Vehicular location and information systems

Various land mobile communities are actively seeking new tools which will offer significant improvements in the efficiency with which they manage the operations of their mobile fleets. The various types of location and information reporting techniques which can be used to supplement existing voice-radio communications to achieve this goal are described. Both fixed- and random-route location systems will be considered in terms of system characteristics as these relate to the needs of specific user groups such as law enforcement agencies and transportation organizations. The location techniques considered will include electronic signposts, trilateration (direct measurement using both wide-band (pulse) and narrow-band (phase) modulation), and automatic navigation systems. System parameters to be discussed will include: spectrum efficiency, Federal Communications Commission licensing considerations, required and achievable location accuracies, data-system speeds and reliability, and elements of cost effectiveness analysis. Finally, requirements for other types of vehicular information which are needed to produce a practical total system will be explored.