口译与听力-00602-2002

2002 Lesson Two p286 p228
Traffic congestion is becoming serious problem worldwide, and the pace of road-widening projects is unable to keep up with growing transportation needs.
Therefore, the only solution has been to create intelligent traffic management system,
combining GPS(Global Positioning System) and GIS(Geographic Information System) technology to bring greater convenience to drivers and increase efficiency in transportation industries.
During the decade from 1987 to 1997, GPS matured rapidly, becoming a system with many practical applications.
But what advantages can this system, which is supported by 26 satellites, bring to transportation users and car owners.
Installing a GPS navigation system in each bus would enable drivers to know their exact location, direction and speed at any time.
Moreover, the GPS wireless modem system would send this information to
relay stations along the highway, which would then transmit it to traffic-control centers.
GPS could thus enable transportation companies to keep close track of the whereabouts of their vehicles and optimize scheduling, greatly increasing the efficiency of fleet management.
Because companies would also be able to calculate their operating costs more accurately, they could save on unnecessary investment in vehicles as well.
As for benefits to passengers, GPS would improve service quality and free them from the worry of insufficient information.
Aside from information on vehicle position, with additional software GPS could also provide continually updated information on arrival times, help passengers make transfer decisions and saving them considerable time.
New application for GPS are being developed at a rapid rate in areas from transportation to recreation (boating, golf).
We can only imagine the variety of applications that will be possible in the future when GPS technology becomes even more mature in the future.。