Blacksburg Transit is introducing three new technologies related to the BT4U suite of trip planning tools. These new technologies will help BT learn how customers currently interact with the system so that knowledge can be applied to future programming. The three new technologies are iBeacons, interactive kiosks and remote stop usage measurements.
The iBeacons are low-powered, low-cost transmitters that can “push” or “pull” information to/from nearby smartphones via Bluetooth technology. These devices will be deployed at stops in the Hethwood area and on all BT buses to determine rider habits from arrival at a stop to departing the bus at their final destination. All information collected is anonymous and cannot be related back to any individuals.
An interactive kiosk with a Wi-Fi enabled ipad has been placed inside a bus shelter in the Hethwood area. The in-shelter ipad can be used by riders to access the BT4U trip planning program while waiting for a bus. Through the test BT hopes to learn how riders interact with the kiosks at stops.
Testing is currently underway to measure the number of people using select bus stops within the system by remotely capturing the number of active Wi-Fi signals originating from riders devices.
Tim Witten, manager of intelligent rransportation systems at BT commented “This joint venture with our partners at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute is about two things the present and the future. How passengers use our system now so we can better meet their expectations in the future”.