TRANSPORT Enhancing the travel experience with smoother, safer journeys
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TRANSPORT One of the key challenges facing the transport sector today is finding ways to maximise capacity and making more efficient use of infrastructure to facilitate the movement of people and goods. And it has to do this without compromising safety, reliability and quality. For land transport, the future goes beyond building roads or creating a well-connected transport network. It is about total transport management to ensure sustainability and the creation of positive travel experiences for public and private transport users.
Empowering motorists and commuters In line with this, NCS has been delivering solutions that empower motorists and commuters to make better transport decisions. Examples include MyTransport. SG, an all-in-one, location-aware travel toolkit to help motorists and commuters plan their journey, and the ONE. MOTORING Portal which offers real-time information on motoring and road transport. As part of on-going efforts to explore innovative solutions to meet various transport needs, we also designed the Taxi-Taxi@SG mobile app that shows the availability and location of taxis across the island and better matches these taxis to commuters. We also developed and/or maintain systems that make it easier and more convenient for members of the public to interact or transact with government agencies on transport-related matters. Examples include the online Certificate of Entitlement Open Bidding System and the Vehicle Registration & Licensing System. On the
roads, smart street lighting helps save energy and reduce operational costs with automatic fault detection. We also helped to conceptualise the Vehicle Entry Permit System which paves the way for greater efficiency at our land checkpoints by doing away with the need for paper permits or toll coupons. Going forward, land transport solutions for the Smart Nation will be about changing the way we commute and connect and using new technologies to solve urban mobility challenges. Areas that we are looking into include the development of next-generation toll/electronic road pricing systems, traffic analytics, vehicle telematics, video analytics and machine-to-machine technologies, amongst others.
Boosting airport operations In the airport and aviation sector, we have developed solutions to help operators respond effectively to the growing pressure to improve efficiency, attract more regional traffic and meet passengers’ demands for better security and reliability. Our involvement in the development of civil aviation in Singapore stretches from the Kallang Airport era of the 1950s to the present day Changi Airport. We have delivered Air Traffic Control Systems, Communications Systems as well as Passenger Terminal Building Systems which include the Airport Operational Database, Flight Information Display System, iKiosks, Public Address System and Automated Trolley Management System. More importantly, we have successfully integrated these complex systems to enable centralised monitoring and management of airport operations. This provides airport management teams with consolidated, real-time access to information for rapid decision-making and response, enabling airports to operate more efficiently and position themselves for growth.
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Paving the way for greater efficiency at land checkpoints Fast, convenient and easy to use, the automated Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP)/Toll system implemented at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints in April 2000 has helped pave the way for greater efficiency at Singapore’s land checkpoints. The system allows drivers to pay for their VEP or toll charges using a payment card instead of having to pre-purchase paper permits or toll coupons. Drivers of Singapore-registered vehicles can make use of their CashCard, EZ-Link card, Concession card or FlashPay to pay their toll charges, while foreign-registered vehicles make use of the Autopass card, a stored-value smart card, to pay their VEP fees and/or toll. The VEP system caters to different payment rules and schemes. For example, VEP fees are calculated on a daily basis, and no fees are payable on Saturdays, Sundays and Singapore public holidays. Different permit fees and toll charges apply to different categories, for example, foreign-registered cars and motorcycles, foreign-registered buses, taxis and goods vehicles, and Singapore-registered vehicles. Foreign-registered cars that do not have an in-vehicle unit (IU), a device for use with Singapore’s Electronic Road Pricing system (ERP), will also have to pay an additional no-IU fee. At the front end, the VEP system interfaces with booth equipment such as card readers, card feeders, message displays, beacon lights, receipt printers, toll buttons and infrared sensors. At the back end, it interfaces with various card management and finance systems for the settlement of payment transactions and refunds, and with the ERP system for capturing ERP flat rates and auto-blacklists. We have also built enhancements to the VEP system to accept both contact and contactless cards and to cater to the specific requirements of the VEP scheme as and when they arise. As the system integrator, NCS conceptualised the VEP system together with Land Transport Authority (LTA) and assumed responsibility for system maintenance in 2004.
