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GB7LDI > SAT 14.09.03 23:47l 42 Lines 1554 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS-257.06
Read: DB0FHN GUEST
Subj: Satellites Tracking Could Greatly
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Sent: 030914/2033Z @:GB7LDI.#35.GBR.EU #:12667 [Swardeston] FBB7.00g25 $:ANS-25
From: GB7LDI@GB7LDI.#35.GBR.EU
To : SAT@AMSAT
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 257.06 From AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD. September 14,
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-257.06
Death and taxes may be unavoidable, but road tolls and car insurance
could be made fairer if satellite-assisted distance pricing is
implemented. The European Space Agency (ESA) is funding Irish provider
of location technology products Mapflow to undertake a feasibility
study to look into the possibility of implementing a pan-European road
tolling system.
The research aims to establish whether satellite technology can be used
to calculate the cost of motoring. A plan exists to complement this
activity with a real demonstration of the virtual tolling concept in
the greater area of Lisbon.
Potential benefits of a harmonised road tolling system would be fairer
implementation of charging on a 'pay for use' basis, lower costs as the
need for physical infrastructure is reduced and also reduced
congestion.
Germany recently received EU approval to implement a new tolling system
for goods vehicles. The system - currently being tested - uses the
US-operated Global Positioning System (GPS). The government hopes to
raise 650 million euros a year through the new charges.
Satellite-assisted tolling would make use of Galileo, Europe's planned
satellite navigation system. Galileo is a joint initiative between the
European Commission and ESA to develop a global navigation system,
scheduled to be operational by 2008.
[ANS thanks Space Daily for the above information.]
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