LTA uses cameras and heat sensors for new smart cab system

Starting from today, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is embarking on a year-long trial for a smart Taxi Information System (TIS) in a bid to better match taxi supply with demand. The transport authority has selected seven taxi stands for the trial including: HarbourFront Centre, Hitachi Towers, Keck Seng Tower, Lucky Plaza, Ngee Ann City, OG People's Park and VivoCity.

TIS will facilitate better matching of taxis to commuters with the utilisation of heat sensor technology to detect commuters, in real-time, waiting in the queue and supported by intelligent camera technology that displays video footage for taxi drivers and commuters to view the queue status.

The average waiting time at taxi stands in this trial will be calculated based on the information collected and transmitted to the taxi operator's call centres which would in turn be broadcast to their drivers. In the initial stage of the trial, the system is configured to alert the taxi operator's call centres automatically when there are 15 or more people in the queue, and when the average waiting time is more than 15 minutes. This algorithm will be calibrated where necessary during the trial.

LTA believes TIS can reduce the number of empty cabs plying on the roads, while commuters can look forward to shorter taxi waiting times.

In the addition, from today, real-time footage of the taxi queue at these seven locations will be available online. With the information, commuters may decide to join the queue or make alternative travel arrangements. Information on the average waiting time at these taxi stands will be available by the end of this year.