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Transport information on-the-go MyTransport.SG Mobile is an all-in-one travel toolkit for motorists and commuters. The mobile app with location-sensing capabilities was introduced by the Land Transport Authority in 2010 to cater to the growing population of technology-savvy private and public transport users who demand userfriendly and timely information while on-the-go. Traditionally, transport information was limited to navigational systems that provided route details to help motorists and commuters get from point A to point B. What was lacking was the availability of real-time transport information to complement the route details and help the public to refine their travel plans. MyTransport.SG Mobile addresses this by utilising a two-way engagement approach to deliver an interactive and content-rich experience. The app simplifies the process of checking on traffic news, road conditions, the location of electronic road pricing (ERP) gantries, ERP rates, parking availability, public and premium bus services, MRT and LRT stations, taxi call numbers and even the latest bidding results for the Certificates of Entitlement. One of the new features of MyTransport.SG Mobile is the public transport Journey Planner, a handy, intuitive guide which helps commuters map out the shortest and most convenient route to their destination using buses or trains. Key functions include the counting down of bus stops and train stations to the destination; a pro-active alert when nearing the destination; and one-touch access to the user’s favourite bus stops and train stations. A 360-degree interactive street view display and common taxi booking numbers are also included. The new features ensure that even commuters who are unfamiliar with the public transport system can travel with ease, without worrying about missing their stops or travelling in the wrong direction. MyTransport.SG Mobile complements LTA’s two other transport portals - ONE.MOTORING and MyTransport.SG.
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A one-stop portal
For commuters MyTransport.SG (www.mytransport.sg) is a one-stop portal which provides information and e-services for all land transport users, be it commuters, motorists or cyclists, making it easier and more convenient for all to plan their journeys. The portal features essential tools for users such as interactive maps to get around Singapore, the latest public transport campaigns and initiatives, and public transport information such as bus arrival timings for all bus stops. MyTransport.SG groups transport information to better serve various traveller profiles such as the public transport user, student, commuter with mobility needs, cyclist and motorist. This allows relevant information to be accessed more quickly, for example, bus services and MRT stations for public transport users; concession fares for students; wheelchair-accessible buses for commuters with mobility needs; cycling paths and bicycle parking facilities at MRT stations for cyclists; and traffic conditions for motorists. To develop the portal, public transport information from multiple online sources such as the Land Transport Authority, SMRT, SBS Transit and TransitLink websites as well as offline sources such as information on bus stops and MRT/LRT stations were combined onto a single map-based platform. This involved bringing together voluminous data in different formats, for example, the entire map of Singapore, more than 4,000 bus stop locations, information on over 300 bus services and over 20,000 PDF files of bus routes. We integrated the multiple data and backend systems and merged the different data formats in order to deliver the information to users through a user-friendly interface. Features such as “Search by Road Name, Landmarks and Postal Code” and “Browse by Bus Service Numbers, Bus Interchanges and MRT/LRT Stations” were also built in to enable fast and easy access to public transportation information within the map.
for motorists The ONE.MOTORING portal (www.onemotoring.com.sg) is an interactive, one-stop online site that offers real-time traffic information and brings together e-services pertaining to motoring and road transport in Singapore. For example, it provides information that is relevant across the life cycle of a vehicle and allows motorists to perform online transactions relating to vehicle ownership and usage. First launched in 2000 by the Land Transport Authority, ONE.MOTORING is now an established brand among motorists and the motoring industry and receives more than 15 million page views a month. NCS provides a suite of end-to-end services for the portal from conceptualisation and hosting to applications development, marketing, business collaboration and engagement with the online community. To ensure that users have fast and reliable access to the website 24x7, we develop the infrastructure and applications to handle increases in portal traffic without a corresponding increase in costs. We also developed and managed the content of the portal to encourage repeat visits and increase the adoption rate for the e-services. Regular marketing campaigns and contests are implemented to drive usage and a member acquisition programme was introduced to engage with users proactively. These initiatives have paid off with strong growth in web traffic and unique visitors over the years.
