THE active participation to EGNOS and GALILEO programmes characterizes the singularity of the Telespazio offer for the LBS (Location based services) market.
Telespazio moreover supports Finmeccanica and Alcatel Alenia Space (in the framework of the Joint Venture) within the activities of the future GALILEO Concessionaire.
The activities in the field of the LBS are concentrated on two main themes:
- Convergence among telematics, navigation services and mobile communications;
- Development of satellite navigation integrated services, e.g. fleet management, transport of dangerous goods, emergency services, intermodality.
Telespazio has developed a platform that can efficiently support the infomobility sector evolution trend.
The focus is on advanced applications of infomobility and fleet management, customized to the specific needs of the various customers professional and institutional (B2B). The main focus is to:
- Improving the safety and efficiency of the intermodal transport, minimizing the risks of endangering human life (including the worker safety), thanks to the capability to better plan and direct hazardous materials traffic on safe corridors,
- Improving the safety and efficiency of roads, integrating and supporting road tolling applications.
- Adding value to the infomobility services including advanced GNSS navigation capabilities
I. THE SWATHE PROJECT
A. User requirements
In the last few years the idea of infomobility is changing more and more with the need to adapt itself to the increasingly demanding user requirements, especially in the transport market.
The future development of the transport sector cannot be focused only on the road ‘mode’, as the road infrastructure will not be able to grow endlessly to support it.
As a consequence, the European Community Countries (including Italy) are envisaging to an integration of other transport ‘modes’ with the road one.
In order to usefully contribute to the development of the freight sector, it is essential to consider the transport system as an integrated set, no more divided into different ‘modes’ (aerial, maritime, terrestrial), focusing the attention on the opportunity of a connection between them: the proposed conceptual model must be based on the intermodality development.
It is possible to assume services that provide geo-referenced information to the user, on connections of means (cars, trains, ship, airplanes), related to position and supporting the user on the planning of his movements with different means of transport, optimizing waiting time and foreseeing arrival time.
Recent developments in the field of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) can facilitate the implementation of many freight Logistics initiatives. Currently, advanced telecommunication systems provide powerful tools for efficiently operating vehicle fleets. Sophisticated logistics systems can now be developed by integrating Navigation Systems (GPS, EGNOS, GALILEO) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in conjunction with application software. Therefore, ITS based freight Logistics has become more realistic in many industrialized countries.
In this context, the target of the SWATHE project is to develop a package of infomobility services as support to the end user, every instant and in any where he is, thanks to telematics that allows not only to provide information relative to the trip but also applications for a more efficient management of the single professional activity.
The SWATHE system realization is based upon the implementation of an IT platform capable of integrating service providers and contents, characterized by:
