An analysis of positioning and map-matching issues for GNSS-based road user charging

The time for new paradigms for pay-per-use road use charging (RUC) has come, and it is still unclear whether or not current Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) supply reliability enough to lead the technological deployment. It is the general belief for RUC stakeholders that GNSS is the most flexible and cost-efficient technology for such a large deployment. However, the German experience of Toll Collect shows that GNSS must be strongly complemented by road side equipments to reach the necessary charging reliability standards. This paper analyzes some significant points of a GNSS-based RUC schemes, with a special emphasis on relevant map-matching issues. This analysis is complemented by our proposals for supporting GNSS with aiding onboard sensors and maps, and discussions about how the charging reliability may result affected by that. The paper finishes with a summary of the most remarkable conclusions achieved in our investigations.