The Future of ...
Barrier-free public transport

Award-winning app drives accessibility forward

Research and product development at INIT usually go hand in hand. The latest example is the development of the travel assistance app, ASSISTIVEtravel, which INIT realized in Singapore for the MAVIS trial project, building on the results obtained in the research project aim4it. The objective of both projects was to make public transport more accessible and inclusive for people with special mobility needs. Since January, visually impaired, hard-of-hearing and wheelchair users in Singapore can plan their bus trips individually with the INIT smart­phone app on a specific bus line in a number of regular buses which have the trial system installed. The app aids the riders at all stages of their journey. 

Assistive technologies

The app provides real-time information and triggers assistive technologies such as internal and external announcements and notifications to the bus drivers. The project was realized in collaboration with the Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA) and SG Enable, an agency dedicated to integration and support of persons with disabilities in Singapore.

The goal of the project „Mobility Assistance for Visually Impaired and Selected Users” (MAVIS) was to provide customized passenger information for visually impaired, hard-of-hearing, or wheelchair users.

After kick-off in December 2017, the first step was to gather and analyse the end users’ needs and identify the barriers for using public transport. Based on the results, the requirements were defined, after which INIT began with the implementation of the app and the installation of the MAVIS system.

Constant real-time information

In the app, the users first set their disability profile. Based on this profile, the app triggers different features and provides specific GUIs which present the real-time departure times of the buses in adequate ways. The users can select a trip they want to take. As a consequence, the app regularly informs them about the status of this specific trip, i.e. it sends notifications about the real-time arrival time at the boarding station and provides information on the current location during the whole journey. Furthermore, the app notifies the rider when the bus is approaching the alighting stop.

This ensures that the user has enough time to prepare for leaving the bus despite his handicap. Certainly, accessibility aspects were considered in the app design. For example, if the user is visually impaired, navigating the app is simplified and optimised for text-to-speech. This is done for example, through disabling maps, augmented reality features and pop-up windows, as these usually represent an insurmountable obstacle for people with visual impairments. 

Alerting the bus driver

Both, riders and involved bus drivers gave especially positive feedback for a feature of the system which alerts the bus driver when users with special needs are going to board or alight the bus. These alerts also include the rider’s disability profile. The onboard unit receives the necessary information from the Intermodal Transport Control System (ITCS) which gets it from the app backend via the open standard interface VDV 431 (TRIAS). The on-board unit presents the information on the driver’s display one stop before the boarding or alighting stop. With this feature, users can be sure to be noticed by the bus driver at the bus stop. 

Useful external announcements

Another feature which has been rated very favourably is the external audio announcements. Announcements of the line number and destination are only triggered automatically by the visually impaired users’ profile, when a bus approaches the boarding stop, requested by a visually impaired person. In this way, they can identify the correct bus much easier while residents are not disturbed by a flood of announcements. On-board the bus, internal audio announcements inform about the next stop. These are also transmitted to a rider’s t-loop enabled hearing aid.

The impact of the trial project has been perceived far beyond Singapore’s borders. MAVIS received two awards at the UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Stockholm: The UITP Innovation Award in the category “Diversity & Inclusion” and the “Asia Pacific Special Recognition Award”. 

Celebrating the UITP Innovation Award (from left to right): INIT Managing Director Klaus Janke, INIT Project Manager Dr. Roxana Hess, LTA-Chief Executive Ngien Hoon Ping  and LTA-Deputy Chief Executive for Policy and Planning Jeremy Yap.

In the INIT product catalogue, the accessible app is called ASSISTIVEtravel. It can be adapted to other local needs, of course.

Contact

Suvi Schwab

Regional Manager
INIT Singapore

Get in touch

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This article was published in our customer magazine INITiative, issue 2/2019. If you want to receive the magazine regularly per e-mail, we kindly ask you to subscribe.

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