Digital mobility and virtual station planning

by A. Bergmeier - 2024-02-14

Public transport is under increasing pressure. Passengers expect simple fare systems, clear signage and journeys that are as seamless as possible through complex transport infrastructure.

At the same time, the demands on transport operators, planners and digital platforms are increasing. At InnoTrans, the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is showcasing two developments that address precisely these issues: an intelligent fare system for public transport and a virtual planning environment for stations and transport infrastructure. With more than 1,200 employees, the research institute is one of Austria’s largest non-university research institutions and is using the international trade fair specifically as a platform for new technologies in the mobility sector. The focus is on solutions that are not only intended to work technically but also address specific problems in the everyday lives of passengers, transport planners and infrastructure operators.

Travel Mode Identification simplifies fare calculation

The first development presented is called Travel Mode Identification. It is a software solution that automatically recognises different modes of transport and derives a suitable fare model from this. The idea is aimed primarily at travellers and tourists who are often confronted with complicated fare systems in unfamiliar cities. Instead of having to decide in advance whether a single ticket, a day ticket or another fare option makes sense, users will in future simply be able to use the bus, tram, underground or train. The optimal fare is calculated only after the journeys have been completed. The fare is then confirmed and checked. Essentially, the technology analyses the actual use of different modes of transport. To do this, the software relies on the smartphone’s sensors. Accelerometers provide characteristic motion data that can be used to distinguish between different modes of transport. According to AIT, the system recognises eight different forms of mobility – from walking to rail travel. Typical frequency patterns and vibration profiles are key here. A bus, for example, generates different vibrations to a tram or a train. Even waiting times at stops can be identified via characteristic frequency ranges. The purely software-based implementation is particularly interesting. No additional hardware is required. The technology can be integrated directly into existing mobility platforms.

Smartphone sensors analyse movement profiles

The technical basis of the solution lies in the frequency analysis of sensor data. During the demonstration, the research team explains the analysis of a bus as an example. The smartphone’s accelerometer generates frequency patterns that capture typical movements and vibrations. A peak in the range of around two hertz occurs, for instance, when a bus is stationary at a stop – caused by engine vibrations. During the journey, additional frequencies in the region of ten hertz occur. By combining such patterns, the software can distinguish between different modes of transport. This automatic classification is set to become part of larger mobility platforms in the future. Applications that combine journey planning, ticket booking, navigation and subsequent billing within a single interface are conceivable. Key features of the technology:

• automatic recognition of different modes of transport
• fare optimisation based on actual usage
• integration into existing mobility platforms
• analysis of smartphone sensor data
• post-trip verification and confirmation of billing

This gives transport operators the opportunity to implement dynamic fare systems more easily. Users, in turn, would have to worry less about fare zones or ticket options.

Data protection remains a key challenge

A key point of the presentation concerns data protection. After all, the technology processes movement data and travel histories. Consequently, concerns regarding potential surveillance are also significant. The research team therefore emphasises a clear separation between journey recognition and the billing system. The part of the software that analyses movement data and classifies modes of transport remains technically separate from the areas where personal data or payment information is processed. Billing itself takes place via separate systems operated by the respective operators or platform providers. The architecture is thus modelled on established procedures used by other digital payment systems. This point is likely to be particularly crucial in the European mobility market. After all, acceptance will only be achieved if users can understand which data is stored and which is not.

Experience simulates stations as a virtual environment

In addition to the fare solution, AIT is presenting Experience, a second development aimed more specifically at infrastructure planners. The system enables virtual simulations of stations, transport hubs and other heavily frequented areas. This creates a three-dimensional environment that can be entered using a head-mounted display. Users move virtually through platforms, stairways or guidance systems and experience the infrastructure from the perspective of real passengers. During the demonstration at InnoTrans, a section of an underground station is simulated. The test subject moves entirely within the virtual environment, whilst observers can follow the display in parallel on a monitor. The primary aim of this technology is the early detection of planning errors. It should be possible to analyse guidance systems, information displays or passenger flows even before construction begins.

Virtual planning aims to improve passenger flows

Experience is particularly relevant for large transport infrastructures with high visitor numbers. Railway stations, airports and shopping centres regularly present planners with the challenge of guiding people through complex spaces as efficiently as possible. Virtual simulations allow different scenarios to be tested at an early stage:

• Positioning of information systems
• Effect of guidance systems
• Optimisation of passenger flows
• Accessibility of platforms and ticket machines
• Analysis of potential bottlenecks

This allows planning errors to be identified as early as the initial development phases. For operators, this means lower costs and fewer adjustments later on. Furthermore, the research team sees further potential in what is known as participatory planning. In future, not only experts but also members of the public or future users could experience virtual infrastructure projects and provide feedback. This would represent a fundamental change, particularly for large-scale transport projects. Planning would thereby become more comprehensible and transparent.

Trial at Vienna Central Station

The technology is not limited to theoretical demonstrations. According to AIT, the methodology has already been tested in a real-world planning project – specifically at Vienna Central Station. There, the system was deployed as part of a development project to combine real-world infrastructure planning with virtual simulation. This provides the research team with important data on user behaviour, orientation and movement patterns. The institute sees considerable development potential for the coming years. Virtual test environments could not only improve infrastructure projects but also provide new insights into human behaviour in complex transport environments. Particularly in the context of increasing urbanisation and growing public transport use, such systems are likely to become increasingly important. After all, modern mobility no longer ends with the vehicle itself. The quality of digital services is playing an ever greater role in determining how efficiently and intuitively transport systems actually function.