Surface 2000 - Improving Mail Management With GPS & RFID Technologies

Laird Hepburn

Abstract:	The United States Postal Service (USPS) operates the world’s largest surface transportation network. In over-the- road operations alone, a team of over 30,000 tractor-trailer drivers logs approximately two billion miles annually to carry a large portion of the nation’s mail. The Surface 2000 (S2K) pilot program embodies the vision of transforming the ground transportation network into a world class integrated operation, providing the USPS with state-of-the-art information systems to proactively manage and control this wide and diverse network. USPS is merging its logistics systems information infrastructure with advanced technologies to, develop integrated systems that will significantly improve effectiveness. S2K’s objective is to develop information systems that provide real-time, end-to-end network intelligence and operating performance information. Currently, no single integrated system provides the information required to forecast or make timely identification of trends or problems. Consequently, logisticians and operations personnel are not able to make real-time adjustments (recovery plans) to mitigate performance problems, exploit performance improvements, or adapt to shifts in volume. The pilot is a significant first step in achieving this basic objective. The S2K pilot system was designed to demonstrate end-to- end tracking of mail containers and associated transport trailers from the outbound dock of originating facilities to the inbound dock of the destination facilities. Technologies used include: trailer-based Global Positioning System (GPS) and wireless terrestrial communications to provide real-time tracking and management of trailers and their contents; passive mail container and trailer data capture using Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) technologies; and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to provide users with easily interpretable situation displays including operational alerts to out-of-tolerance conditions. Presently, the pilot has completed the design phase and has not yet entered implementation. Findings and lessons learned from the pilot project will be used to refine the USPS’s surface network and distribution logistics strategy. These lessons will provide the basis for defining requirements for a nationwide surface transport tracking system.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 12th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1999) September 14 - 17, 1999 Nashville, TN
Pages:	2167 - 2174
Cite this article:	Hepburn, Laird, "Surface 2000 - Improving Mail Management With GPS & RFID Technologies," Proceedings of the 12th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1999), Nashville, TN, September 1999, pp. 2167-2174.
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