FACTS -a freight transport survey using GPS Prof. Tony Richardson The Urban Transport Institute Melbourne, Australia

OutlineOutline Freight Activity and Commercial Travel Survey (FACTS) Freight Activity and Commercial Travel Survey (FACTS) technological application to FACTS technological application to FACTS data to be collected data to be collected other technology developments other technology developments summary summary

What is FACTS? Freight Activity and Commercial Travel Survey Freight Activity and Commercial Travel Survey Transport Research Centre and Institute of Transport Studies Transport Research Centre and Institute of Transport Studies continuous data collection continuous data collection road based road based detailed data detailed data

FACTS objective detailed, accurate data for planning & control detailed, accurate data for planning & control commercial activities & travel commercial activities & travel metropolitan Melbourne metropolitan Melbourne road based road based Start with a subset: - rigid & articulated vehicles - incremental approach

FACTS scope Intelligent Transport Systems Intelligent Transport Systems ñdata collection device Applying technology to the freight industry Applying technology to the freight industry ñsupport & cooperation Pragmatic Pragmatic –driver fatigue –systematic

GPS receiver Apple Newton 2000 Newton 2000 Broadcasting differential correction GPS satellites Differential Differential Robust carry case Data transmitted (real time) TRC FACTS System

Data collection GPS, GIS GPS, GIS touch screen electronic questionnaire touch screen electronic questionnaire transportable, robust transportable, robust simple to install simple to install power power

Trip data GPS receiver GPS receiver –receives signals from satellites –latitude & longitude (position) –how many satellites in view? accuracy? –deliberate error - Selective Availability GPS differential GPS differential –increases accuracy –from +/- 50m to +/- 5m

Trip data (contíd) GPS, GIS, hardware, software GPS, GIS, hardware, software –Automatic –position, distance, time, speed, acceleration speed, acceleration real time data transfer real time data transfer –cellular network –radio frequency –industry benefits: fleet efficiency?

Electronic questionnaire Apple Newton touch screen Apple Newton touch screen 5MB memory 5MB memory multiple choice questionnaire multiple choice questionnaire –Vehicle –driver(s) –trip stops Simple, simple, simple!. Simple, simple, simple!.

Types of data GPS, locational data GPS, locational data –trips electronic questionnaire electronic questionnaire –Stops –Driver –vehicle

Other technology inductive loops inductive loops –digital signal processing –length, no. of axles, speed, height cellular telephone cellular telephone –increasing accuracy of location –potential to reduce need for GPS fixed infrastructure gantries fixed infrastructure gantries –travel times, congestion

Freight industry in brief disparate disparate reference group reference group –VRTA, TWU, CityLink, –VicRoads, DoI, RACV etc. focus groups focus groups sample frame sample frame marketing marketing

SummarySummary need for freight data for planning and control need for freight data for planning and control major issues with traditional methods major issues with traditional methods GPS/GIS technology promises solutions GPS/GIS technology promises solutions FACTS FACTS –systematic, technological approach –representative freight flows database