Brief set by The Royalty Society of Arts.
Research, Strategy, System Design.
In an ideal rail system, every train would arrive and depart at its intended station without delay. However in reality, trains are behind schedule very frequently. Delayed trains are the largest factor of customer dissatisfaction.
Dwell time, the time from wheel stop to wheel start at a station, is one of the major factors that cause the train delays. Excessive dwell times cause delays to singular trains, which can have a knock-on effect to escalating to severe delays in the entire railway/underground system.
System constraints, platform layouts and mechanical aspects of the train system have an impact on solutions such as platform distribution.
There are 3 main types of alighting and boarding formations and scenarios. Studies show that the advantages of the scenarios vary depending on the crowd level and physical aspects of the system.
With a projected graphic system, the formation can be altered dynamically to reduce conflict between passengers, making their movements smoother and more efficient.
Bi-directional movements where cooperation and negotiation play an important role can be simulated using crowd simulation software such as Legion. Using both the social force model and grid-based models, an intelligent AI system can identify concentration of crowd on the train and platform, predict the passengers’ behaviours and relay the information in order to distribute passengers accordingly.
Projection mapping method provides a non-destructive and adaptable solution to way-finding and real-time information display.
Experience Prototype.
A mock-up of the system was created to refine and further develop the service experience Feedback was gathered to identify and reinforce design decisions.
- Real-time communication between the train and the upcoming platform. Distribution is driven by data dynamically.
- Non-destructive solution, graphics are projected, therefore reducing the need of stakeholders altering existing infrastructure.
- Passengers are presented with intuitive directions that lead them to a more enjoyable and efficiently operated journey, without the need of compromising.
User Journey Map:
A map of the user journey including train operating phase, pain points from primary and secondary research, emotional state of the customer, digital and physcial touchpoints, organisation activities, policies, challenges and the objective/ vision of the proposal.