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Buses as Mobile Sensing Platforms?

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the jealously-guarding-the-bus-lane dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "According to European researchers, modern buses could be used as mobile sensing platforms, sending out live information to be used to control traffic and detect road hazards. The 3.83 million euro EU-funded MORYNE project was completed in March 2008 with a test in Berlin, Germany. During this test, the researchers 'equipped city buses with environmental sensors and cameras, allowing the vehicles to become transmitters of measurements, warnings and live or recorded videos to anyone allowed to access the data.' "

6 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. Traffic cameras? by religious+freak · · Score: 3, Informative

    So what's the difference between this and the traffic/CCTV cameras which are already becoming ubiquitous? If a society wants to go this route, this seems like more hassle, if you ask me.

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    1. Re:Traffic cameras? by pha7boy · · Score: 3, Informative

      buses are mobile, thus less likely to be vandalized, easier to maintain, probably less intrusive. And, it would probably cost less to install cameras on buses then to install CCTV at every corner.

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      -- All this knowledge is giving me a raging brainer.
  2. Re:Huh? by Finallyjoined!!! · · Score: 2, Informative

    Heh, see: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/poxy

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  3. Re:Huh? by pha7boy · · Score: 2, Informative

    Sorry - you're wrong. (not on the bendy buses, their introduction was just stupid, but on the bus lanes). Bus lanes are great, if you're using the tube and the bus to get around. If you're silly enough to want to pay the city their access tax, they you should be stuck in traffic. I'll be in the bus, reading the paper. :)

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    -- All this knowledge is giving me a raging brainer.
  4. Re:Great... I've got an application. by palegray.net · · Score: 2, Informative

    The issue with MARTA is probably more political than technological. They've been in Atlanta news on more than a few occassions with stories of internal corruption and graft; it would seem that their "leadership" is (historically, at least) more interested in lining their pockets and those of their friends with state money than improving the city's transportation system.

    I make the bold assertion that accurate real-time tracking and management of MARTA buses would be heavily resisted by the management authorities responsible for such decisions. I'd love to be wrong on this; anyone from Atlanta care to comment?

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  5. Slight variation elsewhere by onenil · · Score: 2, Informative

    Here in Melbourne, Australia, we have Smart Buses that have sensors built on the bus, combined with readers at most stops along each route. The same stops also have electronic displays that show the next 3 buses scheduled combined with their ETA, based on realtime data retrieved from previous sensors along the route.

    The type of system described in the article wouldn't necessarily work here in Melbourne, because quite often the same routes are set up with priority traffic signalling with dedicated bus lanes. So the data collected is valid only for bus traffic, not for other road users.