REAL-TIME PASSENGER INFORMATION SUPPLEMENT 05


service providers with the technical documentation and material necessary to understand, set-up and use the In-Time infrastructure.


This package includes


introductory documentation, references to full documentation and the In-Time specification. A key item included in the ‘In-Time Package’


in order to understand the In-Time B2B interface is the Conceptual Model of the interface itself, which is publicly available. This model is encoded in Unified Modeling Language (UML) and helps to easily understand how data and service structures are made. The full technical specification of the interface is included as well.


Service and data structures are provided with complete WSDL and XML schema definitions.


The service provision After the installation and the testing of the In- Time system within the single pilot cities, the service operation started. The In-Time services are currently operative in all six In-Time pilot sites, and test users interested in the end-user applications are invited to subscribe via the In- Time homepage (www.in-time-project.eu). Hereby end-user services are available currently covering four different mobile platforms: Apple iOS (iPhone), Symbian OS (Nokia 3rd and 5th edition), Windows OS and Android. In this pilot phase, which will end by


To ensure the broad acceptance of multimodal traveller information services in real-time, these services need to run on systems such as smartphones


MobiGuider from Prodata Mobility Systems: the gateway to modern Real-Time Passenger Information


One key factor in ‘getting people on the bus’ is a full-fledged Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) solution that enhances the comfort level and attraction of using Public Transport (PT). The ultimate RTPI system will have to provide detailed information about door-to-door journeys using all of the available PT modes (train, tram, bus, etc.). It will offer instant and accurate guidance in a user-friendly way on mobile systems such as a Smartphone. The information will have to include easy and instant payment capabilities, itinerary data with guidance, predicted time schedules at the foreseen time of travel, real-time updates during the travel, and alternatives for the fastest, cheapest or easiest routes; much like the features and services available on the most sophisticated GPS systems in cars today.


Obviously, such PT solutions are complex and have to integrate all of the functions related to payment, journey selection and guidance, and passenger feedback. They will also have to be high performance, flexible and open systems that can be readily adapted to evolving needs and technologies.


Therefore, Prodata Mobility Systems developed ‘MobiGuider’, a flexible end-to-end solution that is a fully open system integrating AFC, ITS and RTPI functionality. MobiGuider_ITS is the Intelligent Transport System module that provides vehicle tracking and tracing, driver guidance, itinerary information and dispatching requirements. MobiGuider_AFC handles all of the Automated Fare Collection issues on buses or at counters and in the central systems.


MobiGuider_RTPI incorporates all the collecting, interpreting, preparing and presenting of passenger information on displays and other external systems. This information includes tracking, schedule-, payment, driver and passenger data


MobiGuider collects information coming from the PT-vehicles in its central ITS system, combines it with local ITS and AFC information and transfers it to internal and external systems where it is prepared for optimized presentation on the different RTPI media including PCs and Smartphones. Being an integrated and open platform, MobiGuider can perform this task so efficiently that critical, real-time information can be provided to passengers.


Modern RTPI is a reality with MobiGuider in the Netherlands


Prodata Mobility Systems installed such a future- proof MobiGuider solution in the Netherlands in cities like Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Maastricht, with a total of over 2,700 buses and trains. All passenger information is prepared by MobiGuider and sent to the different displays on the vehicles and to a governmental service (GOOVI) to support external applications such as sophisticated web applications accessible by PC and Smartphone.


Prodata Mobility Systems’ MobiGuider is the ideal platform enabling user-friendly applications, such as on Smartphones to guide passengers through the labyrinth of multi-modal PT-services making door-to-door journeys obvious and easy.


www.prodatamobility.com


December 2011, all test users are asked to give feedback on the provided services by looking at the service quality as well as their change of travel behaviour. This change of travel behaviour is especially important feedback as it gives an indication about the user acceptance of such services, resulting in estimations for the environmental impact of In-Time services especially and real-time multimodal traveller information services in general.


Conclusion The In-Time system is integrating services from all modes in single cities and regions, and is providing Transport


Information Service


Providers (TISPs) with access to these services via the In-Time Interface. The goal of In-Time is not only to prove in a pilot and test phase of one year, taking place in the six European pilot sites, that it provides robust and reliable information and routing services to its test users, but moreover to become a self-running business model after the end of its project time. Follower cities and TISPs will be able to


become part of the In-Time system by installing the ‘In-Time Package’. This shall make In-Time a Europe-wide system, helping travellers to navigate easily to their destination especially on public transport, and to lower their energy consumption by supporting them in switching to public transport.


Martin Böhm is Head of the ITS Deployment Unit at AustriaTech. For the current running In-Time project, Martin is responsible for project coordination. He holds a master in the field of


Geography and a master in the field of Traffic Telematics Management.


www.eurotransportmagazine.com


Eurotransport Volume 9, Issue 3, 2011


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