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Tracking the life cycle of vehicles From purchasing a car to scrapping it, the Vehicle Registration & Licensing System (VRLS) has got the lifecycle of your vehicle covered. Introduced by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in 2006, VRLS connects motor agents, government agencies and industry players such as insurance and hire purchase/financial institutions to provide a one-stop information and services hub for the motoring ecosystem. It enables motorists and businesses to perform vehicle-related business transactions from the convenience of their homes and offices, using a secure e-commerce platform that incorporates electronic authentication and automated financial and compliance regulatory checks. With VRLS, a road tax renewal can be completed with a few clicks of the mouse instead of having to travel to LTA to queue up for counter service. Car owners will also have all their vehicle-related transactions displayed in a single view which they can access easily and conveniently over the Internet. The self-help capabilities of VRLS have benefited LTA as well, allowing it to re-deploy its counter staff to higher-value customer service roles. Built for scalability, VRLS allows new online technologies to be plugged easily into the system, facilitating enhancements and upgrades. Over the past few years, major enhancements to VRLS included the integration of the Vehicle Inspection and Type Approval System, the implementation of a traffic offences portal, the introduction of electronic day licences and proactive notification of payments due.
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COE bids made simple Bid for a COE via Internet or Phone Banking, through the ATM, and revise your bid from your home or while you are on the go. The COE or Certificate of Entitlement represents a right to own and use a vehicle in Singapore for a period of 10 years. The number of available COEs is governed by a quota system that is aimed at managing the number of vehicles on Singapore roads. The COE Open Bidding System provides members of the public and businesses with a convenient means to submit their bids for a COE, and revise their reserve price. It also ensures greater transparency in the bidding process by providing real-time information disseminated via the ONE.MOTORING Portal, where bidders could check the current COE price and use it as a reference to submit or revise their bids during each bidding exercise. Tight integration of the system with selected banks makes it seamless for bid deposits to be collected during bidding and automatically refunded to unsuccessful bidders at the end of the bidding exercise.
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Saving energy with smart street lighting In line with the vision of a sustainable city, NCS has developed a lighting management system that improves energy efficiency and enables operators and building managers to optimise manpower deployment. The system, i-Light, provides real-time fault detection and sends timely alerts so that relevant parties are able to receive up-to-date notifications about faults and resolve them quickly. With i-Light, equipment from hundreds of sites can be tracked and any device fault or incident is automatically logged. An SMS notification is sent to the customer and information on the faulty lights is displayed on a webbased interface. This allows swift and targeted action to be taken, preventing security or safety issues that may arise if faulty lights are not replaced or serviced in time. i-Light also provides visibility into the energy utilised by street lights and other devices. Lights can be scheduled to turn on, off or dim automatically to reduce energy consumption during quiet hours, allowing action to be taken to reduce energy consumption.
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Meeting the growing demand for airspace One of the challenges faced by air traffic control operations round the world is to meet the growing demand for airspace. NCS helps one of the busiest airports in the world to achieve this through a world-class Air Traffic Control (ATC) System. With our proven methodology, project management and maintenance capabilities, we have integrated leading-edge technologies such as Multilateration and Aeronautical Message Handling System (AMHS) with Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore’s ATC System to support its air traffic control operations. We also provide 24x7 maintenance services and ensure that the system complies with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) standards. Our AMHS capabilities are part of a wider portfolio of communications expertise within NCS. We have the relevant technical capabilities and extensive experience to deliver comprehensive communications systems - whether an airport needs to plug in to the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network for the exchange of aeronautical and meteorological messages; requires High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF) or Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio systems for integrated ground-toair communications between pilots and controllers and ground-to-ground communications among controllers and air traffic control centre; needs paging, UHF radio and trunked radio services; or is looking for twoway “press-to-talk” communications. We also have a strong pool of expertise in satellite communications, which is an emerging technology for aeronautical communications. As part of our spectrum of satellite services, we provide consultancy, supply and installation of VSAT (very small aperture terminal) and “Fly-away” equipment, and even deliver turnkey implementations of earth stations.
