Optimising Geofencing - Phase 2

This project will optimise emissions geofencing to be more flexible than current systems allowing them to enhance new vehicles performance by improving the emissions of new bus fleets, plug-in hybrid vehicles and existing vehicles in circulation today.

The location of a vehicle can be used to change its behaviour. This technology can be used to reduce emissions in specific locations, for example city centres, and is often known as geofencing. The use of geofencing requires accurate location of the vehicle, a method to change the vehicle behaviour and rules to define the location where the geo-fence is operational.

Current systems have been recently been applied to the operation of buses as they often operate in regions of poor air quality in city centres. Geofencing has also recently been introduced in some PHEVs to encourage their usage of electric only operation to improve air quality.

To increase the uptake of geofencing and thus improve the air quality across the UK, this project will demonstrate the potential of more flexible geofencing architectures. On the one hand, making the rules that define the geofence more flexible - for example by allowing the local authority or fleet operator to vary the extent of the zone as a function of route topology, overall air quality, traffic level or time of day. And on the other hand, by demonstrating ways to influence the behaviour of private vehicles to respond to geofenced, low emission zones and in particular, ways to ensure the increasing fleet of plug in vehicles (PHEVs) are used effectively.

Finally, the same underlying analysis and development approaches will be used to optimise future Mobility as a Service scenarios, considering both the direct and indirect impacts on air quality. This will enable local authorities to plan for the roll-out of such future integrated transport mode solutions with confidence in the wider impacts to their citizens.