Philadelphia field tests of an overlapping signpost AVM system during the UMTA multi-user AVM program

Field testing of an Automatic Vehicle Monitoring (AVM) system employing overlapping RF signposts is described. Tests were directed toward assessing the feasibility of using the AVM system for locating both random-route and fixed-route vehicles. Emphasis is placed on describing the acquisition and analysis of location error data. The conditions under which tests were conducted in order to guarantee the integrity and objectivity of the tests are described. The results obtained prove conclusively that the overlapping signpost approach and variants thereof can meet the AVM requirements of transit, para-transit, police, etc., fleets.