Synopsis
One of the main objectives of Coimbra's transport policy is to increase public transport use, mainly through the improvement of the public transport network, the promotion of electric vehicles, the reduction of free parking in the city centre, and the development of intermodality (with the creation of new parking lots outside the city centre, including a free mini-bus service to and from the centre and towards other specific passenger poles).
In this sense, the municipality started implementing a real-time management system for the public transport network in 1999, with detailed information on the vehicles' location throughout the network, and their deviation from routes and timetables. Both the geographical co-ordinates, obtained via satellite, and the distance travelled, measured by odometer, are used to localise the vehicles. The distance travelled is processed by the on-board computer of each vehicle (135 in total), and sent along with other information to the Network Control Centre through a radio-communication system. The Control Centre is equipped with a server and several graphic interfaces, which enable an adequate network control. Other important data is processed at the Control Centre in order to obtain statistic figures and provide valuable information to public transport users throughout the network: at bus and trolley-bus stops, an electronic display (total of 12) indicates how much time passengers will have to wait for the next vehicle - and inside the vehicles, a loud speaker announces the following stop.
Target groups: all citizens
Fields: public transport
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