Nedap Automatic Vehicle Identification technology helps regulate taxi flow across airport terminals

AVI technology from Nedap enables airports to monitor, control and optimise taxi access

Taxi transportation is an important way of travelling from and to an airport. To regulate traffic flow of commercial vehicles across terminals, airport authorities are using Nedap’s Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) technology. This system, based on long-range RFID technology, reduces waiting times at taxi ranks and allows a smooth, timely flow of taxis.

The idea of regulating taxi traffic flows is simple. Only licensed taxis occupied by authorised drivers are allowed to pick up passengers at the designated areas of the terminals. This enables airports to control and track taxi access. In most situations the applications are similar: taxis are obliged to enter the rank at the terminals via taxi buffer zones. The taxi lanes are equipped with Nedap’s TRANSIT Standard long-range identification readers, which identify the taxi by reading a Nedap windshield mounted transponder. Leading airports over the globe, such as London Heathrow Airport and Helsinki Vantaa, are utilising this system.

The TRANSIT is based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in the 2.45 GHz band. The long-range RFID reader allows identification of transponders at a distance of up to 10 meters in demanding and high-speed situations. For the identification of taxis, London Heathrow Airport uses Nedap’s Boosters, while Helsinki Vantaa uses Window Buttons. These transponders are in-vehicle devices containing a unique vehicle identification number. In case of the Booster, this unique vehicle identification number is combined with the driver’s unique personal identification card.

AVI (Automatic Vehicle Identification) technology from Nedap enables airports to monitor, control and optimise taxi access. Not only to reduce congestions and waiting times, it enables airports to generate revenues from commercial vehicles and maintain high quality customer service. Nedap’s AVI system TRANSIT meets the high requirements of the CAA (Civil Aviation Administration) for a reliable, secure and convenient control of commercial vehicles.