Evaluation of an expanded satellite based mobile communications tracking system

Abstract

Since the terrorist events in the United States on September 11, 2001, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has been testing and evaluating cargo tracking technologies to improve the safety, security, and efficiency of commercial motor vehicle operations. While satellite-based systems used for tracking vehicles and cargo provide sufficient geographic coverage in the majority of the United States, there remain several vital regions that are uncovered and difficult to monitor. One such region is Alaska, where officials are particularly concerned with the hazardous materials shipments that are transported parallel to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. This article analyzes the risks and benefits associated with adopting an Expanded Satellite-Based Mobile Communications Tracking System to monitor hazardous materials and high-value cargo in Alaska. Technical and acceptance risks are evaluated against the communication, safety, security and real time information benefits that the system provides. The findings indicate that the system provides a significant communications upgrade relative to previously available technology. Since the terrorist events in the United States on September 11, 2001, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been testing and evaluating technologies to improve the safety, security, and efficiency of commercial motor vehicle operations. Several key studies have evaluated vehicle and cargo tracking systems. These systems provide automated updates of location information to a dispatcher on a regular basis. They also include the ability to share critical information with carrierauthorized third parties, such as public sector agencies. While satellite-based systems used for tracking vehicles and cargo provide sufficient geographic coverage in the majority of the United States, there remain several vital regions that are uncovered and difficult to monitor. One such region is Alaska, where officials are particularly concerned with the hazardous materials (HazMat) shipments that are transported along the Dalton Highway from Prudhoe Bay in the north to Fairbanks and other cities in the south. The Dalton Highway runs parallel to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. If a terrorist attack were to occur in Alaska, authorities believe that the pipeline would be one of the likely first targets and a hijacked HazMat