NEC Asia Pacific orchestrates a better commuter experience

NEC Asia Pacific announced it will be implementing a suite of innovative technologies for SMRT Buses Ltd, a Singapore public transport service provider, at the Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange. In a Living Lab concept, the bus interchange showcases how the fusion of different technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), video analytics and software-defined networking (SDN) solutions come together to provide real-time gathering of intelligent information to improve commuter experience and bus transportation services.

The temporary bus interchange is feature-packed with the latest information system to assist each commuter in their journey. Via interactive information panels, NEC Asia Pacific has implemented the Passenger Information System which provides real-time bus and train departure timings, in addition to bus service traffic footages. Other features include bus route, fares and estimated travelling time; map and journey planner; 3-D directory and vicinity location finder; customer feedback and virtual assistance as well as charging of mobile devices.

NEC Asia Pacific and SMRT Buses have commenced trials on other features such as video analytics technology and face and fingerprint matching technology. These are expected to be fully implemented by end of the year. For the safety and security of commuters, video analytics technology will be utilized to analyze changing behavioral patterns of people and age/gender profiles of people. These data can also help in bus schedule planning and optimization.

To manage a highly complex and sophisticated IT system at the temporary bus interchange, software-defined networking solutions is used to flexibly manage new and existing network issues as it is able to increase the efficiency of the network leading to a more improved and sustainable social infrastructure.
NEC will also introduce its world No. 1* face and fingerprint matching technology to provide a seamless operation flow for better bus asset management and other smart energy features that uses NEC’s IoT technology to promote an eco-living environment.

“SMRT Buses is constantly seeking innovative ways to better serve our commuters and communities along our bus network. We do so by working with industry partners like NEC Asia Pacific to leverage on Big Data analytics, info-comms and telematics technology to run bus services with improved safety, reliability, operational and cost efficiencies as well as great service for our commuters to have a better journey with us. The Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange is a case in point. Although the interchange will be used for about three years, we collaborated with NEC to install a suite of user-friendly, community-focused and commuter-centric systems to enhance the commuting experience while introducing a quantum leap in the way a bus interchange is managed and operated, 24/365. This partnership model with NEC has proven to be a successful one and will pave the way for future collaborations between NEC and SMRT Buses,” said Mr Tan Kian Heong, Vice President, SMRT Buses Ltd.

“Since 2014, NEC and SMRT have worked together to implement Singapore’s first telematics system. We are happy to continue to build on this relationship with SMRT to co-create and implement NEC’s suite of innovative technologies at the Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange, which delivers our initiatives in showing how technology benefits customers and communities,” said Lim Kok Quee, Managing Director, NEC Asia Pacific.

NEC APAC’s expertise includes solutions for carrier networks, biometric identification, enterprise applications and infrastructure, unified communications, multimedia displays and smart energy, as well as the provision of managed services and contact centre services regionally.