NCJ Number
12234
Date Published
1973
Length
73 pages
Annotation
REVIEW OF FOUR ELECTRONIC TECHNIQUES TESTED IN PHILADELPHIA, COVERING TEST SITE SELECTION, ROUTE DESIGN, TESTING PROCEDURE, AND PERFORMANCE RESULTS.
Abstract
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS A VARIETY OF ELECTRONIC TECHNIQUES HAVE BEEN PROPOSED FOR MONITORING LOCATION OF POLICE OR OTHER VEHICLES IN URBAN AREAS. THE FOCUS OF THIS PUBLICATION IS ON FOUR SUCH METHODS WHICH HAVE BEEN TESTED IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. THE TESTS WERE PERFORMED TO MEASURE THE ACCURACY AND COVERAGE CAPABILITIES OF EACH TECHNIQUE UNDER REALISTIC CONDITIONS. THIS DOCUMENT DESCRIBES THE LOCATION TECHNIQUES AND DISCUSSES TEST SITE SELECTION, TEST ROUTE DESIGN, AND TEST PROCEDURES. THE TESTS INDICATE THAT MICROWAVE PROXIMITY TECHNIQUES CAN BE USED TO ACHIEVE ACCURACIES WITHIN 330 FEET. THE MEASURED ACCURACIES OF LORAN C AND NARROWBAND PHASE MULTILATERATION ARE WITHIN 1100 TO 2000 FEET DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE'S ENVIRONMENT. WIDEBAND PHASE MULTILATERATION, WHICH ACHIEVED ACCURACIES ON THE ORDER OF 2800 TO 5000 FEET, SHOWED NO SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE OVER THE NARROWBAND PHASE TECHNIQUE. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT THE MICROWAVE PROXIMITY TECHNIQUE IS THE MOST SATISFACTORY BUT THAT LESS EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT MUST BE DEVELOPED FOR WIDESPREAD USE. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS FOR VEHICLE LOCATION TECHNIQUES INCLUDE THE MONITORING OF POLICE VEHICLES, TAXIS, TRUCKS, AND BUSES, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN IMPROVED EFFECTIVENESS OF FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND INCREASED SECURITY FOR VEHICLE OPERATORS, PASSENGERS, AND CARGO. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)