Wi-Fi RFID Tags in Venice

Filed in archive Tags and Readers on March 20, 2005

Wi-Fi based Active RFID tags are being used by the Port Authority of Venice to track -- no, not gondolas -- but automobiles.

Venice is using a solution provided by AeroScout, based in San Mateo California. The company's press release notes that:

"The Port of Venice has a unique automotive vehicle inventory problem. Since no vehicles are allowed in the city itself, many Venice-based businesses utilize the Port's parking facilities for visitors, as it is the closest a vehicle can get to the city. The Port requires visitors and businesses to register for parking online, and closely monitors the vehicles that remain at their lot. By utilizing the AeroScout Visibility System, they can now assign an AeroScout tag to each vehicle, and track that vehicle's accurate location on the lot at all times."

According to an article in WiFi Planet by Ed Sutherland, the new system replaces a manual, paper-based system of tickets. The RFID tags will hang from the rear-view mirrors of the vehicles.

Active tags were considered superior to passive tags because of their longer range and continuous operation.

The implementation was performed by AeroScout partner Teleporto Adriatico (TPA), which intends to extend this functionality to other European ports.