November 2002

Vehicle tracking specialist Siemens Datatrak has become the first in its field to implement a new application related to the forthcoming London Congestion Charging scheme. Van and truck operators will be required to pay the same £5 daily charge as everyone else for entering the controlled central zone, and telematics specialists have realised many will want to monitor exactly which vehicles enter and leave the zone and when.

Such systems sometimes incorporate a "geofencing" capability, and the Datatrak system will use its version of this to monitor vehicles as they enter and leave the area covered by the charging scheme.

To do this, Datatrak has developed a special polygon-shaped "watchbox" that matches the geography of the Transport for London scheme. It is designed to be used with the company's Internet-based Easitrak automatic vehicle location service. Reports will show operators which of their vehicles have entered the congestion area and at what times.

The congestion charging comes into force in February 2003, and Siemens Datatrak's UK managing director Michael Bateson says many operators are already worried about the effect it will have on costs and how they are going to pass those on to customers. He says the geofencing capability "will provide a painless audit of use via monthly entry zone reports."