Smart Bus refers to the addition of enhanced information and communication technologies in order to provide better information for customers, enable better management of on-road bus service, and collect data that assists transit planners when designing service.

• Mobile Data Terminal (MDT). The MDT allows the bus operator to link with Transit Control as well as receive the work assignment for the day and check if the bus is early or late along the route.
• Integrated Vehicle Logic Unit (IVLU). This piece of hardware is the ‘brains’ of the system. It ‘manages’ all the functions on the bus similar to a central processing unit or CPU of a computer.
• Onboard Gateway (InMotion Router). The router manages all of the data transmitted to or from all of the electronic devices on the bus, including camera systems and automatic passenger counters (APC), next stop announcement equipment, as well as the antenna needed to deliver real-time status reports over a cellular network.

Cities with functionality similar to that proposed by Edmonton include:  Vancouver, BC; Ottawa, ON; Toronto, ON; Winnipeg, MB; London, ON; Brampton, ON.

Through the onboard computer or MDT, Smart Bus can provide operators the following assistance: 

• Inform if they’re early, on time, or late compared to the schedule;
• Provide turn by turn directions if they are new to a route;
• Send and receive text messages.  This frees up the two-way radio for emergency use;
• Trigger covert alarms if they believe their safety or the safety of passengers is at risk.

Yes, Smart Bus allows Transit Control to monitor key transit centres or specific buses and notify connecting buses to hold for the arrival of the connecting bus.

There are many ways that these tools will assist riders.  These include: 

• access to real-time bus arrival information including delays in service;
• more reliable and predictable service since Smart Bus helps transit operations to respond to delays more effectively; 
• automated stop announcements to notify riders of approaching stop locations.

Smart Bus enables operators to clearly communicate with Transit Control in a number of ways:

• Activated covert emergency alarms and urgent messages are displayed in a manner that requires Transit Control to acknowledge the message immediately.  
• Integrated Smart Bus security cameras provide a live look-in view of activities on the bus allowing Transit Control to better assess the situation and muster appropriate resources.
• And the automated vehicle location (AVL) provides the current bus location (including the speed and direction of travel) so the appropriate resources can be dispatched to the correct location. 

Smart Bus can help by:

• assisting operators in knowing if they are on schedule, behind or ahead of schedule, enabling them to monitor their progress along a route; 
• alerting Transit Control of routes not on schedule, allowing them to take appropriate action to keep buses as close to schedule as possible.  
• informing transit riders of the actual arrival times of buses, enabling them to make informed decisions and adjust their travel plans accordingly.

The Smart Bus solution can be viewed as mature or proven technology.  Similar technology has been in use in several centres for five or more years.  For example, Edmonton Transit’s Disabled Adult Transit Service (DATS) began using this technology in 2005.  DATS has improved its efficiency and effectiveness using MDTs, automated scheduling and computer-aided dispatch.

The Smart Bus is an enabler for Smart Card as it delivers the foundational communication capabilities for that initiative.

The specific capabilities benefiting persons with disabilities include: Automated Stop Announcements - internal audio-visual announcements of an approaching bus stop, audio announcements of a bus arrival at a bus stop. Additional Smart Bus capabilities include web-based and mobile device tools that can be used by persons with disabilities to provide real-time bus arrival information.

A bus equipped with this technology will have an electronic message sign at the front of the passenger compartment and a computer terminal located next to the operator.