Role of automatic vehicle location systems and localisation accuracy in freight transport: An analytical estimation of gained operational times

This study concerns the application of automatic vehicle location systems (AVLSs) for the control and management of fleet of vehicles whose regular routes are random, that is, with origins and destinations so numerous and variable that they cannot be predefined. Typical examples include road shipments, pick-up and delivery services and express couriers, demand responsive transport services and public utility services (gas, water etc.). Specific reference is made to transport of goods but analogous observations may be valid for passenger transport. The average response time of the mobile unit depends on (i) the accuracy of the AVLS adopted; (ii) the configuration of the fleet within the territory where it operates; (iii) a number of operative parameters, among which are the size of the operative area, the number of vehicles employed, the average time that they are in use, their average speed and the average time taken to perform the service. The results of two specific models provide average response times which can be compared in transport operations carried out with and without the use of an AVLS. If we abstract the equations derived from these, we obtain a quantity Δt, which measures the reduction in response time resulting from the adoption of an AVLS. The relevance of the results is related to the role of accuracy, integrity and continuity of the future Galileo system for transport location services.