FOCUS TOPIC: INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
With just a few clicks from one central system, Wuppertal public transport provider WSW mobil GmbH can now inform passengers about current service in real time and simultaneously across multiple channels – whether in vehicles, at stops or online. The traffic information system developed together with INIT, Verkehrsinformationssystem (VIS), went live recently. It enables dispatchers to deal with disruptions more efficiently and take advantage of previously implemented templates to generate precise passenger information nearly automatically. Reports are also automatically generated. Furthermore, VIS can be used to publish messages about planned events and actions.
The new multi-channel information system transmits messages to passengers across all chosen channels with one click. Text is specifically formatted for each media type: dynamic passenger information displays, WSW’s website, the region-wide cross-company real-time platform, and social media on Facebook and Twitter. It is even possible to transmit text-to-speech announcements to the buses via mobile radio.
Interaction of multiple INIT solutions
WSW mobil’s new system optimizes dispatching, passenger information and documentation of operations – the control center’s essential tasks. To achieve this, dispatching measures and passenger information are carried out in a structured manner using the workflow and incident management tool, MOBILEforms, which is integrated into the Intermodal Transport Control System, MOBILE-ITCS. MOBILEforms sends data to INIT’s editing and publication system, INFOpublisher, where text templates with placeholders for various scenarios are stored and passenger information is generated by combining them with metadata and real-time information inserted by the ITCS. Dispatchers just have to add context-specific information.
This way, passenger information regarding disruptions is generated almost automatically from the control center’s dispatching measures. Moreover, since these processes are managed together in one system, passenger information is created quickly, efficiently and in a manner suitable for all media types. The planning and marketing departments also have the opportunity to publish messages, for example about upcoming events, by accessing the system from a web browser. Using VIS, staff can even publish their own texts directly across all media instead of relying on templates. Messages about disruptions may be published sequentially as main and final information, and planned events also as preliminary information. New scenarios can be added in the system easily. This makes VIS the ideal tool for dealing with disruptions and managing events. In addition, MOBILEforms automatically documents all operational incidents.
Concentration on the essential tasks
Automatically populated text templates and the system’s ease of use enable WSW mobil to save time and enhance the quality of their passenger information. VIS enables dispatchers to concentrate on their essential tasks: monitoring and controlling operations.
23.06.2021
