The book: Multilane Free-Flow Tolling Systems
The best book in the world on Multilane Free-Flow tolling systems, primarily because, as far as I know, it's the only book in the world on MLFF tolling systems. This book covers the key principal themes of concession deeds, interoperability, road topology, tolling products, trip reconstruction and so much more. So if you are:
- Thinking of building a tolling system,
- Planning to invest in a toll road,
- Work for a Department of Transport,
- A student studying Intelligent Transport Systems at University,
- Are looking to get a job in the global multi-billion dollar tolling industry, or
- Have been working in the industry for a while and still don't understand what is going on,
this is the book for you. Packed with colour pictures, diagrams, data items and useful information, this book will give you a solid understanding as to the way tolling systems work.
The book is available both as an ebook and a paperback from Amazon. The paperback is available here.
The ebook is free and is released under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license. The pdf book (14.3 MB) is here.
The book is divided into two parts. The first discusses some of the most important concepts that drive tolling system design. This includes:
- The Concession Deed, the document that describes the legal framework allowing for the collection of tolls from customers using a road,
- A high level tolling system architecture to provide a framework for the subsequent discussion around system components and functions,
- Road topology and how open and closed toll road configurations have a significant impact on trip reconstruction,
- The issue of correctly determining vehicle class when calculating tolls,
- The functions the tolling system needs to provide to support interoperability,
- Toll products, which includes a detailed look at tags, image processing and other fee and charge structures,
- Considerations for customer self-service through on-line web portals,
- Enforcement arrangements when customers don't have valid arrangements to pay their tolls, and
- Structures to support the tolling system's interactions with a corporate financial system.
The second part takes a more detailed look at the technical architecture of modern tolling systems. This includes:
- A short section on specifying and building a tolling system,
- Tolling system data requirements and some operational considerations,
- Data items. There is no standard tolling system in the world. Data items, which should be generally recognisable, are used to explain functions in more detail,
- How roadside detection systems operate,
- Structures for Vehicles, Tags and Interoperability Partners,
- Technical detail about image processing,
- Structures for Trips, applying those Trips to Accounts both local and those belonging to Interoperability Partners, producing Statements and Invoices, and,
- A set of metrics Rupert is proposing for the tolling industry to help benchmark tolling system performance.
Following is a sample of the book's contents.
Back to topTolling System Architecture
Tolling systems around the world do very similar things, but they are all different - built by different companies, they work in different ways with significant variations in operational efficiency and revenue leakage. The book draws out those common elements that define the activity of tolling, and explains what those elements are and how they operate. This diagram presents a high level functional architecture for a tolling system, and places components of that architecture in physical locations.
Back to topRoadside Detection Equipment
An essential part of any free-flow tolling system is the vehicle detection equipment. Typically this includes cameras and DSRC or RFID tag transceivers mounted on gantries spanning the road. If a vehicle is carrying a tag or onboard unit the transceivers should be able to detect that tag. The cameras are there to record the travel of vehicles that don't have a tag and play a crucial role in toll enforcement. This diagram shows a two (front - rear) gantry configuration with detection equipment.
Back to topInteroperability Process
Interoperability makes life simpler for customers when there are a number of toll road organisations operating within a road network. Interoperability means that a customer needs just the one account (and tag if applicable) and is able to roam across the roads operated by those different organisations. This diagram shows the basic functional units required to exchange trip and customer data between interoperable toll road organisations.
Back to topTolling Pre-paid Account
Road tolling customer accounts share very many common characteristics around the world. There are the pre-paid and post-paid models. With a pre-paid account, a customer is required to put money into the account so that it has a positive balance. As they drive on toll roads, the toll charges are deducted from the account and the balance reduces. When the balance reaches a "low balance limit" the customer is required to place more money in the account. With the post-paid account, all the toll charges for a period of time are listed on an invoice and the customer is required to pay the invoice. This diagram shows the operation of a pre-paid account.
Back to topThe Tolling System Project Kick-off Meeting
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to this our project kick-off meeting! Now, who can tell me what we’re supposed to be building?
Um, well, a tolling system.
Great work John – off to a flying start. A tolling system. Now what sort of a thing is that?
What, you didn’t read Rupert’s book?
Detail John, just detail. Now, let’s bring this up a level …
People and organisations labour under the illusion that building a tolling system is a simple affair. But the industry is littered with stories of projects busting budgets and schedules while at the same time delivering poor outcomes. Do not underestimate how tricky these things can be.