Project Title: Studying Passenger Behavior using RFID Technology
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Name: Blake Helm Title: Graduate Research Assistant
Address: Eugene, OR University: University of Oregon
Phone: (541) 555-5555 Email: bhelm@uoregon.edu
ABSTRACT
This proposal outlines a pilot project for Lane Transit District to study the effectiveness of obtaining data using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The project will register on and off boarding passengers using RFID readers located at entrances and exits of buses as well as at some bus kiosks for more efficient on and off boarding. Using MiFare S50 card readers to register passengers on LTD buses, LTD can collect more detailed data on passenger behavior. Understanding when passengers use LTD and where they go will help with long-term and short-term planning and will help justify future investment in transportation infrastructure.
LITERATURE REVIEW
This proposal looked at several studies on the use and efficiency of RFID technology to monitor passenger flows and create origin and destination matrixes. The first study highlighted how the effective RFID technology is at capturing data is small areas, such as buses. The second study outlines a specific system for counting passengers and provides real-time data for riders and the transit authority involved. The third article evaluates the successfulness of passenger recognition using a Sirit IN510 RFID reader and two Povnting PATCH-A0025 antennas.
These studies show the advantages of using RFID technology to capture transit data, namely the low-cost associated with RFID and effectiveness of capturing data quickly and accurately.
THEME
This study will help LTD better understand passenger behavior, a key theme in the NITC. The data collected from this study will help LTD examine the behavioral decisions behind transit use and help improve the transit experience by increasing efficiency of routes. Monitoring and understanding the travel patterns of individuals is critically important to promoting proposals that improve livability in urban environments, especially those provided by public transportation systems.
OBJECTIVES
This study expects to gain an understanding of when passengers use the bus and where in the city they are going. Are there connections within the city that we are unaware of? Are there specific times of the day where ridership is unexpectedly high? Previous studies done by LTD were based only on rider surveys and involved mainly volunteered information. This proposal will allow LTD study and analysis the benefits of using RFID technology to collect comprehensive ridership data from its passengers. The study also hopes to assist in both long-term and short-term planning by helping LTD more accurately identify high and low volume bus stops.
METHODOLOGY
During the month of April, RFID readers (2) will be installed on LTD buses, one for the bus’s entrance and the other for the exit. A third reader will be installed at bus stops that LTD has previously identified as having large number of riders. In the months preceding the study, LTD will announce the study to riders through advertising on buses and bus stops. Cards can be outfitted with a RFID tag at LTD’s downtown station and other facilities that are convenient for LTD and passengers. LTD can also send RFID tags to their riders through the mail.
Understanding of passenger behavior
By installing RFID readers and using RFID enabled cards, LTD will capture data that can help it better understand their riders. Knowing which stops are most heavily used and which are least used on a route (both for on-boarding and off-boarding) will help LTD increase route efficiency. Under-used stops can be identified, helping LTD make more effective route changes and even testing creative measures such as, skipping under-used stops every other time.
Long-term Planning
High volume routes can also be identified and selected as future EmX routes. The data and future adaption of RFID readers and cards will assist LTD in answering the following questions: What routes form the biggest connections within the city (largest flow of passenger volume)? Which routes need to adjust their schedules based on ridership demand?
Short-term Planning
This study aims to improve the transit experience by identifying routes that LTD can make immediate changes to. LTD can also use the data collected to more efficiently plan new services.
BROAD IMPACTS
What long-lasting impact might this research have?
Help LTD identify routes that are unnecessary. Help LTD understand the behavior of its riders. When they go where they go.
Are there any opportunities for leveraging of the research results for future research or practice?
If the study is seen to be beneficial by LTD, they may decide to keep the readers and continue to maintain and operate the system. Results could be used to leverage for future research on more effective and less intrusive methods of tracking ridership (riders may not want LTD to have access to their personal data or for it to be stored by LTD because of a fear of data breaches). Future studies should also look at incorporating smartphones applications.
REFERENCES
Ferreira, Maurício L., et al. “Real time monitoring of public transit passenger flows through Radio Frequency Identification-RFID technology embedded in fare smart cards.”
won Seo, Jang, et al. “Development of Passenger Hi-pass and Automatic Counting System for Public Transportation.” (2013).
Own, Chung-Ming, et al. “Performance evaluation of UHF RFID technologies for real-time bus recognition in the Taipei bus station.” Sensors 13.6 (2013): 7797-7812.