RCI approves architecture for European interoperable tolling
Road Charging Interoperability (RCI) project finds consensus on a European level.
The EC-funded, ERTICO-coordinated Road Charging Interoperability (RCI) project has approved the architecture for interoperable road charging. This RCI concept for interoperable road charging is in line with the Directive 2004/52/EC, which for the average EU citizens means one contract, one on-board equipment (OBE) and one seamless tolling infrastructure everywhere in Europe.
The RCI architecture builds upon the roles and responsibilities as defined by the European operator community (ASECAP) and Member States (Stockholm Group) in the CESARE III project. It expands on this model with technical functional blocks and interfaces that have been derived from CEN/ISO work (17575), but with the objective of supporting real-life deployment - under existing market conditions - by toll chargers and toll service providers.
Taking tolling to a new height
The adoption of the RCI architecture by all 26 RCI partners is a milestone. It is the first time that European incumbent toll chargers, together with industry and toll service providers, have reached consensus on controversial issues, including:
- Defining how the thin/intelligent client discussion can and should be resolved
- Agreeing on the tools for toll chargers and Member States to define, now and in the future, the functionality they need for their local/national toll systems, while at the same time defining a constant set of specifications that allows industry to manufacture OBE that can operate in current toll infrastructure and yet remain inexpensive to replace in the future
- Minimising the risk that existing intellectual property rights impede market deployment by leaving maximum flexibility to the industry, instead of imposing specific or even proprietary implementations
- Specifying those interfaces that need to be standardised in support of procurement for an open competitive solution.
The specifications will be implemented by industry for demonstration in six existing test sites during 2007. They will be communicated in parallel to the RCI Forum (around 150 organisations) to increase awareness and continue consultation.
For more information, please visit the RCI website (and its “Forum area” with public documents at www.ERTICO.com/RCI) or contact ERTICO Project Manager Oene Kerstjens