ETC technology enables collection of
tolls on roadways using electronic equipment. This technology plays a vital
role in allowing capital investment savings, fraud elimination, faster journey
time and lesser congestion.
ETC systems are therefore widely installed on
various highways, bridges as well as tunnels across various countries of the
world. ETC systems prove to be a technically & financially feasible
substitute to traditional toll systems.
An ETC system records financial details related to the maintenance of
highways and urban construction projects along with their ongoing maintenance
operations. Since an ETC system provides an improved patron experience in form
of mobility, safety, and convenience, it has been considered as a necessity and
is being adopted by most of the governments and transport departments across
the globe.
One of the fastest growing ETC types is Open Road Tolling (ORT) which is also termed as All Electronic Tolling (AET). This method plays a major role in replacing cash collections and improving accountability, and thereby speeds up the toll collection. AET is the collection of tolls on road networks without using toll booths. It enables vehicle drivers to simply drive through the toll plaza at high speeds and the toll charges are deducted electronically.
This method therefore aids in
reducing the congestion at toll plazas thereby increasing the vehicle movement
per hour/ per lane. AET discards the necessity for a vehicle to repeatedly stop
at toll road exits and entrances, which ultimately reduces the traffic jam
around the toll gates and saves time and fuel of the travellers. An AET system
can be operated using two methods such as through Automatic Number Plate
Recognition (ANPR) and through transponders.
The transponder method has been
dominating the overall AET market. Transponders are receiver-transmitter
devices which produce a response signal upon electronic interrogation.
Presently, most Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) systems depend on
radio-frequency identification in which the antenna at the toll gate connects
with the transponder on the vehicle via the Dedicated Short-Range Communication
(DSRC) technology.
