Intelligent transportation systems provide significant enhancements to how transport networks are run. The meaningful insights and data gathered allow for improved services, more effective monitoring, and faster issue resolution. We’ve put together this article to outline five of the main benefits of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) in your transit agency.
Example of an ITS in Transit Agency
An example of an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) implemented by a transit agency is a “Real-Time Passenger Information System.” This system utilizes various technologies to provide commuters with up-to-the-minute information about public transportation services.
Here’s how it works:
- GPS Tracking: Buses, trams, and trains are equipped with GPS tracking devices. These devices transmit real-time location data to a central control center.
- Data Integration: The central control center receives data not only from GPS but also from other sources like traffic cameras, weather forecasts, and schedules.
- Information Displays: Transit agencies install information displays at bus stops, train stations, and other key locations. These displays show real-time arrival and departure times, service disruptions, and other relevant information.
- Mobile Apps and Websites: Transit agencies often develop mobile apps and websites that allow commuters to access real-time information on their smartphones or computers. Passengers can check when the next bus or train is arriving, plan routes, and receive alerts about delays or service changes.
- Automated Announcements: Many modern transit systems also have automated announcement systems on vehicles that inform passengers about upcoming stops and provide real-time updates.
- Data Sharing: In some cases, this real-time data is shared with third-party app developers, enabling the creation of user-friendly transit apps that provide comprehensive information to travelers.
- Traffic Management: ITS can also assist with traffic management. The system can adjust traffic signals to prioritize buses or emergency vehicles, helping to reduce congestion and improve the efficiency of public transportation.
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5 Benefits of Intelligent Transport Systems for a Transit Agency:
1. Improve transport efficiency
ITS can help drive efficiencies and cut unnecessary costs for each of the journeys in your fleet.
With real-time vehicle monitoring, the systems will locate the exact position of your vehicles relayed through onboard tracking devices. The ITS can also provide insights into factors such as the distance to the next stop, congestion, vehicle speed, and more, which can help transit agencies to manage and monitor their vehicles.
Using this data and insights, you can analyze and determine the most efficient route each vehicle should be taking. This will allow your fleet to reach their destinations in the fastest time possible.
It can also predict when each vehicle will arrive at a certain stop, and help you plan for reasonable spacing between each vehicle.
2. Safer and smoother journeys
Another main benefit of using ITS in your network is that it can help encourage smoother and safer journeys for every rider and driver.
The systems can monitor and predict things such as delays in service or faulty equipment – for example, a ticket reader that’s broken. This helps keep riders and drivers safe and well-monitored.
This can also help operators address any issues immediately to maintain minimal disruption to journeys.
3. Rider satisfaction
ITS can also help improve rider satisfaction by offering real-time passenger information.
The systems use intelligent insights to predict the arrival times of vehicles at every stop, based on things such as vehicle positioning, traffic, speed, etc.
The information is shown to passengers through on-street, on-platform, and on-vehicle displays. The real-time data will adapt to reflect the most accurate arrival times, allowing riders to plan their journeys more effectively.
Depending on the type of display, they can also show rich content to help enhance the experience, such as tailored adverts or information on local attractions.
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4. Increased service reliability
By incorporating ITS in your transit agency, you can also increase the reliability of your services.
You can receive actionable insights on things such as unmet demand and transportation gaps, as well as late-running services.
These are all things that can impact riders during peak travel times in the day.
By identifying and resolving these issues with the data provided, you can ensure services are running smoothly at all times of the day, to meet rider demand at even the busiest times.
Therefore, passengers will lean towards your reliable and trustworthy services and are more likely to become loyal customers.
5. Full operation visibility
ITS can also provide full visibility on operations for your command centers. The insights can detect and predict issues that arise with any of your active vehicles, schedules, and journeys – all in real-time.
Being at the command center, you can then make quick adjustments to your services, based on the information you receive from the ITS, making sure every area of your transportation network is always running efficiently.
Are you looking to experience some of these benefits for yourself? Why not start implementing ITS into your own transit agency, to see how it can elevate your operations in a variety of ways?
