ERP system: From gantries to satellites

LTA to invite tech firms to test system next year; electric cars under study
Maria Almenoar Straits Times 1 Jul 10;

THE eyes of Singapore's Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system could be heading to the sky.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has called for proposals for a gantry-free system that is based on the use of satellites to track a vehicle on the road.

This eye-in-the-sky method, if implemented, will allow LTA to extend its ERP coverage to congested roads anywhere on the island, without having to install more gantries, which cost about $1.5 million each.

A satellite-based system also means the Government can charge for using a stretch of road based on actual congestion, instead of the flat fee levied when a motorist passes under an ERP gantry.

For instance, the system can be adjusted so that motorists pay only if they are approaching a section of congested road. The in-vehicle unit can also be used to notify them that they are about to enter a stretch of road that attracts a charge.

Transport Minister Raymond Lim said yesterday that the LTA will begin inviting companies which provide satellite-based technologies to take part in a trial which is likely to start next year. The tender and trial are expected to last a total of two years.

One key test will be to determine if such eyes in the sky can cope with Singapore's congested urban environment.

Satellite-based systems that track a vehicle's road use are already in use in Germany. However, they can work only on open stretches of road, such as expressways.

The LTA will test the systems available on all road and weather conditions, and on all road types including arterial roads, viaducts and expressways, its spokesman said.

Mr Lim said yesterday that while the current gantry-based ERP system has worked well, it will not be sufficient.

Addressing more than 300 delegates yesterday at the opening of the World Urban Transport Leaders Summit at the Suntec convention centre, he added: 'It may become impractical to continue installing ever more physical gantries to manage congestion,' he said. There are already about 70 such gantries islandwide.

Transport engineering specialist Anthony May from the University of Leeds said such a global navigation system would likely see cost and space savings in terms of infrastructure.

It is also likely that with some tweaks, the current in-vehicle units in cars could be used as tracking devices, said Professor May. He cautioned, however, that Singapore's urban environment could prove challenging, as tall buildings may interfere with signals.

Prof May, who was speaking on the sidelines of the summit, pointed out that a satellite system would work well for distance-based charging, where vehicles are charged for how much of the road they use.

'It is also a more fair and equitable system for drivers,' he said.

Under a distance-based charging system, vehicles that circle the business district to make pick-ups and deliveries, for example, will be charged more than an office worker who enters the area and then leaves his car parked for much of the day.

However, critics of such a system have said in the past that the ability to track cars wherever they are on the island may give rise to privacy and other issues.

But vendors say there are measures which can be taken to prevent this, such as storing data with neutral third parties.

Mr Lim said that apart from satellite-based technology for ERP, Singapore was also testing other green technologies.

An Electric Vehicle Taskforce co-chaired by the Energy Market Authority and LTA was set up to assess the use of this technology.

The two agencies will jointly develop a charging infrastructure to create easy access to the electricity grid.

Other technologies under study include the use of recycled materials for road construction and diesel hybrid buses.

Satellite navigation ERP and electric cars possible on future road system
Channel NewsAsia 30 Jun 10;

Singapore: The Land Transport Authority will soon be calling for a tender to invite industry players to submit technical proposals for a second generation ERP system.

One of the key technologies identified is a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) which makes use of satellites to determine the position of a vehicle.

Transport Minister Raymond Lim said the LTA will be conducting various technical tests to evaluate if the latest technologies available in the market today are accurate and effective enough for use as a congestion charging tool, especially taking into consideration the dense urban environment in Singapore.

However, he added that the development and testing of new ERP technologies that are suitable for Singapore’s conditions could take some years before it is ready to be launched and implemented.

Speaking at the World Urban Transport Leaders Summit 2010 being held at Singapore's Suntec Convention City Centre, Mr Lim pointed out since being implemented in 1998, the gantry-based system Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system has served well.

However, as the number of vehicles on Singapore roads increases over the longer term, congestion will become more extensive and it may become impractical to continue installing ever more physical gantries to manage congestion.

The Transport Minister told the world-gathering that Singapore is in a very unique situation being a small city state, with a growing population whose needs have to be met.

"Our transport sector plays an important role, in being able to move people quickly and efficiently, while managing road congestion. This is critical in keeping Singapore vibrant, green and an attractive place to live, work and play" he said.

This means options that include ways to encourage the development and use of green technologies in Singapore and nurturing green businesses and clean tech industris through tests of clean technologies in the transport sector.

This includes energy efficient lighting for traffic and street lights, recycled materials for road pavement construction, and construction methods that minimise the impact on the environment.

