How the Internet of Things is Helping Transit ‘SEE’ the Future

Introduction

The world is growing. More than 54% of the population lives in urban areas, a number which is increasing fast. (Source: Mass Transit) This means more people in urban areas, as well as a larger urban sprawl as cities grow beyond their core. This will result in more vehicles and a higher demand for transit. These changes often translate to more traffic, increased accidents and road congestion. So, how do we solve this problem? The answer may lie in the Internet of Things (IoT), a revolutionary concept which has the potential to completely change how we live and move.

Internet of Things Defined

So what is the IoT anyways? You may have seen it in the news or heard about it in your workplace, but there are still many people who are unaware of exactly what it is.

As broadband internet becomes widely available, the cost of connecting is decreasing. And as more devices are built with Wi-Fi capabilities, technology development costs are also decreasing. Add in the increasing penetration of the smartphone, and you have the perfect recipe for complete connectivity – and this is what IoT is.

IoT is being able to connect any device (which hosts an on and off switch) to the Internet and/or to each other. “The IoT is a giant network of connected ‘things’ (which also includes people). The relationship will be between people-people, people-things, and things-things”. With over 26 billion connected devices predicted for 2020, IoT will provide us with countless connections. (Source: Forbes) The opportunities are endless, many of which haven’t even been dreamt about yet! 

Potential of IoT in Transit

The introduction of wide scale IoT will change the world forever, and its effect on the transit industry is no different. IoT has the potential to solve many current transportation issues, like congestion and disruptions.  All assets in a system will be seamlessly connected and able to react instantaneously to changes (such as a closed road, or a stalled vehicle).  

Say you're commuting on the bus. A display in the vehicle announces an accident, and to expect delays. At this point, you have two options. You can either plan an alternate route, or wait out the delay and hope that this vehicle has Wi-Fi.

Now say you're commuting on a bus equipped with IoT. That pesky announcement? It likely won’t happen. Before the bus is trapped in traffic, it would have already planned an alternate route to avoid the delay. Now you’re on time for work and back to 100% productivity faster than ever!

As communication technology develops, the scope of data sharing will widen. Each agency will have the capability to solve its issues based on its ability to collect, analyze and use data as a strategic asset. Communication infrastructure must develop so we can manage this data to maximize its benefits. A shift from the current individual focus, to a focus on a shared and connected ecosystem, is necessary.

Helping Transit Vehicles 'SEE' the Future

Spotlight: How IoT Improved Transit for London (TfL) 

London is a good example of how the implementation of IoT can reap great benefits. With a growing population of 8.6 million and a legacy system dating back to 1829, Transport for London (TfL) has access to huge amounts of data. (Source: Forbes) 

They use this data in a number of ways: 

• Journey mapping has allowed TfL and its customers to get a far more accurate picture of how and where people are traveling. These maps show when and where people are moving, over a number of methods of transport. It has allowed the agency to complete an individual analysis and ensure smooth operations. This information can then be used to understand rider profiles, deal with times of heightened ridership, plan interchanges, minimize walk times and design other services.
• When a disruption occurs, TfL is able to minimize the disruptions impact on service. Proactive measures can be taken to limit the impact that disturbances have on an individual’s trip, and accurate information can be provided to travellers.
• Using personalized travel news, TfL is able to inform riders about updates on their journey. By identifying frequent customers and interpreting travel patterns, TfL can limit notifications to only relevant data. This information is also used for processing contactless payments, train location and traffic signal data, cycle hire and the congestion charge. In the future, this information will be used to build tailored solutions for niche user groups.
• TfL was able to leverage IoT in their subway system, London Underground, to improve customer service while achieving an expected 30% in savings. The agency installed sensors in a number of places in their subway system (escalators, loudspeakers, AC, tunnels, etc.) with the aim of making the system easier to manage, monitor and automate. This data is continuously collected and reconciled in one central location, to be used to make improvements to service. (Source: PSFK)

“Passengers want good services and value for money from us, and they want to see us being innovative and progressive in order to meet those needs.” - Lauren Sager-Weinstein, head of analytics at TfL

The Future & Beyond

So what’s next when there is a world of possibilities? Right now, we are only at the tip of the iceberg with IoT. Ecosystems need to be developed with a reliable and safe communication infrastructure and systems need to be implemented to ensure the fast transmission of huge amounts of data. When users stop noticing how much this complete interconnectedness is improving their commute and life, we will know we have built a true IoT in Public Transportation.