Positioning technologies

Sources and Definition

Positioning systems provide location and time information. Different systems use different technologies. We focus here on satellite, cellular and locally applicable wireless positioning technologies.

For the review of positioning technologies the following sources have been used: [9] [19]

[21] [41] [43] [50] [54] [59].

State of the art and actual developments

Satellite positioning was first introduced in the USA, and the first and still most used satellite positioning system is the GPS (global positioning system) governed by the USA.

The technology is based on signals sent and received by satellites, transmitters and receivers (e.g. a navigator as an on-board application), with positioning accuracy of about 10-20 meters. The accuracy is expected to improve towards one meter as the new system GPS III is established (should be available by 2020). GALILEO is the to-be-introduced satellite positioning system initiated by the European Union (should be available around 2012-2015).

Other major satellite positioning systems are GLONASS (Russian, in use) and COMPASS (Chinese, should be available by 2020).

Cellular positioning relies on communication from base stations that are distributed through an area. The position can be determined using communication networks such as GSM (global system for mobile communications, a range of ETSI standards) or UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system, a third generation technology based on the GSM standard). Thus the application and tool for determining the positioning could be e.g. a mobile phone. The mobile phone is registered to a cell (area around a base station) and the position can be derived. In more advanced systems cells can be further divided into sectors and the strength of the signal can also be used to provide more precise positioning information. Depending on cell size and details of the technology solution, the precision and accuracy varies between about 50 meters to 35 kilometres.

Somewhat similar to cellular positioning are the locally applicable wireless positioning technologies, such as those using WLAN (wireless local area network) or Bluetooth. These can be useful in built areas and indoors environment, e.g. to complement satellite positioning when not available or when more precise information on location is required. These can also serve as real-time locating systems (RTLS, ISO and ANSI standards), referring to real time tracking and identification of objects. These are used e.g. in warehousing.

Satellite positioning (mainly GPS) is used in navigation systems (on-board units in vehicles).

Satellite positioning is used in logistics to track and follow transports, to route navigation purposes, etc. Cellular positioning systems and real-time locating systems can be used e.g.

with mobile phones, laptops and other mobile units. Solutions are applied in logistics e.g. in warehousing.

Figure 8. Example EGNOS Open Service & Commercial Service (www.gnsstracking.eu)

Newer systems grant more accurate positioning data, being helpful to define emissions based on actual travelled routes.

COFRET (Carbon Footprint of Freight Transport) Page 18 Website Address: www.cofret-project.eu Date & Version: 29.02.2012_v1.1

• Satellite positioning (the four major governed systems include GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, COMPASS): Signals sent and received between satellites and receivers.

• Cellular positioning (GSM, UTMS): Less precise data due to reliance on spatial cells, only marked by base stations that communicate with receivers (mobile phones possible).RTLS (real time location systems): Similar to cellular positioning, rather based on WiFi or Bluetooth technology for application indoors (warehousing).

Positioning systems (especially GPS) are more and more used in in-vehicle systems (on board units of trucks and vans, trains, etc.) for tracking and tracing. Also, positioning systems that combine satellite technologies to other (complementary) technologies are expected to become more common. The diffusion rate will further grow in the future.

Different parts of the logistics chain may benefit best from different positioning techniques.

The transport part can benefit from satellite positioning and cellular positioning, and these two actually complement one another: satellite positioning applies in rural areas, where cellular network communications may be lacking whereas cellular positioning is at its best in urban environments, where satellite positioning can be problematic. Warehousing, stock monitoring etc. may benefit from local positioning solutions and e.g. precise real-time location information may be required. It should be acknowledged that satellite positioning can be used even in places where there is little or no infrastructure, e.g. remote or sparsely populated areas and at sea. Tracking of movements of valuable goods is one special application of satellite positioning.

Contribution to and Potential for carbon footprint Measurement and Calculation

The primary information from positioning systems is by definition the location (and thus the route and distance travelled). The accuracy and precision varies significantly depending on technologies used. Also other type of information can be communicated together with coordinates, e.g. time and identification information.

The contribution of positioning systems regarding carbon footprint calculations is the information such as (1) what vehicle is used (2) what commodities (3) from where and where to and (4) at what pace. The position and other information derived from it help to monitor the actual whereabouts of cargo, and a lot of information on these movements can be used to make more precise carbon footprint calculations.

Positioning benefits the DO and CHECK purposes on product, shipment or vehicle level.

The potential of technology and system regarding carbon footprint measurement and calculation is assessed as high. At best, positioning techniques will provide real-time information and tracking possibilities for all parts of the logistics chain for monitoring at any detailed unit level (e.g. shipment level).

Technologies such as satellite positioning in the transport part are already established and used for other reasons, and could also be used to enable more precise carbon foot printing.