Mass Transit - 22

Occupany Data
called DotPulse - Dot stands for
destination, origin, time. DotPulse
is based on Wi-Fi counting, which
is a proven approach utilized in
other busy hubs, such as airports
and shopping malls. Jean Ghedira, executive director of marketing
and new mobilities with Keolis,
explains the company adapted
the concept to the world of public
transport using existing equipment
and developed software to provide
real-time counting data, passenger loads, origin-destination, wait
time, passengers pathways, transfer
information, fraud alert and more.
"The information is delivered
through our platforms and API
to be delivered to passengers. The
data generated is complete enough
to build robust predictive models
using origin-destination data," said
Ghedira. "Thanks to this solution,
agencies and operators can give
their passengers a predictive occupancy rate in real-time."
The information provided
through DotPulse can also be
used in Keolis Evolve, which is an
assessment of mobility needs within a community, regardless of travel
mode. Ghedira explains meshing
DotPulse information into Keolis
Evolve will bring an understanding
of passengers' origins and destinations. This allows Keolis to collaborate with its partner agencies to design more direct services to shorten
travel times and, ultimately, regain
the trust of passengers.
DotPulse has been successfully
deployed on a dozen French networks, such as Paris and the city's
surrounding region, South-East
France and Lyon. Ghedira says
DotPulse is part of a new global
approach to public transport that
will enable operators and agencies
to have a precise, real-time view
of what is happening on the network. DotPulse contains data on
traffic and weather in addition to
public transport data and Ghedira
says Keolis is starting to integrate
this data into predictive tools.
"Producing and communicating occupancy rates to passengers

22 |

BEYOND THE
pandemic,
occupancy
information will
provide value
to transit riders
will mobility
devices, stollers
or large luggage
who will be able
to know which
vehicle will
provide a more
comfortable ride.

"We

believe that
real-time
occupancy
information
is one of the
pillars of a
larger data
ecosystem."
JEAN
GHEDIRA,
Keolis

the Occupancy Level
information of the
GTFS-Realtime feed.
The company ensures
accuracy by first installing reliable counters at all doors, which
can record up to 98
percent accuracy, and
then processing the
data with its in-vehicle intelligence, which
avoids outlying data.
In working with its
global customer base,
ENGIE Solutions says
The SociÃ©tÃ© de transport de l'Outaouais
the main concern is
defining what a full bus
is an important first step; the sec- means. The information can then
ond one is to adapt the network be displayed by percentage status
to avoid overloaded vehicles and or by occupancy status, such as
stations," said Ghedira. "This sec- "full," "some crowding" and "not
ond step will require a predictive crowded." Another key point is to
model, changes in operations and ensure the information displayed
contractualization with agencies over different media, such as in an
app, on Google Maps and signage
and, of course, time."
Ghedira believes real-time oc- in stations or at stops, is consistent.
cupancy information and a com- If an app displays "bus full," but
plete mobility picture of a com- signage communicates something
munity will evolve into a "must different, the information works
have" for passengers and agencies. against rider confidence.
"We believe that real-time ocWhile properly communicupancy information is one of the cating with customers is enough
pillars of a larger data ecosystem. motivation to get the technology
GPS data from smartphones is the right, Kilian Ollivier, business
second pillar to collect data on all development manager - North
journeys for each mode (cars, America, for ENGIE Solutions,
bikes, walking)," said Ghedira. believes the value of real-time
"Having all mobility information, occupancy data will be found far
real-time occupancy information, beyond the current health crisis.
operational information and ex"Even in a post-pandemic
ternal data in the same system will world, I believe most people will
be the key to making tomorrow's retain new practices for years.
networks work."
Safety will most likely be a central thought in peoples' minds,"
Consistent Outward
said Ollivier. "Therefore, we don't
Communication
see this kind of practice, sharing
The capability to count passengers real-time occupancy, disappearis one element of ENGIE Solu- ing. We also live in a world where
tions' turnkey solution, which everything is at our fingertips, so
includes hardware to count rid- riders will expect to know if their
ers boarding/alighting, process- next bus/train is full or not."
ing the data aboard the vehicle
to determine how many riders Short- and Longare currently in the bus or rail Term Solutions
vehicle and communicating this INIT offers two occupancy data
information in real-time through solutions to its transit customers.

Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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