COVER STORY
Manual for Planning, Design and Implementation of ITS/MIS for Metro System Introduction Transport does not have to be defined. The history of public transport most probably dates back to the invention of the wheel or to the floating of wood on water. It can be argued that the first means of multi-customer transporting included people, animals and goods. Since ages, it’s been interesting to note that a good transportation system has always been accompanied with a good information system. Primarily man developed and used transport facilities for his personal needs. It gradually grew and as per the requirement man tried to make it more comfortable and luxurious. Transportation system in public domain or public transportation system grew parallel. It was more on the govt’s part. And as a welfare society the government ensured development of public transportation system for mass movement of its citizens for their livelihood, safety, etc. The other side of the development of the transport system definitely was business. The transport system appeared to be a huge business option for most of the people who had transport facilities greater than their personal needs. It could earn revenue for them from those who were not having it. The system grew and more and more transportation vehicle started appearing on the roads, passages and travelling destinations. The government’s role for development of mass transportation facilities started to be felt with growing population, rapid urbanization and technological advancement. Today availability of transport facilities is one of the important indicators of growth and development of an economy. The four means of transportation today are Rail, Road, Air and Water. Road and Water has been primitive forms of transportation by humans while transportation through rail and air has been possible due to science and technology.
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METRO RAIL NEWS | April 2021
Image Credit : Alstom Transport
Today significant development has been made in Rail and Air transportation. Transport facilities like metros and Urban Rapid Transit system is making significant contribution to eco-friendly public commuting across the globe. IT&S (MIS) – An Introduction As already stated for any transportation system to develop and function properly a well developed Information Technology & Systems - ITS (or Management Information System – MIS) is required predominantly. It has been since ages that the information system has been an integral and coherent part of any transport system. Be it machine or animals no transportation can be done until there’s is proper exchange of messages, signals and information. The terminological exchange done in primitive times has now developed into a more modernized and sophisticated means of communication in form of signals and digital messages communicated to machines which earlier were done through voice, symbols, gestures and cognitive messages. It is important to note that Intelligent Transport System that we see today is basically a general referral to the Information Technology & Systems (ITS), Management Information System adopted to make any existing and prevailing transport system modern,
smart and technologically advanced. Hence, ITS (Information Technology & Systems) and MIS (Management Information System) form the base of an Intelligent Transportation System. MRTS (Metro Railway Transport System) being one of them. MRTS (Metro / Subway Rapid Transit System) - A brief Summary The International Association of Public Transport (or UITP) defines metro systems as an urban passenger transport system operated on their own right of way and segregated from general road and pedestrian traffic. The terms Heavy rail (mainly in North America) and heavy urban rail are essentially synonymous with the term metro. Heavy rail systems are also specifically defined as an electric railway. The dividing line between metro and other modes of public transport, such as light rail and commuter rail is not always very clear. While, UITP only makes distinctions between metros and light rail, the U.S.’s APTA and FTA distinguish all three modes. A common way to distinguish metro from light rail is by their separation from other traffic. While light rail systems may share roads or have level crossings, a metro system runs, almost always, on a grade-separated exclusive right-of-way, with no access for pedestrians and other traffic. And
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