Automatic Passenger Counting - A guideline on how to select a sensor for your agency

Over the years, metropolitan regions have experienced an influx of people moving from rural areas into the cities. When coupled with the fact  that the overall population size is increasing, one can see how public transportation is gaining more importance in people’s daily lives. Public transit operations are challenged to structure their routes and headways based on the demand of the mobility dynamics in their respective markets.
As a result, the public transit industry is improving operational efficiencies and customer experiences to meet and exceed market demands.

Intelligent systems have become an integral part of transit vehicles as well as in control rooms as a tool to manage operations. In order to meet the needs of advanced technology, technology companies have entered the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) market to provide solutions to transit agencies. With a variety of solutions on the market, selecting the best fit can be a difficult task.

For example, the worldwide transit industry is experiencing significant growth in demand for Automated Passenger Counting (APC) systems. Companies offer this service either as a standalone solution or fully integrated into related solutions. Some companies simply provide essential components of an APC system. 

A key component of an APC solution is the actual sensor that collects counting data. In an effort to select the right sensors for transit vehicles, the following factors need to be considered:

1. The importance of accurate raw data:  The APC sensor needs to provide a high accuracy of raw data in order to ensure that reports and statistics are reliable and robust.
2. Definition of APC accuracy and its methodology: A methodology must be in place to verify the accuracy of APC data according to the respective transit agency dynamics.
3. Difference between stereoscopic, infrared sensors and time-of-flight technology: There must be an understanding of the different APC technologies to best select and service the device.
4. Characteristics of features and technology: APC sensors must provide certain features and technology, as well as have the capability of being upgraded in the future.