SAEIC: everything you need to know about the Operations and Passenger Information Support System

The SAEIC on the driver's side

Thanks to the SAEIC, public transit drivers are seeing their professional practice improve on a daily basis. This intelligent tool offers them several advantages:

• A geolocation system allowing them to locate themselves on the line in real time;
• A calculator to know if they are late or early compared to the theoretical schedules;
• Thedisplay of a GPS guidance system, very useful for new drivers, new lines, or seasonal lines.

The SAEIC solution also has a function that allows the driver to communicate with operators in real time. The agents in the field are therefore no longer isolated, and can be informed, by message or by call, in case of incidents or modifications on the line.

The SAEIC on the operations manager's side

• The geolocation of the drivers allows to have information in real time on the position of the vehicles, and to observe the punctuality of each driver;
• The monitoring of itineraries and the direct link with the drivers allow to know the traffic status, and to act quickly in case of anomaly;
• The automatic creation of itineraries saves time and ensures an optimised tour;
• The automatic error check prevents anomalies and inconsistencies in the transport plan;
• Thehistory of the trips and the statistics are kept, in order to improve the network and the routes, and eventually to justify themselves in case of a user's complaint;
• The visualization and editing of the data allows for a very frequent update of the transport plan, taking into account a possible deviation, a change of place of a stop, or the modification of a timetable.

The SAEIC on the passenger side

Passengers are the last people to be affected by SAEIV, and they also benefit from the advantages of such an installation. The on-board solution in buses, coaches or any other mode of public transport provides users with all the information they need in real time, so that they can travel with complete peace of mind. Thus, the data, analyzed and transmitted to the passengers, indicate several information:

• The waiting time is updated regularly to inform the passenger of the actual time of the next vehicle passage;
• The location of the transport, thanks to geolocation, reassures the user about the precise location of the transport;
• The notifications, sent by the operations manager, inform passengers about possible incidents that could disrupt the line;
• The timetables, which can be consulted at any time, make it possible to anticipate trips.

The instantaneous consultation of this data reassures users, and thus strongly contributes to user loyalty. This information can be consulted via the mobile application, the web interface, or on screens installed at stops or in vehicles, and can be available in several languages.

How does the SAEIC work?

By now you know the benefits that a SAEIC solution can offer. Now let's take a look at how these complex interfaces work.

An on-board application for the driver

On the driver's side, the SAEIC consists of a terminal installed on the vehicle's dashboard. Acting as a user interface, the application is interconnected to several systems that allow the driver to identify himself and access his own data. The driver will then benefit from the driver assistance terminal, and will be able to keep up to date with the latest updates and reset the visual and audible terminals at each service start.

The development of Demand-Responsive Transport is a response to the political will to offer alternatives to private cars in cities, and to reduce superfluous kilometres, and is thus in the same direction as soft mobility.

Computer supervision for operations managers

The SAEIC on the operations manager's side is used with one or more computers on which the applications necessary for data processing are installed. All the information is displayed in real time on the screens, and allows, if necessary, to interact instantly with the agents in the field. Exchanges can be made by phone or by messages, via the SAEIC tool. Operators can thus transmit and receive information in real time simply by computer.

Passenger information via mobile or fixed terminals

SAEICs offer different solutions to keep travelers informed. Smartphone transmission is the most efficient and widely used to date. Users can download the SAEIC application free of charge, and follow all the information transmitted by the on-board terminals live. Data can also be transmitted visually on screens installed at stops or in vehicles. It can also be an audio information, broadcasted through loudspeakers.

Real-time data processing by servers

Interconnected terminals allow the transmission of an impressive amount of information, which is constantly updated. To do this, dedicated servers are installed and connected to the various applications, via the Internet or wireless communication networks. These ultra-powerful servers are capable of processing and synchronizing information several times a second, and doing so continuously. They are the sine qua non of a high-performance SAEIC, capable of managing internal data for the SAEIC, but also of receiving external files and data from the business software with which they are connected.

SAEIC is an essential tool for optimising public transportation services, which Padam Mobility includes in every Demand-Responsive Transport project. The SAEIC system is a guarantee of performance and also ensures the comfort of use of public transportation for all passengers and drivers.