South Korea recently launched a project aimed at providing a better model for public bus stops in the capital Seoul based on artificial intelligence, in a precedent concerned with achieving a quantum leap in the quality of services provided by the state to public transport users.
Where public transport buses are one of the most used means of transportation within cities, But in most cases, they do not receive enough attention from the stakeholders, Whether in terms of providing bus stops that protect passengers from harsh weather and provide comfort and safety, Or leverage technology to provide innovative services that transform the burden of waiting for buses to arrive into a fun and comfortable experience.
But South Korea's capital, Seoul, It is unique in providing all these advantages after recently launching a pilot project under the name of "Smart Bus Stop", which improves the quality of public transport functionally, culturally and aesthetically. This will encourage more residents to use buses, It increases the attractiveness of the city for visitors and tourists.
The pilot project was based in part on citizens' complaints and suggestions received by the Seoul Department of Transportation. In order to limit the spread of COVID-19 infection, The team designed smart bus stations to meet the public health requirements imposed by the pandemic, And to avoid the spread of pandemics that may appear in the future. Some prototypes of these smart parking lots have already been installed in downtown Seoul as part of the first phase of the project.
The new closed bus stops are equipped with a range of high-tech equipment to improve the passenger experience and ensure their comfort and safety. It included heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) devices, Wi-Fi networks for wireless Internet connection, Smart displays, sensors for automatic control, And systems powered by artificial intelligence techniques to regulate the boarding and disembarkation of passengers from buses, And another to serve people of determination.
One of the systems that has been added in smart parking to reduce the spread of COVID-19 infection is a sensor installed in two locations at the entrance to the parking lot to measure the body temperature of public bus users to ensure that they are free of fever before the smart parking lot automatically opens the door for them. The devices also continuously monitor the body temperature of passengers while they are in the parking lot. It issues alerts if the body temperature rises above normal. Inside the parking lot, there is an infrared device to purify and sterilize the air from viruses and germs. Another device to measure air quality and display the result on a small screen that bus passengers can see. Another safety and security feature is equipping parking lots with a smart video system and surveillance cameras to protect users from any inconvenience or assault they may be exposed to, If necessary, they can sound the alarm and call for help from the police.
The needs of people of determination with physical disabilities have been taken into account. They can know when the bus assigned to them arrives by pressing a special button, At the same time, the driver of that bus is informed to go to the parking lot to pick up the passenger. In addition, The parking lots are equipped with artificial intelligence technologies to help blind passengers get on or off the bus, Multilingual voice guidance is also available for tourists and foreign residents.
And all these cultural advantages and advanced technologies, Which constitutes a qualitative leap compared to the existing bus stops, Automatically controlled in real time by an integrated central system, This makes it an effective model for future IoT applications. To complement the functional value with the aesthetic and cultural value, the Seoul city government has launched a competition in which it requested the participation of the public in submitting suggestions on smart parking designs. In order to raise awareness of the project, And expand the search for the best design. The choice, which received the majority of the votes of the city's residents, was designed to emulate the fluid curved lines of the rooftops of traditional Hanok houses that characterize Korea and to reflect local heritage. The smart stand is designed to maintain its beauty even when viewed from above, Any of the adjacent tall buildings. The photovoltaic panels that provide the smart parking with its needs of clean solar energy and preserve the environment, They are combined with the surface of the stand to harmonize with it and take on the same wavy shape. The team of designers has also worked to integrate elements of nature into the new situations, Where natural plants and flowers were added growing on his wall, This adds elegance to the physical and psychological comfort that parking provides to passengers.
One of the repeated complaints received by the Department of Transport from residents was also taken into account. Namely, that the exposed distance around traditional positions did not protect them from the rain, Especially when they ride the bus, Note that the monsoon monsoon rains season lasts for many months in Korea, The smart parking deck is designed to be higher than and extend over existing electric buses to protect passengers as they board and disembark from buses.
Finally, Display screens will be installed on the sides of the new bus stops, through which advertisements issued by the city government are broadcast, In addition to displaying paintings, To make the parking look like a digital art gallery in the city.
The Seoul city government expects smart bus stops to have a positive impact on the daily lives of city residents. It is currently working to replace existing bus stops with smart parking elsewhere in the city center until August 2023. When conducting an assessment study of its economic feasibility and polling the opinion and suggestions of the population thereon, Before you make the final decision to provide them throughout the capital.
References:
https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/news/seoul-begins-roll-out-of-smart-bus-shelters-6840