To improve the living environment, Singapore has also been testing green transport technologies such as the trial of diesel hybrid buses and diesel particulate filters in conjunction with the vehicle emission test laboratory (VETL) which was set up in October 2009.

An Electric Vehicle Taskforce co-chaired by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and LTA was also established to assess the feasibility of the EV technology in the local transport eco-system.

Mr Lim said LTA and the EMA will next jointly develop the necessary charging infrastructure to ensure convenient access to the electricity grid, with electric vehicle charging stations from service providers currently under evaluation.

With the electric charging infrastructure set up, and anticipated delivery of the Mitsubishi iMiEV electric vehicles, the test-bedding trial will bring Singapore be a step closer to going electric, on the road.

-CNA/sf


Alternative ERP technologies under study

Second-generation system needed as gantries hit limits
Samuel Ee Business Times 1 Jul 10;

(SINGAPORE) Installing more ERP gantries to manage increasing traffic flows may not be practical, so the government is exploring a more effective method of electronic road pricing.

Even though the ERP system has served Singapore well since it was introduced in 1998, the increase in the number of vehicles will make congestion more extensive, Transport Minister Raymond Lim said yesterday in his opening address at the two-day World Urban Transport Leaders Summit 2010 at Suntec Convention City Centre.

As a result, it may become 'impractical' to continue installing gantries, he said. 'We will therefore have to explore other solutions that would enable a more effective approach to implement congestion pricing which will help reduce the dependence on physical gantries.

'With emerging technologies available, our Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been studying potential technology applications for our second-generation ERP system.'

Mr Lim said one of the key technologies identified is a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to determine the position of vehicles.

In Germany, for example, GNSS technology is applied to road tolling on open expressways. It was introduced in January 2005 - to the country's 12,100km expressway network - for trucks with a weight of 12 tonnes or more.

The toll is calculated according to the distance travelled by a truck on the autobahn, as well as the vehicle's number of axles and emission category.

The toll is collected automatically using a combination of mobile communications technology and GNSS, and toll charges can be either pre-paid or through monthly billing.

Mr Lim said: 'The LTA will soon be calling for a tender to invite industry players to submit technical proposals.

The LTA will be conducting various technical tests to evaluate if the latest technologies available in the market today are accurate and effective enough for use as a congestion charging tool, especially taking into consideration the dense urban environment in Singapore.'

But with this second-generation ERP technology trial still at the concept stage, Singaporeans expect ERP gantries to be around for some time to come.

Mr Lim said: 'We expect the development and testing of new ERP technologies that are suitable for Singapore's conditions to take some years before they are ready to be launched and implemented.'

He also touched on electric vehicles (EVs) and revealed that a tender to develop a network of charging stations received a good response.

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) and LTA are spearheading a test-bedding programme to assess the feasibility of EVs as part of the transport eco-system here.

EMA and LTA, which are jointly developing the required charging infrastructure, recently made a request for a proposal to appoint a charging service provider, which will deploy the charging infrastructure in tandem with the the EV test-bed programme.

'The agencies have received good responses to the request and are evaluating them now. The outcome will be made known soon,' Mr Lim said.

It is understood that several multinational companies and government agencies are interested in the project.

Singapore on a firm path to going electric on roads
Hetty Musfirah Today Online 1 Jul 10;

SINGAPORE - The Republic is now one step closer to going electric, with the creation of an Electric Vehicle (EV) Taskforce, said Transport Minister Raymond Lim yesterday.

The taskforce, co-chaired by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and Land Transport Authority (LTA), will spearhead the EV test-bedding programme to assess the feasibility of the EV technology in Singapore's transport ecosystem.

To encourage the take-up of electric vehicles - which are priced much higher than petrol and diesel-driven vehicles - vehicular tax exemption will be given to attract participation in the test-bedding trial.

The EMA and LTA will jointly develop the necessary charging infrastructure to ensure convenient access to the electricity grid. At the same time, a technical reference for the electric vehicle charging stations has also been developed.

The two agencies have requested for proposals to appoint a Charging Service Provider, which will deploy the charging infrastructure in tandem with the take-up of the EV test-bed programme.

They have received good responses to the request and are evaluating them now, said Mr Lim at the World Urban Transport Leaders Summit.

He also spoke on the need to develop the use of green technologies in the transport sector.

Some of the green endeavours already being pursued include energy-efficient lighting for traffic and street lights, recycled materials for road pavement construction and construction methods that minimise the impact on the environment. Hetty Musfirah