Data analytics to be used in managing commuter traffic surges, emergencies

SINGAPORE — Soon, train stations would be able to quickly react to a surge in commuters during emergencies, such as by changing the direction of escalators, or call in additional buses where there is a train delay, by tapping data analytics.

A new system is being developed to collect and analyse data on passenger volume and flow in real-time, from sources such as EZ-Link cards, cellular and Wi-Fi networks, as well as CCTV, Second Transport Minister Ng Chee Meng told Parliament on Wednesday (March 8).

The Fusion Analytics for Public Transport Emergency (Faster) system will combine all these data to “visualise commuting patterns to improve transport planning, and it also triggers early alerts of crowd surges and transport incident”, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a press release.

“The Faster system will also be able to predict the impact of the incident in terms of the extent of the travel delay, the number of commuters affected, and recommend specific mitigating measures such as the injection of additional trains and buses,” the authority added.

Speaking during Parliament’s debate on his ministry’s budget, Mr Ng also highlighted various other ways in which the authorities will be using data to help their work.

For instance, traffic data could be collected from the next-generation Electronic Road Pricing system, so that the LTA can respond swiftly to traffic situations, such as by adjusting traffic light timings or providing traffic light priority to buses. The new ERP system, which is based on Global Navigation Satellite System technology, will be rolled out progressively from 2020.

Having real-time information on the traffic situation could also benefit motorists, by allowing them to better plan their travel routes, said the LTA.