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Delivering a positive customer experience with integrated Passenger Terminal Building Systems In today’s high-intensity airport environment, the challenge is to meet the growing demands of air travellers from all over the world and deliver a positive experience while addressing issues such as security, operational efficiency and cost. To help airports achieve this, NCS brings together our expertise in integrating and maintaining complex airport systems and our experience in meeting stringent Service Level Agreement requirements to ensure that Passenger Terminal Building Systems operate effectively and efficiently as a whole. Airport systems generate huge volumes of data on a daily basis. By integrating them to streamline the sharing of information, systems such as the Airport Operational Database System (AODB), Flight Information Display System (FIDS) and Public Address (PA) system work together to help passengers navigate airport services with ease. The integration also allows the airport management team to be more proactive in identifying and responding to potential bottlenecks or incidents which could mar the passenger experience. On an ongoing basis, our systems maintenance teams also ensure that the systems continue to deliver the security, reliability and efficiency that the airport requires, allowing airport operators to focus on other strategic aspects of their business.
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Building the information hub of the airport The Airport Operational Database (AODB) plays an important role in boosting the operational efficiency of the airport. It is the information hub of the modern airport and the central repository of all the data generated in its daily operations. AODB is integrated with multiple airport infrastructure and operations systems, allowing data to be centrally stored and shared with relevant stakeholders so that airport operations can be optimised to enhance the customer experience. By centralising data warehousing, AODB also allows data to be consolidated and analysed so that airport operators can identify areas for improvement.
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Finding the way with FIDS In today’s busy airport environment, flight and operational information must be processed and presented quickly and cost-effectively to an ever-growing number of viewers. These include the travelling public, airport tenants and airport operational staff. At the same time, directional signage at terminals, check-in desks, gates and carousels need to be dynamic to cater to changing operational environments as more airports adopt a common use and shared tenant services arrangement. The Flight Information Display System (FIDS) is thus a vital component of the airport’s overall “way finding” programme which enables airport management to distribute and display critical information to those who need it, when they need it, with little or no manual intervention. FIDS uses LCDs, plasma displays, colour TVs and split-flap boards to display continuously-updated flight and related information. It supports widely-used international languages and offers the flexibility of displaying information on a variety of devices according to customers’ preferences through simple configuration. The system also provides visual paging for the hearing impaired and can be used to display other information such as weather updates, advertisements and marketing promotions. The FIDS system is a key component of the airport’s integrated operational systems and is connected to the Airport Operational Database and Resource Management System, enabling the airport to optimise passenger flow and improve operational efficiency.
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A STATE-OF-THE-ART PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM Changi Airport’s Public Address (PA) system is a state-of-the-art acoustic and audio system used for announcing flight arrivals and departures, paging for passengers in terminal buildings, emergency calls and broadcasts, and playing of background music in public areas. From routine announcements to emergency notifications, the PA system provides high level of reliability and is essential for dealing with security and safety challenges.
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Trolley management goes high-tech With Internet Protocol cameras, built-in counting logic and customised trolley docking stations, trolley management has gone high-tech at Changi Airport. The docking stations are connected wirelessly to backend servers to capture trolley counts. This live system monitoring tool which interfaces with the airport’s flight schedule system improves oversight and monitoring of trolley operations. A minimum threshold is set based on flight arrival timings and alerts are sent to relevant parties to activate replenishment of trolleys if the threshold is not met. 70 trolley docking stations have been deployed in transit piers to improve trolley operations and better match supply to demand.
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Navigating Changi Airport with iKiosks One of the many solutions that NCS has developed for Changi Airport Group (CAG) is the self-service information kiosk (iKiosk). It helps users to search for flight information and locate related point of interests such as check-in rows, boarding gates, retail stores, amenities and other airport facilities. More than 100 flight search iKiosks have been deployed across the three terminals as of today, providing real-time flight and airport-related information round the clock. The user interface design of the iKiosk is intuitive, simple to use and easy to navigate. For example, when users search for flight information, the system will also provide the related walking path to boarding gates. Retail outlets along the recommended routes will also be featured to enhance user experience. Another 40 Shop@Changi iKiosks are also deployed to enable users to search for other useful content such as shopping, dining, events and tenants’ promotions as value-added services. The entire solution comprises of a few other sub-systems such as the content management system, kiosk management system and the interfaces connecting to other peripheral equipment. For example, special interfaces have been developed to read 2D bar code, enabling users to search for flights easily by simply scanning their boarding passes on the readers.
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