel times, queues, etc. on each link of the road network, that is, the information that will be used by the logistic model (i.e. a fleet management system identifying in real-time the positions of each vehicle in the fleet and its operational conditions - type of load, available capacity, etc. - to determine the optimal dynamic routing and scheduling of the vehicle. This paper reports on the modelling framework developed and tested in the European Project MEROPE of the INTERREG IIIB Programme, and in the national project SADERYL, sponsored by the Spanish DGCYT. The modelling framework is supported by a Computer Decision Support System which core architecture consists of the following main components: A Data Base, to store all the data required by the implied models: locations of logistic centres and customers, capacities of warehouses and depots, transportation costs, operational costs, fleet data, etc.; a Data Base Management System, for the updating of the information stored in the data base; a Model Base, containing the family of models and algorithms to solve the related problems, discrete location, network location, street vehicle routing and scheduling, to account explicitly with the asymmetry of costs typical of urban applications etc.; a Model Base Management System, to update, modify, add or delete models from the Model Base; a Graphic User Interface, GUI, supporting the windows based dialogues to define and update data, select the model suited to the intended problem, apply the corresponding algorithm, visualize the problem and the results, etc. Taking into account the nature of the problems addressed in City Logistic Application, and their underlying geographic reality, the framework in which the GUI has been embedded is that of a software platform with the main GIS functions required to support transport applications, which imports the digital map of the urban area, and generates automatically the graph its road network to generate the input for the Network Location and Vehicle Routing models. The underlying dynamic simulation model (AIMSUN in this case) tacks individually the fleet vehicles, emulating in this way the monitoring of fleet vehicles in a real time fleet management system, gathering dynamic data (i.e. current position, previous position, current speed, previous speed, etc.) while following the vehicle, in a similar way as the data that in real life an equipped vehicle could provide. This is the information required by the "Dynamic Router and Scheduler" to determine which vehicle will be assigned the new service and which will be the new route for the selected vehicle. For the covering abstract please see ITRD E135207.

Remote fleet management for police cruisers

Abstract: We describe two prototype remote fleet management software modules for police cruisers. One of the modules is used for automatic vehicle location (AVL) the other is used for cruiser status monitoring. The software modules leverage the existing Project54 infrastructure that integrates electronic devices in cruisers and connects cruisers to each other and to headquarters. This infrastructure allows client-server connections over 802.11 wireless networks as well as over police radio networks. The AVL module transmits GPS information to headquarters over the radio network. In order not to overwhelm the radio network, heuristic rules are used to decide when to transmit data and when to discard it. The AVL module was successfully tested in the field. The status monitoring module is designed to use the on-board diagnostics II (OBD II) standard to connect to the vehicle's internal bus. The prototype was successfully tested in laboratory conditions with simulated OBD II data.

Integration of telematics for efficient management of carrier operations

Abstract: The use of telematics promises many potentials for improving the efficiency of carrier operations. Tracking & tracing functionalities, an improved information exchange between dispatchers and drivers, and an improved fleet management are the main fields of application. The information gathered by off-the-shelf fleet telematics systems, however, can often not be sufficiently utilised as the telematics systems cannot be readily integrated into the existing IT infrastructure. Especially small motor carriers cannot afford to replace their IT systems by such systems that already support telematics functionalities. As a result, off-the-shelf telematics systems are often of only limited use. In this paper we present a concept for integration of an off-the-shelf telematics systems into the carrier's IT infrastructure. We show how the information flow, as well as processes can be reorganised to exploit the potentials of the use of telematics

From Health and Usage Monitoring to Integrated Fleet Management – Evolving Directions for Rotorcraft

Abstract: Historically, rotorcraft health monitoring has been concerned with the collection of caution and warning information along with rotor and drivetrain vibration information. This data is used to monitor vehicle health and support more efficient rotor system maintenance. Though such systems provide useful monitoring, they did not enable significant improvements in vehicle sustainability and readiness. Many systems have not allowed maintenance credits to be established, nor have they demonstrated improved vehicle readiness and availability. If modern rotorcraft health and usage monitoring systems are compared to modern airplane health management systems, it is can be seen that they have not had system architectures that allow dramatically improved sustainability goals to be achieved. This trend is now changing, as modern, integrated rotorcraft health management systems are providing significant platform sustainability improvements and mechanisms to provide comprehensive management of rotorcraft fleets. It can be seen that the progression of rotorcraft health management systems design towards those used by modern fixed-wing applications enables effective and useful fleet management. This includes the introduction of improved diagnostics and integrated information systems which efficiently automate not only vehicle maintenance needs, but also fleet management needs

