TrafficInfraTech Magazine Linking People Places & Progress
Prodata Mobility Systems has come up with MobiGuider_ITS which promises to aid in popularising Public Transport through its various ITS applications. MobiGuider _ AFC and MobiGuider_RTPI are two more smart solutions by the company.
Since in the future public transport will be dependent more and more on intelligent transport systems that are economically justifiable and that provide sophisticated information through communications technology, many companies that are laying down newer paths in the field of ITS, are entering India. One among them is Prodata Mobility Systems that, through its smart solution MobiGuider, is entering India through MassTrans Solutions Pvt Ltd.
MobiGuider, an end-to-end mobile software platform and a fully open system, integrates AFC, ITS and RTPI in a flexible service-oriented architecture. The integration of all this functionality into one common platform provides flexibility, convenience, consistency, efficiency, and economic benefits for smart solutions of the future. The latter will have to provide a wide range of flexible and open functionalities to meet rapidly evolving needs and technologies. They will have to be able to connect to, and interact with, applications and sub-systems from specialised vendors for parts of the overall solution. To be cost effective and efficient, standards for data exchange and interfacing are crucial and have to be integrated into the total system infrastructure.
MobiGuider?s open architecture is compliant with multiple industry standards which makes it interoperable with external systems (planning, accounting, reporting, the Web). The on-board computer, the heart of the Prodata mobile system, is the main control unit of the vehicle. In addition to communicating continuously its GPS-detected location to the central control centre, it monitors and controls the vehicle equipment as well as the vehicle operation. It assists the driver in his or her daily routine by providing continuous information about trip punctuality and driving style. Some of the other functions are automatic stop and off-route detection, and sending & receiving text messages as well as voice calls to and from the traffic control centre.
The on-board computer also drives audio and visual equipment such as stop-announcing systems, displays and infotainment screens and integrates surveillance equipment. Moreover, its variety of communication technologies makes it the ultimate communication gateway and enables it to handle traffic-light priority signals.
From the MobiGuider traffic control centre, the brain of the central traffic-control system, detours can be organised and traffic flow regulated. All of the traffic and trip information from the entire fleet is monitored here. The traveller is kept continuously informed on the board displays or via the central traffic control centre at stops and stations and over the Web.
The impact of delays on the traveller?s continued journey can be presented along with connection times and alternative routes and travel modes and their advantages and disadvantages. Incidents can be reported, and corrective actions immediately taken, all of which are communicated to both — the drivers and the passengers. The automatic traffic control function of the on-board computer can influence the traffic lights to benefit the delayed vehicles. All deviations from normal service can be communicated to the traveler via the on-board computer on the on-board displays or via the central traffic control centre at stops and stations and over the Web. The impact of delays on connections can be managed, automatically or at the passenger?s request, by influencing the departure times of vehicles on connecting lines.
So with MobiGuider, the operators receive a much more efficient system which also benefits the environment, and the passengers receive increased comfort, safety and convenience.
If public transport has to be popularised in the future, it will have to be made people-centric by offering total coverage that is easy to use and comfortable.
The appeal of the car has always been its immediate availability, its predictability, flexibility, comfort and seamless door-to-door delivery. But traffic congestion now makes these advantages less attractive. While public transport has its advantages, it is also inflexible, unreliable, unpunctual, uncomfortable and unconnected. In addition, the lack of resources, the increase of energy prices and climate change require traffic flows to be managed more efficiently and cost-effectively.
