Finding a seat on the bus will now be a lot less of a hassle, thanks to a new technology from Transport for London. To save commuters the trouble of venturing to the second level of a packed double decker bus, TfL is testing new screens that show a seat availability map, as well as ones to show the exact position of the bus in real-time, plus future stops and estimated arrival times.
Interestingly, the seat map is not connected to sensors, but a camera that makes a visual analysis based on photos snapped by CCTV cameras. Now, as well as monitoring for safety, the cameras will serve a handy second purpose and hopefully, make bus rides in London that much more pleasant.
Public Transport Seating Maps
Transport for London is Testing Tech for Finding a Seat on the Bus
Trend Themes
1. Smart Public Transport - The use of technology to enhance the efficiency and convenience of public transportation, such as seat availability maps and real-time bus tracking.
2. Camera-based Analytics - Using cameras and visual analysis to gather data and provide useful information, like seat availability, in public spaces.
3. Data-driven Commuting - Leveraging data collected from CCTV cameras to optimize commuter experiences and improve services, like providing real-time bus updates and estimated arrival times.
Industry Implications
1. Public Transportation - The sector responsible for providing transportation services to the general public, which can benefit from implementing smart technology to improve customer satisfaction and efficiency.
2. Technology and Software - Companies that develop and provide software solutions for analyzing visual data and creating user-friendly interfaces, which can be applied to various industries including public transport.
3. Surveillance and Security - The industry involved in the development and application of camera-based surveillance systems, which can be repurposed to collect useful data for improving services in public spaces.