A Review of Automatic Vehicle Location Technologies and Applications to Commercial Transportation

The purpose of this thesis is to study the available technologies for Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and dynamic fleet management systems and to determine the benefits of such systems in commercial transportation. The main focus of the research is on freight transportation. An AVL and dynamic fleet management system is an assembly of positioning, communication and information subsystems. The AVL subsystem determines vehicle positions. The information system integrates vehicle positions with real-time information about traffic, weather, customers' demand etc., and dynamically updates the fleet operating plan (i.e. routes, schedules, and tours or sequencing of stops) to maintain optimal operations. Communication systems are used to send vehicle positions to the control center and send back updated operating plans to the vehicles. A scan of the available AVL, communication, and information technologies is carried out. A study of the characteristics, capabilities and costs of each technology is provided. The potential benefits of the use of AVL and dynamic fleet management systems in commercial transportation are then studied. Its use is expected to improve service quality, efficiency and asset utilization. The dollar value of the benefits vary according to the type of service offered, and the effectiveness of a system in providing such benefits relies on the on the operating environment and the capability of the technologies used. Therefore, for a nonspecific case, a qualitative study of the benefits is presented. The application of AVL and dynamic fleet management systems to commercial transportation is also studied. A method that can be used by commercial carriers to select the appropriate technologies for their AVL and dynamic fleet management systems is proposed. A hypothetical case study is presented to demonstrate how this research can be used in real world applications. Finally, conclusions and suggestions for further research are provided. Thesis Advisor: Joseph M. Sussman Title: JR East Professor Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering