Edición No. 9 - Andinatraffic

chip’s direct exposure to the
environmental agents. This also
has an impact in the maintenance
costs. Besides, their performance
for the passenger flow is not optimum,
as the passenger has to
introduce and fix the card in the
reading/ writing device during
the validation operation. On the
other hand, their security level
is high and they are commonly
adopted field proven technology.
Besides, they have a large storage
capacity that allows integrating
several applications within the
same card (e.g. transport and
parking).
Finally, contact-less cards guarantee
all the requirements above
mentioned. They allow an easy
and quick operation as no mechanical
contacts between the
card and the reading/ writing
device are needed. This also has
a positive impact in the maintenance
costs. As in the case of
contact IC cards, their security
level is high, they are commonly
adopted field proven technology,
and they have a large storage
capacity that allows managing
multi-application. This last feature
will ease the future integration
with other transport modes
and services (such as buses,
parking, etc.).
This kind of cards is more expensive
than barcode or magnetic
tickets, but the expected
fare levels for the HHSR services
account for the use of a medium
cost fare media: according to the
reference tariff’s list given in the
Fare Policy Specifications (‘HHR-
LO-FP-402-SYS-001-D1’), paperbased
contact-less ticket’s costs
would not cause a big increment
in the ticket price.
Therefore, our recommendation
is to use the contact-less technology
for both tickets and cards
sold and managed in the AFC
system. The features and advantages
of contact-less cards are
further explained below.
1.1.1 Contact-less cards
ANDINATRAFFIC - EDICION No. 9
Due to their medium prices, the
maintenance cost reduction, no
contact with devices, and the security
and easy to use features,
contact-less cards are broadly
used as a fare media in transport
applications all over the world.
The procedure of establishing
communication between the
reader and the card is started by
a radio frequency field emitted
by the contact less reader. The
antenna inside the card receives
the signal by induction and transmits
the information to the chip
inside the card. See next figure:
The contact-less cards could be
classified in two types according
to the chip technology:
• Memory chip.
• Microprocessor chip.
• The contact-less cards could
also be classified according
to the distance range in three
types:
• Proximity Integrated Circuit
Card. Range: around 15 cm.
17