Applications

Public Transport

The optimisation of public transport is essential for reducing traffic congestion, pollution and other negative features. It can help to improve today's imbalance between the usage of public transport (only 20%) and private cars (80%).The benefits of GALILEO for public transport are manifold. The use of well-established tools such as road navigation and fleet management can be enhanced by GALILEO, and complementary services can be offered to users. 

Some examples of practical uses of GALILEO:

Guidance

Guidance tools assisted by satellite navigation are already well-established. GALILEO's 30 satellites in optimised orbits will offer increased accuracy and availability of the positioning signals in urban areas.

Thanks to the localisation furnished by this system, many additional services can be offered to drivers, such as emergency calls with automated transmission of the locale, breakdown assistance and traffic jam avoidance.

GALILEO will contribute to offer more comfort, confidence and security.

Fleet Management

Taxi, bus and train fleet management are crucial and complex tasks. Satellite navigation tools, combined with a communication system, will let central dispatchers know the exact location of all vehicles in real-time. It would allow public transport operators to plan and manage different aspects of their businesses. For example, if two buses are circulating too closely, the second could be slowed to better share the passengers.

Knowing the position of buses at all times and in all parts of the city will generate statistical information on delays that can be used to adjust schedules and to improve the service.

Benefit for  public transport users

When operators know the status and location of their fleet, they can offer customers additional services:

Delay and arrival information: passengers see in real-time the time until the next bus or train, and learn about the connecting services.

Tourist information and points of interest: Displays on board can let passengers know where they are on the route, interesting landmarks they can look at, and how much time to their specific stop. Even information about nearby restaurants, theatres and shops could be provided inside the vehicle.

Buses

Buses equipped with satellite navigation sensors can notify passengers about the next station, and inform the people waiting at the stops about the predicted times of arrival.

Trains

Information about train arrival and departures times, especially when there are delays, is important. On-board passenger information is also desirable. Knowing the position of the train opens up additional services to passengers such as connection and tourist information.

Equipping the engine and carriages with GALILEO receivers will enable the operators to track the rolling stock and inform their clients promptly and efficiently.

Taxis

Taxis can use GALILEO to follow the optimum route to the client's desired location. Drivers connected to a traffic information service can avoid traffic jams. Taxi operators can manage their fleet more efficiently. If there are not enough vehicles in a particular place (depending on the different zones, time of day or specific events), they can dispatch more. Optimal distribution will increase each taxi's use by collecting more customers and minimising the holding time.

Location based services combining mobile telephony with GALILEO receivers will allow a customer to call a taxi to a specific location by simply pushing a button.

Car Rentals

Guidance systems in car rentals are very attractive, as the driver often does not know the area. Even better if there is a database with all the regional points of interest  linked to the system. This is particularly useful for foreign travellers, who can receive the information in their mother tongue. GALILEO will also provide a continuous overview of the fleet and contribute to the pricing of the service.

Such a system could also be used for car sharing. The same GALILEO receiver can also aid recovery of stolen or damaged vehicles.

New Public Transport Mode: Taxi-Bus

Knowing the positions of buses opens the door to new types of public transport services like the taxi-buses. Instead of travelling afixed path between two points, buses could change their routes to go directly to their clients and take them to where they want to go. Such a flexible service would better serve rural areas and avoid empty runs.

Security and safety

Galileo can increase the security of taxi and bus drivers. Simply pressing a distress button in the event of an attack will immediately alert the police. The GALILEO receiver will indicate the position of the vehicle.

If there's a bus breakdown, dispatchers will know its precise location and will be able to send assistance immediately.

GALILEO Application Sheet: Public transport  (84 Kb)