Transport for London (TfL) is aiming to deploy an automated system for counting the number of passengers on its buses.
The transport agency for the capital has published a future opportunity notice for potential suppliers, saying it wants to explore the possibilities for technical solutions.
The move has come as part of the strategy to deliver real time data, information and visualisations for public transport, which includes an ambition to provide bus travellers with information on arrivals, disruptions, crowding and congestion.
The notice says that data from an automated passenger counting (APC) system would make it possible to identify the number of passengers on a bus and boarding and alighting at a stop, along with occupancy of the wheelchair area.
It would help TfL to ensure its service controllers can make informed decisions on passenger loading, drivers to get a clear view of how crowded a bus is when their view is blocked, and passengers to plan bus journeys more effectively.
It could also enable traffic light control systems to favour crowded buses.
Proof of concept
TfL has already carried out some proof of concept trials involving the use of footfall cameras, CCTV analytics, sensors over bus doors, telematics, Wi-fi detection and historical travel data. The work identified the low accuracy of CCTV analytics and suggested that further work be done to improve the performance of the technology.
“Bus crowding information for TfL passengers isn't currently aligned with our vision of where we want to be,” the notice says. “The primary objective of this project is to generate and make live bus crowding data available to bus passengers for better decision making and empower them to feel in control of their journeys.”
