A new market for per-use pricing of transportation infrastructure (Road-User Charging and Pay-As-You-Drive Insurance) is being established. The prime technology to address this is currently the Global Navigation Satellite System (GPS plus the EU's new Galileo system). Unfortunately the problem of signal disturbance in built-up areas ("urban canyon") can cause considerable positioning errors for GPS signals. Worse, these errors are generally non-stationary and will not be fully resolved by Galileo. Ryerson University Multipath Mitigation (RUMM) Labs has explored several approaches to signal processing to mitigate the effects of this error in an effort to provide a reliable usage meter for road-use, PAYD insurance, and a by-the-minute parking meter. This talk will overview these approaches, show the effects of each and project some new work that may be undertaken next.

Bern Grush is a 30-year system-design veteran in the spatial and location related, computer industry: geographic information systems, computer graphics, document management, workflow, traffic demand management.

He was a founder of PCIGeomatics, Inc., the software publisher of highly successful geographic information systems for remote sensing imagery (1980); a founder of IMARA Research Corporation, the software publisher of the world's first PC-based image and document management system (1987); and a founder of MetaConcepts, Inc, an integrator of image and document workflow and management systems in the financial industry (1990). In each of these companies, Bern took a strong technical leadership role.

In 2002, Bern founded Applied Location Corporation, bringing together his background in geographic information system and large-scale financial systems to develop solutions for traffic demand management - using Global Navigation Satellite Systems in next-generation Electronic Toll Collection systems - roadpricing, parking by satellite and pay-as you drive insurance. At ALC, Bern's research team is developing a body of digital processes that mitigate GPS multipath error in built-up areas with the goal of reliably metering a vehicle for parking by-the-minute and road-use by the mile in cites as dense as London, New York or Toronto. The fundamental benefits of this work include transport pricing equity (user-pay) and reduced congestion and emissions. As well, it enables congestion mapping and data feeds for planning, and real-time navigation, reporting and traffic control.