Transportation Border Working Group Data
Workshop
Identification of New Technologies for Data Collection
Technologies
RFID
Juan Carlos VillaTexas Transportation
Institute
Transportation Operations Group
Agenda
Border Crossing Time
Technology Assessment
The Northbound Border Crossing Process at the U.S./ Mexico Border
Implementation
Border Crossing “Delay”
Next Steps
Transportation Operations Group
Why Measure Border Crossing Time
FHWA is undertaking a Freight Performance Measurement (FPM) initiative aimed at measuring travel times in freight significant corridors and border wait times at major U.S. land border crossings
Delay time for commercial motor vehicles entering and leaving the U.S. at ports-of-entry is a key indicator of transportation and international supply-chain performance
Information collected should be consistent across all border crossings
Transportation Operations Group
Why Measure Border Crossing Time (cont.)
Identify appropriate ITS or other commercial technologies that enable border travel and crossing times to be more easily and precisely measured for commercial Northbound traffic
Specific areas of interest:– To implement a sustainable system that can
measure border delay and crossing times for freight traffic
– Proposed system should be transferable to other Land Port of Entries along US / Mexico Border
– Analysis should explore technologies that would support the measurement of crossing times for passenger vehicles as well
Transportation Operations Group
Technology Assessment Six Technologies were analyzed
– Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI)» AVI using Laser Frequency» AVI using Radio Frequency (RFID)» AVI using Infrared Frequency
– Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR)– Vehicle Matching– Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)
» GPS– Mobile Phone Location– Inductive Loop Detectors
Transportation Operations Group
Technology Comparative AnalysisTechnology Advantages Disadvantages
Automatic Vehicle
IdentificationAVI
Can send and/or receive information.Commonly used in POEs -toll collection.Available readers could be used for expanded purpose.Low operating cost.Broad application in metro areas.
Requires investment for roadside infrastructure (transponders and signal readers).Requires operational agreements between the participating countries.Card readers have to be installed at several locations to be able to have a good estimate of the border crossing travel time.
AutomaticLicense Plate Recognition
ALPR
Good identification rate.No on-board equipment required.
Negatively affected by slow-moving or turning vehicles.Could require a high investment for infrastructure, especially for equipment.Readers must be installed in many locations to be able to have a good estimate of the border crossing travel time.
Transportation Operations Group
Technology Comparative Analysis
Technology Advantages Disadvantages
Vehicle Matching
No on-board equipment required.
Could require a high investment for infrastructure, especially for equipment.Readers must be installed in many locations to be able to have a good estimate of the border crossing travel time.
Automatic Vehicle Location
AVL
Can track vehicle location and speed over the predetermined area with very good accuracy.No need to install fixed roadside equipment.
Requires some investment for infrastructure (GPS devices). Privacy issues with the vehicle owners.Obtaining truck tracking data from truckers might be difficult.
Transportation Operations Group
Technology Selection Recommendations
Two technologies emerged as best candidates
– Automatic Vehicle Identification - AVI --- RFID
– Automatic Vehicle Location – AVL--- GPS
RFID was chosen for the Texas border crossings
Why??
Transportation Operations Group
The Northbound Border Crossing Process at the U.S. / Mexico Border
1. Mexican Export Lot2. U. S. FederalCompound
3. State Safety
Inspection Facility
War
eho
use
/ Y
ard
War
eho
use
/ Y
ard
Mexican export documentation verification and cargo inspection selection
Mexican export cargo
Inspection
CBP primary inspection (document inspection)
Secondary inspection
VACIS, X-Ray, FMCSA
Others
Visual vehicle safety
inspection
Detailed state truck safety inspection
MEXICO U. S.
Transportation Operations Group
Technology Recommendations
Given that:– CBP already is using RFID technology and a
large population of trucks have RFID tags, and
– DPS is already implementing RFID technology
RFID was selected
Transportation Operations Group
Implementation
RFID Tags– CBP– DPS
Installation of al least 2 measuring locations
RFID readers– 1 before queue on Mexican side– 1 at exit of State Inspection Facility
Possibility of additional measuring locations
Transportation Operations Group
Readers
R1 Prior to end queue
R2* FAST Lane
R3* Exit of federal facility
R4* Entrance to DPS
R5 Exit of DPS*Optional
A: Mexican Export Lot
B: U.S. Federal Compound
C: State Safety Inspection Facility
Proposed Measuring LocationsBridge of the Americas – El Paso/Ciudad Juarez
Transportation Operations Group
The Pharr-Reynosa Bridge
A = Mexican Export Lot
B = US Federal Compound
C = US State Inspection Facility
t = Toll Booth
R1 = Potential Measuring Location (Mexican Side)
R2 = Potential Measuring Location (Mexican Side)
R3 = Potential Measuring Location (US Side)
Proposed Measuring Locations
Transportation Operations Group
Measuring Border Crossing Delay
Delay = (observed truck crossing time)-(optimal truck crossing time)
Free Flow Crossing Time
Optimal Crossing Time
High-Volume Crossing Time
Cumulative Travel Time
Mexican Export Lot
U.S. Federal Compound
Truck Path
State Safety Inspection Facility
Delay Time
Process Time
Transportation Operations Group
Next Steps
Technologies being piloted at 2 border crossings– El Paso Bridge of the Americas (BOTA)– Pharr-Reynosa Bridge
Developing information dissemination system– Self-sustainable system– Identify users
Develop a “Border Congestion Index”
Transportation Operations Group
Thank you, Merci, Thank you, Merci, GraciasThank you, Merci, Thank you, Merci, Gracias
Juan Carlos VillaManager Economics, Trade and
Logistics Program Texas Transportation Institute