“INIT Inc. is supplying an automatic passenger counting system (APC) to RTD Denver. omis has been instrumental in helping us provide the agency with a high-quality product and has assisted the agency in implementing accurate funding measures,” says Mr. Rakebrandt, Director of Business Development for APC.
The customer
Since 1983, INIT has evolved from a university spin-off into a global market leader for ITS solutions in public transportation. Its roots are in Karlsruhe, but the company is at home all over the world—with more than 30 branches and offices around the globe. More than 700 customers rely on INIT to manage their daily operations: planning and transportation, fare collection and revenue management, operational monitoring and real-time passenger data, analytics, and optimization.
The challenge
“INIT provides an automatic passenger counting system for regional public transit in Denver (USA). The vehicles collect passenger data and upload it to the transit agency’s planning department for further processing and reporting. Accurate data is a key requirement for funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA),” explains Mr. Rakebrandt (Director of Business Development for APC).
Certain safety precautions must be taken in public transportation. That is why it is important to stay informed about current disruptions and respond quickly to them.
“Given the reporting requirements at the state and federal levels, it is important to identify equipment malfunctions—which typically lead to accuracy issues—along with accuracy issues themselves,” says Mr. Rakebrandt.
The solution
“Thanks to the current INIT/omis integration, precision issues are streamlined, making their resolution significantly more efficient. Additionally, it facilitates the tracking of issues within the vehicle fleet. INIT has implemented omis and the acceptance forms created for the initial installation of 106 trains. Furthermore, omis provides an automatic work plan daily at 1:00 p.m. EST. This plan highlights vehicle defects, allowing the maintenance team to respond quickly and resolve them” (Mr. Rakebrandt).
omis serves as a central hub for all malfunction, error, and damage reports, such as those involving door malfunctions in buses and trains equipped with sensors or GPS receivers. This enables operators to respond appropriately and keep downtime to a minimum. With the help of digital document management, important documents (e.g., photos of repairs, documents regarding inspection dates, etc.) can be easily and conveniently stored and managed. Insurance claims can be distributed to the relevant authorities and service providers both manually and automatically.
The inspection management system ensures that technical inspections of doors on buses and trains are carried out on schedule. Once an inspection is completed, a new appointment is automatically scheduled based on the specified frequency.
“omis has been a tremendous help in enabling us to provide the agency with a high-quality product . It has also helped the agency secure appropriate funding,” said Mr. Rakebrandt.