SMARTCITY PROJECT

Bergamo problems area

A collaboration between Harvard Graduate School of Design and Universit degli Studi di Bergamo

Bonacina Antonio

BERGAMO PROBLEM AREA: ABSENCE OF A COMPREHENSIVE REAL-TIME INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE CITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OF BERGAMO The unique system for public transportation in Bergamo city is composed by a bus network managed by the company called Atb. Atb was established in the 1907 and since the beginning of its history provides transportation services to Bergamo inhabitants.

 Nowadays with about 14 main routes, Atb provides transports both internally to Bergamo and also linkages with city suburbs. The role of public transportation in the city mobility is quite relevant but unfortunately the majority of citizens use personal vehicles or motorbike for moving thought the city.

 Typical users are students, old citizens, tourists and some workers.

In order to increase the utilization level, a better service should be required for attracting more users.

THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPROVING ATB SERVICE Even if the transportation system works quite well, it is to note the partial presence of a real-time information system. Only in few stops of the city center are present some electronic panels that provide info about next approaching bus and minutes between buses.

 This system is partially lacking in diffusion and in the kind of information provided. Question: How is it possible to diffuse the utilization and the proximity of the system to users?

 Is it possible to define something smart for improving this service that could provide real-time information to users? How this information should be delivered to users?

What information could be provided to users? (hints) expected time to arrive to the interested stop? minute of delay? planning of the journey (where do I need to stop and which bus do I have to jump in)? current position of buses in the city? .

FEEDBACKS FROM USERS BEHAVIOR Moreover, it would be useful for the transportation company having back some information about the behavior of users.

Thanks to this information it could be monitored the real number of passenger, the average utilization, etc, and basing on actual data Atb could take consistent decision with the real situation.

 Is it possible to realize such a system that could provide real-time information to users, but also give back useful information to Atb in order to improve the service?

Thank you for your attention