Smart City Playbook

Transport & Mobility

Usecases

Assistive Technologies for Public Transportation

Assistive Technologies for Public Transportation aim to deploy assistive technologies in the public transportation infrastructure to ensure its inclusiveness and accessibility to a wider community of commuters. Such technologies ensure safety, guidance, ordering vehicle through Alexa / Siri and availability of special tools to the less-abled persons, elderly and pregnant women, including the provision of special ramps, audio guidance, light alarm for notifying the boarding of a person with special needs, and NFC badges that allow fast-track or free use of public transportation based on needs. Once passengers with special needs board public transportation vehicles, the staff gets automatically notified to provide support when and where needed. All these technologies allow for a more convenient and accessible experience for all city residents and visitors.

KEY

CHALLENGES

Current transport ecosystem lacks accessible and convenient multi-modal options

Authorities are unable to effectively manage and accommodate the seasonal and continual pedestrian and vehicle traffic across the city

KEY EXPECTED BENEFITS

Easier Navigation

Accessible transportation will offer tailored and adapted services for travelers with special needs, offering them a smooth journey across Al Madinah

Better Accessibility

Passengers with special needs will conveniently plan their trips and request special vehicles to meet their needs through integrated public transportation mediums

Public Transportation Adoption

A wider range of city residents will be encouraged to use public transportation

ALIGNMENT TO SMART CITY OBJECTIVES

Reliable

TARGET USERS

Elderly & People of Determination

Children

USE CASE

JOURNEY

Mustafa is a 70-year-old man who lives alone in Al Madinah city. Although he is independent and prefers to do everything by himself, he still needs special support when riding public transportation, like support to step in a bus, finding a seat, and guidance through his trip.

Through his health provider, he gets a “special pass” for public transport and books the “friendly” transportation journey, so a specialized vehicle picks him up from his home and drops him at the bus station.

Thanks to the assistive technologies for public transportation, his presence is detected when he arrives at the bus station. Once he enters the bus, cautionary lights turn on to notify passengers of his arrival and a priority seat is directly emptied for him. The bus driver comes to him and asks if he needs guidance to his destination and makes sure he is well seated and comfortable.

POTENTIAL SERVICE FEATURES

Health profile integrations

Alert and warning system

Special shuttle services

Adaptable traffic signage and accessible public transportation

Inclusive public transportation design

Special areas for wheelchairs

Child-friendly sitting and safety areas.

Folding ramps for wheelchair users

Even-surface footpaths with tactile pavers for persons with visual impairment

KEY TOUCH POINTS

Mobile App

Website

Smart Wearables

E-Pass

Smart Notifications

 Voice control system

Implementation
Timeline

Within 6 months

12 – 18 months

Over 24 months

Technology Commercial Viability

Currently commercialized

1 – 3 years to commercialize

5+ years to
commercialize

Regulatory Conduciveness

No New Policies and
Standards

Some Policies &
Standards to be
Introduced

Complex Policies to be
Introduced

Investment Requirement

Low

Medium

High

Use Case Ownership

Government Driven

Piloted by Gov. & Transitioned to Private Sector

Private Sector

Startups & Entrepreneurs

IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS

Consolidation of public and private parking inventories

Network and internet connectivity in indoor and underground spaces

Potential installation and integration of supporting infrastructure for outdoor parking spots

POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

IN THE MARKET

Transport & Mobility

Use Cases

Smart End-to-End Parking Systems

Real-Time Responsive City Transport Infrastructure “Mubasher”

Predictive Road Maintenance

Car-Pooling and Sharing City Platform “Wasilni”

Assistive Technologies for Public Transportation

Driving School
of the Future

Urban Micro-Mobility Solutions Platform “Jawlat Al Madinah”

Move in Al Madinah Companion App

City EV Digital Hub