By Andy McCue, 17 August 2004 16:10
NEWS Transport for London (TfL) is set to spend up to Ā£34m on new digital enforcement technologies for the Congestion Charging Scheme (CCS), which could include radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.
A new number plate recognition system will be used in the proposed western extension zone once it gets the go ahead and will then be rolled out to the existing congestion charging zone.
It is anticipated this will be completed by 2008, at which point a TfL contract notice says a further technology refresh may be needed to take into account "the potential use of radio tags to aid detection of vehicles".
Although the main congestion charging contract is held by Capita, the current analogue camera and telecoms contracts are held by Initial Electronic Security Systems, BT and Colt, who send images to a central site. Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology at this central site is used to capture images of vehicles entering the zone and identify their registration plates.
For the proposed western extension zone, TfL initially wants the ANPR function to be carried out digitally at the roadside, with the full evidential record then being transmitted over low-cost cabled networks using digital technology. TfL claims this will allow the CCS to take advantage of advances in technology and cut communications costs.
It is the Initial/BT/Colt contract that is now up for grabs but the main Capita contract ends in 2008 and a TfL spokesman told silicon.com that it will then be looking to combine them into a single contract.
A Tfl spokesman said it was not viable to use this technology when the congestion charge began in 2003.
TfL is structuring the project in three "lots", with the first one to get the system live, the second to maintain it for the duration of the contract, and the third to refresh the technology for the existing congestion charging zone.
The contract is expected to be awarded towards the end of next year with a "go live" date of late 2006. Beyond that there are several "break points" for TfL to make a final decision on proceeding with further technology refreshes and combining it into a single overall contract. But if those break points are not exercised and the contract is not terminated for any other reason, the project will complete in early 2016.
TfL has also said it may pay a contribution to bidders' costs in order to encourage competition for the contract.
Comments
There are 10 comments. Join the discussion
1. Roger Huffadine
Lets hope that they test the system with badly suppressed mopeds passing the detectors at the same time as other traffic.
Do they also have some clever method of getting around simultaneous responses or will they just send out fines regardless in the normal way ;-)
2. Karen Challinor
Well I suppose it's nice to see a project that's making enough profit to be able to invest in new hardware. Like the speed camera project.
If any politicians are reading this is an example of irony, which is nothing to do with metal either.
3. Paul
A colleague of my girlfriend is currently suffering ongoing harassment from the Congestion Charge authorities, since someone in London is driving around with a faked numberplate that matches hers.
She has faced repeated payment demands and threats, despite the fact that she lives and works about 200 miles away from London, and always has witnesses to say that she was nowhere near London on the days in question.
The authorities seem utterly unable to grasp the simple fact that a numberplate can be faked, and clearly did not consider this possibility when they were setting up the system in the first place.
So, when they move to RFID tagging, one simple question needs to be asked: Can an RFID tag be duplicated?
If so, a fundamental problem with the entire charging system will remain unsolved.
4. Robert Lewis
It would be easier and cheaper and more cost effective to implant a chip into people instead of the vehicles, with an automated direct debit on their bank account for entering London, and a per mile charge for moving around within London.
This would be fairer because rich people with big cars and big familes would have to pay the same as poor people with families that are too big to fit into one small car. And the there would be no more positive discrimination in favour of pedestrians, cyclists, joggers etc.
Cyclists and pedestrians could be entitled to claim a partial rebate of course, but will need to show proof that they were not mechanically assisted in their movements.
This Per Capita charge would also pay for London Buses and London Underground which would be free at the point of use like the NHS, as well as saving millions spent on cash handling and financial management systems, printing and secure handling of tickets, barriers at stations etc etc.
Finally, it could be used to deter lewd & indecent behaviour by activating an 'electroZAP' facility whenever two chips came within a prescribed distance of each other in a public place. Obviously it would also cut crime in London quite dramaticallly because false alibis would be no more, and known criminals movements could be monitored at all times.
[Ed note: We're not sure if this is a serious comment but figure there are about 20 talking points in here, so it's a worthy contribution.]
5. anonymous
The extension of congestion charging to West London is a Jolly Good Thing.
It will cut congestion and deter outsiders from coming in except when they have to.
This will make Kenisington, Chelsea, Knightsbridge etc much nicer places to live without all those proletarian pratts and petty tradesmen clogging up the place and making it look untidy.
This will increase demand and push up property prices and keep out all the nouveaux people we don't want to have next door.
Ho Ho Ho. Silly Mr. Livingstone!
6. Robert Lewis
Of course I am serious!! Silly editor.
PS. Please note change of occupation.
7. anonymous
Hmm: could come in useful for tracking criminals - better make it compulsory, make everyone pay the £70 required to fit the system, place transponders along every road and have it linked up to the DVLC database, to check that cars are a) taxed b) MOT'd c) insured.
By having an ID card reader and fingerprint/iris/DNA scanner next to the ignition key, the system could also verify who was driving the car, and whether they were a bogus asylum seeker - better add a breathalyser/drugs tester/EEG 'awake' monitor while we're at it.
8. anonymous
Ken better be careful. If he extends the zone too far all the people he's included will start driving to work again. You wonder how many coppers on the beat catching Gun toting drug dealers and burglars the money spent on this replacement system would pay for. Soon the only convictions being made will be automated ones on generally law abiding citizens.
9. shahram
Its not feasible with current RFID technology. They have to be accurate and although they can be used upto 100m, realistically it is around 40m.
Give it a few years.
10. shahram
Although I said that RFID technology is too far from ready for this application, when it is, I would think it be the best option.
This new 'pay-per-mile' proposal is nonsense. Our jobs require us to be mobile and. Could I do that at the cost of £1.34 per mile down the M4? No of course not. It would just increase the cost of going to work beyond acceptible limits where people could not afford to go to work.
Common sense will previal!