Over the course of history I struggle to find anything that comes close to the role public transportation systems have in governing not only how we live our lives but also what makes towns, cities or villages either thriving or isolated communities. So, it goes without saying those working in the industry have a profound responsibility with every decision they make; it could impact the quality of life for millions.
There are two types of decisions that constantly need to be made in order to achieve goals in safety, efficiency and customer satisfaction:
1. Decisions that can be planned, considered and measured for the day-to-day and long term operational success of transport networks. 2. On-the-spot decisions that need to be made when the unexpected occurs.
Two different circumstances, with different pressures but one commonality – the decisions need to be founded on solid information and clearly communicated to be effectively actioned.
Whilst investment in infrastructure to cope with growing populations and linking villages to towns and towns to cities are in full swing, why would we not make the same investments in the communication systems that connect the infrastructure and workers powering these transport networks? There’s certainly cause to say that open lines of voice and data communications to the right people will always serve the greater good. With the endless communications options and capabilities available today - TETRA and/or LTE? How do you connect the right teams? How can applications for safety and information feed into the right channels? How do you get the right information to the right individuals so informed decisions can be made?- you need a basis for making your decisions.
"When you look at moulding the next generation transport communication system there’s three core elements that I believe should be the foundations for any network in order to achieve a universal success."
1. High availability communicationsfor an uninterruptable service that can be relied on in times of emergency 2. Simplified application integrationfor the collection and centralisation of data from various application sources via APIs to make informed decisions 3. Converged communication servicesfor a unified platform of seemingly disparate communication networks in order to provide a full picture of information
The end result might not be the choice of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution but what you do have is a system that pulls together the best from a few technologies. The resilient, reliable TETRA network, combined with the data capacities of LTE, the interoperability of PTT-over-broadband and a platform of applications.
When you combine different technologies to create a solution that works for your organisation, information becomes free-flowing, uninterrupted and allows the decision makers to make informed decisions to ensure efficient and safe operations to get people from A to B and allows communities to thrive. So, yes the next system of communication rolled out across our railways and roads will have a profound impact on our way of life – from the extreme of ensuring our safety to letting us know if our train is on time, it all hinges on the movement of information.
Entries » Blog » How Next Generation Transport Communications Can Make Our Lives Better - Author Danielle Doo
How Next Generation Transport Communications Can Make Our Lives Better - Author Danielle Doo
Over the course of history I struggle to find anything that comes close to the role public transportation systems have in governing not only how we live our lives but also what makes towns, cities or villages either thriving or isolated communities. So, it goes without saying those working in the industry have a profound responsibility with every decision they make; it could impact the quality of life for millions.
There are two types of decisions that constantly need to be made in order to achieve goals in safety, efficiency and customer satisfaction:
1. Decisions that can be planned, considered and measured for the day-to-day and long term operational success of transport networks.
2. On-the-spot decisions that need to be made when the unexpected occurs.
Two different circumstances, with different pressures but one commonality – the decisions need to be founded on solid information and clearly communicated to be effectively actioned.
Whilst investment in infrastructure to cope with growing populations and linking villages to towns and towns to cities are in full swing, why would we not make the same investments in the communication systems that connect the infrastructure and workers powering these transport networks? There’s certainly cause to say that open lines of voice and data communications to the right people will always serve the greater good. With the endless communications options and capabilities available today - TETRA and/or LTE? How do you connect the right teams? How can applications for safety and information feed into the right channels? How do you get the right information to the right individuals so informed decisions can be made?- you need a basis for making your decisions.
"When you look at moulding the next generation transport communication system there’s three core elements that I believe should be the foundations for any network in order to achieve a universal success."1. High availability communications for an uninterruptable service that can be relied on in times of emergency
2. Simplified application integration for the collection and centralisation of data from various application sources via APIs to make informed decisions
3. Converged communication services for a unified platform of seemingly disparate communication networks in order to provide a full picture of information
The end result might not be the choice of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution but what you do have is a system that pulls together the best from a few technologies. The resilient, reliable TETRA network, combined with the data capacities of LTE, the interoperability of PTT-over-broadband and a platform of applications.
When you combine different technologies to create a solution that works for your organisation, information becomes free-flowing, uninterrupted and allows the decision makers to make informed decisions to ensure efficient and safe operations to get people from A to B and allows communities to thrive. So, yes the next system of communication rolled out across our railways and roads will have a profound impact on our way of life – from the extreme of ensuring our safety to letting us know if our train is on time, it all hinges on the movement of information.
If you’re intrigued about this argument then you can explore in more depth by downloading the latest transport whitepaper from Motorola Solutions – The Next Generation Transport Communication Systems.
If you’d like to join the conversation about communication in hazardous environments, we’d be delighted to welcome you to the Motorola Solutions Community EMEA LinkedIn Group.
Danielle Doo, Marketing Solutions Manager, Motorola Solutions
Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn