Terrestrial Radiodetermination Potential Users and Their Requirements

PDFTech ReportDOT-TJC-OST-76-7Automatic trackingData processingDispatchingElectromagnetic wavesGround vehiclesHighway traffic controlInland waterwaysLocationMonitoringPosition fixingRadio equipmentReal time controlShip pilotageTracking systemsUtilizationVehiclesUnited StatesUnited States. Dept. of Transportation. Office of the SecretaryCantor, S.Farr, Edwin H..Kodis, RalphJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, (U.S.)Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference CenterThe report summarizes information gathered during a preliminary study of the application of electronic techniques to geographical position determination on land and on inland waterways. Systems incorporating such techniques have been called terrestrial radiodetermination (TRD) systems. Their most common application has been to locate and track a large number of vehicles in real time. These and other potential uses and requirements are identified and discussed. The final portions of this report describe the design and operation of a number of TRD and TRD-related systems that have been or soon will be deployed for demonstration. Most of these systems are associated with the computer-aided dispatching and monitoring of either municipal police car or bus fleets. The benefits and limitations of these systems, as determined by their users, are presented for consideration