Figure 6: Google Maps’ public transport navigation service provides
step-by-step instructions that guide users to their destinations.
(Source: Google Maps Official Website)
Figure 7: Locally developed gothere.sg web and smart-phone
applications provide more detailed information on travel options in
Singapore than Google Maps. (Source: gothere.sg Official Website,
http://gothere.sg/maps)
Figure 8: Taiwan Taxi smartphone application for taxi
booking service. (Source: Chang,
S. K. J. (2013). Cloud Taxi: An
Innovative Service in Public
Transport. Presented at the Eco
Mobility 2013 in Suwon, Korea.
03.09.13)
previous web-based system, is
another example application of
ICT to improve public transport.
Before the introduction of
the Taiwan Taxi smart-phone
application, users called for a
taxi by direct call to call centres
or through the Taiwan Taxi
webpage. The Taiwan Taxi smartphone application offers users a
more simplified way of booking
a taxi. The system can directly
locate the user’s location through
GPS, hence the user simply
needs to specify the pickup time
and wait for the response (Figure
8). The app also provides an
innovative solution to things that
had seem difficult to achieve
before: a customer satisfaction
survey is done through a simple
rating system and an emergency
call button is also included to
ensure safety and security of
passengers.
Web and smart-phone
applications are examples of a
form of Travel Information Service
(TIS) which disseminates public
transport information to the
public. However, these front-end
services for the users are only
made possible with the backend system that tracks realtime transit vehicle locations,
estimate the on-time status
and control the overall public
transport operations during
normal and also emergency
conditions. The adoption of
advanced technology in the
provision of public transport
service is termed Advance Public
Transport System (APTS).
With continuous technological advancements and innovative solutions, ICT applications
in transport will continue to grow
as a major industry to provide an
efficient and safe transportation
system of the future.
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