Reading completes wireless travel info project

An innovative intelligent transport system and services trial of new technologies for Reading Borough Council has just concluded. The £1.8 million (US$3.2 million) project, half funded by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), showed how the council could use emerging wireless communications technology (WiMAX and WiFi) as well as the latest 3G mobile phone services, for urban traffic management and control.

The 18-month trial focused on three main areas: ‘live’ traveller information, better management of traffic, and payment systems.

The intelligent services trialled included:

• A ‘Sat Nav’ service for people’s mobile phones giving access to pedestrian maps, bus routes and numbers, and live bus and rail timetable information.
• Providing up to the minute journey time information to delivery drivers, saving time and money travelling in and around Reading.
• A unique ‘WiMAX’ communications network.
• Enhanced bus communications using newly developed ‘on bus’ equipment to provide video screen based train times, next stop and other data services via 3G, WiMAX and WiFi.
• Transmission of live CCTV and traffic signal control information using WiMAX, avoiding the use of costly, less reliable cable based systems.
• Use of mobile phones as an electronic purse for payment of bus fares and car parking.

The project demonstrated that the wireless communications system was more accurate and reliable than existing technology and would prove cheaper by removing construction costs, reducing line rental and reducing system maintenance costs.

Reading residents will soon be able to pay for their bus tickets or car park fees via mobile phones, and a secure payment trial is being undertaken involving smart card emulation in mobile phones for public transport journeys.

The project consortium was led by Peter Brett Associates, and includes Reading Borough Council, Metranet wireless system suppliers, Transept consultants, Connexionz on bus equipment suppliers, Telematix on-foot and in-vehicle navigation software developers, Euro-Baltic Software Alliance for secure parking payment systems, and Orange for mobile phone-based contactless payments on buses.
 

3 October 2008