Improving Our Mass Transportation Systems

Our Mass Transportation Systems

You know, whenever I drive anywhere, especially on the highway, or even take the train, or look overhead and see a 747-400 landing (I do live near O’Hare), I am always taken aback by our transportation system.  True, it is something we take for granted almost every day, but if you just step back a little bit, aren’t you just as blown away as to how all of our highways were constructed, the bridges, the railroad tracks, etc.???  I mean, somebody had to do all of the hard work and planning to get it all up and running.  Obviously, it just did not all happen over night.  What is even more amazing is all of the people using these mass transportation systems.  Probably the best example I can think of this is in India. 

As many of you know, India is the second most populous country in the world, all crammed in a land mass the one third the size of the United States.  Now imagine rush hour in those mass commuter trains in Mumbai, the busiest city in India.  The train stations there are called the “Human Compression Chambers” for good reason.  So given all of this exodus to using mass transportation, comes a greater need for Security, as well as a more convenient way to do things.  What do I mean by this???  The Press Release I saw today totally exemplifies what I am talking about.  The setting takes place in Cartagena, Colombia, and the two Biometrics Vendor mentioned is known as “Smartmatic”. 

Here we go:  “Cartagena, the most important touristic and cultural district of Colombia, selected joint-venture partners Smartmatic and Dataprom, for the task of implementing and operating an automated fare collection and fleet management system for the new Integrated Mass Transportation System, targeted for a service life span of the next 18 years . . . The financial, technology and management services which Smartmatic will supply to the transit authority Transcaribe will cover the city of Cartagena and surrounding municipalities. It will comprise a number of advanced systems, including a fare collection system based on the latest and most secure smart card payment technologies, a real-time fleet management and control system for public transportation buses, a passenger information system, and fare card vending machines, with access locations spread throughout the territory for the convenience of passengers. The system is expected to be operational in 2012.”  (SOURCE:  http://www.findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/8942/). 

Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting

So as you can see from the above quote, this solution as described in this Posting is rather, very comprehensive one, which includes an automated fare collection scheme, as well as a brand new fleet management system.  It is projected that this new solution should last some 18+ years or so.  So, you may be wondering at this point, where does all of the Security and the role of Biometrics actually take place???  Well, from what best I can understand, it will occur at the point of the new fare collection system, in which customers and passengers can pay for their fare (I am assuming that this solution will fit all modes of public transportation, which includes taxis, busses, trains, local flights, etc.) with a Smart Card, and having the associated Biometric Templates stored in them, as a way of positively identifying and verifying the passenger whom is trying to make payment. 

So, as a crude example, suppose I take a taxi ride from Point A to Point B.  Rather than having to fumble around for change and cash, I can simply use my Smart Card to make payment (really, in a way which is extremely similar to using a credit card).  But, how will the taxi cab driver know I am making legitimate payment, by using an authorized Smart Card???  Well, that is where Biometrics will come into play.  The Templates stored onto the Smart Card can be compared to a much bigger database (again, I am making the broad assumption that this will be a national Biometrics database, in which the citizens will have to enroll-yea, I know, I am opening up a huge can of worms here), for 100% verification. 

But what I especially like about this application here in this Posting is that there is a social cause to this as well.  By upgrading the Security system for mass transportation, and in no small part through the use of Biometrics, the country of Colombia will realize more than $30 Million in national savings, and it is anticipated that this money will go to the health care system there.  A prime example of a large city where this type of system is needed is here in Chi-town.  In my view, we probably one of the worst and most degrading transportation systems in the entire nation.  The roads and highways are especially notorious for this.  As they say here in Chi-town, its either winter season or construction season. 

So not only along with upgrading the modes of public transportation, hopefully the new mayor Rahm Emanuel will also simultaneously upgrade the Security and payment system of it as well.  The mass transit train stations tend to get extremely crowded during the rush hours (both morning and evening are horrible) and the probability of being pick pocketed is extremely high.  With a new payment system (for the mass transportation) using Smart Cards and Biometrics, the right people will be paying with their own cards.  True, it will not stop pick pocketers, but at least the threat of Identity Theft will greatly decrease.  And just think about the convenience:  No more fumbling around for that hard currency, just whip out that Biometrics Smart Card, and payment is complete!!!

Comments

[vending business]

Starting vending business is different so different that you can take care of it in your free time.some people who have the qualities to run a vending business.vending business usually starts with a gumball machine.

[Red Wing Boots]

Very, very nicely done!