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tioned to take a leading role supporting surveillance and fleet management infrastructure that addresses IoT and smart city deployment,” Bill Durno, senior product manager at Seon, which offers a video management Software as a Service (SaaS) in aftermarket and also a full routing system in with its U.S. Computing arm. Te recent investment by Daimler
Trucks North America in Zonar points to a long-term preparation for trans- portation logistics through intelligent connectivity. For the school bus indus- try, this strategic partnership underlines an evolution of diagnostic, safety and tracking systems integrated into vehi- cles on the factory floor. Tomas Built Buses announced an offering called BusWise, a platform of connected school bus technologies, loaded with Zonar offerings such as Z Pass, EVIR and Ground Traffic Control in addition to an enhanced 360-degree camera system around the bus, that manages fleet operations, keeps an on-board eye for safety and lowers the total cost of ownership of new buses. “Te IoT is the future of the indus- trialization of school bus transporta- tion. It connects employees, machines, students and services to streamline the flow of information, enabling real-time decisions to coordinate student drop off and pick up, bus maintenance and routing while tracking efficiencies,” Bill Brinton, cofounder and vice president of pupil transportation at Zonar. Zonar utilizes pilots during its sales
process, allowing school transportation directors to evaluate hardware and software before purchasing units for their fleets. “It is important when adopting a new technology to ensure that you can see how a product’s capabilities and metrics have an impact on performance. How drivers adapt to new technologies is important too. If drivers are too resis- tant, the adoption curve just hit a big hiccup,” added Brinton. l
Smart Cities, Pilots and the Internet of Things
The Internet of Things has a lot to do with metropolitan areas launch- ing connected technologies to maximize resources and improve the quality of life. Just over half of the world’s 7.3 billion population live in urban areas and consume about two-thirds of the world’s energy. According to the United Nations, 6.3 billion more people will arrive by 2050, and they will compete with the Earth’s limited resources. In response, governments, in part- nership with companies and commu- nities, are launching “smart city” pilot programs to test technologies for more efficient lifestyles. Many cities already are at work.
New York has been shaping its smart city approach through an interactive platform that integrates information from government programs, local businesses and citizen who provide information through smart devices, social media and the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network. City buses have GPS units that work with a smart phone app to help users track arrival times. Sensors in the buses automatically alert traffic lights as they approach, so the lights can turn or stay green for faster passage. San Francisco has created tight
networks using citywide sensors and more than three miles of free Wi-Fi hotspots. It has invited developers and entrepreneurs to innovate IoT technologies, and to help the govern- ment understand how technologies
can be used. Already, the city has incorporated sensors into trashcans so that maintenance trucks can act quicker on sanitation. “Smart cities can provide huge benefits for transportation,” said Jeff Nuckolls, vice president of sales for Detroit-based Lochbridge, a provider of IoT solutions. “One of the biggest things the IoT can provide — through telematics and analytics — is predict- ability. It can detect flaws in the in- frastructure, such as bridge vibration detection and road erosion. When cities share information, there will be a connected ecosystem serving many people… a driver, parent or student.” Government incentive money will
generate more speed. Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a Smart City Challenge to create a fully integrated, first-of-a- kind city that uses data, technology and creativity to shape how people move in the future. The winning city will be awarded up to $40 million to implement bold, data-driven ideas by making transportation safer, easier and more reliable. The program addresses the
nation’s aging infrastructure, the dra- matically growing population, and the need for increased mobility options in developing mega-regions. Lessons learned from this competition will be used in other cities to improve networks nationwide and demon- strate a practical path to replacing carbon-based fuel consumption.
20 School Transportation News • JANUARY 2016
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