Measuring Border Delay and Crossing Times at the U.S.–Mexico Border—Part II
Step-by-Step Guidelines for Implementing a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) System to Measure Border Crossing and Wait Times

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June 29, 2012

U.S. Department of Transportation
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June 2012
FHWA-HOP-12-016

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The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Department of Transportation.

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Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No. FHWA-HOP-12-016		2. Government Accession No.	3. Recipient's Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle Step-by-Step Guidelines for Implementing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) System to Measure Border Crossing and Wait Times			5. Report Date June 29, 2012
			6. Performing Organization Code
7. Author(s) Rajat Rajbhandari, Juan Villa, Roberto Macias, William Tate			8. Performing Organization Report No.
9. Performing Organization Name and Address Texas Transportation Institute 3135 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3135 Battelle Memorial Institute 505 King Avenue Columbus, OH 43201			10. Work Unit No.
			11. Contract or Grant No. DTFH61-06-D-00007/Task BA07-040
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20590			13. Type of Report and Period Covered Final Report covering 12/21/2007 to 6/29/2012
			14. Sponsoring Agency Code
15. Supplementary Notes
16. Abstract The purpose of these step-by-step guidelines is to assist in planning, designing, and deploying a system that uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to measure the time needed for commercial vehicles to complete the northbound border crossing process at the U.S.-Mexico border (i.e., crossing time) as well as time needed to reach the primary inspection station of the Customs and Border Protection facility from the end of a typical queue (i.e., wait time). Guidelines described in this document are based on experiences gathered while deploying RFID-based systems to measure crossing times and wait times at various U.S.-Mexico land border crossings in Texas. However, this document provides a step-by-step process that is not port of entry (POE) specific, so similar systems can be deployed at any POE, including those on the U.S.-Canada border.
17. Key Words ITS Technology, Border, Port of Entry, Traveler Information, Crossing and Wait Time, Guidelines		18. Distribution Statement No restrictions
19. Security Classif. (of this report) Unclassified	20. Security Classif. (of this page) Unclassified	21. No. of Pages 72	22. Price

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

Table of Contents

 

• INTRODUCTION
  • Background
  • Purpose and Audience for the Guidelines
  • Organization of the Guidelines
• OVERVIEW OF BORDER CROSSING PROCESS
  • Overview of the Commercial Vehicle Crossing Process at the U.S.–Mexico Border
  • Basic Definitions of Border Crossing and Wait Times
  • Factors That Influence Border Crossing and Wait Times
• PROJECT PLANNING
  • Key Steps in Planning a Project to Deploy the RFID-Based Border Crossing Time and Wait Time Measurement System
  • Identifying Regional Needs
  • Using Regional Intelligent Transportation System and Border Information Flow Architecture
  • Identifying Project Goals and Objectives
  • Identifying Sources of Funding
    • The Coordinated Border Infrastructure Program
    • Regional Mobility Authorities
    • The North American Development Bank
    • State Planning and Research Program
  • Identifying an Appropriate Procurement Method
  • Applying the Systems Engineering Process
  • Evaluation Questionnaire
• FEASIBILITY STUDY, CONOPS, AND SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
  • Key Steps Prior to Designing the System
  • Performing a Feasibility Study
    • Performing Technology Trade-Off Analysis
    • Identifying Ownership Issues
    • Estimating Preliminary Costs
  • Developing a Concept of Operations
    • Defining Stakeholder Needs and Their Responsibilities
    • Identifying the Ideal Location for RFID Reader Stations
    • Defining High-Level Capabilities of the System
    • Defining Evaluation Performance Measures
  • Identifying System Requirements
  • Evaluation Questionnaire
• SYSTEM DESIGN
  • Key Steps for Designing the System
  • Developing Preliminary Designs
  • Developing a Detailed Design
  • Developing Data Dissemination Techniques
  • Preparing a Test and Evaluation Master Plan
  • Identifying Operations and Maintenance Tasks
  • Developing a Business Model
  • Evaluation Questionnaire
• SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT
  • Key Steps for Deploying the System
  • Developing a Field Deployment Plan
  • Developing a Risk Management Plan
  • Procuring Equipment
  • Obtaining Necessary Permits from Stakeholder Agencies
  • Soliciting Local Contractors for Installation
  • Assembling Equipment
  • Importing Equipment to Mexico
  • Installing Equipment
  • Testing and Evaluating the Installed System
    • Testing Field and Central Subsystems
    • Evaluating the System
    • Monitoring and Troubleshooting the System
• REFERENCES
• APPENDIX A FIELD AND CENTRAL SUBSYSTEM TESTS
• APPENDIX B SYSTEM EVALUATION TESTS
• APPENDIX C GSA FORM 1583 AND AMPLIFYING INFORMATION

List of Tables

 

• Table 1. Summary of the advantages and disadvantages of potential vehicle identification technologies.
• Table 2. Project cost of RFID-based border crossing time and wait time measurement system projects deployed during 2009-2011.
• Table 3. Stakeholder agency roles and responsibilities.
• Table 4. Project risk, description of impact, and mitigation plans.
• Table 5. Permitting agencies, purpose of permits, conditions for granting permits, and necessary documentation.
• Table 6. Field subsystem tests.
• Table 7. Central subsystem test.
• Table 8. Techniques to collect baseline crossing time or wait time data in the field.

List of Figures

 

• Figure 1. Chart describing border crossing times of U.S. bound trucks.
• Figure 2. Key steps in planning an RFID-based border crossing time and wait time measurement system project.
• Figure 3. Four dimensions of a procurement process.
• Figure 4. “V” model diagram.
• Figure 5. Key steps prior to designing the system.
• Figure 6. Key steps for designing the system.
• Figure 7. Sample conceptual design of an RFID-based border crossing time and wait time measurement system.
• Figure 8. Sample RFID reader station.
• Figure 9. Key steps while deploying the system.
• Figure 10. Installing RFID antennae on a mast arm.

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