TMN Begins PoC on Public Bus Usage Visualization with Niigata Kotsu

Transaction Media Networks, Inc. (TMN) has started a Proof of Concept (PoC)to visualize the usage status of public buses operated by Niigata Kotsu Co.,Ltd.

This PoC will be conducted with the support of Niigata City's "JFY2023 Niigata City Proof-of-Concept Study Support Subsidy Program" with the cooperation of Niigata Kotsu, where cameras will be installed on selected public bus routes to collect public bus usage data.

Background and Purpose

TMN’s Transaction Platform Services is implementing activities that lead to the resolution of various social issues through the utilization of all types of digital data, including electronic payments.

Public buses for the longest time have been faced with operational issues such as route delays due to traffic and weather, peak and off-peak demand differences during the day, and difficulties in bus assignments to routes. TMN believes that accurate passenger usage data can resolve such operational issues, and therefore are developing a boarding and disembarking information collecting system using cameras.

In general, bus boarding and disembarking information and passenger information are mainly collected through IC transit card data, bus boarding and counters, and manually by surveyors, but variations in passenger type, labor stress and cost, and exclusion of cash payment passengers all caused data inaccuracy.
By systematizing data acquisition using facial recognition technology provided by TMN, it will be possible to acquire data efficiently and accurately without manual variation. TMN will promote the use of the acquired mobility-related data to create a user-friendly mobility environment for local communities and individuals.

The purpose of this PoC is to acquire (1) bus boarding and disembarking information, and (2) passenger age and attribute information (estimates included) to verify the system practicality and the acquired data analysis.

What’s Next?

TMN will continue to contribute to the promotion of sustainable regional infrastructure by improving the accuracy of systems and acquiring latest information used to form regional public transportation plans and service improvements and will consider ways to increase the value of new buses by linking with face recognition payment technology.

[PoC Details]

• In this PoC the facial images of boarding and disembarking passengers taken by the bus installed camera are converted into encrypted feature value data, which is stored in the analysis control unit installed in each bus. In addition, when boarding information and alighting information are collated and approximated, it is recorded as boarding and disembarking information together with passenger attribute estimation information.
Video data and feature data will not be transmitted to the outside and will be used on the bus for boarding and disembarking analysis and attribute estimation. TMN will be strictly managing the data, and data will be deleted immediately after the PoC is completed. In addition, TMN will not track passengers using feature value data.


• During the PoC , TMN will check the equipment operation performance and identify various issues and problems to use them for potential future services.
  
  
<Main Verification and Evaluation Contents>
Verification of image recognition range and camera mounting position
Verification of person capture rate
Accuracy Evaluation of boarding and disembarkation image matching

[On Niigata City Proof-of-Concept Study Support Subsidy Program]

The Niigata City Proof-of-Concept Study Support Subsidy supports digital transformation and the creation of new businesses with an eye on "new lifestyle". TMN's "Bus Usage Visualization Using AI/IoT Cameras Project" is implemented using this grant and aims to visualize bus operation information and usage status based on the information obtained by GPS sensors and IoT cameras installed on buses.

By accurately grasping the actual usage of buses and linking them with diverse services, it will be possible to formulate future regional public transportation plans and improve services and create an environment that makes buses easier to use.