Automated vehicle identification (AVI) is the process of

determining the identity of a vehicle subject to tolls. The

majority of toll facilities record the passage of vehicles

through a limited number of toll gates. At such facilities, the

task is then to identify the vehicle in the gate area.

Some early AVI systems used barcodes affixed to each

vehicle, to be read optically at the toll booth. Optical systems

proved to have poor reading reliability, especially when faced

with inclement weather and dirty vehicles.

Most current AVI systems rely on which the developer choose

as the main technology to identify the vehicle is radio-

frequency identification, where an antenna at the toll gate

communicates with a transponder on the vehicle via Dedicated

Range RFID reader. RFID tags have proved to have excellent

accuracy, and can be read at highway speeds. The major

disadvantage is the cost of equipping each vehicle with a

transponder, which can be a major start-up expense, if paid by

the toll agency, or a strong customer deterrent, if paid by the

customer. (Staff, 2006)

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic

fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to

objects. The tags contain electronically-stored information.

Passive tags collect energy from a nearby RFID reader's

interrogating radio waves. Active tags have a local power source

(such as a battery) and may operate hundreds of meters from the

RFID reader. Unlike a barcode, the tag need not be within the

line of sight of the reader, so it may be embedded in the

tracked object. RFID is one method of automatic identification

and data capture (AIDC). (AIDC, 2016)

This is attributed to the fact that RFID is not as cheap as

the traditional labeling technologies like the barcode, though

it offers added value in read rates and data storage per label.

Stanford propounds that considering an Electronic Product Code

(EPC) tag is underestimating its capabilities. An EPC tag can

contain data amounting up to 96 bytes, for example, the GID-96

hexadecimal coded EPC. (Roberts, 2006)

RFID technology involves the affixing of a tag to an object

for purposes of identifying and tracking the object through

radio waves. It consists of a scanning antenna, a transceiver

with a decoder for interpreting data, and an RFID tag referred

to as a transponder which is pre-set with information. The

antenna is designed to send radio frequency signals to the

transponder. A barcode, on the other hand, represents visual

data which has been scanned and interpreted for information.

Every barcode has a particular code operating as a tracking tool

for products. A barcode is represented via a sequence of lines

or any other preferred shape. Barcodes can be scanned by barcode

readers alongside newer technology on devices such as desktop

printers and smart phones. (Roberts, 2006)

RFID is better than barcodes because of a number of

reasons. First, RFID tags operate faster than barcode scans. The

capture of an inventory of 12 pill bottles was timed against the

use of tradition pen and paper method, barcode scan, and RFID

scan. Whereas the pen and paper method took 2 minutes and 16

seconds to complete, barcode scanning took 37.9 seconds, while

RFID scanning took one second to read all the 12 tags.

Essentially, RFID is capable of reading approximately 40 tags at

the same time. (Life Apex Corporation 2014)

The second advantage of RFID is that it provides for

accurate inventories in adverse circumstances. The fact that

RFID technology uses near-field technology instead of laser-

based line-of-sight places it in a better place to accurately

scan a pallet or box consisting of many tagged items. In

addition, whereas a barcode needs to be attached to a scanning

lesser at every point in a warehouse, storeroom or entire

facility, RFID antennas and scanners can be efficiently used in

such a scenario for passive and automatic registration of

inventory movement. (Roberts, 2006)

 The third reason for consideration of RFID technology is

that it guarantees accuracy in most real-world situations.

Employees in most busy tool cribs, tollgates ,shipping centers

and warehouses charged with the use of identification systems

have found that the line-of-sight, one-by-one barcode technology

is slower and less convenient compared to the use of RFID. The

accuracy of RFID tags is indicated by their ability to read

information from a greater distance than bar codes. It is

possible to accurately read information using RFID from as far

as 300 feet away. Barcodes can only read information within a

range of 15 feet. RFID tags are also very efficient in harsh

environment such as high temperatures, moisture, around

chemicals, and outdoors.

 Staff (June 21, 2006). "Road Charging Scheme: Europe - Italy, Rome". Road User Charging

Worldwide. UK Commission for Integrated Transport. Archived from the original on October 5, 2006.

^ Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) Archived May 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.

Life Apex Corporation. (2014). Life Sciences – Pen and Paper and Barcode vs. RFID.

Roberts, C. M. (2006). Radio frequency identification

(RFID).