Agent coordination for bus fleet management

Abstract: This paper presents an abstract multiagent architecture useful for Decision Support Systems (DSS), and shows how this architecture can be instantiated to a particular real-world domain, Bus Fleet Management (BFM) After discussing the benefits of adopting a multiagent approach for DSS, the paper introduces the real world case study and analyzes it Next, an abstract MAS architecture for DSS in general, and specialized then for BFM case study is presented The architecture includes a set of different agents which are in charge of different social roles, and what is needed for their coordination, the Coordination Facilitator and the coordination protocols The paper is concentrated in this point showing a concrete example in the BFM domain

Safety climate and driver safety at work : integrating fleet management and OHS

Abstract: Road accidents are now the most common form of work-related death, injury and absence from work in Australia. Considering its social and financial impact, interest has grown in the occupational health and safety (OHS) practices supporting safety for employees engaged in work-related driving. In this paper we will be utilising multilevel analysis to identify key organizational and individual factors that influence attitudes towards driving a work vehicle. The study will be involving work-related drivers, fleet coordinators and senior level management within the Queensland public sector. The framework will not only integrate driver safety within the organisational safety management literature, but it will provide a practical guide to the management of work-related drivers within the broader OHS context.

Development and Application of a Vehicle Procurement Model for Rural Fleet Asset Management

Abstract: Advanced asset management systems have emerged as important tools in the management, maintenance, and procurement of vehicles for transit fleet operators. Effective design and use of an asset management system can increase productivity, enhance public perception, and provide a consistent basis for decision making and planning. This paper documents the design and application of a vehicle procurement model in an asset management system created for the Alabama Department of Transportation to manage vehicles purchased and operated through the Section 5311 federal grant program. The vehicle procurement model predicts future vehicle serviceability, or condition rating, by using a combination of factors, including service area socioeconomic data and vehicle usage data. Application of the system helps transportation professionals estimate the overall fleet quality, identify vehicles that will need to be replaced each year, aid in the management of vehicles, and provide a basis for predicting future funding and budgetary needs.

Electric vehicle, parking card management system, method and computer program for such a system.

Abstract: The vehicle has an electric motor contributing to a displacement of an electric vehicle, and a chip card (11) with a removable electronic control circuit (10) to control the motor. The insertion of the chip card in a reader operates a control case and control electronics of the motor in order to start a bicycle. The withdrawal of the chip card from the reader locks the motor. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) an electric vehicle fleet management system; (B) an electric vehicle fleet management method; (C) a computer program for executing steps of an electric vehicle fleet management method.

Road safety in corporate fleet settings: Approaches from organisational and industrial psychology

Abstract: Research into work-related driver safety in corporate vehicle fleets has provided some descriptive information about driving for work and some of the common approaches to fleet safety. However, a lack of theoretical underpinnings has constrained the scope of this research. This paper outlines some theories and conceptual approaches from organisational and industrial psychology which are applicable for researching work-related driving and designing fleet safety countermeasures. Approaches described relate to contextual performance, occupational stress, organisational culture and climate. In using these approaches, work-related driving is conceptualised as an organisational behaviour – a behaviour of employees which occurs in the organisational setting. These are consolidated into an integrated approach to fleet safety. In addition to enhancing the understanding of work-related driving, utilising this integrated approach will result in intervention strategies designed to target the key psychosocial and organisational factors involved.

Vehicular remote tolling services using EGNOS

Abstract: Future Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) will significantly improve the performance of current navigation systems, providing new and enhanced capabilities. This will enable the implementation of innovative and advanced services and applications closer to the user's needs. In this framework, the road sector is one of the major potential markets for GNSS applications and, therefore, it is very promising for future EGNOS and GALILEO related applications. Satellite navigation receivers are now commonly installed in cars as a key tool for proving new services to people on the move such as electronic charging, real-time traffic information, emergency calls, route guidance, fleet management, or advance driving assistance systems. Specifically, a very important commercial opportunity is represented by the tolling-related applications. This paper describes the Vehicular Remote Tolling (VeRT) Project sponsored by Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) and performed in the frame of the first GJU Call under the EC VI Framework Programme. The overall design of the service provision architecture is also presented in this paper, together with the main topics related to the following activities focused on the service prototype demonstrator development.

Fleet management systems : the future is here

Abstract: Subtitle: Fleet management software may seem powerful now, but that's just a preview of things to come.