RTPI system tells bus arrival times in Warrington

Designed to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, which comes into force in October, the system has been jointly supplied by RTPI provider Action Information Management (AIM), Interalia, a designer and manufacturer of digital voice announcement solutions, and Densitron Ferrograph, a public information display designer and manufacturer.

This collaboration has resulted in an RTPI system that provides travellers with both visual and audio information.

AIM has installed an intelligent sign unit (ISU) and a specially adapted Interalia Trouncer into a Denistron Ferrograph light-emitting-diode (LED) and LCD display unit.

The sign visually displays the next bus arrival information for that stop and the Trouncer module provides the same information verbally for the visually impaired.

Utilising wireless communication and computer software, the ISU provides the interface between the communication system and the display electronics.

A black box on the bus transmits information to a central computer via radio link, enabling the computer to track the progress of the bus and update the ISU at each individual bus stop.

The ISU is able to hold the entire timetable for all the bus services that it is displaying.

This minimises communication requirements and allows for the display of scheduled timetabled data in the absence, for any reason, of real time.

Around 225 bus stops have been equipped with the technology throughout Warrington.

Signs are continually updated and can be cleared by an approaching vehicle via the SRT system.

This ensures that the displays are timely and accurate.

Interalia's Trouncer uses the announcer's functionality and a 10W audio amplifier to drive speakers fitted into the signs.

These are activated using a special key fob and give a verbal announcement that corresponds with the display.

The ISU can also support other methods of obtaining real-time information, including live feeds to the travel line call centre, internet access, SMS and WAP.

This allows the travelling public to have access to live data without having to go to the bus stop.

In addition, the system can give priority to buses at traffic lights by making a direct request to the traffic light controller via the SRT or a link between the RTPI control centre and the traffic control centre, where the traffic lights are centrally controlled.

Interalia's Trouncer can be installed in a variety of environments and has been designed to provide high-quality audio messages and to control visual information displays.

Audio files are stored as WAV files at any available sampling rate, including full CD quality 44.1K.

The Trouncer then plays back the messages under manual, automatic or computerised control.

Messages are also stored in Flash memory so that they are not lost in the event of a power failure.