Intelligent transport monitoring

The government of the Republic of Uganda has required all motor vehicles to be fitted with a
global positioning system (GPS) device. The government has adopted this strategy to reduce
crimes that often involve the use of motor vehicles. Figure 1 shows that a GPS device can be
hidden inside a car.

Figure 1: How the transport monitoring system works

The GPS device within the vehicle will communicate with a monitoring centre to send the data
from the car using mobile/cellphone technology. If the device is disconnected from the vehicle,
an alert will be sent to the monitoring centre.

In addition to the information captured by the GPS device, there are roadside cameras that
capture images of the number plates of passing cars.

This initiative is called the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS).

However, civil liberty groups in the Republic of Uganda have raised concerns about the
Intelligent Transport Monitoring System.

[Sources: Anon, n.d. [Vector image of car]. [online] Available at: https://publicdomainvectors.org/en/free-clipart/

Green-car- vector-image/10093.html [Accessed 7 March 2022]. source adapted.

Anon, n.d. [Vector image of a building]. [online] Available at: https://publicdomainvectors.org/en/free-clipart/

Building-3D-graphics/70653.html [Accessed 7 March 2022]. source adapted.]

(a.i) Identify two pieces of data, in addition to the location of the vehicle, that could be
communicated from a vehicle to the monitoring centre.

a) The speed of the vehicle

b) What direction the cechile is heeded towards

[2]

(a.ii) Identify the steps the GPS system would use to provide the location of the car.

The first step a GPS must take inorder to provide the location of a car is through multiple
statilites, that send signals at he speed of light towrd the earcth and your GPS inside the
car receives the signals at slightly different times, based on how far away each satellite is
form your location. Were these times are used to determine your exavt location on earth.

[4]

(b.i) The government also wants to use the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) to
produce a model of traffic patterns.

Explain one benefit of producing a model of traffic patterns.

- By producucing models of traffic patterns, you will be able to diffrentate the busy times of the
days is all different locations, which can therofre tell you if the route that you are taking to
work or school will lead to congestion or traffic, or tell you when there is limited traffic.

[2]

The Ugandan government is outsourcing the development of the Intelligent Transport Monitoring
System (ITMS) to a technology company in another country. This company will also develop and
operate the software that monitors vehicles in the system.

(b.ii) Explain one advantage of outsourcing the development and operation of the Intelligent
Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) to a company in another country.

- By the Ugandan government outsourcing the development of ther ITMS to another countire the
govenrt will be able to significnalty cut there cost. Due to the fact they may be cheaper
workiners in different countres, this therofre leves the govemnet with extra money to invest
in improving the sysytme instead of just developing it

[2]

(b.iii) Explain one disadvantage of outsourcing the development and operation of the Intelligent
Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) to a company in another country.

However though there a significant possitives there is a large rirk in the outousocinh the
deveplme of ITMS, the govemnrte can will not be bale to track the accuracy and the quality
od th system due to the foreign countire, moreover with this senstitve data they amy be
breaches with user data that the govemrnt emay not be aware of due to them not being
able to monitor the progresss within the countrie

[2]
 (c) Discuss whether the advantages for the government of monitoring the movement of vehicles
in the Republic of Uganda outweigh the disadvantages. [8]

Adv

- Allowing a reduction in crime rate, due to monitoring

- Ability to track traffic and predict congestion

- Allwo for the loctaions of car addictens and cnegetsion

- Alows ofr peotintl infastuctur change

Dis

- These stymsns can get hacked and ther can be data breaches

- Inaccurate readings may lead to false arlrm direct law infomations form other crime

- Potrintal for misuse

The Uganda Government implementing ITEMS will help manage traffic congestion and accidents, re-
duce crime and allow for the potential for infrastructure. However there are significant drawbacks to
this implementation, the big problem of data misuse, hacks and systems leaks, and may not be accu-
rate in the readings.

The main advantage of implementing an ITMS within Uganda is the addition of enhanced security sys-
tems and may be able to prevent any form of crime. By having monitoring systems there will be signif-
icant prevention of car theft, smuggling, and illegal trafficking, preventing long-winded car chases and
allowing for safety on the roads. Furthermore, it can aid in identifying and tracking suspicious activity
and alerting the monitoring centre, which could therefore prevent terrorist activities possibly saving all
the time. Morveor through the constant collection and storage of traffic data, can therefore allow algo-
rithms to track the patterns where there is lots of congestion allowing for drivers to be alerted of these
commonly high-traffic areas. This data can furthermore allow the government to view these traffic
trends allowing for them to build new infrastructure to allow mitigation of traffic. The success of the
ITEMS can be seen in that the motoring centre can be able to track car accidents helping people.

However, there are drawbacks to the implementation of IMPS weekend though the data that is tracked
in order to signify traffic trends, this data can be used in negative ways. Moreover the ethical concerns
of consistently tracking where people may cause significant animosity, due to privacy concerns. Future
there may be inaccurate readings of the location and there may be errors causing a usual civilian been
detecting as a suspicious driver and be questioned. This may therefore waste the time of law en-
forcement and take the time out of real crimes. The potential for these systems to be hacked is very
high leading to potential breaches of people's personal data. However this issude can be easily mitii-
tated with menay forms of incriptions like forewall or blockchain can be impeltented

Therofre the pletary of benefits that ITMS bring to the government outweighs the disadvatges.
2. A cashless society

In the near future, it is possible that cash will not be accepted as a means of payment in
Sweden. People are already using alternative ways of paying, such as mobile payment, card
payment and internet payment. Currently, over 95% of citizens in Sweden have internet access.

Many people in Sweden claim there are advantages of using an app developed by Swish. The
Swish app allows friends to share a restaurant bill, pay where credit or debit cards are not
accepted, for babysitting or parking tickets, or make a donation at church.

However, other people in Sweden claim that making the Swish app the only means of payment
may increase inequalities within the country.

Discuss whether countries should pass legislation making apps such as Swish the only means
of payment.

[12]

Advantages

- Saving money were the government will not have to make a product currency

Disadvatges

- The loss of jobs in the mint and currency area will cause many problems

- The digital divide, areas that may not have access to intenrte and theofre not be able to access
there financials. Theroefe farmer who may sell there produce with cash and deal with cash,
who ahvbt had exposure to these thing s may be affecte

- Eledrely who are less savy regarding the use of mobile phones, may be more prone to scams,
bank frauds and pishing sceams that will allow foregi partys to access there financial infor-
mation

The proposition of legislating apps like Swish as the sole means of payment in a country necessitates a
nuanced evaluation of its potential benefits and drawbacks. On the positive side, such a move could
lead to substantial cost savings for the government, eliminating expenses associated with physical cur-
rency production and maintenance. The convenience offered by mobile payment apps, facilitating
seamless transactions in various aspects of daily life, is a compelling advantage. Additionally, the abil-
ity to track digital transactions could enhance oversight and deter illicit activities. However, the transi-
tion to a cashless society raises concerns about job losses in traditional currency-related sectors and the
widening digital divide, potentially excluding segments of the population with limited internet access.
Moreover, the vulnerability of less tech-savvy individuals, particularly the elderly, to scams and fraud
underscores the importance of addressing the potential pitfalls of such a shift. Striking a delicate bal-
ance between the advantages of innovation and the need for inclusive financial systems becomes para-
mount in shaping the trajectory of payment methods in a modern society.