As much of the world has entered the digital age, our mass transit systems must do the same. Descriptive, accurate, and highly visible public signage, with displays that can update information quickly to fit a variety of situations, are in high demand. Mass transit systems must adapt to handle emergencies and develop new practices required by potential public health concerns, like a global pandemic.
As public needs regarding mass transportation evolve, it is imperative that transit systems keep pace by using the latest technology to serve their customers. The days of paper tickets, books of stamps, and manual schedule boards are fading; digital and wireless technology have more or less rendered them obsolete. Similarly, analog clocks and static platform displays have become outdated and offer passengers neither the precision nor the ability to adjust quickly to changes they are accustomed to in a modern, integrated environment.
Passengers Need Real-Time Route Information and Alerts Now
A 2017 article in Metro Magazine discussed the importance of using digital signage to convey information to passengers in real time, from platform and arrival/departure details to alerts regarding weather or public health and safety. Modern digital displays and signage can build on standard route and time data using rapidly updated messages, audio signals, and custom color connections to alert passengers to important notices such as:
- 15-minute track delay
- Maintain social distance
- Remain behind the platform line
- Weather emergency
- Station closed
- Seek shelter
Additionally, a recent review of industry literature found that providing real-time information to passengers increases their propensity to look favorably upon their experience and become more frequent mass transit users.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced upon us regular reminders to be hyperaware of our surroundings. Alerts for social distancing and mask wearing can be an important part of such messaging systems, ensuring transit hubs keep their guests updated with the latest precautionary behaviors recommended to minimize public health risks. Not only does digital signage make it easy to share such information quickly as circumstances change, it can do so across a whole network of time displays and message systems at the press of a button, rather than relying on time-intensive manual adjustments.
Digital Signage Offers Improved Visibility
Transit hubs can be noisy, so maximizing the visibility of displays and signage is crucial to ensuring that visitors have all the information they need as quickly as possible. In addition to being responsive and adaptable, LCD and LED digital displays are easy see and maintain visibility in all lighting conditions, both indoor and outdoor. They can convey messages in a variety of colors to enhance readability and connect color-coding to the information being presented. This can be valuable when using single displays to disseminate different types of information, as viewers can more quickly associate the colors with the manner of data being displayed.
Meeting Your Display Needs with Primex OneVue
Primex has designed a system capable of meeting your transportation signage needs with minimal IT requirements. With LED displays capable of displaying messages up to 64 characters and featuring 7 different color options, and offering perfect time synchronization across an entire system, OneVue Notify InfoBoard™ displays can relay accurate time data for passengers, share emergency alerts, or convey health-related messages, all on the same display. With a wide operating range of 32 °F to 95 °F (0 °C to 35 °C), these displays are suitable for both indoor and many covered-outdoor settings.
Primex’s cloud-based OneVue monitoring system doesn’t require a separate server on site, only connection to the same internet network, so an entire set of displays is accessible from a single computer, offering ease of responsiveness to whatever situation may arise for your transit hub. Combined with Primex’s automated OneVue Monitor solutions to track indoor air quality and temperature, and to detect water leaks, the OneVue suite provides a comprehensive network of monitoring software, time synchronization, and public messaging that can enhance the passenger experience at even the busiest and noisiest of transit hubs.
Sources:
Digital Signage Advances Help Deliver Info to Riders in Real Time
A Literature Review of the Passenger Benefits of Real-Time Transit Information
It’s Time to Rethink Signage and Wayfinding for Transportation Hubs