This new hyperlocal transport app features a 'local-accented' navigation guide, and will help you compare parking charges

Hunting for charging stations for your electric vehicle, finding the cheapest parking in the CBD, and even discovering points of interest unique to different estates locally will all soon be possible with a relatively new app in the local scene. 

Oh - and you'll also be able to navigate to these destinations directly within it, all while listening to prompts from a navigation guide with a Singaporean accent. 

Called Breeze (as in, 'making driving a breeze'), the transport app was launched in beta form on mobile application stores earlier in April this year, but kicked off a six-month pilot launch specific to the estate of Tiong Bahru on 2 October 2022.

In its current form, the app is already capable of helping one locate charging stations and compare parking rates across different malls and HDB and URA carparks (based on how long one intends to stay at a certain location). Thereafter, it will map the best route out to the selected destination, while also alerting the user to the ERP charges along the route and providing live traffic updates. 

The app's extensive array of functions is powered by Artificial Intelligence and video analytics, which are combined together alongside real estate and LTA-sourced data sets. Incorporating the latter also means that notifications will be provided when navigating through special areas like elderly-friendly Silver Zones, which impose a reduced speed limit of 40km/h. Breeze is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, too.

The pilot launch of Breeze@Tiong Bahru, however, is intended to take things one step further with custom maps that can be personalised to the user. 

These will display local points of interest, such as hiking and heritage trails, popular food spots (there's currently a Durians Everywhere button), and even event-specific areas, such as the recent Singapore Night Festival. Since even walking routes are integrated in the app, the goal is to encourage park-and-walk experiences. 

Perhaps of most interest to drivers is the fact that the Breeze app is also building towards indicating parking availability across various car parks.

As an example, look up at the entry and exit points of Tiong Bahru's Seng Poh Lane carpark and Tiong Poh Road, and one will see what's called a 'Breeze Box', which relies on video analytics to survey the carpark's capacity in real-time. NCS has stressed that the technology is non-invasive, since it operates on vehicle-counting instead of car number plates

Prior to the launch of Breeze@Tiong Bahru, collaborative efforts had already been carried out with Tiong Bahru Community Centre and Tiong Bahru Market Hawkers' Association, but the pilot will continue to gather feedback from retailers, residents and visitors in the estate to create user-generated and focused content.