Skip to main content

SmartStation group reveal the importance of intelligent stops

A SmartStation research and design project has worked with PTV Group and Raumobil to develop ideas on how to turn analogue stops into digital hubs, in Karlsruhe. The scheme, commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, set out to reveal the importance of networked stations for multimodal mobility. The initiatives 18-month research phase identified that intelligent stops that include analogue facilities such as information terminals, escalators, elevators and lockers need to
March 13, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

A SmartStation research and design project has worked with %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external PTV Group PTV Group website link false https://www.ptvgroup.com/en/ false false%> and Raumobil to develop ideas on how to turn analogue stops into digital hubs, in Karlsruhe. The scheme, commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, set out to reveal the importance of networked stations for multimodal mobility.

The initiatives 18-month research phase identified that intelligent stops that include analogue facilities such as information terminals, escalators, elevators and lockers need to be turned into systems that can communicate.

Annette Kindl, project manager for PTV’s research team, said: “All relevant data will be integrated into the Smartstation network in real time via a standard protocol. Travellers can use an app to log into the so-called Infosphere, i.e. the immediate environment of a smartStation, in order to access the desired information and services. All modes of transport can thus be used intelligently and comfortably as well as energy-efficiently and cost-effectively.”

A smart station, according to Christian Reuter, project manager at PTV Transport Consult, integrates infrastructure and all kinds of services, which includes information on elevator problems or safe places for children to stay in the event of disruptions in local transport.

The group recognised that challenges surrounding different standards, platforms and digital services need to be interconnected and that stakeholders from different areas need to be involved in the process.

“Given the ongoing digitisation in the field of urban mobility, the smartStation is only the next logical step. In the course of the research project, we have made initial assessments and started the discourse on digitisation of stops/stations. Now it is time to continue the dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, to turn the idea into a conceptual design and to encourage the launch of pilot projects”, Kindl added.

Related Content

  • Improve efforts to develop alternative fuels infrastructure, say MEPs
    September 26, 2018
    The European Commission (EC) and member states need to ‘redouble efforts’ to boost the development of an alternative fuels infrastructure, say transport MEPs. The warning comes in a draft resolution from the Transport and Tourism Committee. Ismail Ertug, rapporteur, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, says: “Our initiative report urges the Commission to accelerate the revision of the directive, come up with strong infrastructure targets and more funding for a
  • Limited places remaining for FIRM15 infrastructure meeting
    March 31, 2015
    The FEHRL Infrastructure Research Meeting 2015 (FIRM15) will be held on 22 and 23 April 2015 at the Diamant Centre in Brussels, Belgium. Held every two years, for the first time FIRM15 is opening up to all transport modes with speakers and participants from the rail sector. With the theme of ‘Innovative maintenance of Transport Infrastructure: Faster, cheaper, more reliable, safer and greener’, FIRM15 aims at mapping the problems and challenges of innovative maintenance of transport infrastructure;
  • Lyft Green Mode option allows riders to request electric and hybrid vehicles
    February 14, 2019
    Lyft is launching a Green Mode feature within its app to provide riders in Seattle with the option to travel in an electric or hybrid vehicle. The move follows the company’s planned introduction of thousands of electric vehicles (EVs) onto its platform this year. Lyft says the deployment will allow its drivers to increase net earnings as it says the cost of travelling in an EV is half that of a petrol-powered car, therefore saving hundreds of dollars per month on fuel costs. Drivers can switch
  • Go-Ahead uses Dovu’s blockchain tech to augment customer data
    February 7, 2019
    UK train and bus company Go-Ahead is to use Dovu’s blockchain-driven reward platform to gain more data on its passengers. The scheme will be rolled out initially on Go-Ahead’s Thameslink and Southern Rail train services and offers passengers using the Dovu platform the chance to earn cryptocurrency when they share their travel information. This will be used to help them make changes to their travel behaviour, the companies say. Among other things, Dovu aims to encourage the use and sharing of tran