Experience with a distributed information architecture for real-time intermodal tracking and tracing

The system described, named CombiCom (Combined Transport Communication System), is developed from the CombiCom project, part of the EC DGXIII DRIVE II programme for Advanced Transport Telematics. The introduction of a real-time information system, together with automatic identification, which monitors the movements of load-units, could provide the signalling of deviations from a schedule and inform the traffic agents and their clients at an early stage in time. The CombiCom project realises such an information system on the corridor Rotterdam-Kijl n-Verona. By the use of automatic identification equipment, observations in real-time are made at entry and exits of the terminals and along the routes. These observations are interpreted by the system and used to signal deviations from the planned situation through an alarm function